Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Belconnen Oval Wetland is part of the ACT Government’s Healthy Waterways Program.
Work on the Belconnen Oval Wetland to improve water quality and catchment health has now commenced.
The new wetland will help to remove harmful nutrients before they enter Lake Ginninderra and will also provide habitat for native species and provide an excellent place for locals to enjoy.
There will be new trees and water plants planted around the wetland, which will filter an estimated 30 per cent of harmful nutrients like phosphorous before it enters the lake.
Temporary fences will surround the area for the community’s safety to restrict access until works are completed. This is expected to happen by mid-2024.
Belconnen residents were asked to share their thoughts on the project, which shaped an improved final design.
The Belconnen Oval Wetland is part of the ACT Government’s Healthy Waterways Program, designed to remove pollutants from stormwater before it flows into lakes and ponds.
Through projects like the floating wetlands in Lake Tuggeranong and the re-naturalisation of Tuggeranong Creek, the government hopes to help foster native biodiversity across the city, reduce harmful pollutants, keep water safe, and preserve Canberra’s natural environment.
For more information about the construction work and other projects helping to protect local waterways, visit tthe ACT Healthy Waterways Program page on the Environment website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
National Zoo and Aquarium staff enjoy being a part of the Healthier Work community.
Canberra businesses looking to support their employees’ health and wellbeing can join the ACT Government Healthier Work program.
The free program helps businesses to support, protect and improve the wellbeing of their employees.
This is done through implementing new strategies and activities that focus on improving both physical and mental health.
Leadership advice, networking opportunities and access to experienced Healthier Work advisors – who meet with businesses in person or online – are also key to the program.
The National Zoo and Aquarium are part of the program and actively work towards ensuring all employees are healthy and happy at work.
“We joined the Healthier Work program to become part of a community of like-minded employers who were looking to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff,” the National Zoo and Aquarium’s WHS Coordinator, Julie, said.
The program can be adapted for any business or industry.
For Parbery Consulting, it was the program’s holistic approach to wellbeing that drew them in.
“We’re always looking at new ways to improve our wellbeing supports, and the Healthier Work program helps us achieve that goal,” Parbery Consulting Managing Partner Kylie Burnett said.
“The Healthier Work action plan keeps us all accountable and motivates us to improve and grow our wellbeing initiatives.”
“Everyone goes through ups and downs. Being a Healthier Work workplace doesn’t mean those ups and downs don’t happen, it just means that we can bounce back quicker,” Kylie said.
Along with helpful resources, the program offers:
information and support for managers and leaders
a tiered recognition scheme with promotional benefits
regular up-to-date news and ideas about workplace health and wellbeing initiatives
networking opportunities
events and seminars.
To join the Healthier Work program, Canberra businesses can visit the Healthier Work website: healthierwork.act.gov.au.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Drivers caught using their mobile device by one of Canberra’s mobile device detection cameras will now receive a written warning.
A three-month warning period will commence from Friday 3 November for mobile device detection cameras, as part of the next phase of making Canberra’s roads even safer.
Drivers caught using their mobile device by one of Canberra’s mobile device detection cameras will now receive a written warning.
Infringements and demerit points will then start being issued from February 2024.
Three transportable road safety cameras were introduced on Canberra’s roads in February 2023, along with a fixed camera on Hindmarsh Drive (near the Monaro Highway overpass) in June.
A second fixed camera will be installed on Gungahlin Drive (near the Barton Highway overpass) by the end of 2023.
It is hoped this warning phase will reinforce the need for behaviour change.
Since the ACT Government began collecting data, over 39,000 Canberrans have been detected using a mobile device. That number translates to cameras detecting over 150 people currently breaking the law each day.
Motorists are being asked to leave their phone alone and prioritise getting themselves and all road users home safely.
The cameras will be able to detect:
a driver of a vehicle holding a mobile device in their hand at the ear or above the shoulder,
a driver of a vehicle holding a mobile device by resting the device between the ear and the driver’s shoulder,
a driver holding a mobile device in their hand or hands, including where it is held at chest level or below,
a driver touching, but not holding, a mobile device with their hand where the device is not secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle, and
a mobile device that is resting on any part of the body of a driver whether or not the device is also touched or held (except where the device is in a pocket of the driver’s clothing or in a pouch that is worn by the driver).
Throughout the three-month warning period the third phase of a comprehensive road safety campaign will be undertaken. The campaign will ensure the community is aware that it is illegal to use their mobile device while driving and will provide substantial warning that infringements will commence from February 2024 for any driver who chooses to break the law.
It is important to note that ACT Policing is still issuing infringements to drivers they detect illegally using their mobile phone. The warning period only applies to mobile detection cameras.
The goal of mobile device detection cameras is to increase road safety by utilising the latest in road safety technology to deter and detect unsafe driving.
The roll out of these detection cameras is part of delivering on the ACT Government’s commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ of no deaths or serious injuries on Canberra’s roads.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
An artist’s impression of the new Constitution Place development.
A new $150 million office development will be built in the city centre following the sale of an ACT Government block of land to Capital Property Group.
The $17.75 million sale will see the developers of Canberra’s award-winning Constitution Place precinct – Bates Smart and Construction Control – deliver a six-level, 14,000sqm commercial building on the corner of Vernon Circle and Constitution Avenue.
Construction is set to commence in mid-2024, and be completed late 2026.
The project continues the renewal of the city centre, alongside the Canberra Theatre redevelopment and evolving Acton Waterfront.
Capital Property Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Byron said this project would build on the success of Constitution Place.
“We are committed to setting a new standard of excellence for office development and further revitalising Canberra’s City Centre,” he said.
“This new development will provide high-quality, centrally located office accommodation to meet the city’s growing needs.”
The new development will place a strong emphasis on sustainability, targeting a WELL Gold-rated Shell and Core, and aiming for a 5-star NABERS energy rating.
It will also feature a 99kw roof-mounted solar array and have no gas plant allowing for the building to be 100% carbon neutral in operation.
The building is also proposed to have a hybrid timber construction where part of the building structure and fabric will be built from sustainable timber, further reducing the building’s carbon footprint.
“We are passionate about Canberra and continuing to make it Australia’s most vibrant, liveable city,” Mr Byron said.
“Our experience in award-winning precinct design, honed over 25 years at Canberra Airport, positions us well to harness the full potential of the opportunity with this project.”
