Category: MIL-OSI

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New initiatives provide more support for Canberra parents

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

ACT Health has launched three new initiatives to support pregnant people and new parents.

In brief:

ACT Health has launched three new initiatives to support pregnant people and new parents. These are:

  • Maternity in Focus survey – gathering feedback on ACT public maternity care
  • INFANT program – offering first-time parents free support with feeding and playing with their babies.
  • My Pregnancy Options website – covering everything from pregnancy options and decision making to abortion and contraception options in Canberra.

Maternity in Focus survey

The new Maternity in Focus: ACT Maternity Survey is now underway.

The survey will help gather insights into the experiences of women and birthing people in the ACT.

It invites people to share feedback about their pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, particularly in terms of what is being done well and how maternity care in the ACT public health system can continue to be improved.

“This survey is open to any woman or person who gives birth in the ACT through public maternity care and whose baby is in their care. This includes non-ACT residents who give birth in the ACT,” Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Marina Buchanan-Grey said.

Anyone who gives birth in the ACT after 1 September 2024 through public maternity care can complete the survey. It will remain ongoing.

Parents can find the survey postcard inside their ‘blue book’.

Alternatively, it is available online.

Free sessions for new parents about feeding and play for babies

The new INFANT program will support first-time parents with feeding and playing with their babies.

INFANT stands for INfant Feeding, Active play and NuTrition.

The program supports parents and babies with:

  • introducing solids
  • food refusal and fussy eating
  • tummy time
  • active play ideas, and
  • strategies for limiting screen time.

You can also share experiences and ideas with other Canberra parents and carers.

How the program works

INFANT consists of 4 group sessions when your baby is approximately 3, 6, 9 and 12 months old.

These face-to-face sessions run for around 90 minutes.

The sessions are in:

  • Belconnen
  • Gungahlin
  • Molonglo Valley
  • Tuggeranong.

The free sessions are run by community partner Capital Region Community Services.

Register to attend a session

You can register into the program if your baby is less than 4 months old.

My Pregnancy Options website

The new My Pregnancy Options website is now live.

It features information on reproductive health services in the ACT, all in one place.

The content covers pregnancy, contraceptive and abortion options and is:

  • accurate
  • reliable
  • pro-choice
  • accessible.

Community health organisation Women’s Health Matters developed the website with ACT Government funding.

“You can use the website to help you make a choice, to understand your choices, or to help someone you know,” Women’s Health Matters CEO Lauren Anthes said.

The website contains a list of GPs and clinics that provide no-cost abortion services.

It was developed in collaboration with a Consumer Advisory Group of women and gender diverse people. These people have lived experience of having an abortion or experiencing barriers accessing healthcare in the ACT.

Visit the My Pregnancy Options website.

The Maternity in Focus: ACT Maternity Survey survey will help ACT Health gather insights into the experiences of women and birthing people in Canberra.

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Canberra’s best pastries, as voted by you

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Almond, chocolate or plain? Canberrans have plenty of options when it comes to croissants and other pastries. Image: VisitCanberra

In Brief:

  • We asked Canberrans on the @weareCBR Instagram account to name their favourite local pastry spot.
  • This list includes cafés, pâtisseries and bakeries around Canberra.

Whether it’s a croissant for breakfast, a box of Danishes for the office morning tea or a mid-afternoon sweet treat, Canberran’s can’t get enough pastries.

Here are the results:

The scent of baked bread will lure you into this bakery tucked away at Fyshwick Markets. Inside, you’ll find a pastry counter heaving with fruit Danishes, croissants, Italian cream-filled donuts, Portuguese tarts and more.

Wildflour sell a range of different pastries, but they’re most well-known for their croissants. Ube, matcha, pistachio, salted caramel, Biscoff, black tea and mango are just some of the flavours that they’ve featured on their ever-changing menu.

Knead has the feel of a traditional bakery, offering all of the classic pastries. There are croissants, seasonal frangipanes, Portuguese tarts and fruit Danishes. But you’ll also find surprises, like brookies (a brownie cookie hybrid) and a cracking crème brulee tart.

