Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Students in ACT public school can access free period products.
The ACT Government is supporting free period products for Canberrans.
Students in ACT public schools can already access free period products.
Free period products are also available at some locations in Canberra including:
some ACT public health services
the Child and Family Centres located in Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong
the Child Development Service in Holder.
The ACT Government will make period products in more locations in a staged approach over the coming months and years.
The government will provide regular updates about the availability of free period products. It will also provide age-appropriate information in languages other than English.
This is an important initiative to reduce period poverty. It will help people who menstruate to manage their periods in a safe and healthy way.
The ACT follows Scotland as only the second jurisdiction in the world to enshrine free period products in law. This aims to end period poverty and give people who menstruate the dignity they deserve.
The ACT Government remains committed to free period products for Canberrans.
In the 2023/24 mid- year budget, the ACT Government has committed to support the roll out of free period products, ahead of the start of the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Act 2023.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
This year there will be changes to term dates, policies and programs that may involve your family.
Canberra families are about to start another exciting school year.
This year there will be changes to term dates, policies and programs that may involve your family.
Here is everything you need to know for the year ahead.
Student-free days and start of term
From 2024, there will be four student-free days for ACT public schools. These are the first day of each school term.
Student-free days are for staff development, enabling teachers and schools to plan in a student-free environment.
Monday 29 January will be a student-free day.
On Tuesday 30 January, new students will start school. Continuing students will return to school on Wednesday 31 January.
Other term dates for the 2024 school year:
Friday 12 April– Term 1 ends
Tuesday 30 April – Term 2 begins (students start school)
Friday 5 July – Term 2 ends
Tuesday 23 July – Term 3 begins (students start school)
Friday 27 September – Term 3 ends
Tuesday 15 October – Term 4 begins (students start school)
Tuesday 17 December – Term 4 ends.
Financial assistance
The Future of Education Equity Fund (Equity Fund) offers eligible families financial support to help with school essentials. It supports the more vulnerable families in our community.
Low-income families of students – from preschool through to year 12 – can receive a one-off, annual payment. This is to help cover the costs of schooling, such as:
uniforms
sport equipment and activities
tuition
music lessons.
The Equity Fund payments are $400 (preschool), $500 (primary school), and $750 (high school and college level, including CIT Year 11 and 12).
Equity Fund applications for the 2024 school year are now open.
Families can apply for all eligible students in their family in the one application, regardless of whether they attend different schools.
School staff are also able to help families to apply.
Applications close in November 2024.
Find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply online.
Mobile phone policy
A new mobile phone policy for all ACT public schools starts in term 1 2024.
Students in preschool to year 10 at ACT public schools may not use or access personal communication devices at school. This includes recess and lunch, and during school authorised events.
For year 11 and 12 students, mobile phones and other personal communication devices must be silenced and put away during class time.
Students can request an exemption if they need their device for medical or other specific reasons.
Schools will communicate their expectations about how and where to store devices at the beginning of the school year.
Healthy lunches
It includes a Grab and Go shopping list and tips for a waste-free lunchbox. You’ll also find tips on which food groups to include and how to swap for healthier options.
Wellbeing for students
A new school year can be tough for some students, whether they are:
starting a new school
moving into high school or college
just dealing with any of the life changes thrown their way.
The ACT Government has online resources that could be helpful in starting conversations on finding ways to support them.
Asthma management
If your child has asthma, the start of the school year is a good time to make sure you’re managing it.
You may wish to:
book an asthma review with your child’s GP
update your child’s asthma action plan with their GP
make sure the school has your child’s reliever medication and spacer
talk to school staff
book an appointment with one of the asthma nurse educators at Canberra Health Services.
Child development
Are you concerned about your child’s development? The start of a new year is a good time to contact the Child Development Service, to access free drop-in clinics and assessments.
Free three-year-old preschool
ACT three-year-olds can now benefit from 300 hours of free preschool at over 140 locations.
This will save the average family around $1,329 a year.
In 2023 the ACT Government passed new legislation to make free period products available at a range of community locations across the ACT for anyone who needs them.
This includes at every ACT public school, which is something we already do as a system, and will continue to do.
Pads and tampons are available in ACT public high schools, colleges, and combined schools. Pads are available in ACT public primary schools.