The sale was completed through a competitive tender process with the ACT Government via the City Renewal Authority. The land sale was managed by JLL ACT.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Canberra motorists will continue to have access to real-time fuel pricing.
Canberra motorists will continue to have access to real-time fuel pricing at petrol stations across the ACT, following a successful trial of the FuelCheck scheme in the ACT.
For many households the cost of fuel is a significant expense. Canberra motorists will be able to continue to find cost savings on fuel as the ACT Government continues to work with the NSW Government to provide the popular FuelCheck scheme in the ACT.
By shopping around and checking FuelCheck, Canberra motorists can enjoy savings of, on average, 11 cents per litre on standard unleaded, 15 cents per litre on premium unleaded; and 25 cents per litre on diesel and pay less than the national average for their fuel.
This means a motorist who drives an average of 12,100 kilometres per year could save around $140-$200 for a petrol car and $350 for a diesel car, annually.
Since FuelCheck’s introduction in the ACT in November 2022, the app was downloaded around 100,000 times by Canberrans.
Over 95 per cent of ACT service stations have signed up to FuelCheck and there has been a high level of retailer and consumer satisfaction with the tool.
Opting into the FuelCheck scheme has also given small and independent ACT operators the opportunity to take advantage of free price advertising and bring awareness of their location to a larger audience.
Along with giving motorists the capacity to save, FuelCheck also allows users to see information on when the best day of the week to buy, and to receive alerts on when prices drop at favourite stations.
“The NRMA is pleased to see the continuation of FuelCheck in the ACT to give motorists greater pricing transparency,” Peter Khoury, NRMA Spokesman, said.
“As fuel prices remain volatile and cost of living continues to rise, FuelCheck will continue to make a massive difference for consumers by ensuring they can always find the best price fuel near them.
“As the Christmas period approaches, real-time fuel prices will help motorists to better plan their journeys and when and where they should fill up,” he said.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A recent survey found 98 per cent of passengers reported being satisfied with the ease of using the light rail.
Canberra’s light rail system has reached another passenger milestone with more than 15 million passenger journeys now taken since its April 2019 launch.
Future public transport journeys will be even easier to make when a new ticketing system rolls out in the second half of 2024.
The MyWay+ system will be available for both buses and light rail and will allow passengers to pay using a phone app, smartwatch, traditional travel card or credit or debit card.
Light rail offers Canberrans a convenient, sustainable and reliable form of public transport.
A light rail satisfaction survey undertaken last month found that 98 per cent of passengers reported being satisfied with the ease of using the light rail when they took public transport.
Fifty-one per cent of passengers also reported they plan to continue their journey through the city by taking advantage of light rail stage 2A in the future.
In the past three months, 22 per cent of all public transport journeys across the whole of Canberra were on the light rail.
The latest data also shows that public transport mode share in Gungahlin has increased by nearly 50 per cent since the introduction of light rail.
Private car usage has declined further with the highest drop recorded in Gungahlin and North Canberra, along the light rail alignment, reducing by 9 per cent in Gungahlin, and 13 per cent in North Canberra.
Construction on Stage 2A – which will see the line extended to Commonwealth Park – is expected to start once raising London Circuit is complete.
This work progresses, with the first temporary road and demolition of the southbound bridge over London Circuit complete.
Canberrans can expect to see substantial changes in the city centre as upgrades better connecting the city and the lake are carried out.
Planning and design continue on the further Stage 2B to Woden.
The ACT Government has also started construction on the ‘green track’ prototype at the National Arboretum. Canberrans will be able to see the design of grassed track areas through the city on the stage 2A line.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Dr Debbie Saunders, second from right, is the founder and CEO of Wildlife Drones.
Drones and wildlife may seem like an odd coupling, but for conservation ecologist Dr Debbie Saunders, it has proven to be a real winner.
Debbie is the founder and CEO of Wildlife Drones, a local Canberra company established in 2016 that is doing something no one else in the world is doing – tracking wildlife with drone technology.
Her efforts to improve conservation management practices around the world has earnt her a number of accolades, the latest being 2023 Canberra Businesswoman of the Year at the recent Canberra Women in Business Awards.
“Winning this award is pretty amazing, a real highpoint in my career. It’s nice to be recognised,” she said.
But for Debbie, it wasn’t always easy.
“There were a lot of naysayers over the years. People who didn’t really believe in what I was doing. But you can’t worry about that,” she said.
“I have amazing mentors, and a support network in Canberra. You just need to surround yourself with people who lift you up and believe in you.”
Wildlife Drones came about after a struggle to track the humble swift parrot.
“It’s a small animal that moves dynamically across massive landscapes – it’s also critically endangered,” Debbie said.
“My colleagues had tried to track them before. They would catch them, which is a feat in of itself, put a tag on them but when they released them, they never found them again. All of that effort, and they would just fly away.
“So if we wanted to track them, we really needed to find a different way.”
Debbie received an ICON grant to help develop her product (which enabled her to buy her first drone), and took advantage of the many programs and events offered by the Canberra Innovation Network.
Now, Wildlife Drones is the only company in the world providing this kind of technology, and it’s all manufactured in Canberra.
Governments, not-for-profits, zoos, environmental consultants and researchers are using Wildlife Drones’ technology to track everything from giant hornets and Burmese pythons in the US, to koalas and bilbies in Australia.
Debbie says Canberra has been a great place to start up and grow a business, with a supportive innovation ecosystem that has helped her attract investment.
“Being from wildlife background, I wasn’t sure how to do some things, like a business pitch,” she said.
“But it’s amazing how many synergies there are between business and research. And that was the moment it clicked for me – I do this all the time, applying for grants is exactly the same thing.
“I now have an amazing team and work on amazing things. That has been the real game changer, surrounding myself with smart and creative people who are up for the challenge.”
So, what’s next for Wildlife Drones?
“So many things,” laughs Debbie.
“We’re developing a new product and it’s got nothing to do with drones.
“With the new Global Biodiversity Framework that was signed off, and a lot of countries signed up to, businesses are now required to be accountable in terms of biodiversity. There’s an immense amount of data out there that can be used to help businesses and corporations better understand biodiversity and how to monitor and track over time.
“We are developing software to help make use of all that data.
“It’s great to be in a time when biodiversity is front and centre.”
For more information about the Canberra Innovation Network go to the CBRIN website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
AUSTIN stars Ben Miller, Michael Theo, and Sally Phillips.
