Member & Community Calendar

Relationships Australia Tasmania is firmly committed to helping people and communities thrive by supporting the creation of positive connections.

Right now we are in the process of mapping out our desired future and how we will deliver on this mission. As a result we have a number of opportunities for new people to join our organisation. This includes the following roles all based in Hobart:

• Manager — Community Development & Client Services
• Manager — Quality & Innovation
• Practice Consultant
• Senior Practitioner
• Suicide Prevention Officer
• Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
• Parenting Orders Program Facilitator

Find out more and apply.

Please note to be considered for the role your application MUST include a completed application form, a brief statement against each of the selection criteria, and a copy of your current resume.

Applications submitted via the SEEK platform will not be accepted.

Applications close at 5pm, Sunday 19 July 2020.

Our organisation is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment. 

The Tasmanian alcohol, tobacco and other drugs sector is world class, helping people from all walks of life manage a range of personal health challenges.

Whether it be excessive drinking, a smoking habit or an illicit drug dependence there are hundreds of Tasmanians working hard, using their expertise and giving their all to make a difference to the lives of others.

The Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania are on the hunt for a new Sector Development Manager to lead the delivery of activities that will build the capacity and capability of our sector.

It involves identifying and delivering training and development events and programs that will help the workers in our sector be their very best.

It’s also facilitating and offering different opportunities for the organisations in our sector to work collaboratively with each other along with other health sectors and organisations. It’s also about taking the lead to ensure the workers and organisations in our sector are represented in discussions on issues that are impacting them now and actively helping them prepare for future ones.

Find out more and apply.

Applications close 9am, Monday 20 July 2020.

The Australian Community Sector Survey: Responding to COVID-19 will provide an invaluable picture of the effects of the unprecedented current COVID-19 situation on the community services industry, as it allows a longitudinal comparison between the industry in late 2019 and now.

Your response is vital to give a full picture of the impacts of these events on the industry.

Find out more and complete the survey.

Survey closes Tuesday 21 July 2020.

When is a palliative approach or palliative care appropriate? Who can receive palliative care? Who provides palliative care services in Tasmania?

National Palliative Care Standards and the Tasmanian Palliative Care Community Charter

Communication skills — responding to people in palliative care including their families/carers.

Find out more and register.

This online session is free to attend. Once you register, we will be in touch with a link and additional resources to ensure you are well prepared for the session.

NOSS Tasmania is seeking to fill two volunteer board director positions to govern our incorporated not-for-profit association.

At NOSS, we are all about working with people with a disability to enrich their quality of life. We support, train and employ people with a disability.

NOSS is an incorporated not-for-profit association for people with a disability, supporting over 100 people living in the greater Launceston area.

We are a registered provider of NDIS and:

• support individuals and groups at home and in the community,
• run programs at the Red Shed,
• train and employ people with a disability; and
• operate an Australian Disability Enterprise called Bluegum Grounds Maintenance.

Skills and Experience

Successful applicants will have broad experience in current issues and opportunities relevant to not-for-profit organisations and the disability sector. More specifically, we seek applicants with experience in finance. In addition to core skills and attributes expected of board members, our board members must have current National Police Check and Registration to Work with Vulnerable People and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening.

Information and Application

To discuss this opportunity, we invite you to contact the Chairman of the Board, Mark Broxton, on 0400 319 239 or mbroxton@nossinc.org.au.

To receive a copy of the position description and an application form, please contact NOSS at info@nossinc.org.au.

Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 21 July 2020.

A Fairer World is seeking an Educational Leader based on an exceptional, flexible, part-time position (0.3-0.4 FTE). A Fairer World is a values-based community organisation that aims to improve educational outcomes by allowing everyone to reach their full potential.

This is a rare opportunity for a qualified teacher to work in a vibrant community organisation with others who are passionate about the role of education in creating positive social change. 

The position will allow you to build your capacity as an educator and contribute to positive educational outcomes in Tasmanian schools. Full support, training and mentoring is provided by experienced staff.

Our services include professional development and training for schools and workplaces, innovative education programs, learning resources, award winning events and access to support networks.

The Educational Leader will mainly work on our Let’s Get Together program but will also have an active role in A Fairer World's other programs and services, such as the Hobart Human Library and workplace Diversity and Inclusion training.

