ENTRIES OPEN FOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Entries for the 2010 Australian of the Year Awards – the 50th year of the awards – are now open.
Western Australians are encouraged to nominate people for the four award categories:
The nominees will be recognised for outstanding achievements in their field who, as inspirational role models, contributed in a significant way to the nation.
Anyone can be Australian of the year, but someone has to nominate them.
Entry forms are available from the Commonwealth Bank or by clicking here.
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The Economic Value of Volunteering in Western Australia report by Dr Duncan Ironmonger of the University of Melbourne was commissioned by the Department for Communities to demonstrate the significant contribution Western Australia’s army of volunteers makes to the Western Australian economy and community. Click here for a copy of the full report. Click here for a fact sheet showing key findings from the report.
Minister gives update on Redress WA ex-gratia payments
Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney has today outlined Redress WA ex-gratia payments will likely be limited to a maximum of up to $45,000 for victims of abuse in both State and non-government institutions, following recent actuarial analysis commissioned by the Department for Communities. More...
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Increase in fee for National Police Checks for Volunteers Program
From 1 July 2009, the fee for private sector and state government organisations registered with the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program increased to $11.00 per volunteer checked.
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Carer Recognition - Progressing Compliance
Report of the Carers Advisory Council to the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering on compliance with the Carers Recognition Act 2004, for the year ending 30 June 2008.
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Human Swine Flu - information for child care services
The WA Department of Health has released a range of fact sheets about Human Swine Influenza for crèches and child care services.
Another useful resource for services is a series of posters (pdf/232kb) that encourage good hygiene practice produced by the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing.
To stay informed, we encourage you to visit the DoH website regularly for updates - www.health.wa.gov.au.
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More information on the introduction of child care licensing fees
Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney recently announced the introduction of child care licensing fees for all licensed child care services in WA. The new fees were published as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget and will be effective from 1 January 2010.
Child care services are currently the only business type in the State not attracting a licensing fee.
The introduction of child care licensing fees was discussed at a child care sector forum held on
20 May 2009.
The fee will cover a 3 year licensing period for all service types. For child care centres and family day care the licensing fee will be a base fee of $350 plus an additional $15 per place for each place above 30 places. For outside school hours care the base fee will also be $350 however, the additional fee of $15 per place will apply to each place above 90 places.
Importantly, the fee will only apply to new licences and licence renewals issued from 1 January 2010.
Visit our child care licensing page for more information.
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FREE FROM FEAR YOUTH ART EXHIBITION
The Department for Communities’ Office for Youth celebrates
Refugee Week 2009 with an inspiring art exhibition by young Western Australian refugees at Central Park, 152-158 St Georges Terrace, Perth from 11 to 20 June.
Entitled Free from Fear, the theme of Refugee Week 2009, the exhibition features paintings and photographic works by refugee students from Balga Senior High School Intensive English Centre, the Edmund Rice Centre and North Lake Senior Campus Intensive English Centre.
Free from Fear provides the opportunity for young refugees to use visual pieces to share their life experiences with the Western Australian community.
Art works will:
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Explore and express broad experiences of fear in relation to their displacement from their country, family and cultural roots.
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Explore and document experiences of their journey from their country of origin to Western Australia, and their resilience in meeting challenges they have encountered.
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Share symbols and images relevant to their cultural backgrounds drawing on metaphors that reflect the characteristics of “freedom”.
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Portray their aspirations for their future lives.
This project is part of the Office for Youth’s commitment to enhancing community perceptions and emotional wellbeing of young people.
Refugee Week is an annual celebration of the contributions made by refugees to the Australian community. World Refugee Day on Saturday 20 June 2009 honours the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
For media enquiries, please contact Anissa Williams on (08) 6217 8219 or by email anissa.williams@communities.wa.gov.au. High resolution images and interviews are available.
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2009 WA Youth Awards
The 11th annual WA Youth Awards have produced an inspiring array of winners.
The Awards, organised by the Department for Communities' Office for Youth, were presented at a gala ceremony on Thursday 2 April.
The WA Youth Awards were established in 1999 to recognise outstanding Western Australians aged 13 to 25 years.
The winners of the 2009 WA Youth Awards are:
WA Young Person of the Year: Terrence Winner, 23, of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Active Achievement: Kim Hynynen-Furler, 24, of Morley.
Environment: Jane Genovese, 25, of Wattle Grove.
Inspiration: Flora Fekira, 23, of Nollamara.
Leadership: Thierra Clanton, 17, of South Hedland.
Citizenship (Individual): Terrence Winner, 23, of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Citizenship (Group): Hedland Youth Leadership Council.
Journalists and photographers were also recognised for their positive portrayal of youth and youth issues in the media.
The winners of the Media Reporting section are:
Print Media Metropolitan: Giovanni Torre, The West Australian.
Print Media Suburban: Karen Valenti, Eastern Reporter.
Print Media Regional: Alex Massey, Great Southern Herald.
Television Metropolitan: Elena Kane, Channel 10 News.
Television Regional: Alison Miller, WIN News.
Radio: Damian Smith, Radio Fremantle 107.9FM.
Best Photograph: Andrew Ritchie, Western Suburbs Weekly.
Charmaine Dragun Memorial Judges’ Commendation for a journalist under 25: Alex Massey, Western Independent.
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Delay in seniors cost of living payments
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering Robyn McSweeney has called for patience today from Seniors Card holders set to receive the Government’s Cost of Living Rebate, as wide-ranging data system difficulties delay the distribution of payments.
The necessary re-build of the data system used to collect seniors information that was left in disarray by the previous Government, has been overhauled to accommodate the biggest single roll-out of payments the State has ever conducted.
“Unfortunately, technical problems resulted in more than acceptable levels of payment errors than Government is willing to accept,” Mrs McSweeney said. More...
Talented artists mark start of Youth Week
Talented young artists from across Western Australia are showcasing visual and performing arts pieces to mark the start of National Youth Week, launched today by Youth Minister Donna Faragher.
Mrs Faragher said National Youth Week’s ‘Make a Move’ theme was aimed at inspiring young people to get moving and make a change in their world.
“Propel Youth Arts WA, with funding from the State Government and other sponsors, has made that happen by linking up 23 young artists with artist mentors to produce an exhibition now on display at the Perth Town Hall, which I hope will stimulate debate,” she said. More...
National Playgroup Week celebrates at Parliament House
As part of the annual National Playgroup Week, Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney will attend a playgroup event held at Parliament House on March 19 to promote and celebrate the important role playgroups play in our communities.
The event is one of many activities taking place throughout Western Australia from March 22 to 28, with the theme ‘Playgroup, Bringing Families Together’. More...
Department wins at Wagin Woolorama
The Department for Communities has won the Best Small Enterprise Exhibit at the Wagin Woolorama.
The Wagin Woolorama is the largest agricultural show in regional Western Australia, attracting thousands of people from the South West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions.
The Department for Communities held a series of information sessions and showcased a wide variety of relevant publications at the Woolorama.
50 years celebrated by Council on the Ageing
Fifty years of advocacy on behalf of Western Australian seniors were celebrated today with the launch of the Council on the Ageing Western Australia (COTA WA) anniversary celebrations by Seniors and Volunteering Minister Robyn McSweeney.
“COTA has evolved along with the needs and aspirations of the seniors it represents,” Mrs McSweeney said. More...
Free travel for WA seniors to start in April
Western Australian seniors and aged and disability support pensioners will be able to use public transport free between 9am and 3.30pm on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from next month.
Premier Colin Barnett, with Transport Minister Simon O’Brien and Seniors’ Minister Robyn McSweeney, today announced Saturday, April 4 as the start-date for the initiative, which provides for an extra 1.5 hours of free travel three months earlier than the previous proposal of 10am to 3pm. More...
Youth Awards finalists impress
Overcoming adversity, improving the lives of people in their community and protecting the environment are just some of the positive traits displayed by this year’s WA Youth Awards finalists.
Youth Minister Donna Faragher said the calibre of entries this year was impressive and showed that young people continued to achieve great things across Western Australia. More...
Counselling available to families affected by tough economic conditions
The Liberal-National Government is providing a range of counselling and support services to families and individuals affected by the current tough economic climate.
Child Protection and Communities Minister Robyn McSweeney said the State Government was providing almost $15million this year to help people in metropolitan and regional Western Australia with financial, relationship and domestic issues.
Mrs McSweeney said many helplines were available as a first port of call to provide advice and support to people who were experiencing hardship or feeling stressed at having to manage a household. More...
17th February 2009: Event website to help young people ‘Make It Happen’
Young people will find planning events in their community much easier thanks to a new website launched today by Youth Minister Donna Faragher.
Mrs Faragher launched the Make It Happen website, created by the Department for Communities’ Office for Youth, at The Vault, the City of Melville’s youth space.
“There is no better way to ensure a successful youth event than to give young people the tools to plan and stage events themselves,” Mrs Faragher said.
Click here for more
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New!! Free parenting library
Parenting WA provides a free parenting library to parents and families throughout Western Australia. The Parenting Library has a range of helpful books, videos and DVDs on subjects of interest to parents and carers with children up to 18 years of age.
Click here to browse the list of library items.
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21st January 2009: Parenting services revitalised
Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney today took the first step in revitalising the State's parenting services by launching Parenting WA, which replaces the Parent Help Centre.
Mrs McSweeney said the service, based in Mount Lawley, would provide Western Australian families with support and information about parenting, child care and early childhood programs from a single reliable and credible source.
Click here for the full story or click here for information on services for parents, families and children.
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6th January 2009: WA seniors rush to apply for rebate
More than 100,000 Western Australian seniors have already lodged applications for the Liberal-National Government’s Cost of Living Rebate.
Seniors and Volunteering Minister Robyn McSweeney said the response had been overwhelming, with the Seniors Card centre averaging around 1,300 calls a day since the rebate was announced a few weeks ago.
The rebate is $100 a year for single Seniors Card holders and $150 for couples living in the same household. Click here for more...
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Youth Development Holiday Program - April 2009 and July 2009 School Holidays
Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations are invited to apply for funds to run youth development activities during the APRIL 2009 and JULY 2009 school holidays. Projects should target young people of secondary school
age only. Click here for more information
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All Ministerial Media Statements