Cameras have officially started rolling on AUSTIN, a new eight-part ABC comedy series being filmed in Canberra.
Produced by the award-winning team at Northern Pictures – in partnership with the ABC, Screen Australia, ITV Studios, and Screen Canberra – AUSTIN is the acting debut for Love on the Spectrum fan-favourite Michael Theo, who will star in the series alongside two renowned UK actors, Ben Miller and Sally Phillips.
About AUSTIN
When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller) inadvertently causes a social media storm, his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) appears to be over. That is until Austin (Michael Theo), the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue.
Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation? Will Ingrid forgive him? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a push over, he’s in for a rude awakening.
Production brings support for the local screen industry
Supported by the ACT Government and Screen Canberra through the CBR Screen Attraction Fund and CBR Screen Investment Fund, this series will be filmed almost entirely in Canberra, with one week of filming in the UK.
The 28-day shoot will provide training and employment opportunities for local industry and significant economic expenditure.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Fee-Free TAFE is a jointly funded initiative of Australia’s Commonwealth, state and territory governments, providing tuition-free vocational education and training to eligible ACT students wanting to train, retrain or upskill.
Fee-Free Tafe – a jointly funded initiative of the Australian and ACT Governments – will continue until 2026.
This extension will allow Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) to deliver another 3600 places over three years from 2024 onwards.
This amounts to 600 tuition-free places for Canberrans each semester from 2024 through to the end of 2026.
There will be a focus on priority learners and areas of skills demand.
Applications for CIT Fee-Free TAFE places in semester 1, 2024, open Monday, 13 November 2023 and prospective students are encouraged to apply early.
All are invited to attend CIT Open Day on Friday, 17 November, at the CIT Reid, Bruce and Fyshwick campuses.
CIT has successfully met its targets in the first year of delivering Fee-Free TAFE, reaching its allocated 2,530 enrolments for 2023.
More than 1000 of CIT’s Fee-Free TAFE student enrolments have been in the care sector, in skilled areas of demand such as childcare, aged care, disability care and community services.
CIT has also seen a strong uptake of education and training in cyber security. The Certificate IV Cyber Security has been the most popular of all Fee-Free courses with 264 enrolments.
“CIT has shown we can successfully deliver the national Fee-Free TAFE program, making education and training more accessible to Canberrans and continuing to drive the ACT’s workforce forward, especially in industry areas of need and to priority learner cohorts,” CIT Interim CEO Christine Robertson said.
“Vocational education and training can change people’s lives, and Fee-Free TAFE is providing opportunity, especially to priority learners. It’s encouraging to see big enrolments among our youth and job seekers, while Fee-Free TAFE in the ACT has supported 430 women in financial hardship to access education and training.
“Students have shared how they may not have even considered vocational education and training if not for the opportunity and accessibility that Fee-Free TAFE has provided them.”
“We look forward to seeing more students graduate of Fee-Free TAFE and becoming the carers, construction workers, hospitality staff and digital experts the ACT needs. We’ve also had many students graduate short course via Fee-Free TAFE, which has set them on the pathway to further education,” she said.
Highlights of CIT’s Fee-Free TAFE delivery in 2023 include:
268 course completions already, mainly in short courses, which is a great pathway to further study and jobs
1,609 female student enrolments (more than 60 per cent of total). CIT has been enhancing diversity in student cohorts e.g. 25 enrolments for women in building, construction and electronics trades
430 women in financial hardship. Fee-Free tuition has made education and training possible.
1,027 enrolments in care sector related courses, across areas including childcare, aged care, disability care, and community services
936 enrolments for students aged between 17 and 24
774 enrolments for job seekers
215 enrolments for unpaid carers
163 enrolments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples
124 enrolments for people that identify with a disability
55 enrolments are for Humanitarian visa holders and 161 for other eligible visa holders
30 enrolments for veterans.
More information on CIT courses eligible for Fee-Free TAFE enrolment in Semester 1, 2024, is available at the CIT Fee-Free TAFE webpage.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Convenor of the ParkCare Friends of Mount Painter group, Sarah Hnatiuk.
Did you know the ACT Government operates and manages more than 90 parks and nature reserves for our community to enjoy? Volunteers – like the Friends of Mount Painter – play a huge role in making this possible.
The Friends of Mount Painter is a registered ParkCare Patch group that is made up of a small number of residents who support ACT Parks in the management of the 93-hectare reserve.
Convenor Sarah Hnatiuk, along with her group of volunteers, is helping protect and enhance the area for generations to come.
“The Parks and Conservation Service are the land managers and deliver the ACT wide programs. We are here to support their activities and work on a different scale,” Sarah said.
“Where we are useful is that we know the reserve intimately, in a way that the rangers wouldn’t as they have such a wide area to manage.
“We might come across a new invasive weed and notify the parks service so they can jump on it quickly.”
ParkCare volunteer activities include things such as:
revegetation and tree planting
weed and erosion control
seed collection
vegetation mapping
water quality monitoring
track maintenance
biodiversity surveys.
“We do quite a lot of tree planting because this is an area which was extensively cleared, other reserves that have larger amounts of native vegetation do not have the same challenge.”
“We also host classes from the Macquarie Primary, and we go with them on educational walks of the reserve,” Sarah said.
Canberrans can search for their closest ParkCare volunteer group and get involved through the online ParkCare Hub.
More information about the ParkCare initiative can be found on the ACT Parks website: parks.act.gov.au
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Netball is one of the Canberra’s most popular sports with over 12,000 participants.
Netball courts around Canberra will begin receiving upgrades from today, giving players and officials improved facilities.
The work planned across the city’s five district netball facilities will include improvements to playing surfaces, fencing, drainage and stormwater management.
The ACT Government is working with Netball ACT, following their ongoing engagement and advocacy on behalf of the local netball community.
Netball is one of Canberra’s most popular sports with over 12,000 participants.
The upgrades align with the vision of the ACT Government’s CBR Next Move Sport and Recreation Strategy, to get all Canberrans moving more through sport and active recreation.
Netball ACT’s courts remediation project will be staged over two years, with works at the Arawang Netball Association facility in Stirling starting today, and work commencing at the Canberra Netball Association facility in Lyneham also.
South Canberra, Belconnen and Tuggeranong will receive their improvements later in 2024.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Kaitlyn Lucas says the Women in Construction program gave her the tools to pursue a career in the construction industry.