The right person will be a qualified teacher who can:

• develop and evaluate learning programs that align with the curriculum,
• deliver PL to teachers; and
• coordinate events.

Download the position description and apply.

Email your application addressing the selection criteria in the position description to admin@afairerworld.org by Friday 24 July 2020.

What is Advance Care Planning (ACP)? Why ACP, end of life realities and benefits of ACP.

Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives (ACD)

When are advance care plans used. Who should have an ACP? Legalities of Advance Care Planning in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Advance Care Directive — new form 2020.

Guiding your care. Understand substituted decision-making options in Tasmania. How to start difficult conversations — putting into practice ACP: a vital part of palliative care.

Find out more and register.

This online session is free to attend. Once you register, we will be in touch with a link and additional resources to ensure you are well prepared for the session.

Carers Tasmania is inviting family and friend carers to complete the 2020 National Carer Survey.

We are seeking your support to have carers participate in the 2020 National Carer Survey.

The survey is being conducted in conjunction with the carer associations in all states and territories and researchers from Macquarie, New South Wales, Queensland, Sydney, and Technology Sydney Universities.

The purpose of the research is to identify and highlight carers’ strengths and the challenges they face in caring for a family member or friend.

As Tasmania will not receive data from the 2018 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Caring (SDAC), so having carers respond to this survey is very important to get more current data on carers in the state.

If carers choose to take part, they should know that:

• The survey is anonymous.
• They can choose not to answer some questions.
• The survey will take 15-20 minutes to complete.
• The survey closes 30 June 2020.

The survey asks questions about the following topics:

• The carer themselves (e.g. age, gender, cultural background, employment).
• The person for whom they care (e.g. relationship with the carer, level of care required).
• Their Access to services and support (e.g. what services is the carer using).
• The health and wellbeing of the carer (e.g. levels of stress).

Carers that choose to give their contact details:

• Will go into the draw for a 32GB wifi iPad (one iPad will be given in each state/territory).
• Be asked to complete the survey again in two-years time to establish longitudinal data.

To complete the survey:

• Go online or fill out a hard copy — ring (03) 6144 3700 to have a copy posted out.

In this webinar, Rochelle Hawkins, Director of Risk Assurance at KPMG, will provide an overview of risk management strategies that aim to improve the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in organisations where they spend time.

Learn how to strengthen risk management policies and practices to promote the safety of children and young people in your organisation.

This webinar is designed for professionals who work or engage with children or young people at their workplace. This includes, but is not limited to community services, education, health, retail, not-for-profit, sports and other industries.

Cost: $55 for non-members. Free for Child Wise Community of Practice members.

Find out more and register.

If you have any questions, please email communityofpractice@childwise.org.au.

Volunteering Australia is currently conducting its annual stakeholder survey.

Volunteering Australia is seeking your feedback on representation and communications as well as research, development and promotion of policy solutions to help gauge what the sector needs from Volunteering Australia as the national peak body for volunteering moving forward.

Find out more and complete the survey.

Survey closes 5pm, Friday 31 July 2020.

The Federal Government’s Foundation Skills for Your Future Program provides free training to improve your:

• English, oral and written communications skills,
• Reading skills,
• Mathematical skills; and
• Digital skills.

Contact a Your Future Program Service Provider if you are:

• are an Australian citizen or permanent resident,
• are aged 15 and over,
• have left secondary school education; and
• are employed OR recently unemployed (within the past nine months) and are not registered with an Australian Government employment service provider.

View the list of Tasmanian providers and apply.

The Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) wants to better understand the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people’s gambling.

They are inviting people aged 18+ who have spent any money on gambling during the past 12 months to complete an online survey.

The findings will help to inform responses to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm in the community.

Working It Out (WIO) is Tasmania's only dedicated LGBTIQ+ support, advocacy and education service. WIO is inviting all LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians, plus all other Tasmanians who are involved in sport, to participate in Phase 1 of its new Everyone Can Play project.

Everyone Can Play intends to help sports clubs and associations to create more welcoming spaces for LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians, ultimately increasing opportunities for physical activity. 

In completing the survey, you will be helping WIO to have a better picture of what's happening in sport in Tasmania, and to design a program that will have the most impact.