This small but mighty bakery at Curtin shops has the feel of a traditional suburban bakery. Their hearty, flavourful savoury pies are a favourite among Woden residents.

This is not your traditional bakery – unless you’ve recently arrived from the Mediterranean. You’ll find traditional, chocolate and almond croissants alongside Turkish sweet pastries and Borek.

French-influenced pastries are the star at this bakery. You’ll find croissants, cinnamon buns, Danishes, escargot and more.

Le Bon Mélange make just about every baked good under the sun – and pastries are no exception. You’ll find a huge variety of both sweet and savoury options.

Locals queue at this suburb gem to stock up on pastries. There’s cardamon buns, greens and cheese escargots, kouign-amanns, croissants, seasonal pastries and more.

Danishes, scrolls, cruffins, croissants – this family-run bakery offers an impressive lineup of pastries. With a Lyneham location opening soon, more Inner North residents will be able to get their Bakehouse fix.

Located on Beltana Road, this bakery offers a range of fresh pastries to fuel your Pialligo adventures. Choose from croissants, pain au chocolat, escargot, cinnamon buns, Danishes, cruffins and more.

It’s hard to walk by the pastry counter at Tinker Tailor without treating yourself to a golden, flaky pastry. Danishes, croissants and scrolls are some of the delights regularly on offer.

Three Mills not only have five locations across the city, but you can purchase their goods at shops and cafés around town. One taste of their delicious pastries and it’s easy to see why. There’s a big selection of fresh pastries and even bake at home packs.

L’epi Artisan Bakery, Chisholm and Kambah

This French-inspired artisan bakery has a large selection of classic and unique freshly baked pastries. Try a Moorish custard Danish or indulge in a crookie (that’s a croissant with cookie dough, for the uninitiated).

From their cultured butter croissant to their flaky morning buns, locals love pastries from Sonoma. You’ll often have to queue to secure a sweet treat, but rest assured that every moment is worth it.

Sometimes, only a classic will do. Dobinsons has been serving Canberra since 1994 and have earned a reputation for delicious sweet and savoury pastries. Crispy spinach and feta triangles, fruit tarts heaving with shiny fruit and the decadent Nutella Danish are some of the crowd favourites.

It’s little surprise that this bakery, run by French bakers, make an excellent croissant. They also infuse their baked goods with seasonal flair, offering specials like peanut butter, fresh apple and coconut pastries or mandarin and chocolate croissants.

Located inside Manuka Court, this little pâtisserie offers a taste of Europe to the inner south. Chef Wim is Dutch, but trained in France, so you’ll find Dutch boterkoek (butter cake with fruit and nuts) alongside croissants and Belgian chocolate custard twists.

Over the years, Silo has earnt a cult following in the Canberra community. As a result, you may need to jostle your way to the front of the cue for a pastry, but it’s all part of the charm. You’ll find the counter stocked with a stunning lineup of sweet and savoury pastries that will keep you coming back for more.

This bakery is worth the trip to Fyshwick for fresh pastries. If you’d rather not make the journey, the Cedar Husk truck makes its way around Canberra delivering to baked goods to people’s homes. Follow them on Facebook to see when they’re coming to your area.

Prefer your morning pastry with a side of spectacular views? The Café at the Arboretum is in the Village Centre. Take a seat and soak up the views or order takeaway and enjoy a picnic among the trees.

Good Neighbour is one of the newest additions to Kingston’s café scene. Alongside their basque cheesecake and New York style chunky cookies, you’ll find a selection of fresh pastries available at the front counter.

Lilette, Dickson

This artisanal French pâtisserie made the move from Melbourne to Dickson earlier in the year. Chef Lilette bakes all your French favourites, from eclairs to croissants and tarts.

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New EVs join government fleet

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Electric vehicles take advantage of the ACT’s 100 per cent renewable electricity supply to help reduce emissions from transport.