The ACT Government is encouraging women to consider careers in Canberra’s construction industry through an innovative training program.
The Women in Construction program, which recently received recognition in the ACT Training Awards, encourages women and gender diverse Canberrans to enter the construction industry through a traineeship or apprenticeship pathway.
Over five weeks, the program combines theory and practical hands-on learning with site tours, work preparation sessions and training courses to prepare participants for their placements.
Kaitlyn Lucas is a first-year electrical apprentice who is currently working on the new CIT campus in Woden. She says the Women in Construction program set her up with the qualifications and confidence, to pursue a career in construction.
“A lot of the program was preparing for construction, so getting your basic qualifications, basic cards to get on site, elevated work platforms training, and first aid, which is important,” she said.
“My goal now is to get my qualification, and then one day I’d like to become a project manager.
“These skills and qualifications set you up. It’s a good starting point.”
As part of the program, participants undertake training courses including:
Work safely with asbestos containing materials
Identify and report asbestos containing materials
Apply WHS requirements, policies, and procedures in the construction industry
Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (White Card)
Handle Construction Materials
Course in Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention
Course in Workplace Impairment Prevention
Bullying and Harassment and WHS Hazard Identification
Gender Equity Awareness – Safe and Respectful Workplaces
Workplace Mental Health Awareness.
Each program participant is also supplied with their own personal protective equipment.
Women in Construction Information Session
An information session about the next round of the Women in Construction program will be held at the Canberra Institute of Technology in Bruce. All individuals seeking to be part of program must attend the session.
Where: CIT Bruce
When: Thursday 26 October 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm
Women in construction is delivered by Lendlease in collaboration with Major Projects Canberra and in partnership with Australian Training Company, The Umbrella Collective, Creative Safety Initiatives, The Canberra Institute of Technology, The ACT Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Authority and Icon.
More on the CIT Woden Campus’ social objectives can be found online.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Calwell High School students with Mr Ricky, Deputy Principal of Happiness
Everyone knows educators make an enormous difference in a student’s life. But did you know some of those educators have four legs and a tail?
In some ACT public schools, animals are playing an important part in supporting learning and emotional wellbeing and making a significant impact on students, staff and families.
Calwell High School’s beloved therapy dog, Mr Ricky, quickly became an integral part of the school community.
So much so he has been given the title of Deputy Principal of Happiness.
Recognising the power of therapy dogs in promoting student wellbeing, Principal Steve Collins eagerly sought to bring Mr Ricky, who was trained by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, to the school.
Since his first day of school in March, Mr Ricky has been a daily presence, bringing smiles and comfort to everyone he encounters.
He spends his days traversing the hallways, visiting classrooms, and responding to signs of student anxiety by offering a reassuring paw on the lap – a gesture that can bring comfort to those in need.
Collaborating with the school psychologist, social worker, and school youth health nurse, Mr Ricky has proven to be a calming and supportive presence during important sessions and discussions.
At Arawang Primary School, 10-year-old rescue greyhound Tom helps students with their reading.
Tom is part of the Story Dogs program and visits the school library each week with his handler, Amalia, to read with students, one on one.
Students select books based on their own interests and read directly to Tom, who is quiet, gentle and loves cuddles.
“Story Dogs has been in place in our school for only a term and during that time we have already witnessed the wonderful benefits of the program,” Arawang Primary Deputy Principal Cindy Condon said.
“The students who participate count down the days each week until Tom arrives and cannot wait to choose a book to read to him. Tom gently relaxes beside them and listens to them read each week and his calmness and happiness is felt and mirrored by the students. Students’ reading and literacy has improved and most of all we have witnessed an amazing boost to their confidence!”
Story dogs also assist children’s reading at several other ACT public schools and at regular sessions in ACT libraries.
In term 3, students at Alfred Deakin High School had their learning supported by three-month-old calves Cookies and Cream.
Part of the Cows Create Careers program, Cookies and Cream helped students improve their understanding of and interest in the dairy industry and farming.
The program has run at Alfred Deakin since it began 20 years ago.
Students from nearby schools, including Hughes Primary, also visit Alfred Deakin to learn more about the program.
“Our students came away with big smiles on their faces and then had a rich discussion about what we learned and develop further wonderings to continue our inquiry about farming,” said Hughes Primary teacher Sally Baker.
Story Dog Tom and his handler Amalia assist with student reading at Arawang Primary School.
Cookies – or is it Cream?
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new electric buses will provide clean, quiet, and comfortable services with zero emissions.
The ACT Government is continuing the transition to a zero-emissions future with the first of four new electric buses to hit the streets of Canberra.
The battery electric buses will be based at the Belconnen Depot, bolstering the number of zero-emission bus services running out of north Canberra.
The depot will be upgraded to install the appropriate charging infrastructure, which will use existing grid capacity to supply energy.
Each bus takes approximately five hours to fully charge and can operate up to 400 kilometres on a full charge, cutting noise pollution and harmful emissions from public transport interchanges and on Canberra streets.
The new buses will bring Canberra’s total electric bus fleet to 16, with an additional 90 electric buses set to be delivered in the next three years.
To facilitate the growing fleet of zero emissions buses, the Zero-Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra supports the transition for public transport workers, with diesel mechanics trained with the skills they need to work on the new electric fleet, and power a more sustainable future for public transport in the ACT.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The upgrades will keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter.
The Australian Government and ACT Government have committed $35.2 million to ease the cost-of-living pressures for Canberra’s public and community housing tenants.
Over the next three years, the ACT Government has allocated $28 million under its Home Energy Support Program package to provide energy efficiency upgrades such as ceiling insulation of up to 5,000 properties and some electrification upgrades.
To date 186 public houses have already received insulation upgrades and over 100 electric appliance upgrades have been made.
The additional $7.2 million investment from the Australian Government will allow for the full electrification of at least 900 properties.
These upgrades will keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter.
The upgrades also support a just transition for Canberrans who need the most support as the Territory moves towards an electric future.
The project is in line with the ACT’s broader commitment to phase out fossil fuel energy use (including fossil fuel gas) and become a net zero emissions city by 2045.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
New funding will allow for expanded services and more healthcare professionals for Canberra’s Walk-in Centres.
Canberra’s nurse-led Walk-in Centres have become part of the national network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, providing more health services and care options for Canberrans.
Building off the success of the walk-in centre model of care, the Commonwealth Government will invest more than $7 million to expand services and hire more healthcare professionals.