They can be accessed at any time during the school day from the school front office for staff, students, and visitors.
The ACT Government will deliver the broader project in stages and a procurement process for dispensers to be installed in public places, including ACT public schools, will occur in 2024.
The Education Directorate will continue to work with ACT Health to ensure age-appropriate information on menstrual hygiene is available for students through our schools.
From Monday 29 January dedicated school services will resume. This includes ‘S’ trips which divert into schools.
Please check your timetable so you are prepared and ready.
If your child is in primary school, you can refer to your school’s pack to plan your child’s travel. Find it on the Transport Canberra website.
If your child is new to school or changing schools, please check available school bus and light rail information on the Transport Canberra website.
Familiarise yourself and your child with their school routine. They should know which stop the bus will pick up from in the morning and where to get off at the end of the day.
Make sure your child has a MyWay card that is registered and topped up with sufficient funds. A MyWay card is easy to get and will save you time and money. Find out more about ticketing and MyWay.
School bus services are available to school students only. Under special circumstances, parents with young children may apply to travel on these services for a few weeks to help their child get used to bus travel. Find out more about parents travelling on school bus services.
If you’re a student in college or tertiary education, check the Journey Planner for timings. Just enter your destination for the fastest, most convenient options.
To stay up-to-date with Transport Canberra updates, including changes to services and latest news, you can:
40 km/h school zones
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. As students return to school, remember to slow down and stick to the 40 km/h limit around schools between 8am and 4pm.
Mobile speed vans and police regularly patrol school zones. Let’s all slow down and support kids’ safety.
Parking around schools
The start of the school year is a particularly busy time in Canberra’s school carparks and surrounding streets.
Unsafe and illegal parking reduces visibility for students and motorists. This creates a hazard when students cross the road.
Parking inspectors and license plate recognition vehicles will be out and about enforcing safe parking around schools.
For drop-offs and pick-ups, arrange a meeting spot, arrive after the rush, or park a little further away from the school and walk with your kids the rest of the way.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Volunteers and ACT Emergency Service Agency staff attend to jobs as quickly as possible.
Canberra has already seen its fair share of storms this summer. And with more stormy weather predicted, it’s important to know how and where to get help if you need it.
Here’s how to prepare your house for a storm, and what you can do if one affects you or your property.
It’s important to note that a thunderstorm forecast is different to a severe thunderstorm warning.
A thunderstorm forecast indicates the possibility of storms throughout the forecasting period.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a storm is imminent or impacting an area.
What to do during a thunderstorm
Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
Keep clear of flooded creeks, rivers and stormwater drains.
Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water
Stay indoors away from windows and keep children and pets indoors.
Get urgent help if needed
For help during storms and floods, ring the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) on 132 500
Only call Triple Zero (000) if the incident is life-threatening.
If your situation changes and you no longer need help, please call back to cancel your request, so resources can be directed elsewhere.
It can sometimes take a while to get through to the ACTSES when there are many calls for help.
Similarly, it can take some time for crews to attend to smaller jobs like a leaking roof, or water that has subsided. Please be patient during this time.
The ACTSES only makes temporary repairs to homes damaged in storms or floods.
If you have permanent damage to your home, you will need to contact your insurance provider to resolve the problem.
OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT. This includes services for people at risk of homelessness due to their homes being uninhabitable.
Find emergency food relief support
If you, or someone you know is experiencing hardship and cannot feed yourself or your family, support is available.
Volunteering ACT coordinates information about where to get food relief services including meals and local food pantries.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Rocky is an energetic dog with a zest for life.
Rocky is a fun-loving, active three-year-old looking for a loving family.
He’s also the record holder for the longest resident at Domestic Animal Services. The mixed-breed pooch has been waiting 303 days to find his forever family.
“He’s very playful and loves to play fetch, he knows how to sit, shake, and drop,”
Jackie Gardner, Assistant Director at Domestic Animal Services, said.
Rocky is a firm favourite at the shelter for his friendly nature, big energy and zest for life – and it’s not just the humans he’s managed to charm.
“He has a few girlfriends right now in the shelter too that he plays with,” Jackie said.
While Rocky has had a few meet-and-greets, potential new homes have ultimately fallen through.
