The ACT Government is seeking feedback from parents, school communities and health professionals on a new program to help improve health outcomes for young people in Canberra.
The Year 7 Health Check, which is planned to be introduced later this year, willmonitor risk factors for chronic conditions, such as overweight and obesity, and assess the emotional wellbeing of students.
Parents or legal guardians must consent (opt in) for their child to participate in the Health Check, which will involve an assessment of healthy weight, and an electronic survey that will assess emotional wellbeing and associated risk factors.
The survey is available at yoursay.act.gov.au; the consultation is open until 3 April.
CIT supporting regional jobs
Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and renewable energy producer Neoen have joined forces to provide renewable energy industry knowledge to the local community in the remote town of Coleambally in the Riverina Region, NSW.
CIT teachers have delivered a week-long training program in Coleambally, with the Coleambally Central School and the Tirkandi Inaburra Cultural and Development Centre Inc.
“This training will change the lives of this community, providing them with diverse, transferable skills in a regional area where employment opportunities in the renewable industry are emerging,” said CIT CEO Leanne Cover.
Neoen own the solar farm in Coleambally, which is the largest fully operational solar photovoltaic facility in Australia, producing over 390,000 Megawatt-hour (MWh) of emission-free renewable energy per annum.
Safe Shelter calls for volunteers
Safe Shelter is looking to recruit at least 100 new volunteers by 28 April to assist with running shelters for homeless men in Canberra during the colder months.
Volunteers must be over 18 and hold, or have applied for, a Working With Vulnerable People card. At least two volunteers, one of them male, sleep overnight in the shelters. They are usually assisted by another volunteer before lights out. Volunteers do one night each month, which they select themselves. They sleep on the floor in sleeping bags or swags.
The shelters are in the halls at St Columba’s Uniting Church and the Salvation Army Canberra City Corps, in Braddon, and at All Saints Anglican Church in Ainslie.
This year, Safe Shelter is opening its doors one month more than in previous years with the halls to be open on a rotating basis between 28 April and 26 October.
Induction courses for potential new volunteers will start from 11 and 12 March. A total of about 160 volunteers will be required.
For more details email [email protected]
Got a great ‘Ydea’?
YWCA Canberra is again looking for women and girls with big ideas for their annual Great Ydeas Small Grants Program.
This year’s program will offer a pool of $14,000 in funding, with grants of up to $2,000 on offer for individual projects in the categories of small business, community development, the arts, diversity and inclusion, social enterprise and professional development.
Grant applications close 21 March and recipients will be announced on 10 April.
For more information and to apply, visit ywca-canberra.org.au
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