27 October, 2011

PS call to spearhead
Indigenous jobs

Senior Public Service managers across Australia have been called on to copy their private sector counterparts and go into bat for Indigenous employment.
   Writing in the new-look magazine of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Public Administration Today, the National President of the IPAA, Percy Allan called on the senior echelons of the PS to pledge more jobs for Indigenous Australians.
   “Indigenous success stories tell us those who find work have far fewer problems than those who don’t,” Mr Allan said.
   “To find work, Indigenous Australians need skills and opportunities to escape the downward spiral of hopelessness and despair that many regrettably view as the natural fate for Australia’s original peoples.”
   His plea echoes a similar call by Commonwealth’s Special Minister of State, Gary Gray for Federal Public Service Chiefs to lead by example in hiring more Indigenous employees.
   Mr Gray said he expected the Australian Public Service to be doing more towards achieving the 2018 target of a further 100,000 private and public sector jobs for Indigenous Australians.
   The IPAA magazine looks at other aspects of Indigenous affairs, including The Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure Report to the Australian Government, which recommended 25 existing Indigenous-specific programs across the Commonwealth be closed immediately, and 51 others be consolidated into 18.
   The report said Commonwealth Government expenditure on its Indigenous-specific programs amounted to some $3.5 billion annually and that it had yielded dismally poor returns to date.
   Public Administration Today also features articles supporting its Indigenous employment theme by Public Service Chiefs including Federal Auditor General, Ian McPhee, former Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman, Allan Asher and the Australian Public Service Commission.
   It is distributed nationally and read by public sector employees in all three tiers of Government, Statutory Authorities and not-for-profit organisations.
   Mr Allan’s comments can be found in the PS News Feature pages at this PS News link.

27 October, 2011

Union’s survey is
women’s wish list

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has launched its annual What Women Want survey.
   Now in its sixth year, the CPSU survey is the largest survey of women undertaken by an Australian trade union.
   Last year, nearly 10,000 women completed the survey, which was conducted in partnership with the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR).
   Deputy National Secretary of the CPSU, Kristin van Barneveld said the University of South Australia’s Centre for Work + Life had joined the partnership for the first time this year.
   “The CPSU’s annual What Women Want survey of women raises important questions about women and work,” Dr van Barneveld said.
   “Last year’s survey revealed significant gaps between the availability of flexible working conditions and the number of women accessing them.”
   She said it showed that having a technical right to flexible working conditions did not always mean women would get to use them.
   “The survey results give us a clear picture of women’s working lives and what our priorities need to be to improve conditions that provide flexibility and work life balance,” she said.
   “The involvement of the University of South Australia’s Centre for Work + Life has seen the survey expand this year to include questions on environmental issues.”
   Dr van Barneveld said results from previous surveys had been used in the 2011 round of enterprise agreement negotiations, which assisted the CPSU in securing improvements for women.
   She said improvements included superannuation payments on periods of unpaid parental leave; control over hours of work and reasonable compensation for additional hours worked; flexible working conditions to ensure work life balance; and paid maternity leave in addition to the Government scheme of paid parental leave.
   The 2010/11 survey report is available at this PS News link and to take part in this year’s survey go to this PS News link.

27 October, 2011

Evaluation to size up
obesity problem

An obesity prevention program begun in South Australia in 2009 is to be evaluated over the next eight years.
   To be conducted by Flinders University, the evaluation will include participants in the OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle) program which is supported by Local, State and Federal Governments.
   Director of Health Promotion at SA Health, Michele Herriot said overweight and obesity affected about one-quarter of South Australian children.
   “The aim is to determine what works best for children and families in different areas when it comes to encouraging them to eat well and be active,” Ms Herriot said.
   “A thorough and rigorous evaluation will help us determine whether we are reaching our goals.”
   She said participation in the evaluation would be entirely voluntary, and all collected information would remain confidential.
   She said the mainstay of the evaluation is to be a questionnaire about eating habits, physical activity levels and environments, to be completed by parents, children, school principals and childcare and pre-school directors.
   Ms Herriot said there would also be a growth check for nine to 11-year-olds and 14 to 16-year-olds, to measure their height, weight and waist circumference.
   Deputy Chair of the OPAL Scientific Advisory Committee, Tim Olds said the screening would be conducted in schools in a private area by trained members of the research team in accordance with body image principles.
   “All information gathered will be kept strictly confidential,” Professor Olds said.
   An estimated 48,000 measurements at more than 450 Government and non-Government schools were expected to be conducted during the eight-year evaluation period.

