Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

^{Capital Brewing Co. by Tourism Australia}

The Duxton, O’Connor

This gastro pub located at O’Connor shops offers a roast every Sunday.

For $39, enjoy pork belly, chicken and lamb with veggies and Yorkshire pudding, covered in gravy.

This cosy pub at Ainslie shops offers the perfect winter special every Sunday from 12pm.

For $25 enjoy a roast served with sides and a house beer, wine or soft drink.

This great old English-style pub has it all. Great food, beers and ambience – with regular live music and a crackling fire.

It’s the perfect spot to escape the cold weather.

Indulge in speciality drinks at Highroad this Canberra winter.

Warm up your choice of a pumpkin spice latte, orange and white chocolate latte or a chai cuddle cup.

This Irish pub in the city centre is a great place to hide from the cold.

Enjoy traditional pub food, live music and a crackling fire.

_{King O’Malley’s by Visit Canberra.}

This Parisian-style café on Lake Burley Griffin is serving up speciality hot drinks this winter.

After a lakeside walk, warm up with a mulled wine or cider beside the firepit.

This modern restaurant offers contemporary cuisine and features a fireplace to set the perfect tone for a winter date night.

Desserts we have our eye on this winter include the sticky date pudding and mulled wine poached pear crumble.

This old rustic pub is the perfect place to cosy up this winter.

Enjoy great comfort food like bangers and mash, paired with a mulled wine by the fireplace.

Parlour changes its menu every season, so it’s a must visit this winter.

Enjoy great wine and food by the restaurant fire.

This modern pub at Manuka shops offers a roast every Sunday.

For $30 enjoy a roast plate of beef with classic sides and gravy.

Find this cosy bookstore café in Gold Creek.

Sit by a crackling fire while you read and warm your belly with comfort food like sausages and mash or a curry.

Check out one of Canberra’s oldest hospitality venues this winter.

The cottage’s rustic character and warm fireplace makes it an inviting place for locals in the cooler months.

Warm up at this lakeside gastro pub.

Indulge in pub classics like sausages, mash and gravy, or share one of their cheeseboards by the inviting fireplace.

_{Walt and Burley by Visit Canberra.}

As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

Released 06/06/2025

The 2024 ACT Gambling Survey, released today, reveals that while fewer Canberrans are gambling, the harms associated with gambling remains widespread and persistent.

Commissioned by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission (GRC) and conducted by CQUniversity, the survey provides a detailed snapshot of gambling behaviours, harms, and attitudes across the ACT.

The survey, which included responses from over 10,000 ACT adults, found that 53.2% of residents had gambled in the past year. One in six adults (15.8%) reported experiencing at least one type of harm from gambling, including:

• 9.1% from their own gambling.
• 5.7% from someone else’s gambling.
• 5.7% from legacy harm—lasting effects even after gambling has stopped.

Despite falling participation rates, the harms are increasingly severe and disproportionately impact younger men. Males under the age of 40 make up only 22.6% of the population, but they account for over half (51.5%) of those most affected by gambling harm in the ACT.

Minister for Gaming Reform, Dr Marisa Paterson, said the findings reinforce the need for continued action.

“This report provides us with key insights into how gambling is impacting our community. Despite public perceptions around the use of poker machines being an activity that older people engage in, this research shows men under 40 are disproportionately participating in poker machine gaming and experience harm as a result,” Minister Paterson said.

The report also reveals significant shifts in behaviour around gambling. Since 2001, overall gambling participation has dropped from 72.9% to 53.2%, and Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) use has halved since 2009. However, online gambling has surged five-fold and is now considered a higher-risk form of gambling.

“We’ve made strong progress in reducing the number of pokies in our community, and we’ll continue working towards reducing machine numbers to 1000 by 2045. This will be supported by a range of harm minimisation measures, particularly through the implementation of mandatory account-based cashless gaming.”

Encouragingly, community support for reform remains strong, with two-thirds (66%) of ACT adults backing further reductions in the number of poker machines.

The survey findings will inform future policy and intervention strategies focused on protecting vulnerable groups and addressing the evolving risks of online gambling.

“The insights from this report will guide targeted efforts to prevent gambling harm. This includes exploring stronger advertising controls and other measures to address the risks posed by online gambling,” said Minister Paterson.

The full report is available at www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au/research/10000-person-act-gambling-survey-report-now-available.

If you or someone you know is affected by gambling, free and confidential help is available 24/7 through the ACT Gambling Support Service. Call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

– Statement ends –

Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

Released 06/06/2025 – Joint media release

Young people across the ACT will continue to get the mental health support they need, with the ACT Government committing more than $9.4 million over four years to strengthen community-based mental health programs in the 2025-26 Budget.

The investment reflects the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting young Canberrans and their families by providing mental health care that is accessible, timely and effective – helping reduce pressure on the hospital system while enabling children and young people to thrive.

The ACT Government is providing continued funding for five successful, community-driven programs:

• MindMap – a digital mental health navigation tool connecting young people and families to real-time support from clinical staff and peer workers.
• Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) – an early intervention and suicide prevention program delivered in ACT high schools.
• WOKE – a free Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group program for young people experiencing emotional distress.
• Stepping Stones – a trauma-informed service supporting children exposed to family violence and trauma, and their caregivers.
• ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Alliance (Youth Alliance) – a collaboration of community services focused on improving mental health outcomes for children and young people.

Treasurer Chris Steel said the Government is responding to the growing mental health pressures faced by young people.

“Our Budget continues to invest in services that meet them where and when they need it – in schools, in the community, and online.

“We want Canberra to be the best place in the country to raise children, and that means delivering the right support at the right time.”

Minister for Mental Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the investment recognises the vital role of community mental health care providers.

“These programs have been developed through strong partnerships across government, the health sector and the community – and they are delivering real impact,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“We know demand is growing, and many young people still struggle to access services when they need them. That’s why Labor committed at the last election to ongoing funding for this important workand will continue to prioritise support for the growing mental health needs of the community.”

The ACT Government’s commitment to early intervention, prevention and better access reflects broader strategies across youth mental health and wellbeing, and supports the Territory’s long-term goal of building a more connected, compassionate mental health system.

Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) extended their sincere thanks to the ACT Government and Minister Stephen-Smith for their ongoing support.

“At MIEACT, sharing lived experiences of mental illness and recovery is central to the transformative impact we make in schools and communities. Our educators bring authenticity, empathy, and hope—breaking down stigma in ways that clinical facts alone cannot achieve” said Sheryle Moon, MIEACT President.

“MIEACT is incredibly proud to stand alongside the ACT Government as partners in this transformative, multi-year investment. This funding is not just recognition of MIEACT’s work, it’s a powerful affirmation of the value of lived experience, the strength of our DoNOHarm framework, and our unwavering commitment to supporting young people through programs including Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM). Together, we’re building a future where stigma is replaced by understanding, and where every young person feels empowered to seek support and speak up about their mental health” said Prudence Slaughter, CEO, MIEACT.

– Statement ends –

Chris Steel, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases