ACT Seniors and Veterans Newsletter January 2021 Contents
Public Health update ...... 2
Supporting Canberra’s community ...... 2
Health and wellbeing ...... 4
Community events, education and information sessions ...... 6
Silver is Gold Festival 2021 ...... 10
Seniors Centres and Ex-service Centres ...... 12
Social Clubs, Community and Men’s Sheds ...... 13
Volunteering opportunities ...... 15
Requests for support ...... 16
Translated resources ...... 16
Further information and support ...... 17
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Public Health update The current environment has shown that we are stronger together, and the flattening of the curve is proof of Canberrans’ resilience and dedication to protecting each other. As of 19 January 2021, there are no active case of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours, leaving the ACT's total at 118. A total of 115 cases have recovered from COVID-19 in the ACT. There are no COVID-19 patients in Canberra hospitals. The ACT has recorded three deaths in total and the number of negative tests recorded in the ACT is now 151,494. For further details, including travel restrictions and hot spots please visit: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/home
Updates to Stage 4 of Canberra’s Recovery Plan came into place on 11 December 2020, with further easing of restrictions to enable businesses to increase capacity. It is anticipated this level of restrictions will be in place over the summer months. For details visit the https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/updates- to-stage-4-of-canberras-recovery-plan.
Supporting Canberra’s community The ACT Government has several community resilience initiatives in place to continue to support the Canberra community. The Connect in Canberra website an information hub to help you stay in the loop, keep connected, be part of your community and get assistance and support if you need it. Connect in Canberra also includes a range of resources on community building and getting to know your neighbours.
Beat the heat this summer It is important for everyone to be aware and prepared for the hot temperatures. Beat the heat by staying hydrated, staying cool and looking after family and friends.
If you become very unwell, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If you think your symptoms are serious, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately.
For 24-hour health advice, please call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.
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Social Recovery, Survival Plans and Grab and Go Booklets The ACT Government provides community recovery services to assist individuals, families, and communities deal with the impact of a disaster or major emergency. There will be a range of services aimed at recovery in the social, economic, infrastructure and environment domains. Services will be delivered by a range of government agencies and charities.
Following a disaster there may be the need for large-scale clean-up and repairs, including to infrastructure such as roads and power lines. The services required by people affected by an emergency may include personal, material, and financial support, or temporary accommodation. The breadth and level of recovery services delivered depends on the severity of the disaster and how Canberrans have been affected. Following a disaster, the ACT Government will provide information on assistance available and households, organisations, businesses, and primary producers.
For further information on services available, please visit: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/wac/community/social_recovery. For further details and resources; including the Survival Plan, Survival Plan Discussion Guide and Home Emergency Checklist, please visit: https://esa.act.gov.au/be-emergency-ready/resources-plans/survival-plan.
Actsmart home energy assessments for renters Are you renting in Canberra? Would you like some free, expert advice on how to reduce your energy costs and be more comfortable at home?
If so, the ACT Government's Actsmart program can help you by providing a FREE home energy assessment and free energy-saving materials.
You can book your free home energy assessment at https://www.aef.com.au/for-home/actsmart/. Daytime and evening appointments are available.
An expert assessor from the Australian Energy Foundation will conduct a 60-minute review of your home and how your household uses energy. Based on this review, the assessor will email you a report with the most cost-effective actions you can take to reduce your energy bills and improve the comfort of their home.
You can also do your own home energy assessment online at https://actsmart-hea.com.au and download a report that it tailored to your home.
For more information visit https://www.actsmart.act.gov.au/what-can-i-do/homes/renters-home-energy- assessments. Free advice on household energy efficiency is also available by phone on the Actsmart Sustainable Home Advice line on 1300 141 777 or by email at [email protected].
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Health and wellbeing Strengthening the lives of older Canberrans If you receive a Commonwealth Home Care Package or a Home Support Package, you may wish to include the Strength for Life (SFL) program as part of the suite of activities.