“Dogs like Rocky get overlooked because people don’t see them as special, or they don’t have a unique look to them or anything like that. But he has the personality to die for, he’s so much fun,” Jackie said.
Jackie says dogs in the middle age range are often overlooked. But this age, she says, comes with distinct advantages.
“I think the best thing when you adopt a dog at that age is that you know what you’re getting, you can see the personality.
“You know the size of the dog, which is always good, because around two years is when a dog stops growing. And at that age they know how to live in a household and understand how to listen when they’re asked to sit and so forth, that’s a big benefit.”
Jackie says dogs of this age tend to be especially grateful for their adopted family.
“They do tend to really love the families that they are adopted by. As with every dog, but they seem to just appreciate it so much.”
Rocky is best suited to an active family keen to explore with Rocky and take him on their daily adventures. Although he’s a medium-sized dog, Rocky is very strong on lead.
“He has met some really young children during his meet and greets, and he’s been absolutely lovely,” Jackie said.
“He’s also good with other dogs, as long as they can match that high energy play level of his.”
If you think that Rocky could be a good match for your family, you can express your interest via the Domestic Animal Services website. An adoption coordinator will call you and discuss the next steps.
Alternatively, you can visit the Domestic Animal Services shelter in Symonston to meet Rocky, and other dogs available for adoption.
Walk-in adoptions are available from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The team of experts provides timely and appropriate mental health support.
The ACT Government will continue to fund the second Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team.
The PACER team works together to respond to, assess, and help Canberrans experiencing a mental health crisis.
The team includes a police officer, paramedic, and mental health clinician. They work together to assess and help people of all ages.
The team of experts provides timely and appropriate mental health support.
The police officer helps to make sure that the person being assessed, the PACER team, and the community are safe.
The paramedic helps to check and treat any physical health concerns.
The mental health clinician assesses the person’s mental health concerns and provides support.
The program minimises both avoidable hospital presentations and contact with the justice system for people with mental health conditions.
The program is positively impacting individual lives as well as the ACT’s emergency systems. Since it began in 2019, PACER has attended 6,510 incidents.
Over 70 per cent of people PACER respond to receive the support and care they need outside of the hospital.
PACER is available for people in Canberra who have been referred through ACT Policing and the ACT Ambulance Service. The PACER team visits people at their homes or wherever they are in the community.
The people supported by PACER, their families, carers and the teams have provided feedback on how the program can be improved.
The ACT Government will look in future to strengthen the PACER model of care to better support the wellbeing and mental health needs of Canberrans in crisis, their family and carers.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
CIT Woden will open in 2025.
The ACT Government is committing to an additional $8 million for additional fit-out components and equipment at the new CIT Campus in Woden.
The campus will be Canberra’s largest new education facility enabled by smart technology. The equipment and digital learning tools will allow students to learn online and in person.
The campus will have:
augmented hearing systems
camera tracking capability
video conferencing equipment
LED wall displays
smart screens
microphones
amplifiers
speakers.
Other features will include:
modern commercial workstations
appliances
a demountable stage
creative art equipment.
This equipment will give students an enhanced learning experience. Smart classrooms, simulated learning environments and hands-on training spaces will help them gain skills in areas such as IT, cybersecurity, hospitality and business.
The new digitally enabled campus will give students the opportunity to collaborate with local industry in a real-world commercial environment. This will help them be job ready.
The campus will open in 2025 and will welcome 6,500 students each year. It will include a new light rail ready public transport interchange. This will create more business, employment and education opportunities in the Woden Town Centre.
The campus buildings are also some of Canberra’s more sustainable buildings. A cross-laminated timber frame is being installed in the main building, contributing to the project’s 6 Green Star Rating. The timber materials in the buildings will lead to a 59 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
A second crane has also now been assembled, as construction ramps up across the new campus site. The crane was named ‘Moon Lifter’ by Woden school children and joins first crane, ‘Sir Lifts a Lot’.
Canberrans can expect to see the main building ‘top out’ in the second half of this year.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new roster will mean the ACT Ambulance Service will be even better placed to meet community demands.
The ACT Government will increase the number of frontline paramedics employed by implementing a new ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) roster.