Funding to integrate the Walk-in Centres with the Urgent Care Clinic network will increase the number of nurses and allied health professionals including:
three new nurse practitioners and three new advance practice nurses
an advanced scope physiotherapist for the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre to treat patients with musculoskeletal injuries, and provide virtual assessments and support for nursing staff in other Walk-in Centres
a radiographer and sonographer for the Weston Creek Medical Imaging Service to extend the service to provide afterhours imaging.
Funding will also provide more equipment for the Walk-in Centres to treat a wider range of conditions. This includes:
slit lamps and tanometers for eye examinations and removal of foreign objects in the eyes
handheld ultrasound machines for examination of lacerations and other wound types
vascular doppler for investigating blood flow.
The scope of services will expand further over time to include treatment for shoulder injuries, male urinary tract infections, injury in pregnancy and screening for sexually transmitted infections.
Canberra Health Services has commenced the recruitment of new staff and purchase of new equipment, and it is expected the full scope of additional services will be available from early 2024.
Nurse-led Walk in Centres are open seven days a week, including public holidays. For current opening hours and waiting times, visit the Canberra Health services website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
2024 ACT Australian of the Year Joanne Farrell
The four winners of the 2024 ACT Australian of the Year Awards are as diverse as they are inspiring.
There’s Joanne Farrell, a champion for females working in construction; Ebenezer Banful OAM, a volunteer and multiculturalism advocate; Caitlin Figueiredo, a young political changemaker; and Selina Walker, an emerging Ngunnawal elder and leader.
The ACT winners will join the other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2024.
Take a look at the winners and find out more about their work.
2024 ACT Australian of the Year – Joanne Farrell
Joanne (Jo) Farrell is a champion for females in the construction industry.
In 2020, she founded Build Like a Girl, a not-for-profit program that supports girls and women to work in trades.
Build Like a Girl matches females with pre-apprenticeship and entry-level training, then mentors them to secure work in the construction industry.
As the general manager of Kane Constructions ACT, Jo has pushed for a better gender balance.
Jo works closely with government, peak industry bodies, unions, training organisations and building contractors to help them recruit, train and employ women in trade roles.
She also led construction of Strathnairn Charity House, a project designed and mostly built by women, which was auctioned in March 2023. Proceeds from the sale were distributed to local charities.
2024 ACT Senior Australian of the Year – Ebenezer Banful OAM
Ebenezer Banful OAM arrived in Australia over 30 years ago.
He has since dedicated himself to helping others understand Ghanaian and African values, promoting multiculturalism and helping newly arrived communities integrate into Canberra.
He helped found the Companion House community organisation that supports survivors of persecution, torture and other war-related trauma.
Ebenezer has served on numerous committees advocating for multiculturalism. He has volunteered at nearly every National Multicultural Festival and set up Radio Ghana Hour, a community station focused on Ghanaian life and culture, for which he is program coordinator and presenter.
Respected in his community, Ebenezer’s efforts have helped create harmony and understanding.
2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year – Caitlin Figueiredo
Changemaker Caitlin Figueiredo is determined to give young people a say in politics.
In 2015, she worked to bring young people’s voices into parliament through a national youth advisory council.
This led to her election to the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) board.
She revitalised and transformed AYAC, which represents 4.5 million young Australians, creating a more diverse board that better represented young people.
Empowering the next generation of female politicians, she co-founded a political leadership group called Girls Take Over Parliament. It connects with young women from all political parties and enables them to receive support and training from a bipartisan lens.
Caitlin has also addressed the United Nations about the Sustainable Development Goals; this previous work establishing youth structures on gender equality is ongoing.
Image courtesy of The Canberra Times
2024 ACT Local Hero – Selina Walker
Ngunnawal woman Selina Walker is a respected emerging elder and leader whose integrity has supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and reconciliation across the ACT.
Selina continues her grandmother Aunty Agnes Shea’s legacy of influencing and driving change with her unwavering efforts.
Since 2018, Selina has promoted reconciliation as co-chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council.
As a founding member of Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation, she helps improve outcomes for Aboriginal families and children, especially those in out-of-home care.
Selina advocates for Indigenous people within the justice system as a member of the ACT Victims of Crime and Justice Committee and has held roles to improve all children’s educational outcomes in the Catholic school system.
A kinship carer, Selina was awarded Barnardos’ 2017 ACT Mother of the Year.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Free three-year-old preschool will be offered at 130 ECEC locations across Canberra
Canberrans wishing to make use of free three-year-old preschool in 2024 can now check which services will offer the program.
Free three-year-old preschool will be offered at 130 Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) locations around the ACT.
This gives families plenty of choice across a broad range of services.
Canberra three-year-olds are eligible for up to 300 hours of free preschool from the start of 2024.
This equates to about one day per week, generating an average saving of $1329 per child for eligible families.
The benefits are more than just financial. Child learning and development in the years before school are key determinants of future school achievement, social, emotional and health outcomes and, ultimately, life opportunities.
Equitable access to quality, play-based early learning is a powerful way to support children’s learning, wellbeing and development, with life-long benefits.
More than $50 million of funding over the next four years was provided in the 2023/24 ACT Budget to support equitable access to quality early learning, with more than 5,000 three-year-olds across Canberra to be eligible.
This investment will increase preschool programs delivered through ECEC centres by degree-qualified Early Childhood teachers, giving Canberra children the groundwork for a lifetime of learning.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Remember to be considerate of neighbours if planning a celebration
With the festive season fast approaching, Canberrans are reminded to be noise aware and considerate of their neighbours if they’re planning a party or celebration.
Excessive noise can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing. That is why there are noise limits in Canberra’s residential areas, to ensure everyone is comfortable within their own home.
Noise in residential areas is permitted from 7am–10pm Monday to Saturday, and 8am–10pm on Sundays and public holidays. Outside of these times, noise limits apply.
Noise limits are for the benefit of the entire community, but especially help to protect vulnerable Canberrans, such as seniors or those who are unwell. Shift workers or families with small children may also find it especially important for noise limits to be adhered to.
Over the festive season, there may be an increase in noise in your neighbourhood. Often noise concerns can be resolved with a simple conversation with your neighbours.
If you’re planning noisy activities such as a party, let your neighbours know in advance. Often people are more understanding if they know ahead of time when the noise will start and end.