Find out more and complete the survey.

For further information about the survey or Working It Out's LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport project Everyone Can Play, please contact Olivia Hogarth, Project Manager, on (03) 6231 1200 or at liv@workingitout.org.au.

The Ticket to Play sports voucher program opened on 1 July 2020.

Under the 2020-21 program, people can apply for two vouchers worth up to $100 for each eligible child towards club membership at Approved Activity Providers. Children aged 5-17 years and listed on a Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or in Out of Home Care are eligible. 

Sporting clubs, Scouts, Girl Guide and Cadet organisations are eligible to be activity providers where they meet the Activity Provider Conditions. All Approved Activity Providers from the COVID-19 period between January and June 2020 will remain registered 

Find out more and apply for a voucher.

The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) gives financial help to eligible people with disability and mental health conditions and employers to buy work related modifications, equipment, Auslan services and workplace assistance and support services.

The EAF is available to eligible people with disability who are about to start a job, are self-employed or who are currently working. It is also available to people with disability who need Auslan assistance or special work equipment to look for and prepare for a job.

Find out more and apply.

Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) is a payment of up to $1,500 to help eligible young people cover some basic costs as they leave out-of-home care.

Young people aged between 15 to 25 years who are leaving or have already left formal out-of-home care may be eligible for the TILA.

Find out more and apply.

Women's Health Tasmania's new podcast series, She’s Out There, focusses on sexual and reproductive health.

She’s Out There features Tasmanian women and Tasmanian experts, including Tasmania’s answer to Dr Dolly — Dr Sue, a sexual and reproductive health specialist based in Launceston.

These podcasts are useful for everyone but they’re particularly useful if you live in Tasmania as they have information on resources and services for Tassie women. Each podcast will be accompanied by a page on our website where you can read more about the subject or find services.

Check out the Youth Network of Tasmania's new Instagram campaign You(th) Got This, Tassie!

You(th) Got This aims to be a positive and energising source of support and information for young people during COVID-19.

Head to instagram.com/yougotthistassie.

Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania invites you to participate in our annual stakeholder survey.

We welcome your feedback on what we're doing, how we're doing it and your thoughts on what we could be doing better. As the peak body for the Tasmanian alcohol, tobacco and other drugs sector we are committed to being the best we can be and your feedback is key to helping us achieve this.

There are twelve questions and we estimate that it will take you six minutes to complete.

All responses are anonymous. As a small token of our appreciation for your time, at the end of the survey you will have the option to enter the draw to win a $100 Visa card. 

Find out more and complete the survey.

If you have any queries regarding this survey, please contact Alison Lai, Chief Executive Officer, on (03) 6231 5002 or ceo@atdc.org.au.

Gardening has enjoyed somewhat of a renewed prominence during this time of COVID-19.

In support of the work that DIGnity Supported Community Gardening does for communities, an international collaboration of 5 Researchers are keen to explore gardening attitudes and practices during the changed circumstances of COVID-19 as well as find out various positive impacts gardening may have had for people.

Find out more and complete the survey (English).

The survey is available in three languages.

• Toma encuesta in Spanish,
• Nehmen Sie an der Umfrage teil in German; or
• Làm khảo sát in Vietnamese.

Do you work or volunteer with children and young people?

As COVID-19 restrictions are easing around the country, adjusting to the new norm may bring about challenges for organisations that provide services to children and young people.

Child Wise child safety training programs are designed to help you ensure a child safe service delivery.

Find out more and register for upcoming virtual training and face-to-face sessions.

Health Consumers Tasmania is encouraging southern Tasmanian patients, carers and community workers to apply for the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Consumer and Community Engagement Council.

The Council meets monthly and provides an important voice on behalf of patients, carers and the community in the Hospital’s decision making processes. Members of the Council also provide feedback on staff proposals and publications, and participate in incident review discussion panels. 

If you or someone you know is interested in applying we encourage you to contact us at Health Consumers Tasmania so we can help you in this process.

Find out more and apply.

For more information, please contact Kathryn Fulton from the Hospital directly via consumer.engagement@ths.tas.gov.au or (03) 6166 7586.

From June 2020, all aged care assessment and delivery services now have access to free sign language and interpreting services to support older Australians who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing to access or engage with Federal Government funded aged care services.