SFL is an affordable, safe and effective way to maintain or improve strength, balance, mobility and social connections. Participating in a SFL session can help improve a persons’ health and fitness as well as social connections. Each session is delivered in a group environment where your clients can get to know other people and improve their strength in a supportive atmosphere. Tier 1 classes are delivered by physios and exercise physiologists, and Tier 2 classes are delivered by personal trainers. All instructors are accredited SFL instructors. All clients receive an assessment and individual program prior to commencing the SFL classes.
To find out more about the program and the location of the licensed SFL providers, please visit the SFL page on the Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT website at: https://www.cotaact.org.au/programs/s4l/
If you have questions about the SFL program, please email Diane at [email protected]
Gentle Yoga Communities@Work’s popular gentle yoga classes for the community are starting up again. Please join us! Negar Ghasimi is a passionate and experienced yoga instructor and will run 50-minute sessions of Hatha gentle flow yoga and meditation every week. All abilities catered for. No experience needed. Just bring your enthusiasm. We'd love to see you!
When: Every Friday, 10:45am – 11:35am Where: Tuggeranong Community Centre – 245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway Cost: Small donation ($5) Bring: Mat, water bottle, blanket or cushion
To register your interest email [email protected]
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Health Seminars 2021 Health Care Consumers are holding free health seminars in 2021 for people with long-term health conditions, but everyone is welcome.
• Living and Exercising with a Long-Term Condition with Janine Robertson, qualified exercise instructor Tuesday 23 February, 5:30pm - 7:00pm Venue: Online via Zoom
• Looking After Your Feet with Ricky Lee, registered podiatrist Tuesday 30 March, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Venue: Online via Zoom
• Gut Health with Linda Smillie, accredited practising dietitian Wednesday 21 April, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Venue: Hackett or Zoom (TBC)
• Managing Anxiety or Depression with Marshall O’Brien, registered psychologist Tuesday 18 May, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Venue: Hackett Thursday 8 July, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Venue: Online via Zoom
• Having a Good Night’s Sleep with Grant Willson, registered physiotherapist Tuesday 14 September, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Venue: Pearce
• Advocating for Yourself and Your Health with Advocacy for Inclusion Wednesday 13 October, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Venue: Hackett or Zoom (TBC)
• Meditation and Mindfulness to Support Overall Health with Megan Layton, accredited mental health social worker Wednesday 17 November, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Venue: Hackett or Zoom (TBC)
Registered health practitioners may provide health advice at these seminars. Individuals are encouraged to check with their own health practitioner before starting anything new.
To RSVP or for more information on these seminars, please contact Health Care Consumers’ Association on 6230 7800 or email: [email protected].
Venues locations: 100 Maitland St, Hackett (HCCA) or Building 1, Collett Place, Pearce (SHOUT)
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Community events, education and information sessions Social Support Groups for Multicultural Seniors returning for 2021 The beginning of the New Year for our Social Support Groups for Canberra and Queanbeyan Seniors kicked off on 18 January. Open to all people over the age of 65 (50+ for Indigenous Australians,) we have a wide range of friendly, supportive and active groups to build friendships, learn new skills and support the health and wellbeing of Seniors.
Monday: Multicultural Friendship Group, 10:00am – 2:00pm @ Palmerston Community Centre Tuesday: Serbian Social Group, 9:30am - 1:30pm @ St Sava Church Hall (Farrar) Wednesday: Senior’s Exercise Group, 10:00am – 2:00pm @ Theo Notaras House (Civic) Multicultural Friendship Group, 10:00am – 2:00pm @ Letchworth Community Centre (Queanbeyan) Thursday: Chinese Social Group, 10:00am – 2:00pm @ Theo Notaras House (Civic) Friday: Multicultural Wellness Group, 10:00am – 2:00pm @ Palmerston Community Centre
Cost: $6-$10 attendance – this includes a healthy, hearty meal cooked on the day by our volunteers.
Transport is available to & from Group for $2 (one-way).
Attendees will need a My Aged Care referral to attend the Multicultural Communities Council (of Illawarra) (MCCI) Social Groups, we can assist with this where required.
