Category: MIL-OSI

The ACT Instrumental Music Program has long focused on teaching year 5 and 6 students woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments in a group setting.

Its new principal, however, is also a fan of making music without a physical instrument. Or, at least, without a tangible one.

“Singing is a beautiful thing and a powerful tool in education,” Joel Copeland said.

“Everybody has a voice.”

The respected educator has shown before how powerful singing can be in building community. He founded a hugely successful choir at his last school, Canberra Girls Grammar School (CGGS), which welcomed singers regardless of ability.

As with the IMP, it was an experiential program that fostered the joy of making music together.

Joel took on the role of Principal in January and has seen such joy in the faces of IMP students during school visits across Canberra.

“Within a few lessons in the IMP, our students are making a great sound together,” he said.

“That’s the beauty of the way the system is set up … group tuition is more time efficient and staff efficient, but it’s also more fun.”

The Instrumental Music Program operates instrumental music classes in 57 public primary schools and 8 public secondary schools across the ACT.

There are also performance opportunities via Step into the Limelight, the ACT’s creative and performing arts showcase event for public schools.

Once fully settled into the new role, Joel will consult widely and with experts on the IMP’s strategic direction, considering ways to build on the quality music learning children have experienced through the IMP’s first 50 years.

His dream is for every child to have access to high-quality music education.

Joel was motivated to apply for the role when he heard Naida Blackley was retiring as IMP Principal after an incredible 17 years in the role.

“Naida had always been a bit of a hero of mine,” Joel said.

“She is exceptional, and I guess I thought she would be here forever … when I learnt she was retiring, that was the catalyst.”

Part of what attracted him to the role was the opportunity to work with the IMP’s teachers, who he calls “a brilliant team of music educators”.

But most of all, he is passionate about ensuring children who are keen to learn and be part of something get the most out of their IMP experience.

“Music can make a significant difference in these students’ lives,” he said.

The IMP at a glance:

• Over 2300 ACT public students are in IMP programs
• 57 primary schools and 8 high schools are in IMP programs
• there are 12 teaching staff, 1 admin officer, 2 Executive Teachers and 1 Principal
• the System bands include 3 concert bands, percussion ensemble, string ensemble, primary and senior choir and jazz band
• non-band programs include ukelele (4) and strings (2)
• over 3000 instruments
• over 2600 music scores.

Find out more about the Instrumental Music Program at imp.act.edu.au

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Rachel Hawes, founder of innovative dog poop waste collection product Pupoon, didn’t think her dog poop problem was the kind of product an Innovation Connect (ICON) grant would fund.

But in 2022, Rachel received an ICON grant for $25,000 in matched funding from the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).

“I couldn’t have created the Pupoon without the funding. As a working mother of three, I didn’t have that kind of money to invest in a product to scoop up dog poop,” she said.

Even though Rachel says she’s never had so much fun talking about dog poop, dog waste in Australia is an issue.

“Australia is home to more than 6 million dogs, and they all need to poop 1–5 times a day. That’s a whopping 744,000 tonnes of dog poop in Australia every year,” she said.

“Dog poop is full of bacteria, and studies show that only around 40 per cent of dog walkers pick up their dog poop. That leaves around 300,000 tonnes of poop lying on footpaths, streets, parks and to be washed away into our waterways, beaches, rivers or left to decompose.

“A lot of people think the answer is to provide more public bins, but bins need to be serviced, and then you have the problem of bins accumulating a lot of dog poop, and becoming awfully smelly.

“I think the solution is in providing a product that makes it easier for dog owners to collect their dog poop and take it home with them.”

This innovative solution came to Rachel when she was walking her beloved dogs, Milo, Baxter and Angus, in Isaacs Ridge.

“I love walking, it’s my thing,” she said. “It’s the only time I get for myself as a busy working mum. But the joy was getting sucked out of it when I would be collecting up to five bags of dog poop each walk.

“I kept thinking there has to be a better way, this is so gross!” she said. “I had tried multiple products from pet stores and a bunch that I bought online, but nothing really worked.

“That’s when I had my idea. I saw a cocoon in the forest, and it sort of snowballed from there with the design and the name.

