Category: MIL-OSI

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Today, businesses from across the Canberra region were recognised for their sustainability achievements at the annual Climate Choices Business Awards.

The awards recognise some of Canberra’s most innovative businesses as the city works towards net-zero emissions.

The awards received high-quality nominations from a diverse range of organisations.

This demonstrates a strong commitment to climate action and emissions reduction from the Canberra business community.

Sustainable choices can sometimes come with an upfront cost, such as those associated with appliance upgrades or installation of EV chargers. The success of businesses such as the award recipients shows that such investments will pay off – for businesses and the community.

Many of the award-winning businesses benefitted from financial assistance and expert advice from the ACT Government’s Sustainable Business Program.

Through the program, businesses can receive support to improve sustainability and demonstrate climate leadership in their operations.

2024 Climate Choices Business Award winners

Category	Business/event
Zero Emissions Early Movers	Goodwin Aged Care Services
Energy Star	Canberra Services Club
Waste Minimisation	Les Bistronomes
Sustainable Event	National Folk Festival
Sustainable Small Business of the Year	Embassy of Belgium
Corporate Climate Leader	Waves Carwash
Innovation Excellence	GREN
Minister’s Award for Leadership	Steven Blakemore The Canberra Tradesmen’s Union Club (Dickson Tradies)

Find out more about the Sustainable Business Program.

For more information visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.

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Dejan Andrevski is well known for running a convenience store with a difference.

Stocking an array of imported foods from the US and Europe, he started Bruce Super Convenience in 2017.

He is now looking to move from a bricks and mortar business to a full e-commerce model.

But how did someone who had three degrees, a foray in investment banking and years of tech start-up work decide he wanted to start a convenience store?

“My last tech start-up had wrapped up, my wife was pregnant and was like ‘please don’t do another tech start-up, we need consistent pay for the next few years’,” he laughed.

“I applied for a bunch of accounting jobs, and went to some interviews, but it just didn’t feel right.

“I saw an ad for this shop that was being sold and I joked with my wife that maybe I could start a shop.

“Later than night, the spreadsheets were out, and I started thinking, maybe this could actually work,” he said. “I wanted to go out on my own and prove to myself I could do this, without financial backers, and that if it was a success, it was me and if it failed, it was me.”

It was a success. Dejan’s shop has become well known across Canberra. It even made the Daily Mail this year for stocking imported Biscoff Easter eggs.

But Dejan’s business reached a tipping point.

“A new development across the street from our store broke ground three years ago. It was going to include a big supermarket, so we started looking at how we could continue to stay on the front foot, and to be honest, stay in business,” he said.

Dejan had an investment partner on board. He made an offer to operate the supermarket and began looking at floor plans and fit outs for the new premises.

However, things took a turn, and the space was bought out by another buyer. It went for almost double the price, which meant Dejan was no longer able to open in the new development.

“This was only six months ago,” Dejan said. “It was difficult, but we’ve had to adjust and look at how to move forward.”

That’s when he reached out to the Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS).

He wanted to look at how they might further expand their online following and move their store to a full e-commerce offering.

“Candice and Anna from CBASS have such a great perspective on business. They’ve been in the game a long time and are very practical. They get you to look at hard business targets, but also offer a different, new and measured perspective,” he said.

“It’s made me ask questions of my business and myself, that I wouldn’t normally, and they’ve been a great support as we transition the business.”

The ACT Government funds the CBASS program. It offers emerging, new and established businesses in Canberra up to four hours of free business advice.

With years of industry experience, Anna and Candice are a well of business knowledge.

“I think a lot of business owners in Canberra can benefit from their support,” Dejan said. “Especially new business owners who don’t know where to start.”

On Sunday 19 May, Dejan officially closed the Bruce shopfront. People lined up for up to three hours to buy their speciality snacks and imported goodies.

“Our next goal is to focus on recreating the revenue we created in store, online,” Dejan said.

“We’re also looking at how we can diversify and move into the wholesale market for the imported products we’re bringing in.”

You can visit Dejan’s online store to view the selection of speciality and imported snacks and goodies.

