Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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.

For more information visit www.act.gov.au/health/topics/drugs-alcohol-smoking-and-vaping/drug-law-reform

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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.

The full list of ECEC services taking part in three-year-old preschool in 2024 can be found at https://www.education.act.gov.au/early-childhood/coming-soon-free-three-year-old-preschool

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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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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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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.

Find out more about the Home Energy Support Program at https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/policy-programs/canberras-electrification-a-just-transition

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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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Canberrans looking to save money on their energy bills can now access new CHOICE product recommendations on hot water heat pump systems.

The appliances have now been added to the Make Your Next Choice Electric online tool, developed through a collaboration between CHOICE and the ACT Government.

Heating water is the second-highest source of energy use in an average household.

As more Australians electrify their homes, CHOICE reviews of the latest hot water heat pump products on the market will help Canberrans develop their own plans to switch off gas.

With this data now integrated into the Make Your Next Choice Electric experience, it’s easy to find the best heat pump to suit your household’s needs.

Heat pump systems are more energy efficient than conventional electric water heaters.

Upgrading to an electric heat pump can help reduce your emissions by about 10 tonnes over the heat-pump’s useful life.

This can potentially save you about $150 per year.

“Water heating can account for up to 25 per cent of a home’s energy use. Heat pumps can drastically reduce electricity usage, in the same way a reverse cycle air conditioner reduces cooling and heating energy use,” Director of Reviews and Testing at CHOICE, Matthew Steen, said.

“Heat pumps deliver two to three times the amount of heat energy for every kWh of electricity they use. Compare this with traditional electric resistance hot water systems which deliver 1:1 at best. Heat pump hot water systems are the logical choice if you want the most efficient electric hot water system,” Matthew said.

The Make Your Next Choice Electric tool:

• showcases the latest energy efficient electric appliances on the market that are best suited to individual household needs
• identifies when fossil fuel gas appliances need to be swapped out
• provides cost estimates for upgrades
• provides estimates for cost and emissions savings as a result of appliance upgrades.

To use the online tool, visit energy.act.gov.au

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The inner north is set for an environmental transformation as Canberrans are asked to comment on a vision for Sullivans Creek that will re-naturalise concrete waterways.

The proposal will replace concrete in Sullivans Creek with native water plants that will trap nutrients and bolster biodiversity in the region.

Habitat connectivity projects like these ensure more native species have a place to call home. In addition, they help to beautify Canberra’s urban environment and give Canberrans opportunity to consider how the city can be more climate resistant.

The ACT Government’s vision for Sullivan’s Creek is to create an ecological corridor through the city.

As well as giving wildlife space to move through the landscape it helps preserve Canberra’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The vision forms part of the Government’s $2.95 million investment in the 2022-23 ACT Budget’s ‘Connecting Nature, Connecting People’ initiative.

The waterways and landscape linked to Sullivans Creek hold significant cultural importance to the local Ngunnawal community.

There will be two opportunities to provide in-person feedback.

Community pop-ups will be run on the 11th of November at the EPIC Markets and on the 15th of November at the Dickson Shops.

Canberrans can also have their say online until Wednesday 6 December on the YourSay Conversations website.

Find out more about the project on the Connecting Nature, Connecting People page on the Environment website.

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