In brief:

  • The ACT Government has added 10 more electric vehicles to its fleet.
  • Electric vehicles are better for the environment and cheaper to run.
  • Making your next car electric could save you money.

Canberra continues to lead the nation in supporting the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).

About 10 new electric vehicles are coming onto ACT roads every day. In fact, you might spot a few new ACT Government EVs out and about this spring, including:

  • a ute
  • two tipper trucks
  • a litter picking truck
  • a delivery van.

These vehicles will join the City Services fleet as a trial to see how the ACT Government can continue to provide essential services in a more environmentally friendly way. An additional four electric passenger vehicles have also joined the fleet in the past month. These vehicles join more than 400 electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles already in the ACT Government fleet.

The trial will showcase the variety and availability of EVs for commercial use and promote their benefits to local industry and community. The new vehicles have been funded through the ACT Government’s Social Cost of Carbon Fund and Zero Emission Government Fund. These funds aim to reduce emissions produced by government activity.

Making the switch

Zero emission vehicles, like EVs, are better for the environment and quieter than petrol and diesel vehicles. They’re also much more affordable to run.

Making your next car electric could save you around $18,000 in running costs over 10 years. It could also reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by around 3 tonnes per year.

The ACT Government offers multiple incentives for people and businesses when they purchase an EV. And with new public chargers being installed all over the city, charging your EV is quick and easy.

Canberran’s are embracing EVs at a rapid pace, with over 9,100 EVs currently registered. If you’re thinking about making your next car electric, but not sure where to start, check out this handy guide on EVs for beginners.

Transport contributes over 60 per cent of the ACT’s emissions. This means electric vehicles have the potential to make a big difference as the ACT continues towards our goals of net zero emissions by 2045.

For more information about zero emissions vehicles in the ACT, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.

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Supporting local social enterprises to scale up

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Base Soaps co-founder Mick Cronin wanted the company to have a social purpose.

In brief:

  • A local social enterprise has turned a gift-giving experiment into a flourishing business.
  • The owners received support from the Mill House Ventures.
  • A new program is now open to help social enterprise businesses scale up.

Many of us may have tried some DIY soap-making in the past. But chances are, few of us are like Mick Cronin and Lianne Brink. These two founded Base Soaps from their home just outside of Canberra.

Base Soaps started as a gift-giving experiment in 2017. With a little help along the way, it is now a fully-fledged business. It sells tens of thousands of bars and liquid soaps across the country.

Co-founder Mick has a PhD in Chemistry. He wanted Base Soaps to have a social purpose – to help to address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.

He wants people to know that their for-profit, for-purpose business is a social enterprise. This means giving back is embedded into the company’s constitution.

“You can, simultaneously, have environmentally thoughtful, high-quality hygiene products, and contribute positive impact to rural and remote Australian communities,” he said.

“Some Australian communities suffer incredibly high rates of preventable diseases.

“We assist by contributing to existing programs that address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.”

One is Otitis Media – better known as middle ear infection. Both co-founders were concerned with the high rates of this in children in Indigenous communities.

They set up the constitution of Base Soaps to require them to donate at least 50 per cent of profits to causes that address these kinds of issues.

Asking for support along the way

A number of mentors have helped Mick and Lianne along the way. Many of these were found via Base Soaps’ connection to Canberra’s social enterprise intermediary, The Mill House Ventures.

The Mill House Ventures provides a comprehensive suite of through-life support for local social enterprises and their founders. These range from short workshops to mentoring programs.

Their latest program, Scale for Impact, is now open for applications. It aims to help established social enterprises, like Base Soaps, to identify future growth opportunities.

Scale for Impact is an initiative developed by The Mill House Ventures through funding from the ACT Government.

“The Scale for Impact program offers established social enterprises in Canberra tailored business support to help identify potential growth opportunities and pathways to philanthropic, sponsorship and/or investment funding,” CEO of The Mill House Ventures, Craig Fairweather, said.