If you’re looking for business support – whether you’re new to business or just starting out – contact CBASS to find out more.

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Canberra Hospital’s brand-new welcome hall will open on Monday, 3 June.

The hall is the new entry and main reception for the hospital and replaces the existing reception in Building 2 from this date.

Welcome hall location and features

The welcome hall is close to arrival points such as:

• the multi-storey car park
• taxis and public transport
• a covered waiting area and drop-off zone at the entrance, which also services the new Emergency Department.

It is a convenient meeting point in a modern, inclusive and comfortable environment.

Visitors can enquire at the main reception area to find their way to locations around the hospital and gather in the seating hubs.

Community input was essential to the hall’s design and construction. This feedback has helped shape the building to be welcoming and easy to navigate. It also reflects the diverse nature of the Canberra community.

The new space will improve the experience for both staff and visitors.

Design features:

• a striking wooden-panelled main reception to provide customer service and welcome community to the hospital
• a new café and retail space (to be opened at a later date)
• seating hubs and green outdoor spaces for visitors and patients to relax in
• floor-to-ceiling, double-glazed windows providing a strong connection to the surrounding landscape
• a transparent, above-ground clinical link that connects the existing hospital with the new building and provides patients with privacy as they move through the hospital
• striking art installations from local artists that create a welcoming and inclusive space.

The Critical Services Building

The welcome hall will connect the new Critical Services Building with the rest of the campus.

The Critical Services Building is in the final stages of construction and is expected to open to the community in August. It will then be known as Building 5 on the hospital campus.

The welcome hall is the first part of the new building to open.

For more information on the Critical Services Building and the Canberra Hospital Expansion project, visit www.builtforcbr.act.gov.au.

^{Inside the new welcome hall featuring Bradley Mapiva Brown’s ‘Ngala Dhawura – Country of Many Trees’ artwork.}

^{The main corridor of the Critical Services Building featuring Hannah Quinlivan’s ‘Life Force’ artwork.}

^{The main entry to the new welcome hall, alongside ‘Lynnice Church’s ‘Journey of Healing’ artwork.}

Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and Brighte have announced three recipients of their Brighte Pathways: Women in Sustainable Energy scholarships.

The scholarships aim to support the growth of the ACT’s sustainable energy sector, address skills shortages and give young women pathways to success in what can be a heavily male-dominated industry.

Each scholarship is for a woman who has demonstrated commitment to the industry and is valued at $2250.

They are available to women studying full- or part-time, enrolling or intending to enrol in any of the following courses:

• Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology
• Certificate III in Electro-technology Electrician · Battery Storage Systems · Grid Connected Photovoltaic Power Systems
• Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Certificate III in Electronics and Communications
• Training in Insulation Installation.

Christine Robertson, Interim Chief Executive Officer of CIT, said the program underpins the Institute’s commitment to fostering gender diversity and sustainability in the renewable energy sector.

“Through this partnership, we are empowering women to pursue careers in renewable energy and contributing to the growth and innovation of the industry. We are also addressing the skills shortages prevalent in electrification industries,” she said.

Barriers to becoming a trade professional include lack of exposure and experience to trade vocations and previous stereotypes of gender-associated work.

“The scholarship funds can be used to cover student fees and purchase recommended equipment for their studies. Additionally, Brighte will cover the Solar Accreditation Australia costs for eligible female CIT students awarded financial scholarships,” Christine said.

Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell said we are facing an industry shortage of tradespeople needed to help Australia hit its renewable energy targets.

“Through our partnership with CIT, we are proud to support the development of our apprentices and create opportunities for these women to thrive in this dynamic and rapidly growing industry.

“It is so important for us to do our part to ensure that the training pathways are there for young women to enter the industry and help us achieve the growth needed to ensure Australia’s sustainable future,” she said.

Brighte is the exclusive administrator for the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme (SHS) as well as the accompanying Solar for Apartments scheme.

Over the past two years, more than 18,500 installations have been completed with the scheme generating more than 300 GWh of energy.

CIT will offer more renewable energy scholarships in 2024 to encourage the uptake of renewable energy training.