MCCI is a proud provider of Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Home Care Package services in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region. We specialise in the support of people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background (CALD) understanding the need for compassion and understanding to those aging in the community.
For more information, please contact Katrina (Triny) Thomson on 6169 3986 or [email protected].
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Get IT for seniors Do you need help with your laptop, smart phone, iPad or tablet? If so, we can help! Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT is running the ‘Get IT’ program for seniors where they provide one-on-one assistance to help you learn and understand how to use your device.
‘Get IT’ can assist older Canberrans in: • understanding how to download apps and use the CBR QR code; • filling in the new online ACT Seniors Card application form; • accessing the COTA ACT website; • video calling family and friends; • photo library; • social media channels; and • online ACT Government information services.
If you are an older Canberran and would like to know more about these free one-on-one computer literacy workshops, call the COTA ACT office on 6282 3777 or email [email protected].
Legal Aid ACT Free Training: Law for Non-Lawyers 'How to Spot a Legal Issue' presented by Canberra Community Law Legal Aid ACT is facilitating a range of informative trainings in 2021. The aim of these sessions is to improve legal awareness and effective communication among lawyers and community workers. Sessions will be held on Wednesday mornings. At this stage, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, all 2021 sessions will be delivered online as an interactive webinar. Please see below details for our upcoming session.
How to Spot a Legal Issue, presented by Canberra Community Law Legal problems impact on many aspects of people’s lives and, when unaddressed, quickly escalate. Often people are unaware that their problems are legal problems and can be resolved with the help of a lawyer. Early identification and action are key to ensuring legal problems do not get out of control. This session will be delivered by a lawyer from Street Law, an outreach legal service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Date: Wednesday, 27 January 2021 Time: 9:30am - 11:00am Location: Online Cost: Free RSVP: RSVP is essential via Eventbrite link https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/legal-aid-act-18210666546
If you have any questions about the training, email: [email protected] You are welcome to attend any or all these sessions. Please tell us your participation needs. Page 7 of 19
Music at Midday - Tuesday 2 February Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT will be the charity recipient for Music at Midday on 2 February 2021. All seniors in the ACT are invited to come along and enjoy the music of Major Darren Cole and the Royal Military College Band. They will select a special array of music especially for COTA ACT including big band hits and musical surprises.
The Royal Military College Band is one of Australia’s premier military bands, performing at historic occasions including the Centenary of Federation celebration in London in 2000 and ceremonial duties at Gallipoli on ANZAC Day. After all the challenges of 2020, the RMC Band is excited to be performing live in for the dedicated Music at Midday audience.
Date: 2 February 2021 Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Location: Canberra Theatre Centre Cost: Entry is with a gold coin donation – all funds raised benefit COTA ACT and the work they do to support ACT seniors
All attendees will be required to register their details prior to the performance at the Canberra Theatre Centre Box Office for COVID contact tracing purposes. To register your interest in attending this special event and for more information visit the Canberra Theatre Centre website or phone 6275 2700.
COTA Australia National Policy Forum: Retirement Income Policy Beyond 2021 COTA Australia’s National Policy Forum will discuss the Retirement Income Review and the future of retirement policy in Australia. Headlined by the Treasurer and members of the Review Panel, the Forum will feature leaders from the financial services, academic, community and workforce sectors. The Forum will explore the tough issues in retirement income policy, including incentivising retirement income not inheritance, the right balance between pensions, tax concessions and personal savings, real consumption needs including aged care, the pivotal roles of housing, and how to make the system more equitable.
Date: 26 February 2021 Time: 9:45am – 4:00pm Location: National Press Club and Online Cost: General Admission: $550 (in Person) or $400 (online) COTA Organisational Member: $225 (in Person) or $125 (online) COTA Individual Members: $50 (online) Register: Ticket and event information can be found at www.cota.org.au/npf2021/ Eventbrite registration closes on 11th February 2021
For further information, please contact [email protected] or call 6154 9740. Page 8 of 19
Budgeting & Money Management Course The COVID-19 pandemic has alerted us to the need to handle our finances more efficiently. The CAP Money Course helps us to develop skills to manage debt, budget, save and have more control of our finances COVID has alerted us to more efficiently handle our finances. Date: 20 February and 6 March 2021 Time: 9:15am - 12:30pm Location: Tuggeranong Baptist Church, Ground Floor, 23 Garratt Street, Wanniassa Cost: Free Register: capmoney.org.au
For further information email [email protected] or call Robert on 0402 007 551.