Mick from Base Soaps encourages other entrepreneurs keen to make a difference to connect with The Mill House Ventures.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re already established, or simply have an idea. Go in with an open mind and you’ll quickly find out if this is the best way to make change, and enjoy yourself in the process,” said Mick.

To find out more about the Scale for Impact program go to: millhouseventures.com.au/scale

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Helping volunteers protect our green spaces

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Friends of Light Street is a registered community group supported by Adopt-A-Park.

In brief:

  • The Adopt-A-Park community grants program supports registered community groups who volunteer to improve Canberra’s local parks and spaces.
  • The program is now open to applications for grants of up to $40,000.
  • This story describes the Adopt-A-Park program and the work of one of the community groups that it supports.

Caring for Canberra’s green spaces is a joint effort between the ACT Government and community members.

One of the ways this happens is through the Adopt-A-Park community grants program. Adopt-A-Park supports more than 95 registered volunteer community groups who give their time to improving Canberra’s local parks and spaces.

Under the program, the ACT Government provides grants of up to $40,000 to improve neighbourhood spaces.

This year’s focus is on controlling or removing declared pest plants.

Friends of Light Street Park

Friends of Light Street Park is a registered community group in Griffith. It was set up one year ago by local residents with an interest in preserving their local park. They used their grant to remove harmful cotoneaster plants. This invasive species threatens local wildlife due its dense thickets.

“The cotoneasters have been removed and we have also completed a website and asked residents to become members and volunteers to support our efforts to revitalise our park as an important community green space,” a member of Friends of Light Street said.

“When the community takes a real interest in our green spaces, we gain pride in our shared spaces.

“Community-led ideas creates shared ownership, and in our experience, more heads are better than one.”

How to apply for a grant

The Adopt-A-Park community grants program is now open for applications and will close on Monday 23 September 2024.

Anyone wanting to volunteer can join a registered group and those that are already a registered volunteer group are encouraged to apply.

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LEMMEY ROAD, LOWER LIGHT (Rubbish Fire)

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

LOWER LIGHT

Rubbish Fire in Lower Light

Issued for LOWER LIGHT AND PRINCES HIGHWAY in the Mid North.

CFS advises that crews have responded to a rubbish dump fire at a commercial waste property. The fire currently does not pose a threat to the public.

Property management are on scene managing the fire. Smoke will be visible in the area for some time, and residents and travelers are urged to take care whilst travelling through the area. There may be reduced visibility on major throughfares, such as Princes Highway (Port Wakefield Road).

Message ID 0008509

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BULL CREEK ROAD, BULL CREEK (Grass Fire)

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
13 Apr 2025 11:38

Issued for
BULL CREEK near Meadows in the Mt Lofty Ranges.

Warning level
Advice – Monitor Conditions

Action
Monitor local conditions and stay informed if you are in this area. Decide what you will do if the situation changes.

At this time there is no threat to life or property and firefighters are attending this fire.

More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

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Man arrested after attempted car theft at Seaford

Source: New South Wales – News

A man was arrested after allegedly attempting to steal a car at Seaford last night.

Police were called to Commercial Road, Seaford just after 9pm on Saturday 12 April by reports of an attempted robbery.

A 19-year-old woman was sitting in her car in the shopping centre car park when she was approached by a man who asked for a lift.

They had a brief conversation before he allegedly reached in and dragged her out of the car.

Witnesses quickly intervened, pulled the man out of the car and detained him until police arrived.

Fortunately, the victim wasn’t injured during this incident.

The 20-year-old South Brighton man was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.  He was refused police bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday 14 April.

Police thank the public for their swift intervention and coming to the young woman’s aid.

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2024 Heritage Grant recipients announced

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust will use their grant to develop a self-guided interpretive trail at Mulligans Flat.

In brief:

  • The 2024 ACT Heritage Grants program is funding 13 local projects.
  • These grants help individuals and groups with projects that celebrate the region’s history.
  • The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust is one of the recipients.