27 October, 2011

Facebook lined up
to extract dentists

A Facebook campaign to attract overseas dentists to South Australia has been launched by SA Health.
   Chief Executive of SA Health, David Swan, said social media was becoming an increasingly popular way for South Australians and health professionals to keep informed.
   “More and more South Australians are turning to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date news and information,” Mr Swan said.
   “Our Facebook page will provide South Australians with regularly updated hints and tips on keeping healthy and health information in general.”
   He said however that SA Health also wanted to use Facebook to showcase why South Australia was such an attractive place to work for health professionals.
   “The launch of the SA Health Facebook page will focus on our international recruitment campaign to attract more international dentists to move here,” he said.
   “Last week SA Health took part in a dental showcase in the United Kingdom, and the Facebook site is one way we can continue informal communication with some of those dentists.”
   Mr Swan said the Facebook page would provide information and discussion on the positive aspects of living and working in South Australia, the dental industry and community and the current opportunities available.
   He said it would also provide Facebook friends with seasonal reminders and advice regarding vaccinations and mosquito bite prevention.
   He said SA Health’s Facebook page could be accessed at this PS News link.

27 October, 2011

Disabled enabled in
vision for the future

A proposed blueprint for supporting people with a disability in South Australia, prepared by the Disability Sub-Committee of the Social Inclusion Board, has been released for public information.
   The State Government is considering its recommendations.
   The document, Strong Voices, a Blueprint to Enhance Life and Claim the Rights of People With Disability in South Australia (2012-2020) aims to respond to comments made to Board members during their community engagement process.
   Chair of the Disability Sub-Committee, Lorna Hallahan said the Board had heard the views of more than 2,000 South Australians, including people with disability, as well as families and carers.
   “This is a comprehensive plan for action and will require major investment and commitment by Government and the community,” Dr Hallahan said.
   “We are keen to see an urgent, yet practical approach taken in the implementation of the Strong Voices recommendations.”
   She said Strong Voices outlined 34 recommendations, including amending the Disability Act to enshrine the rights of people with disability in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; establishing a State Disability Justice Plan to support legal protections for people with disability in South Australia’s criminal justice system; and making individualised funding available to all South Australians with disability.
   The blueprint also seeks transition to a local development model to better support people with disability to participate in community life; the establishment of family living and community living initiatives to better support people to live in their own homes; and increased respite funding for carers.

27 October, 2011

Cold water thrown
on fires in parks

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has introduced safety restrictions around the lighting of barbecues and fires in public parks and reserves.
   DENR said the restrictions would apply to most South Australian National Parks, Wildlife Act Reserves and Wilderness Protection Areas and were in addition to the normal fire danger restrictions put in place by the Country Fire Service (CFS).
   Director of Public Land and Operational Support at DENR, Grant Pelton said it was important that people who intended visiting or travelling through South Australia’s parks made themselves familiar with the restrictions.
   “These restrictions are essential for reducing the risk of fires starting,” Mr Pelton said.
   “While DENR works in close partnership with the CFS and SA Water to reduce the impact of bushfires on public land, fire restrictions are put in place for the safety of everyone.”
   He urged members of the public to be vigilant about fire prevention and preparedness when camping in the parks and reserves.
   He said some restrictions applied to reserves throughout the year, while others only to the applicable fire danger season.
   For more information about fire restrictions visit this PS News link or contact the CFS Fire Bans Hotline 1300 362 361, or DENR’s Information Line (08) 8204 1910.

27 October, 2011

Police take names
for identity theft

The Australian Federal Police have unveiled an online survey to help members of the public find out how well they are protecting their identity against ID fraud.
   The initiative has been applauded by the Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, Brendan O’Connor.
   Mr O’Connor said the Australian community needed to realise how serious identity crime was and to understand the devastating effects it could have on an individual’s life.
   “This survey allows members of the public to test how vulnerable they are to identity crime and take remedial measures if they need to,” Mr O’Connor said.
   He said the survey was part of National Identity Fraud Awareness Week which ran last week and covered safety tips such as checking ATMs for signs of tampering before use; shredding bank statements and other documents instead of putting them in the recycling bin; and deleting spam emails from the deleted email folder.
   “I encourage all members of the public to take the online survey,” he said.
   “A 30-second community service announcement was aired on television throughout the week and could be downloaded and viewed on the AFP’s website.”
   Manager of Special References at the AFP, Chris McDevitt said identity crime cost the Australian community hundreds of millions of dollars each year and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics at least five per cent of the Australian population had been a victim of personal fraud, of which one fifth was identity fraud.
   “Identity fraud is an emerging threat to Australia and is growing rapidly,” Commander McDevitt said.
   “Be aware that identity fraudsters are specialists at manipulating their victims, including their trust, friendliness, loneliness, fears, concerns or financial situation.”
   He said National Identity Fraud Awareness Week was held each October to raise public awareness about identity crime issues and the protective measures available to the public.
   He said in addition to the survey the AFP would broadcast a 30 second community service announcement on national TV for the month of October.
   To take part in the survey visit this PS News link.