Find out more on the CIT website.

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The first sod has been turned at Garran Primary, kicking off work on the project to modernise and expand the school.

This key milestone marks the beginning of work to establish the site and begin construction.

The complete modernisation and expansion of the school will deliver new learning and administration facilities, car parking and improvements to school access.

The school’s capacity will be increased to up to 975 students.

The works will also include a new gymnasium, hard courts and green spaces, providing more sporting facilities for the Woden community.

The new learning spaces will provide students with an environment that fosters creativity, innovation and personal growth.

The redevelopment will also support the community by developing modern facilities. It is hoped these become a meeting hub for local clubs and groups in the Garran area.

Some preliminary works have already taken place during the school holidays, including providing new alternative play spaces and facilities. These will help ensure the continued delivery of a well-rounded curriculum for all students throughout the construction period at Garran Primary School.

The project’s staged construction approach will allow learning to continue onsite in the existing school as work takes place.

It will also reduce the impact on parking and ensure the site’s surrounding area is safe for students, families and members of the public.

The first stage of the Garran Primary School modernisation project – the construction of the new school campus – is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

For more information about these works, or to follow along with the construction progress,  visit www.builtforcbr.act.gov.au/projects/education/garran-primary-school-expansion-and-modernisation

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Key actions to improve health, wellbeing and equality for LGBTIQA+ Canberrans will be implemented as part of the Capital of Equality Strategy for 2024–29, released today.

The new strategy affirms the ACT Government’s commitment to positive change and improved wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ individuals, their families and their communities.

The strategy acknowledges persistent challenges for the LGBTIQA+ community.

Key actions

The Capital of Equality Strategy for 2024–29 will be implemented through action plans. Some of the key actions announced with the strategy include:

• continued support for the Capital of Equality Grants Program, recognising its positive outcomes for LGBTIQA+ communities and the continuing demand for these funds
• working together with LGBTIQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to scope their needs and design the solutions
• actions to improve health outcomes, including mental health, gender-affirming care, fertility access and abortion access
• implementing a range of policy forms for LGBTIQA+ equality, such as improving LGBTIQA+ related data collection in housing policies and continuing the work on protections for people born with variations in sex characteristics from deferrable medical interventions
• building an information hub for LGBTIQA+ communities to know where to seek support
• continuing support for LGBTIQA+ work and events, recognising their vital role in creating community connections and spaces of belonging.

As Canberra’s population grows, the new strategy marks an important step in ensuring the city remains one of the world’s most welcoming and inclusive.

A changed acronym

The ACT Government now adopts the LGBTIQA+ acronym.

The addition of ‘A’ explicitly acknowledges and affirms the identities of asexual, aromantic and agender individuals within the broader LGBTIQA+ community.

This modest but important change gives the asexual, aromantic and agender communities confidence that they are welcome and wanted.

“The biggest barrier in coming out as asexual is education. The more awareness there is of asexuality, the easier it will be for people to be open with their identities. Recognition is incredibly important in this regard,” Canberran Phil said.

More information

More information on the Capital of Equality Strategy for 2024–29 and the First Action Plan is available at The Office of LGBTIQ Affairs webpage .

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If you’ve experienced loss, it’s likely there are strangers who made an impact on this period of your life.

Kind emergency services staff, compassionate healthcare workers and caring funeral directors can make a big difference.

But something you might not have considered are the people who take care of the spaces where loved ones rest. The workers who carefully and respectfully plan and maintain the places that Canberrans go to grieve and remember.

Michael and Heather are horticulturalists who maintain Canberra Memorial Parks, including Gungahlin Cemetery and Crematorium and Woden Cemetery.

“We’re creating an environment that is part of a sacred place that people go,” Heather said.

“Potentially for some people it’s one of their worst days or times, so there’s an opportunity for us to in some tiny way try and make that better.”

From a horticultural point of view, working on the Memorial Parks is multifaceted.

“We manage a lot of plantings. We’ve got a lot of high-care gardens, which have a lot of input,” Heather said.