“I wondered if I could use that design and shape to hold all the poop in a way where doggy waste didn’t get tangled in the lead, it didn’t stink, you could dispense your dog poop bags, and you didn’t have to hold bags of dog poop the entire walk.”

In the making for the past four years, Rachel has worked with industrial designers from Canberra’s Formswell over the last 18 months to bring Pupoon to market.

The Pupoon:

• can hold up to five dog poops
• is air-tight to reduce odour
• is light weight and attaches to the lead
• won’t split and spill if you drop it
• is made from medical-grade polypropylene to resist odour.

Pupoon’s first shipment has arrived and is available on Rachel’s website.

The ICON grants are delivered by CBRIN, which receives funding from the ACT Government to support entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups, like Rachel.

A common misconception about the ICON grants and working with CBRIN, is that you need to be in a high-tech industry, like AI, medical services or tech. However, ICON grants have been provided to Canberra business owners who have created innovative products in a range of fields, from puppy waste to vegan oat milk soft serve.

Check out CBRIN’s latest events, including Female Founders on Tuesday 7 May 2024 and the next First Wednesday Connect on 5 June 2024 and to get a taste of what CBRIN has to offer.

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ACT public school enrolments for the 2025 school year are now open.

There is a place for every child in their local public school, from kindergarten to year 12.

Local schools offer an excellent, inclusive and equitable education and learning environment.

Enrolling before 7 June means you will receive an offer from 29 July 2024. This way you can start planning for the year ahead, knowing where your child will be attending school.

Find out more about your local school

Go online to learn more about your local school and what makes it great.

Some schools will hold information sessions in the coming weeks – these are a great way to discover what your local school offers.

You can also contact the school directly to find out more.

Enrolling in preschool

Every four-year-old child is guaranteed 15 hours of preschool a week in the ACT.

Children are eligible for preschool in 2025 if they turn four on or before 30 April 2025.

Preschool places, like school places, are notallocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families are encouraged to apply for the preschool for their local primary school. Please note, however, it is not always possible to guarantee a place at your local or preferred preschool, due to capacity constraints at some sites.

Priority Enrolment Areas

Enrolment is determined by a child or young person’s place of residence.

The ACT is divided into Priority Enrolment Areas (PEAs) which are defined geographical areas.

In 2025 a new high school will open in the north Gungahlin suburb of Taylor. As a result, there are some changes to Priority Enrolment Areas (PEA) for 2025.

PEA changes can be found on the Education Directorate’s website.

Upgrading and improving schools

The ACT Government is committed to building, expanding and upgrading schools across Canberra.

Upgrades are improving facilities and ensuring students with disability can take full advantage of education opportunities.

Other works include new learning spaces and wet areas, bike sheds, outdoor shade areas and improvements to playgrounds.

Enrolment key dates

• 30 April 2024 – online applications open
• 7 June 2024 – apply by this date to receive an offer from 29 July 2024

Applications received after 7 June may receive an offer later in the year.

For more information

• visit the Education Directorate’s website to enrol online
• phone the Enrolment Helpline on 6205 5429.

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This paves the way for over 500 new homes in this small-scale sustainable suburb.

A key milestone has been reached today with the opening of the latest stage of the suburb of Jacka.

This paves the way for the construction of over 500 new homes.

When complete, this small-scale sustainable suburb will be home to almost 1,800 residents.

Around 70 per cent of Jacka will be dedicated to wide-open space, including playing fields, netball courts, an EV charging station, a central playground, and interconnected pathways and trails.

This new stage will include single residential, multi-unit, community spaces and commercial opportunities in the future Local Centre.

The ACT is working to prioritise housing choice, supply and affordability for all Canberrans. Opening up more land for new homes will increase overall housing supply.

Jacka has a target of 15 per cent affordable, community and public homes.

It will also be an all-electric suburb. Future residents can take advantage of rebates and bonds to include energy-efficient features, such as solar panels, in their homes.

The Suburban Land Agency is working closely with the local community and stakeholders to understand what they want to see in the future Jacka Local Centre.

For more information on Jacka and blocks available for sale visit suburbanland.act.gov.au/jacka.