These changes mean an additional 11 paramedic crews will be rostered on over a 24-hour period.
This will improve fatigue management practices and create a better work-life balance for paramedics. The change will also mean that ACTAS will be even better placed to meet community demands for ambulance services.
In addition, training and development requirements will be covered by rostered resources and operational resourcing flexibility will be increased. Meal breaks will also be accessed more regularly and there would be less need for paramedics to work past their shift times.
As part of the 2023-24 Budget Review, the government is investing $19.7 million over four years to enable the implementation of the new roster.
To achieve the new roster, changes need to be made to the ACTAS enterprise agreement. This agreement has been in negotiation for several months and is in the final stages of negotiation between the ACT Government and the Transport Workers Union.
Paramedics and the ambulance service perform a vital role in the Canberra community, responding to those in need when and where they need help most. This improved roster will better enable paramedics to meet those needs – while also supporting their wellbeing and professional development.
“Investing in staffing will mean paramedics will continue to enjoy rewarding careers in the ACT Ambulance Service, with improved rostering leading to better outcomes for all,” ACTAS Chief Officer Howard Wren said.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Artist Lis Johnson has completed numerous life-size bronze sculptures in Canberra.
The Federal Parliament has approved the installation of a sculpture to honour the late Senator Susan Ryan AO FAICD (1942-2020) in the Parliamentary Zone.
Senator Ryan dedicated her life to public service through many different roles.
She held public office as a Senator in the ACT and Minister in the Hawke government.
Senator Ryan also worked in senior roles across the private and public sectors.
Her distinguished career included many firsts. She was the first Senator for the Australian Capital Territory. She was also the first woman appointed to a Labor frontbench position and the first Age Discrimination Commissioner.
The life-size bronze sculpture of Susan Ryan will be adjacent to the Senate Rose Gardens eastern central entry.
The location is near where she once had an office in Old Parliament House. The art work will be in an area featuring a curved bench seat, new paving, and interpretive signage.
The ACT Government commissioned the sculpture which recognises the contribution that Susan Ryan made to Australian public life.
It acknowledges her advancement of women’s rights as a Minister and her role in creating the Sex Discrimination Act – an enduring reform that changed Australia.
Artist Lis Johnson has completed several life-size bronze sculptures. These include those of Dame Enid Lyons and Dame Dorothy Tangney, who stand adjacent to Old Parliament House, and Sir John Gorton (with Suzie Q) in Parkes.
Lis has been working closely with Susan Ryan’s family, ensuring they are involved at every stage of the work.
“We are so thrilled that the sculpture of our mother Susan Ryan will be located in the Senate Rose Gardens at the Old Parliament House,” Justine Butler, Susan’s daughter, said.
“For my brother Ben and I, this was the parliament house. We spent a lot of time there, with our mother, and we have happy memories of those gardens, so close to her office.
“My mother and her colleagues played social tennis games there in the summer, and all year round, the beautiful gardens provided an important place for Susan to think and work,” she said.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Cyrus completed a full-time traineeship working at the ACT Education Directorate within the Careers and Vocational Pathways Unit.
Embarking on an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) provided Cyrus Wren with a rich variety of work opportunities.
He ultimately landed a rewarding full-time job in the public service.
To top it off Cyrus was named Trainee of the Year at the 2023 ACT Training Awards and was runner up at the 2023 Australian Training Awards.
In high school, Cyrus was unsure what he wanted to do next – he just knew he wanted a quick start to a good career that would pay him well.
He did some research and began an ASbA, then completed a full-time traineeship working at the ACT Education Directorate within the Careers and Vocational Pathways Unit.
He studied a Diploma in Project Management and now works as a Vocational Learning Programs Coordinator within the Directorate, supporting the kind of training he completed.
Building on his experience, Cyrus now manages administrative processes, develops internal and external publications, liaises with stakeholders, supports school staff, attends career events and presents to students.
“Through my ASbA I developed a passion for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector which I was working in, and was helping me re-engage with school, so I wanted to help strengthen that as much as I could,” Cyrus said.
“I was lucky enough to be offered the traineeship and I accepted.”
He said the process of applying for both the ASbA and the traineeship was seamless and he enjoyed both.