This can include:

• pest and disease management
• formative pruning
• weed management
• planning.

“We take things into account like being culturally aware,” Michael said.

“There’s lots of different plants and there are plants that aren’t native to Australia. But they’re still beautiful and very significant to many people. When someone sees those plants that may make them think of home and that may make them feel a bit more comfortable.”

Creating and maintaining a space that provides comfort is key for both Michael and Heather. As Canberra locals, they are keenly aware of the impact that the Memorial Parks have on their community.

“You drive through the gate and you just have that inbuilt job satisfaction,” Heather said.

“You know that you’re part of something that is important to the local community and their family members, as well as local residents that spend time here and cherish the area.”

“I don’t just come to work for the money,” Michael said.

“I come to work because I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I love maintaining and creating an environment that helps families and loved ones when they want to come to the cemetery. They feel comfortable. They see it’s well maintained.”

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Shirley Smith High School has been officially named, with a plaque unveiled at a naming ceremony to mark the occasion.

The school opened this year in Kenny, welcoming its first cohort of year 7 students.

It will, in time, cater to up to 800 students from across east Gungahlin, providing high-quality public high school education.

The school was named after prominent activist and Wiradjuri woman Shirley Smith.

She was a founding member of many important community services in Redfern, Sydney, including the Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, and the Aboriginal Children’s Service. 

Shirley Smith’s advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people influenced other communities to establish similar services.

The school has been designed with flexible learning in mind, and also has spaces available for use by both students and the community, including a double gymnasium, covered hard court, an oval and a multipurpose hall.

In addition to the plaque unveiling, a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony were provided by Ngunnawal elder Aunty Tina Brown – who is a distant relative of Shirley Smith’s – to officially welcome everyone to the site. 

Find out more on the Shirley Smith High School website or enrol for 2025.

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Things are looking a little different for Rocky, who held the record as the dog with the longest stay at Domestic Animal Services (DAS).

The three-year-old was at the shelter for over 300 days. This left volunteers scratching their heads as to why the friendly mixed-breed hadn’t found his forever home.

Today, Rocky’s living in a whole new world. For a start, he’s now Oberon, or Obi for short.

While his new family fell in love with him instantly, they weren’t so keen on his name.

He now bears the title of the fairy king in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which the family felt was a much better fit.

“Well, he’s just so gentle. When we picked him up, he was wearing a big studded collar and I felt that it was too much of a stereotype. A tough-sounding name (Rocky) and a tough collar for a tough-looking dog,” his new mum, Kate, said.

She and her family are keen to do away with some other misconceptions too.

“One of the best things about Oberon is how chilled out he is,” Kate said.

“But some people have definitely been nervous … not wanting to come too close. A number of times we’ve come across people with small dogs who have picked them up as we passed.

“On the other hand, plenty of people are happy for Obi to approach their young children. A 12-year-old told me he ‘knows not to judge a dog by the way it looks,’ which was great to hear,” she said.

Adopting from Domestic Animal Services helps people like Kate give a dog a second chance, regardless of their breed, looks or age.

“Working at DAS has really opened my eyes to how many dogs are actually already out there in desperate need of love and a home,” DAS kennel hand Amity said.

“Working with these desperate animals, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the selfless nature of a shelter animal, as well as their beautiful personalities. These incredible dogs are just searching for a sense of security and compassion, and once it is given to them, they never cease to please!”

While many people look for puppies when deciding to add a dog to their family, Amity urges Canberrans to look beyond years.

“Most people won’t adopt as they wouldn’t have been able to raise the dog from a very young age. However, what most people don’t understand is that disadvantaged dogs can have a higher sense of gratitude and appreciation to the family that takes them home.

“Gaining trust is so much more important to these shelter dogs, so they are willing to go so much further to show their new owners just how appreciative they are,” she said.

“Not only is adopting a dog from DAS rewarding, it is also an extremely easy and inexpensive way to find the one you’ve been looking for.”

There are many dogs currently looking for their forever home at DAS.

View dogs up for adoption or visit DAS in Symonston to meet them in person.

DAS is open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays.

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