You can also let Access Canberra know so they can manage any noise complaints they might receive on the day.
Being a considerate neighbour also extends to reminding any guests to park safely on your street without blocking any driveways, or if hanging Christmas lights, ensuring they do not shine directly into someone’s home.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The changes will mean drug use is treated as a health issue and not a criminal one.
The ACT Government has taken the next step in its harm minimisation approach to the use of illicit drugs with new laws coming into effect this week.
From 28 October, the personal possession of small amounts of the most commonly used illicit drugs will be decriminalised in the ACT.
People will no longer be exposed to potential prison sentences and instead may be issued a caution, a $100 fine or referred to a diversion program.
While penalties have been reduced, illicit drugs are still illegal and will be confiscated.
The changes will mean drug use is treated as a health issue and not a criminal one.
These changes will help to reduce the stigma experienced by people who use illicit drugs and encourage more people to come forward and receive support.
Drug counselling and other treatment services will be offered to people referred to the diversion program. This provides an opportunity for people to learn more about the services available to them and to access supports they may not have considered before.
The ACT Government has worked closely with the drug and alcohol sector, service providers and ACT Policing over the last twelve months to prepare for these changes.
A targeted information campaign has begun to provide people with relevant information about the law reforms. This includes businesses and venues, medical professionals, and community-based support services.
The ACT Government will continue working with the alcohol and other drug sector to deliver evidence-based and practice-informed policy that leads to better outcomes for individuals, their families, and the broader community.
Chris Gough, Executive Director from the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA), said this legislation is important for people who use drugs because it switches the focus from criminalisation to health and support.
“Drug criminalisation has serious and profound harms associated with it for people who use drugs and their families, and this legislation acknowledges these harms and takes a major step towards preventing them.”
“By allowing people who use drugs to be referred to a health service instead of being given a criminal conviction people are encouraged to seek help and treatment and also, importantly, showing that society hasn’t given up on them, but instead is understanding and supporting them to do better.”
“The ACT is signalling very clearly here that we are a progressive and forward thinking society and we expect people who have health issues to be treated with dignity and respect and not like criminals.”
While these are incremental policy changes that are not expected to lead to significant changes in patterns of drug use, the ACT Government will undertake an independent review in two years to assess the implementation and success of these new laws.
It is still illegal for a person to drive with any level of illegal substances in their system. Penalties for the supply and manufacture of illicit drugs are also not changing and ACT Policing will continue to target drug dealing and trafficking.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.
You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Kingsford Smith Champs 1 team won for sustainable bridge design and construction.
Year 10 and 11 students from Canberra schools competed in the sixth annual Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Advanced Construction and Engineering Bridge Challenge.
Held on Friday 22 September, the Challenge is focused on developing engineering, construction and STEM skills in ACT schools and is organised by CIT’s Building Construction Team.
The goal of the Bridge Challenge is for student teams to design and construct the strongest suspension bridge possible to support a load and ultimately test the destruction of their bridge in time-trialled heats against rival schools.
As a result, students develop a positive experience of engineering and construction, and become more aware and skilled with engineering and building principles.
This year, 17 teams competed. The winning school teams were:
Lightest: Melba Copland MCSS 1 (0.401 kg)
Design, Innovation and STEM: Marist Ninjaneers
Sustainability: Kingsford Smith Champs 1
Maximum Load: Radford Roebling (230.5 kg) – new record weight
Overall Champions: Radford Roebling.
CIT Interim CEO Christine Robertson said the challenge gives students a taste of possible career opportunities available in the construction and engineering fields.
“CIT offers multiple design, engineering and construction courses as well as various trades which relate well to Bridge Challenge,” she said.
Training in these fields can lead to construction management, trades, design, architecture and engineering careers, many of which are experiencing skills shortages.
As an introduction to CIT, the Challenge often introduces school students to training options available at CIT.
“We are always keen to open our doors and encourage local school students to explore CIT at a time when they may be making decisions on a future career path,” Christine said.
“There are so many great career opportunities available through vocational education and training and we are proud to offer young people options about their pathways to make informed decisions.”
The teams prepared bridge designs that showcase construction, efficiency and strength solely with the materials supplied by CIT.
This year the Bridge Challenge was supported By Geocon, Project Coordination, JWland, Training Fund Authority, NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction), CIT Yurauna, Construction Industry Training Council.
For more information about construction and engineering at CIT, visit www.cit.edu.au
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Canberra Hospital has provided health care to the Canberra community for 50 years.
This week the Canberra Hospital celebrates 50 years providing health care to the Canberra community.
The Canberra Hospital, originally known as Woden Valley Hospital, officially opened on 24 September 1973 and since then has transformed into the largest general hospital in the ACT and surrounding NSW region.
This milestone offers an important opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has worked at the hospital over the last 50 years.
Cathie Stoffell is one of those staff members. She began training as a student nurse at the Royal Canberra Hospital in January 1972.
She had finished high school just two months before.
“I was 17. Students were required to live-in then, and I remember my brother and father were allowed to come up to the room, but there were no males allowed,” she said.
“There was just one man in our course. He was paving new ground at the time. Other male nurses followed, of course.”
The three-year course moved at a cracking pace. “We were apprentices, really. We had six weeks of training – injecting oranges and lifting ‘Mrs Bedford’, the dummy, onto the bedpan. From there we were launched onto various wards and were straight into it,” Cathie said.
It was a confronting start for a teenager, and Cathie recalls her first experience of a patient’s death, when a young girl died from leukemia.
“We would debrief amongst ourselves, I suppose. There was nothing formal. It was a regimented sort of atmosphere. There were always bedpans you could be scrubbing so we just got on with it.”
Overall, though, Cathie recalls having “a ball”, getting up to all kinds of “shenanigans” with her fellow students.
“We used to find the leftover meals and eat them in the linen cupboard,” she said.
Starting at the then-Woden Valley Hospital was quite exciting, and Cathie remembers the newness of it all.
In 1973 when the Canberra Hospital opened its doors, things looked pretty different.
The hospital had 36 beds and served a population of around 172,000 with about 175 staff members.
Fifty years on, the Canberra Hospital has over 650 beds and is the only tertiary hospital between Sydney and Melbourne, caring for a population of more than 650,000 people from the ACT and surrounding region, with thousands of staff on the campus at any time of the day or night.
With the new Critical Services Building opening next year, the hospital will offer more emergency, surgical and critical care, with a brand-new emergency department, more operating theatres and more intensive care beds.