Navigating the Aged Care System The ACT Disability Aged Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS) is working with the Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT to see how people are navigating aged care home services and support through My Aged Care (MAC).
Eligibility to access MAC is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older, all non-Indigenous people aged 65 years or older and Prematurely Aged individuals (50 years or older for non- indigenous people and 45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).
ADACAS Aged Care Navigators provides a free My Aged Care information service to eligible individuals, their families and carer’s, in person, by phone or by video-link. We can also coordinate the help of the Translating Information Services for people from linguistically diverse backgrounds or with auditory impairments.
For further information and to start making enquiries about your aged care plans please contact Ken at ADACAS on 6242 5060 or [email protected].
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Silver is Gold Festival 2021 Silver is Gold Festival – Save the date! Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT is pleased to announce the newly branded ACT Seniors Week. The new name for the events which will take place throughout the year in Canberra is the Silver is Gold Festival – sparking connection and re-imagining ageing.
The name change is a brand refresh to introduce the new direction and focus that COTA ACT will implement as part of celebrating older Canberrans. COTA ACT decided to hold events throughout the year to avoid the potential disappointment that occurred in 2020 when ACT Seniors Week was cancelled due to the city being forced into COVID lockdown.
COTA ACT will continue to celebrate Canberra’s seniors while remaining agile. Instead of one week of celebrations, we will stage events throughout the year that connect the community, families and seniors so they can enjoy time together in our wonderful city. The range of events will encourage our community to re- imagine ageing and envisage the positives that ageing brings. We will focus on both how we would like to age and how we would like to be treated as we age.
While the Canberra community is still cautious regarding conditions around COVID-19, Jenny Mobbs, CEO COTA ACT aims to encourage community connection,
“There are two very important messages for everyone living in Canberra regarding our new brand. The first is connection. We are keen to see the whole community take responsibility in reaching out and building a co-operative spirit, particularly with our older folk,” said Ms Mobbs.
"The second is re-imagining ageing. Many people in our society have a negative opinion of older people, ageing and the aged. We are all living longer, seniors are active, and they contribute hugely to society for years, be this through volunteering, looking after grandchildren and being in the work force. It’s time for everyone to re-imagine older people and ageing. Contributing to a community that welcomes and nurtures our seniors is a far better place for everyone to live.
“COTA ACT invites all seniors to save the dates for Silver is Gold and take this opportunity to spark a connection and re-imagine ageing. Help us in our active campaign to broaden the community’s perspective on improving society for our ageing citizens. Support us in our vison to actively create connections between people of all ages and to re-imagine a community that shares, respects and integrates fully with its senior community,” concluded Ms Mobbs.
The Silver is Gold Festival launch, Community Art and Photographic Exhibition opening will be held at the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 28 April and the and Chief Minister’s Concert will take place at the Canberra Theatre Centre on Thursday 29 April 2021.
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The Silver is Gold Seniors Awards will take place on Tuesday 14 September and the Silver is Gold Expo (previously the ACT Seniors Expo) will take place on Thursday 16 September 2021. COTA ACT will also host a picnic and performance day for grandparents and grandchildren called the Silver is Gold Grandparents’ Day, on 31 October 2021. There will also be a number of Community Education Events at the Hughes Community Centre throughout the year.
For further information about the Silver is Gold Festival, call the COTA ACT office on 6282 3777 or visit the COTA ACT website - www.cotaact.org.au
Silver is Gold Community Photographic Competition As a part of our year-long Silver is Gold Festival in 2021, COTA ACT will stage the Silver is Gold Community Photographic Competition, which is comprised of six age-related categories, for entrants from pre-school age to seniors, aged 55 years and older. The competition seeks photographic images that feature at least one older Canberran as the photographic subject or perhaps a group of older Canberrans.