Face-to-face sign language interpreting and video remote interpreting services are available to support clients to engage with:

• Aged Care System Navigators,
• My Aged Care,
• Regional Assessment Services,
• Aged Care Assessment Teams,
• Home Care Packages providers,
• Commonwealth Home Support Programme providers,
• Residential aged care service providers; and
• Other organisations involved in the provision of Federal Government funded aged care services.

Sign language services are available in Auslan, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, American Sign Language, International Sign Language, and Signed English for deaf consumers or consumers who are hard of hearing, and tactile signing and hand over hand for deafblind consumers.

These new sign language interpreting services will support older Australians to better engage and fully participate in their aged care services.

Find out more and register.

The University of Tasmania has created a range of subsidised, online job ready certificates to support those affected by COVID-19 to retrain and upskill.

As part of the Higher Education Relief Package, the government has significantly discounted student fees for studies undertaken for six months from May 2020. Students may be eligible to defer their student fees under the HECS-HELP loan scheme.

Eligible job seekers are able to immediately access up to $3,000 which can be used to pay for training from any training provider, career and employment advice to help choose the best pathway available, and it can also cover the cost for work or safety gear if required.

For more information on the UTAS courses visit the Job Ready Certificates website.

COVID-19 has been changing the way we all do things with social distancing and non-essential shutdowns our new normal. It can be hard for those who struggle to do things online, especially without face-to-face help.

Did you know Digital Ready for Daily Life has a range of resources that can help?

If you or someone you know is looking for help to move with the times, stay connected, and keep entertained visit the Digital Ready for Daily Life website to find resources on:

• Keeping in touch with family and friends, how to use messenger and video chat apps,
• Click and collect, and no contact deliveries,
• Streaming TV and games,
• Where to get COVID-19 facts; and
• Telehealth.

See all the resources on the Digital Ready for Daily Life website.

The Mission Australia Youth Survey 2020 is now open.

In this rapidly changing world, young voices matter. Now more than ever before, we want to hear from young people about the issues that are affecting them. It’s important during this period of unprecedented change, that young people still have meaningful opportunities like the Youth Survey to share their thoughts, concerns and aspirations to shape policy and service changes that are important to them.

In our Youth Survey 2019, less than one in 10 (7.2%) young people felt they had a voice all of the time in public affairs. We know the Youth Survey provides a significant platform for young people to have their voices heard, and in times of increasing uncertainty it is crucial we take the time to listen to what they have to say.

Find out more and apply.

Last year for International Overdose Awareness Day, we asked for your support to help us reach our goal of 1,000 folded origami folded cranes (aligned to the Senbazuru legend that if you folded 1,000 cranes you would get granted one wish – and ours was for a Tasmania free from overdose).

You helped us achieve an astonishing 4,239 origami cranes and showed how the meditative act of folding cranes was a powerful way to encourage people to talk about drug overdose.

Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Council (ATDC) Tasmania are again inviting you to help us fold cranes to create another memorial to those lost to overdose and help us create an opportunity for people in the community to discuss the risks and impact of overdose.

This year we will be doing it differently. To keep encouraging the community to social distance and show support from wherever they may be, we are asking people to fold the origami cranes and send us pictures. We will then use the individual pictures of the thousands of cranes to create a beautiful large digital artwork called a photographic mosaic which we will launch on International Overdose Awareness Day (Monday 31 August 2020). We will also be encouraging people to keep their cranes, and display them wherever they may be (hang them in the windows at home, in the office or in their car).

Also, this year we want to encourage people to share with us what International Overdose Awareness Day may mean to them, and we are inviting people to submit a tribute in remembrance to someone they know who may have been lost of harmed as a result of drug overdose.

Find out more on the ATDC website.

Tasmanian’s who have a mental health disorder are two times more likely to smoke. Your support can make a difference.

Let’s Start a Conversation is a campaign that aims to encourage staff within the mental health sector to talk to their clients about stopping smoking.

Your service will be provided with:

• Posters and resources to display,
• Weekly emails during September with tips on how and why to start a conversation about smoking; and
• An opportunity to access training.

To be a part of the Let’s Start a Conversation campaign this September, please contact Jasmine Angus, Tobacco Projects Officer, Public Health Services, Department of Health, at Jasmine.Angus@health.tas.gov.au.