“My traineeship experience was overall extremely positive for me. A highlight was that I was given the opportunity to go out to ACT public schools and do presentations to students, informing them of the different pathways that are available to them outside of university. Most commonly explaining the benefits of an ASbA and how they can use that during their career journey, how they can use that in combination with a potential university pathway, whatever it may be for them,” he said.
“I received amazing mentoring support from my colleagues which really helped reaffirm that I was in the right spot. I also had lots of support from my GTO. I had all the support I needed to face any challenges that may have come up.”
Cyrus’s goals include continuing to work with the VET sector over the next five years.
He hopes to complete a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to one day facilitate and deliver VET qualifications.
“A long-term ambitious goal of mine is to one day open my own GTO or Registered Training Organisation, or both, and support mature-aged people who want to re-enter the workforce, upskill or change careers. There is a lot of focus, support and financial assistance to help young people but there is a forgotten demographic, being older people, and I want to help support them the best that I can,” he said.
Like Cyrus, you can follow your own VET path in an industry that interests you.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A student in the sewing program at Harvest Hope Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A new ACT Government program is set to support established and start-up social enterprises in Canberra.
Delivered by Canberra social enterprise advisory intermediary, The Mill House Ventures, the Social Enterprise Grants Program is now open and closes 19 January 2024.
The grants provide matched funding from $10,000 to $30,000 to support businesses like Lolendo Collections, which was started by two Canberra locals to fund their charity, Harvest Hope Africa.
**Trigger warning**:
Teachers Rebecca and Patrick Lubilanji spent a decade living and working together in Africa before moving to Canberra.
Patrick was raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After spending time working in a rape crisis centre in 2017, the pair established Harvest Hope Africa to help give girls a voice and to achieve a better life.
“The girls we support are often displaced, traumatised, very poor, and their family and friends have rejected them after becoming pregnant as a result of rape,” Rebecca said.
“Girls as young as 11 years old had nowhere to go, no real chance of finishing school or a way to create a means to take care of themselves or their newborns.
“We had already started a school in Tanzania, we knew the culture, the language and had networks on the ground, so Harvest Hope Africa was the next step.” As if running a charity wasn’t enough on top of their full-time teaching roles, Rebecca and Patrick founded a new social enterprise in 2022. They started Lolendo Collections as a revenue producing stream to help fund their charity.
“After three years running the charity, we needed a more consistent way to generate revenue aside from donations.
“We didn’t know how or where to start which is when a friend told us about The Mill House Ventures.
“They were absolutely incredible!” Rebecca said.
“They guided us each step of the way, from product idea testing to viability, and the right legal structure for our social enterprise.”
That idea was to bring the colour and beauty of African fabrics and prints to a western fashion with Lolendo Collections.
Rebecca handmakes all Lolendo items, using the proceeds from sales to help fund their charity programs.
“We have a sewing program in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to help upskill the girls,” she said.
“Some are as young as 12, so we help them finish school before moving them onto the sewing program.
“We’ve had girls say, that you won’t just learn how to sew in the program, you’ll learn how to believe in yourself again.
“With their sewing skills they’re able to set-up their own businesses or find work and start providing for themselves and their children.”
Rebecca explained that Lolendo also means pride in the local Lingala language.
“These girls have nothing, they’re deeply traumatised, shy and lacking self-worth and confidence. With the program we’re helping these girls build confidence and pride and hope for a future for themselves and their children.”
As for what’s next for Lolendo and the charity, Rebecca said their Lolendo goals are to move online, build their Etsy sales and reach beyond Canberra.
“With the charity, we hope to use the revenue from Lolendo to help fund a new program for upskilling women in hospitality. We also want to increase salaries of our staff working in the charity in Africa,” she said.
Rebecca and Patrick were part of The Mill House Ventures 2023 GRIST Program. The Mill House Ventures is a social enterprise advisory helping social enterprises across Canberra and the region bring their ideas to life.
3 practical tips from Rebecca and Patrick on how to start a social enterprise
Be brave – go with your heart. Whatever vision you have to help your society, local or beyond Canberra, you can help make our society better.
Find advisers – like The Mill House who have expertise you need to set yourself up properly, including lawyers and accountants etc.
Be informed – make sure research how to run a business, do product research including testing the viability of your product.