27 October, 2011

Hospital app is
good medicine

A new app released in South Australia and New South Wales means that doctors and nurses will now have fast and easy access to a clinical handover tool on their iPhones or iPads.
   The Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (ISBAR) app was developed collaboratively by SA Health and NSW Health as a new and innovative handover tool.
   The app will allow health professionals, especially young doctors and interns, to have an on-hand memory prompt to help guide clinical handovers.
   These occur whenever a patient is transferred into the care of one health professional from another, including handover between shifts or when a patient was moved from one clinical area to another.
   No patient information is retained or stored on the app after it has been utilised, rather the program provides clinicians with a reminder of the list of items that need to be discussed during a handover.
   The app could be used for a variety of clinical handovers, such as medical, surgical, mental health, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and for a patient whose condition was worsening.
   It allows clinicians to develop their own handover prompts, appropriate to their clinical area.
   ISBAR is currently used across all SA public hospitals and promotes safe clinical handover by providing a standard structure for organising patient information.
   Clinical Director of Training and Standards at MedStar, Andrew Pearce said that having the information available on an iPhone or iPad would make it even easier for clinicians to ensure that essential information about the patient was not missed during handover.
   “This will also help ensure the patient receives consistent care and will assist in preventing errors,” Dr Pearce said.

27 October, 2011

Bureau storms in for
cyclone season

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its annual outlook for the tropical cyclone season and it’s all bad news for Australia’s four cyclone-prone regions.
   The Bureau is expecting an above average number of cyclones right across northern Australia.
   Climate Prediction Manager at the Bureau, Andrew Watkins, said climate models were trending toward another La Niña event, which led them to expect a slightly higher than average number of tropical cyclones.
   Dr Watkins said however, no two La Niña events were the same.
   “The Southern Oscillation Index, a key climate driver, was (positive) 11.7 in September this year, compared with (positive) 25 at the same time last year,” Dr Watkins said.
   “While this La Niña may be weaker than the last, this doesn’t mean we can expect fewer tropical cyclones than the previous season.
   “In other words, we can’t afford to be complacent.”
   Climatologist with the Bureau, Joel Lisonbee said before a tropical cyclone formed it was difficult to predict its exact strength and path and whether it would make landfall.
   Mr Lisonbee said however that the Bureau had a solid body of historical data which gave forecasters a likely range in which to work.
   “Along the east and west coasts, less than half of all cyclones affect the coast, with most staying out to sea,” he said.
   “However, along the north coast more than half of all cyclones will impact coastal regions.”
   He said during a La Niña, warmer waters in the western Pacific and regions to the north of Australia, and associated changes in circulation helped focus tropical cyclone activity in the Coral and Timor seas.
   “Generally we divide Australia into four regions,” Mr Lisonbee said, “with the average number of tropical cyclones in the eastern region (Queensland) being four, northern region (Northern Territory) being three, and western region (Western Australia) being seven. “The north western sub-region, which includes Western Australia and the Northern Territory, is highly active and with an average of five tropical cyclones,” he said.
   More information about the Bureau’s tropical cyclone outlook can be obtained from this PS News link.