Cathie’s early training held her in excellent stead for many other opportunities, and she has nursed all over the world.
It also helped her form a close-knit group of friends, all of whom stayed in nursing careers.
They have a group chat on Messenger and celebrated a 50-year reunion recently.
Like Canberra Hospital, nursing has changed over the years. There are no more starched aprons and pleated hats, and technology plays a much greater role for all staff.
Having worked everywhere from the UK to Saudi Arabia, Cathie loves Canberra and continues to nurse here.
“I remember on day one of our training, they asked us if anyone had changed their minds and three people left,” she said.
Having had such a full career over five decades, Cathie is pleased she stayed.
Cathie at her graduation
Cathie Stoffell today
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Sachi, left, and Fleur are childhood friends who share a passion for garden design.
Childhood friends Fleur Froggatt and Sachi Wimmer had never recorded a podcast before.
Their shared passion for garden design, combined with a post-COVID desire for a new career direction, prompted them to start their podcast On Garden Design.
They do this from The Hive – the professional podcast studio at Woden Library.
“It’s amazing for a free facility,” they said.
“The support is first rate and the facilities are exactly what we need. We book ahead and can always get the time we want. It’s convenient, accessible and easy to use. And while this is new technology to us, it’s been a great learning journey in every way.”
Fleur and Sachi now release a half-hour episode each fortnight.
While focused on the east coast of Australia, the podcast’s content translates internationally.
They now have subscribers in 27 countries.
“Garden design is ubiquitous to every culture and style,” they said.
“We have listeners from places you wouldn’t think of. In fact, the one that really surprised us was Dubai.”
Since opening in 2021, The Hive has welcomed a host of intrepid broadcasters keen to take advantage of the free facility.
Accommodating busy schedules, the studio is available outside regular library hours – from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week.
While the equipment is easy to use, library staff provide a studio induction tailored to new podcasters’ abilities.
“One thing people always comment on is the excellent audio quality,” Fleur and Sachi said.
“We’re not aiming at a professional market, but we have a broad church of listeners. We’ve even had professionals in the industry saying thank you for doing it.”
The pair don’t hesitate to recommend the studio to anyone considering starting a podcast or elevating an existing one.
“There are so many reasons we’d recommend it,” they said.
“It’s a nice evolution, being Canberra girls and library users. We came to the library as kids, and with our kids, and it’s really great to take that to the next level now.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Once the project is completed, it is expected the Mugga Lane landfill gas facility will have capacity to power up to 10,800 homes.
The ACT Government is driving a circular economy by expanding landfill gas capture at the Mugga Lane landfill.
This will reduce emissions and provide reliable renewable energy that could power up to 10,800 homes each year.
It is happening through the expansion of a partnership with Australian owned and operated clean energy engineers, LGI Limited (LGI), which will deliver a landfill gas expansion project.
The project builds upon a successful three-year program. It will further enhance capabilities for capturing harmful methane emissions generated at Mugga Lane landfill and transforming it into reliable renewable energy for the ACT.
“Emissions from landfills without biogas management systems can be a significant problem and can contribute up to 80 per cent of a local government’s carbon footprint,” LGI Founder and Managing Director Adam Bloomer said.
The Government’s priority is to reduce and recycle organic food waste to divert it from landfill, minimising harmful waste emissions. Capturing the emissions created by the organic material that does end up in landfill, however, is also key.
“The ACT Government’s carbon cutting approach of using proven, cost-effective technologies to capture and abate the harmful methane emissions from Mugga Lane and generate reliable, dispatchable (24/7) renewable energy is an example of what progressive governments can achieve by prioritising the environment,” Adam said.
The expansion project will include the establishment of two additional 1 Megawatt gas to energy generators, an additional 12 Megawatt of battery storage and a 20 Megawatt grid connection with Evoenergy.
Once the project is completed, it is expected the Mugga Lane landfill gas facility will have capacity to generate 50,000 Megawatt hours of dispatchable energy.
This is enough energy to power up to 10,800 homes in the ACT each year.
Adding the battery system will provide storage capacity and rapid dispatch of the renewable energy generated by the engines, at times when the grid needs it most.
As part of the LGI partnership, the ACT has been able to reduce carbon emissions by 764,000 tonnes, over the past three years.
More than 80 million3 of biogas has been captured at Mugga Lane, allowing for 96 Gigawatt hours of renewable energy to be generated.
The Mugga Lane site upgrades will further enhance this.
The project will see two additional full-time positions employed on the site and significant investment into the local economy through the engagement of local contractors for everything from concreting to catering.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Home energy assessments provide free advice to renters on how they can save money on their gas and electricity bills.
The ACT Government’s Renters’ Home Energy Program provides free in-home energy assessments tailored to anyone living in a rented home in the ACT.
The assessment identifies where energy is being used and provides simple solutions to help renters save on their bills.
The program is a free and easy way to:
save on energy bills
get tips on the quickest, cheapest and best ways to reduce energy use
make rental homes more comfortable without using more gas or electricity
find out ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
Home energy experts involved in the program have vast experience in carrying out home energy assessments in the ACT. Inspectors like Jeff Knowles provide advice to renters about their energy use and simple steps they can take to save money.
“Canberra is different from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as our summers are quite hot, our autumns and springs are lovely, then we have intense cold throughout the winter,” Jeff said.
“With such a range of temperatures, it’s tough to build a building in Canberra that works well all year round.
“The rising cost of living pressures are pushing people into greater and greater energy efficiency,” said Jeff.
“The Renters’ Home Energy Program aims to assist people by educating them about the properties they live in and the energy they use. Following some simple steps, renters could save around $200 each quarter off their gas and electricity bills.”
Energy saving tips:
Understand what your home is made from, which direction it faces, and identify where heat or cool air can escape. A free home energy assessment and home energy web tool can help you identify these problems and their solutions.
Check your insultation. ACT has introduced a regulation requiring all residential rental properties to meet a new minimum energy efficiency standard for ceiling insulation. Find out more about your rights as a renter.
Use a thermometer to monitor your fridge temperature. Most rental properties have their fridges running much colder than they need to be, which uses more electricity.
Prevent draughts by sealing doors and windows. Door draught stoppers and seal strips are good options.
Use a plug-in power meter to monitor how much electricity your home appliances are using. Meters can point out inefficient appliances in your home such as electric element heaters.