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Karen Hedley is not only passionate about inclusive communication, but she’s now dedicating her days to making communication easier for everyone to understand.

Karen is the founder of one of Canberra’s many successful social enterprises, The Easy Read Toolbox.

She primarily employs people with disability to provide writing, workshops and more.

To get started, Karen signed up for the GRIST accelerator with The Mill House Ventures, a non-profit helping social enterprises across the region.

“During GRIST I decided to set up The Easy Read Toolbox as its own company, teaching others about Easy Read and accessible communication. From there it has grown in leaps and bounds, and now includes custom writing, memberships, workshops and more,” Karen said.

The organisation’s simplified form of writing was originally intended for people with disability, but it’s suitable for everyone.

“Our aim is to change communication in our community, to increase inclusion and support people to make informed choices and protect their human rights. When people feel overwhelmed by complex information they give up on important processes,” she said.

“Members of our Feedback Group – people with cognitive disabilities who review our documents as quality management – have told us how important Easy Read being available is to them.”

The female-led, disability-led social enterprise has a unique employment model.

“We primarily employ people with disabilities of all kinds, and people with lived experience of disability. Our values mean that we pay everyone fairly, equivalent to non-disabled peers.

“We recruit based on potential and interests, and assign work based on these. We encourage our team to be innovative and passionate, and to allow us to support their development.

“We also provide a highly flexible workplace, allowing the team to set their own work schedule and style. As a result, our team is flexible, dedicated, supportive and high achieving,” Karen said.

The business has around six regular staff and contractors, and nearly 30 occasional contractors including writers, artists and photographers.

“Most of our clients come through word of mouth and return multiple times. Having written documents for a number of large not-for-profits, corporates and government departments, our work has potentially been seen by tens of thousands of people,” she said.

Running a social enterprise has made for some satisfying moments. For a number of Karen’s team, this is their first employment opportunity.

“Several of our younger contractors have said we were the first to give them a chance at working. Knowing we are paying them fairly is amazing too,” she said.

Her Mill House connections are also playing an ongoing role in her success.

“It has been great being part of the Mill House alumni. The team is knowledgeable and proactive at linking founders with important information and contacts in the community. Plus, the alumni network is quite close knit. It’s always great to catch up online and in person at local events.”

Applications for the four-month 2024 GRIST program are now open to anyone in the region with an idea for a for-purpose business.

The Easy Read Toolbox was recently awarded $10,000 in matched funding as part of the ACT Government’s new Social Enterprise grants program, managed by The Mill House Ventures.

The Easy Read Toolbox will be one of the many exhibitors at the CBR Small Business Expo on 9 May at the Budawang Pavilion at EPIC. Come along to find out more about what they do. They can also be reached via their website or LinkedIn.

The Easy Read Toolbox founder Karen and employee Ladina

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The Solar for Apartments Program is making cheaper, cleaner solar energy accessible to those who have previously missed out on the benefits of renewables.

From today, body corporates in the ACT can request quotes on rooftop solar installations from eligible vendors on the Brighte Marketplace, via the Solar for Apartments Program.

Body corporates can apply for up to $100,000 for rooftop solar.

More than 2,100 households will benefit, which could provide a 35 per cent reduction in energy bills for those living in apartments.

Half of this will be a Commonwealth grant or rebate, and half an interest-free loan.

Brighte is the exclusive finance and administration provider of the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme.

“Brighte is proud to continue supporting the ACT Government’s nation-leading programs by extending finance to apartments, making sustainability more inclusive, affordable and accessible to everyone,” Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell said.

Together, we’re turning apartment rooftops into power stations and empowering communities to take control of their energy future.”

The Solar for Apartments Program is co-funded up to $3.6 million under the Solar Banks Initiative of the Commonwealth Government and the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme.

To date there have been over 22,000 applications for the Sustainable Household Scheme.

The Scheme supports the ACT Government’s commitment reducing emissions to net zero by 2045.

For more information on the Solar for Apartments program, and to apply, visit https://brighte.com.au/act-sustainable-household-scheme/solar-for-apartments

To search for eligible vendors on the Brighte Marketplace visit http://www.brighte.com.au/act-sustainable-household-scheme/solar-for-apartments

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