27 October, 2011

Healthy grants for
health researchers

South Australian universities and research institutes are to receive $59.3 million for 90 grants, through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
   The grants are part of a national program providing $673.7 million for 1,140 grants to support researchers, research projects and research institutions.
   Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said the grants would ensure South Australia remained at the forefront of work that expanded the frontiers of health and medical research.
   “These grants support South Australia’s research community to continue to do what it does so well – making cutting edge discoveries that improve the diagnosis, treatment and cure of illnesses that touch all Australians,” Mr Butler said.
   “They will ensure young researchers have a solid foundation for their career, experienced researchers can run innovative research projects and clinicians can integrate their clinical skills into research practice.”
   He said South Australian researchers receiving funding included specialists across a range of health areas including diet and allergies.
   He said Professor Maria Makrides and her team at the University of Adelaide would receive $429,231 to investigate the effect of omega-2 dietary supplements to determine whether they reduce asthma and allergies in school age children.
   He said the University of Adelaide led the research institutions in South Australia and was the sixth most successful nationally, receiving $44.8 million through 60 grants.
   Flinders University is to receive 19 grants worth $9.6 million and $3.8 million would go to the University of South Australia for eight grants.
   Mr Butler said single grants would go to the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science ($615,000), Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute ($294,892) and CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition ($205,450).

27 October, 2011

Biosecurity seeds
new weed policies

A review of policies on weeds under the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Act is open for public comment.
   The first batch of revised policies can be viewed on the Natural Resource Management in SA website. Executive Director of Biosecurity SA, Will Zacharin said the last comprehensive review of regulated weed species occurred in 1991 and in the two decades since, knowledge of how weeds affected the landscape had increased and new weeds had emerged.
   “Weed species need to be declared under the NRM Act if they pose a significant threat to South Australia’s primary industries, natural environment or public safety,” Mr Zacharin said.
   “We review policies to ensure that the declaration of weeds reflects the priorities of the community through the NRM boards, and is backed up by scientific evidence.”
   He said four batches of new weed policies would be released over the coming months outlining how NRM boards are to manage particular weed species in their regions and what provisions of the NRM Act were needed to empower the management programs.
   He said comment was being sought from land managers, producers and members of the public on the new policies and weeds being proposed for declaration.
   “It is important the community provides us with feedback as there may be concerns about how a particular weed is being managed, or gaps in our knowledge of how it is affecting the land,” Mr Zacharin said.
   The policies can be accessed at this PS News link and the public consultation period for the first batch will run for eight weeks, ending on 16 December.

27 October, 2011

Crisis centre to be
centre of crises

A new Crisis Coordination Centre has been opened in Canberra to manage national responses to large scale natural disasters or acts of terrorism.
   Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland opened the new Australian Government Crisis Coordination Centre saying the purpose-built secure facility would monitor risks to Australia and Australians 24 hours a day, seven days a week and had capacity for up to 100 officers from Commonwealth, State and Territory Agencies on-site during a crisis.
   “The Crisis Coordination Centre connects Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies to centralise Australian Government actions during national emergencies,” Mr McClelland said.
   “Operating from its temporary premises from September 2010, the CCC coordinated Australian Government assistance during the Queensland floods, Tropical Cyclone Yasi, the New Zealand earthquake and Victorian floods.”
   He said while State and Territory authorities were the first responders during times of disasters, the Australian Government had a critical role in coordinating support from other States, the Australian Defence Force, Commonwealth Agencies and overseas.
   “The new $14 million CCC facility includes a large operational room, linked video conferencing facilities with the States and Territories, crisis coordination rooms as well as secure premises that can be used during a national security incident,” Mr McClelland said.
   “It also features high-speed and secure communications for officers from all agencies to link back to their home agency.”
   He said the new CCC premises would mean staff were ready to move instantly from a 24/7 monitoring state to a response state whenever an emergency arose.
   He said during a ‘steady’ state the CCC was staffed by around 20 officers from Emergency Management Australia, reporting information to the Australian Government on all potential known hazards, and undertaking contingency planning and preparation for crisis response.
   “This includes threats such as natural disasters and man-made disasters, including security and cyber threats,” Mr McClelland said.
   “We hope that there will be no need activate the full capabilities of the CCC this summer – but we can be confident that if a crisis occurs that we will be able to respond quickly and effectively.”

27 October, 2011

Planting guide
takes root

A planting guide and workshop series for people living on the coast in the South East has been published.
   The Coastal Gardens Planting Guide was originally produced by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board and Rural Solutions SA and has now been adapted for all South East coastal gardeners.
   Coast and Marine Officer at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Tania Rajic said coastal gardeners faced challenges such as sandy or saline soils, salt spray, sand blasting, and a changing climate.
   “The guide helps people to create a garden that not only copes with tough coastal conditions, but also looks great and requires limited maintenance,” Ms Rajic said.
   She said around 36 local coastal plants were featured in the guide, including ground-covers, structured sedges, grasses, flowering creepers, trailing plants, and bird attracting shrubs and screening trees.
   The guide also provides information on which plants to avoid in gardens as they can ‘jump the fence’ to become serious weeds in the natural coastal environment.
   “The guide is a perfect size to take to nurseries when purchasing plants, which makes helping the environment an easy thing to do,” Ms Rajic said.
   She said public workshops to promote the guide and answer questions on gardening with local coastal plants are scheduled along the coast during early November and a copy of the Coastal Gardens Planting Guide would be given to each person attending a workshop. Both the guide and workshops will be free.