The themes of the photographic competition can be diverse and should feature connection with an older person or persons. We also challenge you to ‘reimagining ageing’ – to quash the negative opinions of older people, the ageing process and the aged, to focus upon the positive experiences that ageing journey can bring to all Canberrans.
For entry forms and competition terms and conditions, please check the COTA ACT web site.
Silver is Gold Community Art Competition We invite all amateur artists to participate in the Silver is Gold Community Art Competition, in which our competition judges will be looking for works of art that capture a moment or tell a story about an older person’s life or perhaps several older person’s lives.
You might consider producing a work of art that depicts older people participating in and enjoying activities that involve healthy and active lifestyles, perhaps participating in a range of physical activities including exercise, running, gymnastics, swimming, cycling, playing a competitive sport or perhaps enjoying other social, lifestyle and recreational pursuits. This could include social participation in craft or workshop activities, playing or interacting with grandchildren, volunteering for the community, perhaps playing a musical instrument or the simple pleasures of reading a book or storytelling for younger children.
The options are endless and we welcome entries that embrace a little fun or humor or perhaps those that show some dimension or aspects of the separation that many endured, during the COVID crisis, that of being alone and cut off from loved ones and friends.
For entry forms and competition terms and conditions please check the COTA ACT web site.
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Seniors Centres and Ex-service Centres Seniors Centres With restrictions easing, many Seniors Centres have re-opened for programs and support services. Please consult with Centres via phone or their websites prior to arriving to find out more and to comply with requirements. A summary of the seniors centres that have reopened is provided below:
• Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT Opening hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday Hughes Community Centre, Wisdom Street, Hughes Call 6282 3777, visit https://www.cotaact.org.au or email [email protected]
• Canberra Seniors Centre Opening hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday 10 Watson Street, Turner Call 6248 9509, visit https://canberraseniors.org.au or email [email protected].
• Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club Opening hours are 9:30am - 2:30pm, Monday to Friday 101 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway Call 6293 4004, visit https://www.55plusclub.org.au/ or email [email protected]
• Woden Seniors Opening hours are 9:30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday Corinna Street, Phillip All enquiries should be by email to [email protected]
Ex-Service Organisations and Veterans Support Centres As the Ex-Service Organisations and Veterans Support Centre across Canberra are transitioning back to full delivery of programs and support services, please consult with organisations via phone or their websites to find out more and to comply with requirements. Below is a list of centres that are open:
• Veterans Support Centre Belconnen Opening hours are 9:00am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday The $5 Tuesday lunchtime BBQ is back bigger and better commencing from 1200! Remember the VSC is here to support Veterans and does so through the access to Advocates for DVA matters, Welfare through our Welfare Advocate, an extensive library of fiction books, a music club, plus wood and metal workshops. All ex-serving and serving Veterans are welcome. 9 Burkitt Street, Page Call 6255 1599 or visit vscact.org.au
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• RSL Woden Valley Sub-Branch and Veteran Support Centre Opening hours are 9:00am - 3:00pm, Monday to Friday Grant Cameron Community Centre, 14/27 Mulley Street, Holder Call 6285 1931, visit rslwoden.org.au or email [email protected]
• Canberra Legacy Opening hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday and 9:00am - 12:30pm, Friday 33 Geils Court, Deakin Call 6285 1800, visit www.legacy.com.au/canberra or email [email protected]
• ACT TPI Phone lines are open from 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Call 0417 291 546, visit www.acttpi.org or email [email protected]
Social Clubs, Community and Men’s Sheds Gungahlin RSL Sub-Branch The Gungahlin RSL Sub-Branch meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm (1900h) at Eastlake Gungahlin Club, 51 Hinder Street, Gungahlin.
All veteran’s and their families are welcome to bring a friend, relative or significant other. There is no requirement to be a RSL member. The aim is to maintain social connectedness with veterans and their families. Making veterans and their families feel welcome, in a comfortable environment sharing stories and conversation, whilst reducing isolation. You do not have to be a current RSL member.