When operating your washing machine, use cold wash cycles so that you’re not using gas or electricity to heat water.
The rooms you are heating, the number of hours heaters are on, and the temperature setting all have a big impact on your bills.
Depending on the season, you may also receive a selection of free energy saving materials to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.
With a hot summer approaching, now is an ideal time to think about how to make your home more comfortable without spending more money on energy bills.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
GymAware has been awarded 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year at the Chief Minister’s Export Awards. Image: Canberra Airport.
A Canberra business success story that developed a product now used in gyms around the world has been recognised as the ACT Exporter of the Year.
Each year the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards celebrate the best and brightest in Canberra’s export industry and showcase the success of local businesses in global markets.
Kinetic Performance Technology (GymAware) was awarded the 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year for their work as a global leader in velocity-based training solutions. A staggering 89 per cent of its sales are exports, with 80 per cent of these to the USA, 10 per cent to the United Kingdom and 6 per cent to France and China.
The company’s RS and FLEX products are designed to help coaches and athletes of all levels measure and track strength training activities in the weight room. This technology has been a part of weight training for professional athletes across a range of sports, helping hundreds of teams and individuals prepare for their career-defining moments on the field.
The company’s systems are used in weight rooms across 65 per cent of all professional sporting teams in the USA, all teams in elite Australian leagues like the NRL and Super Rugby, as well as respected international teams, such as the New Zealand All Blacks.
“I am honoured that GymAware has been recognised as the 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year at the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards,” GymAware founder Evan Lawton said.
“GymAware has been a labour of love, and it’s rewarding to see our commitment to excellence being acknowledged in such a meaningful way by our own community in Canberra.”
The ACT Exporter of the Year awards showcased several of emerging and established exporting companies. Category winners included:
Emerging Exporter – Infinity Avionics Pty Ltd
Resources and Energy – Ardexa Pty Limited
Sustainability and Green Economy – The Mullion Group (FLINTpro)
ACT Promising Exporter – Catch the Sun Communications
ACT Promising Exporter – Science Skincare International Pty Ltd
“It was inspiring to see so many businesses with a clear plan for identifying and pursuing valuable export markets – ultimately all Canberrans benefit when local businesses achieve export success,” CEA Technology and ACT Export Awards judge Michael Burton said.
Businesses who are ready to export have access to support through the TradeStart program. Learn more about exporting and the assistance available on the ACT Business website: act.gov.au/business
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.
A park in Campbell has been named after Violet McKenzie, or ‘Mrs Mac’ – the woman who trained thousands in Morse code, visual signalling and international code during World War II.
The park is located behind the Campbell shops, between White Crescent and Blamey Place.
Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.
She was committed to technical education and training, especially for women.
McKenzie also established a wireless shop in the Royal Arcade, Sydney.
In the 1930s, she began the Electrical Association for Women and wrote the first ‘all-electric cookbook’.
In addition, she established the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps in 1939, and campaigned to have her female trainees accepted into the Navy, which was all male at the time.
Her voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).
The name Violet McKenzie Park was selected following community consultation held last year.
An information sign was unveiled this week by with representatives from the Royal Australian Navy and WRANS ACT in attendance.
The ACT Government would like to thank the local community that has adopted the park and helps maintain it.
Violet McKenzie’s voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Concept render of the new Watson health precinct.
The development application for the new Watson health precinct is now open for public feedback.
New specialist facilities will be built for Marymead CatholicCare’s youth mental health residential service and Ted Noffs Foundation’s alcohol and other drugs youth rehabilitation services.
A new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential rehabilitation service facility will also be developed in partnership with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
Alcohol and other drug addiction causes significant harm to individuals, families, and communities, with a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The establishment of a 24-bed residential facility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans will promote rehabilitation and recovery in a culturally safe and inclusive environment.
New facilities operated by Ted Noffs Foundation and Marymead CatholicCare will offer a modern welcoming environment to encourage positive outcomes for young Canberrans. Planning for the new precinct has accommodated for the future growth of the facilities.
“Detoxing and undergoing a rehabilitation episode at such a young age requires a very specific treatment intervention, and these new facilities will strengthen the current treatment programs on offer,” Ted Noffs Foundation’s National Programs Manager Lachlan Dean said.
“Being able to continue to work on the site we have been on for the last 23 years allows us to stay connected to this community.”
The development application for the precinct is available to view and comment on until 9 October 2023 on the Planning ACT website.
More information about the project is available on the Built for CBR website: builtforcbr.act.gov.au
Artist’s impression of the new facility.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Eoghan Clwyde, with baby Flynn, has benefitted from the Rent Relief Fund
An extension of the ACT Government Rent Relief Fund will provide targeted, short-term emergency support for private renters in low-income households in the ACT.
This extension brings to $2.51 million the total allocated for grants under the fund since it opened in April 2023.
The fund provides support to the most vulnerable households.
It is aimed at preventing evictions, improve their wellbeing and connect them to services that may assist them to improve their financial position over the longer term.
It offers grants for up to four weeks rent capped at $2,500 to help tenants and occupants maintain safe, secure and stable accommodation.
Eoghan Clwyde and his partner never expected to find themselves in need of such support. However, in the lead-up to their first child’s birth, they experienced financial pressures.
They knew baby Flynn would be born prematurely, and so had a great deal of specialist newborn items on the shopping list.
As their costs increased, they found assistance through the Rent Relief Fund – a process Eoghan said was “very straightforward”.
“This program came at terrific timing, and we were able to acquire those extra items that we needed,” Eoghan said.
They were also relieved to avoid asking family for support at a time of widespread cost of living pressure.
To be eligible for a grant, households must be experiencing either rental stress or severe financial hardship.
Applicants also need to meet income limits which vary depending on the number of people in the household.
CARE Inc. will continue to administer the Fund on behalf of the ACT Government.
“We know how valuable this assistance is to people experiencing rental stress,” Carmel Franklin, CARE Chief Executive Officer, said.
“As part of administering the Rent Relief Fund, CARE will continue to provide wrap around support from our range of programs – financial counselling, financial capability, consumer law, community loans and community education, as well as referring people to other local support services as needed,” she said.
In addition to the fund’s extension, the ACT Government continues to work with the Commonwealth Government to improve housing affordability.
It is also investing in a range of measures to increase the supply of affordable rentals in Canberra, with the goal of delivering 600 additional rental dwellings by 2025-26.