27 October, 2011

Fourth university
on course for SA

Approval has been granted for a fourth university for South Australia.
   Laureate Education Asia is to establish the private university in Adelaide with the proposed name of Torrens University Australia.
   According to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Jack Snelling, the new facility will be the first private national university established in Australia since the 1980s and will reinforce Adelaide’s ‘University City’ status.
   Mr Snelling said it would be Australia’s third private university after Bond University in Queensland and Notre Dame in Western Australia.
   “To attract a university of this calibre shows the rest of the world is looking to South Australia as an educational hub,” Mr Snelling said.
   “This really is a huge investment from Laureate and its decision to base its Australian University in South Australia cements our reputation as an education capital.”
   He said Laureate would provide all start-up funding for the Adelaide institution.
   He said it had 58 accredited campus-based and online universities offering education to more than 675,000 students in more than 25 countries.
   The new university will initially be based in the Torrens Building in Victoria Square while the group searches for a suitable location in the Central Business District.
   It plans to begin enrolling students for the 2013 year and will initially offer courses in education, management and commerce and creative arts.
   “This is a university for domestic and international students and will provide further incentive for students to consider studying in South Australia,” Mr Snelling said.
   The university will join the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia and Flinders University in offering Australian qualified courses.

27 October, 2011

Emergency volunteers
get online support

A new website has been launched by the E-mergency Connect Program to publicise information about the program and interrelated projects.
   E-mergency consists of a group of related projects set up to improve the delivery of services to the more than 17,000 emergency volunteers across South Australia.
   The three projects are:
   * Network and Infrastructure - dealing with broadband and computers;
   * Portal and Collaboration – giving access to a range of operational systems, email and communication tools; and
   * Training and E-learning – aimed at making more learning facilities available online.
   The program will work towards future enhanced services that will benefit State Emergency Services (SES), Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers and regional retained fire fighters within the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS).
   Improvements will include the provision of broadband and computers to volunteer locations throughout the State and a volunteer web portal to provide centralised email and calendaring, as well as a single point of entry to a range of systems and services.
   An online learning system will reduce the time to complete induction and re-accreditation training which will now be done at the most convenient times and places for the volunteers.
   In addition to new computers, which will be rolled as the budget allows, E-mergency Connect will deliver a central email system, web conferencing, document sharing, an online learning system, a web portal and broadband.
   The program is directed by a governance board comprising CFS and SES executive staff and the CFS and the SES Volunteer Associations’ Executive Officers, Wendy Shirley and Susan Caracoussis.
   Most of the work is expected to be completed by December 2012.

27 October, 2011

Desalination plant
earns its salt

Water produced by the Adelaide Desalination Plant is entering the State’s network in time for National Water Week.
   Premier, Mike Rann has announced that small volumes of desalinated drinking water were being mixed with that treated from the Happy Valley Reservoir in storage tanks before being pumped into the mains water pipelines.
   Mr Rann said the Happy Valley Treatment Plant serviced customers across Adelaide from Happy Valley to Aldinga as well as the Adelaide Hills areas of Blackwood, Belair to Coromandel Valley, the western suburbs from Darlington to West Lakes and the eastern foothill areas from Clapham to Wattle Park.
   He said between five and 10 million litres of water would be entering the network each day and this would rise over the coming months as the desal plant’s capacity increased.
   “Customers in the north of Adelaide will receive desalinated water from the North South Interconnection System Project scheduled for completion in late 2012,” Mr Rann said.
   He said the AdelaideAqua D&C Consortium, which operates the plant, had undertaken extensive testing and monitoring to ensure the desalinated drinking water met the stringent specifications set by SA Health.
   “SA Water has also undertaken further tests on the water just before it enters the Happy Valley treated water storage,’’ Mr Rann said.
   “It is satisfied that this water also meets their stringent quality standards and can be safely supplied to customers.
   “As the water is introduced into the network, customers should not notice a change to their water’s taste or smell.”
   He said the introduction of desalinated water to the normal supply was a critical step in ensuring a secure water supply completely independent of climatic conditions for current and future generations.