The recipients of the 2024 ACT Heritage Grants program have been announced.

This year’s program will fund 13 individual or community group projects to the value of $206,500.

Funding was prioritised for projects that:

  • aim to conserve and promote the region’s diverse heritage
  • enhance local and visitor experiences.

ACT Heritage Grants program aims to help Canberrans honour many years of culture, stories and history.

Previous recipients have showcased the region’s rich history and First Nations heritage. This year’s Canberra and Region Heritage Festival program featured 22 projects funded through these grants.

This year’s selected projects include restoration of heritage places and objects, oral histories, publications and tours.

The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust

The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust will receive a $20,200 grant.

They will use this to create a self-guided interpretive trail at Mulligans Flat.

“This will showcase the geological heritage of Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary and tell stories about how geology has shaped the landscape and people’s connections to country,” CEO Dr Jason Cummings said.

The trail will give visitors to Mulligans Flat a new opportunity to engage with its natural and cultural landscape.

It will be particularly useful for school groups and will form part of the Canberra Tracks network.

“We will incorporate Ngunnawal perspectives and stories and take people on a journey through geological time. Interpretive signage will be installed to showcase local geological features and share stories about how geology shapes landscape features – water, plants, animals and people,” Jason said.

2024–25 individual recipients and projects

  • Cuppacumbalong: Roof Conservation Works – $63,500
  • Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association: Oral Histories in the modern era – $22,200
  • Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association: Rock Valley Homestead Conservation Works – $17,000
  • Canberra Baptist Church: Conservation Management Plan – $15,525
  • Trevor Lipscombe: Griffith Weston Forest Trail Guidebook – $2,500
  • Canberra & District Historical Society: Digitisation of Limestone Plains photographs – $780
  • Hall Heritage Centre: Lyall Gillespie and the story of Ginninderra – $3,225
  • Yarralumla Residents Association: Discovering and Valuing Yarralumla Heritage – $9,850
  • Nick Swain: A History of the Mugga Lane area – $5,040
  • Woodlands & Wetlands Trust: Canberra Tracks geo heritage trail at Mulligans Flat – $20,200
  • University of Canberra: A City by Design – $32,500
  • Theatre Organ Society of Australia: Compton Organ maintenance, Albert Hall – $4,680
  • Free Serbian Orthodox Church St George: Murals Restoration Works – $9,500.

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A new purpose-built facility for CAMHS

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Cottage program has helped young people build their confidence and capacity to return to school or other programs.

In brief:

  • The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ‘Cottage’ program will relocate.
  • It will move to a brand-new facility in Lyons in 2026.
  • This is the first step in preparing the site at North Canberra Hospital for demolition, ahead of building a new northside hospital.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ‘Cottage’ program at North Canberra Hospital will relocate to the southside.

It will move to a new purpose-built facility in Lyons in 2026.

The CAMHS Childhood Early Intervention Program and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Program will also relocate to Lyons.

CAMHS Cottage program

The Cottage is a day program for teens with moderate to severe mental health issues. These issues impact their ability to attend school.

The program has been successful in supporting young people to make functional gains.

It also helps build their confidence and capacity to return to school or other programs.

The new location

The new Lyons location offers young people easy access to:

  • public transport
  • active travel networks
  • green space
  • recreation activities
  • other services.

The ACT Government has appointed Billard Leece Partnership Pty Ltd as the design partner for the new facility.

Design input from young people, carers, clinicians and the local community will help ensure it meets the needs of staff, patients and their families.

The facility is expected to be complete in 2026. Until then, the Cottage will continue to operate at its existing site at North Canberra Hospital.

Preparing for the new hospital

This planned move represents the first step in preparing the site for demolition ahead of construction of the new northside hospital.

The ACT Government is working with clinical services on the North Canberra Hospital campus to:

  • understand current and future needs
  • explore suitable locations for services that will have to move over the next few years.

Find more information on the Northside Hospital Project at builtforcbr.act.gov.au.

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