For further information please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
Find a Men’s Shed near you Good health is based on many factors including feeling good about yourself, being productive, contributing to your community, connecting with friends, and maintaining an active body and mind. Becoming a member of a Men’s Shed provides a safe and busy environment where men can find many of these things in an atmosphere of old-fashioned mateship. And, importantly, there is no pressure. Men can just come and have a yarn and a cuppa if that is all they’re looking for.
Members of Men’s Sheds come from all walks of life – the bond that unites them is that they are men with time on their hands and would like something meaningful to do with that time.
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A good Men’s Shed has developed a safe and happy environment where men are welcome to work on community projects, specific Men’s Shed projects or a project of their choice in their own time and where the only ‘must’ is to observe safe working practices….all in a spirit of mateship. The Men’s Shed movement has now become one of the most powerful tools in addressing health and wellbeing and helping men as valued and productive members of our community once again.
To find a shed near you and for further details of their opening times, please visit: https://mensshed.org/find-a-shed/
Hughes Community Shed The Hughes Community Shed welcomes both men and women to participate. The community shed and men’s shed movement is a powerful tool in promoting and supporting the health, wellbeing and social connection of participants and contributes to improved physical and mental health outcomes.
Location: Hughes Community Centre, 2 Wisdom Street, Hughes
For further information, please contact COTA ACT on 6282 3777 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Greenway Probus Club The Probus Club of Greenway is a mixed club. Monthly meetings comprise a short formal meeting and morning tea followed by a guest speaker or other social activities. Guest speakers talk on a variety of topical, informative, or just plain interesting subjects. Following the meeting you have the option of joining other members for lunch in the Vikings Club. Outside monthly meetings, within COVID limitations, the Club undertakes lunches, visits, and trips. New members and visitors are most welcome.
Date: 2nd Tuesday of each month Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm Where: Vikings Town Centre Club, Greenway Cost: $6
For more information call Alan on 6294 7207.
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Volunteering opportunities ParkCare ACT The ACT Parks and Conservation Service 'ParkCare Volunteer Hub' is where you can volunteer to lend a hand in the conservation of ACT Parks and Reserves and find out all about the exciting volunteering opportunities available! This is a fantastic opportunity to provide benefits of social contact, physical activity and time in natural surroundings, is the ParkCare groups around Canberra.
Further details are available on the ParkCare ACT website at, https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/7baf50be-3b65-4dd3-bc53-04307685cfdb/1 .
CS#1 are looking for enthusiastic, skilled, community-minded volunteers to join their team Community Services #1 recognises that volunteers are the life blood of a community and appreciate the vital role they play in delivering high-quality community services.
We value the massive contribution our volunteers make to the success of our programs and community events. We are looking for enthusiastic, skilled, community-minded volunteers to join our team and help us deliver the best information and services across the Canberra community.
To find out which current volunteer positions are available visit our website communityservices1.org or call 6126 4700.
Volunteering in times of emergency Volunteering ACT coordinates emergency volunteers and works with the ACT Government and charities to get volunteers to where they are needed.
If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the Volunteering ACT External Link website, call them on 6251 4060 or email [email protected].
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Requests for support The Canberra Museum and Gallery seeks your support! William Dargie is an Australian artist who painted depictions of the Australian War Memorial. One of Dargie’s paintings, pictured below, has become available for purchase and the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) is looking for donations in order to purchase the piece.
The Australian War Memorial is a site of significance in the ACT and CMAG purchasing this piece of art would bring it home to its home city. This piece is also significant as this ceremony depicted in 1970 would have taken place while Australian troops were serving in Vietnam. This adds an additional layer of historical significance to the work and a further point for engagement with the local Veteran community.
CMAG is calling for donations of any value from community members and organisations to secure this piece in its archives for Veterans and the wider local community to enjoy.
Donations are tax deductible and donors can be recorded as contributing to purchase of the artwork.
To donate, please send an email with the subject heading William Dargie Donation to [email protected] with your address details and contact email and phone as well as how much you wish to donate.
Translated resources If you or a friend, family, neighbour or acquaintance require access to health information in other languages, translated resources on COVID-19 are available online.