RSVP by Friday 7 August 2020.

A total of $2 million will be available for community organisations and local governments to help improve the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Successful projects will receive up to $200,000 to build community connections while helping Tasmanians to quit smoking, promote healthy eating, be more physically active and improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Find out more and apply.

Applications open on Monday 7 September 2020.

The committee is now inviting new submissions, including supplementary submissions from organisations and individuals who have already provided evidence to the inquiry, and requests that these are provided by Thursday 17 September 2020.

These new and supplementary submissions should address the existing terms of reference, however the committee is particularly interested in the following matters:

• the legal basis of the online compliance program;
• Services Australia's progress in implementing the changes announced in November 2019; and
• the impact that these changes have had on individuals, the community sector and Centrelink staff.

Find out more and make a submission.

The State Government has established the Residential Rent Relief Fund to provide rent relief payments of up to $2,000 (or four weeks' rent) to support Tasmanians experiencing rental hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme is available until Wednesday 30 September 2020.

The Rent Relief payment is a one-off payment made directly to the landlord or their agents who have entered into an approved temporary rent reduction arrangement with their tenant to keep them securely housed in their principle place of residence. Tenants can apply for rent relief through the scheme from Housing Connect.

Find out more and apply.

• COVID-19 Rent Relief Fact Sheet (Tenants)
• COVID-19 Rent Relief Fact Sheet (Landlords)

Further Details:

• Assistance will be capped at four weeks rent, to a maximum of $2,000 (whichever is the less).
• Assistance will be made available to tenants experiencing COVID-19 related hardship and are in rental stress, that is, they are paying more than 30% of their income in rent.
• Assistance will be available to people with less than $5,000 in savings.
• As well as tenants covered by the Residential Tenancy Act 1997, those tenants who rent rooms, are part of a share-house or are sub-tenants are eligible for assistance.
• The fund will made available to migrants and temporary visa holders subject to them meeting all other eligibility criteria.
• There is a rent reduction agreement in place for a set period.

How to Apply:

1. Tenants experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 should speak with their landlord or agent to negotiate a rent reduction for a set period.
2. Together with their landlord or agent, tenants can complete an Application Form available at www.communities.tas.gov.au/housing/rental-services.
3. Once completed, submit the Application Form together with the required supporting documentation to Housing Connect.
4. Housing Connect will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and contact tenants if they need further information.
5. Housing Connect will send the assessed application to the Department of Justice who will notify the tenant and landlord of the outcome, within two business days.
6. Once approved, the reduced rental amount will apply for the agreed period and the rent relief grant payment will be made directly to the landlord or agent’s bank account.

More information about the Residential Rent Relief Grant can be found here or by contacting Housing Connect on 1800 800 588.

The State Government has extended certain protections for residential tenants until 30 September 2020. This timing will bring Tasmania into line with the expiry of protections in most other states and territories.

The State Government will do this by extending the emergency period in the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 until 30 September 2020 and issuing further Notices under the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.

These Notices will prevent rent increases and evictions following a Notice to vacate issued by a property owner.

Some minor changes to the protections will be made to allow for a Notice to vacate for a lease of no fixed period in the event of sale of property, major renovations or for the owner or a close family member to move into the property.

Existing exemptions to the protections, which allow for termination for unlawful use of a property or for wilful damage and violence, will remain in place.

In March, the State Government put in place measures to restrict residential tenancy inspections to emergency reasons only. Recognising the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner will shortly issue a Notice which will remove the restrictions on rental inspections from 30 June 2020.

Significant protocols have now been put in place to ensure social distancing and personal hygiene measures are implemented for all residential tenancy inspections. These are outlined, in detail, in the Real Estate COVID-Safe Workplace Guidelines available on the Worksafe Tasmania website.

For more information, visit the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) website at www.cbos.tas.gov.au.

The Child Wise Child Safety Training Calendar for Tasmania is now available.

Choose from our signature evidence-based programs with real-life examples designed to suit every level delivered by highly qualified and experienced trainers across the country.

Save your spot early in any public training sessions you wish to attend this year, or contact us at 1300 244 539 or info@childwise.org.au if you are interested in in-house training for your organisation.

Download the training calendar or view online.