The ACT Government has partnered with SBS Australia to deliver essential information about COVID-19 in Canberra translated into eleven languages. These resources are available at: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/resources/translated-resources.
The Australian Government Department of Health also has basic resources available in a wide variety of languages. Please note that this information is not specific to the ACT. These can be found at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/translated.
If you or someone else require translating or interpreting services, call the national Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
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Further information and support Government information • ACT Government COVID-19 information: call 6207 7244 between 8:00am and 8:00pm or visit https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/
• Canberra Health Services Access Mental Health: call 1800 629 354 or 6205 1065, or visit the website at https://www.health.act.gov.au/services-and-programs/mental-health/mental-health-and- wellbeing-during-covid-19
• Health Direct: call 1800 022 222 for the 24/7 phone service offering free health advice from a registered nurse or visit https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
• Connect in Canberra website: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/connect-in-canberra
• Community Recovery Plan: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/canberra-recovery
Seniors support • Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT: call 6282 3777 or visit https://www.cotaact.org.au/
• National Seniors: call 1300 76 50 50 or visit https://nationalseniors.com.au/
Veterans support • Open Arms: call 1800 011 046 for 24/7 support or visit https://www.openarms.gov.au/
• Domestic Violence Crisis Service: call the 24/7 phone service 6280 0900 or https://dvcs.org.au/
• RSL National: call 6280 4079 or visit http://rslnational.org/
Legal support • Legal Aid can provide advice on a range of matters: call 1300 654 314 or visit http://www.legalaidact.org.au/
• Older Persons ACT Legal Service, run by Legal Aid: call 6243 436
• Older Person’s Advocacy Network has a dedicated COVID-19 support line which they operate in conjunction with Dementia Australia and National Seniors Australia: call 1800 171 866.
• Consumer Law Centre: Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, call 6143 0044 or visit https://www.carefcs.org/consumer-law-centre
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Mental health support • Red Cross Wellbeing Call Service: Phone 6234 7630, 8:00am - 4:00pm daily or register by completing the SmartForm at https://form.act.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=1540
• Lifeline Crisis Support: call 13 11 14 for the 24/7 phone service or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/
• FriendLine aims to free older people from loneliness and is not crisis support. Call 1800 427 287 Tuesday - Thursday 6:00pm - 8:00pm, and Saturday - Sunday 2:00pm - 5:00pm, or use the online chat service Tuesday - Thursday 1:00pm - 4:00pm at http://www.friendline.org.au/
• BeyondBlue counselling available 24 hours 7 days a week, call 1300 22 4636 or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
• My Compass, a personalised self-help tool for your mental health, visit https://www.mycompass.org.au/Seniors
• Be connected empowering all Australians to thrive in a digital world by visiting https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/
• Black Dog Institute https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/separation-anxiety-in-the-already- lonely-supporting-older-and-vulnerable-people-who-live-alone/
• Relationships Australia: call 1300 364 277 or visit https://www.relationships.org.au/relationship- advice/crisis-help
• Canberra Health Services Access Mental Health: call 1800 629 354 or 6205 1065 or visit the website at https://www.health.act.gov.au/services-and-programs/mental-health/mental-health-and- wellbeing-during-covid-19
Women’s Information Line • Women’s Information Line: provides information and referral to a range of services across the ACT, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, call 6205 1075.
Housing support • OneLink: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 6:00pm. Provides links to support and housing services in the ACT. Call 1800 176 468 or visit https://www.onelink.org.au/
• The Tenancy Advice Service, run by Legal Aid, can advise renters on their rights. Call 1300 402 512.
Food Support • Canberra Relief Network – Call 1800 43 11 33, email [email protected] or visit https://canberrarelief.com.au/
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Accessibility
The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues, accessible to as many people as possible.
If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format – such as large print or audio – please telephone (02) 6205 0282.
If English is not your first language and you require the translating and interpreting services – please telephone 131 450.
If you are deaf or hearing impaired and require the National Relay Service, phone 133 677 then ask for 133 427
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