27 October, 2011

And in Other News...

Fire doors open
The Metropolitan Fire Service Open Day is to be held on 12 November at Adelaide Fire Station.
   The doors will be open from 11.15am to 3pm, providing a chance for the public to meet firefighters and other staff, take a close-up look at fire appliances, view road crash rescue and Urban Search and Rescue demonstrations.
   Highlights of the Day will include an aerial rescue exercise and rope rescues from heights, demonstrations on how the cause of house and other structure fires are investigated and what a firefighter faced at a fire, using a computer simulation.

Voter boundaries passed
The Electoral Commission for South Australia has endorsed the redistribution and names for the 11 Federal electoral divisions proposed by the Redistribution Committee in its report on 12 August.
   A formal determination of the boundaries and names of the divisions will be gazetted on 16 December.
   From that date Federal elections will be contested on the new boundaries.

Wine award awarded
A former Viticultural Project Officer with the South Australian Department of Agriculture has received the top honour at the NSW Wine Industry Awards.
   Richard Hilder was presented with the Graham Gregory Award, established to acknowledge individual contributions to the NSW wine industry.
   Mr Hilder, now co-owner of Pyramid Hill Wines in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW, has a 55-year-long association with the wine industry.

Grants to hit violence
The South Australian chapter of the Vietnamese Community in Australia is to receive more than $242,000 over the next three years under a national plan to reduce violence against women and their children.
   The Vietnamese group has proposed a project aimed at raising awareness and reducing violence against women and children in the Vietnamese community.
   The group will work with schools and the community to encourage early intervention, prevention and education of the Vietnamese community around domestic and family violence.

20 October, 2011

Fourth university
on course for SA

Emergency volunteers
get online support

Network and Infrastructure - dealing with broadband and computers;
Portal and Collaboration – giving access to a range of operational systems, email and communication tools; and
Training and E-learning – aimed at making more learning facilities available online.

   The program will work towards future enhanced services that will benefit State Emergency Services (SES), Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers and regional retained fire fighters within the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS).
   Improvements will include the provision of broadband and computers to volunteer locations throughout the State and a volunteer web portal to provide centralised email and calendaring, as well as a single point of entry to a range of systems and services.
   An online learning system will reduce the time to complete induction and re-accreditation training which will now be done at the most convenient times and places for the volunteers.
   In addition to new computers, which will be rolled as the budget allows, E-mergency Connect will deliver a central email system, web conferencing, document sharing, an online learning system, a web portal and broadband.
   The program is directed by a governance board comprising CFS and SES executive staff and the CFS and the SES Volunteer Associations’ Executive Officers, Wendy Shirley and Susan Caracoussis.
   Most of the work is expected to be completed by December 2012.

20 October, 2011

Desalination plant
earns its salt

Mature age students
ripe for advice

Mature age people thinking about studying at university are to be offered one-on-one advice by the University of South Australia.
   University staff will be available to give personal advice and support for anyone wanting to discuss their options for adult entry to university.
   Manager of Domestic Student Recruitment at UniSA, Ryan Bailey said the decision to come back to study could be life changing and it was vital people learned as much as they could about their options.
   “Traditionally, about 50 per cent of our student intake is made up of people returning to study – they are certainly not all just out of Year 12,” Mr Bailey said.
   “We are very experienced with this cohort of students. We understand that they have an extremely diverse range of backgrounds and are at quite different stages in their lives from school leavers.”
   He said the mature entry population ranged from 20-somethings who had tried their hand at work or travel for a while and now wanted to learn and build a career, to 40 and 50-somethings who might never have finished school and now wanted to change the course of their lives.
   He said UniSA advisers could support the path back to higher education, whether that was moving from a TAFE qualification into a higher degree program, getting skills to sit the STAT test to qualify for university, or deciding to take advantage of the UniSA College which offered a well supported pathway back to university study.
   “People can call one of our staff to discuss their individual needs and goals or they can come in and sit down with us to talk through their options,” Mr Bailey said.
   More information about adult entry at the University of South Australia is available at this PS News link.

20 October, 2011

Better childcare
comes into play

All State and Territory Governments, including South Australia, have signed up to Australia’s first truly national regulatory system for early childhood education and care services.
   The move has been hailed as a significant milestone in boosting quality and transparency in Australian child care centres.
   Federal Minister for Child Care, Kate Ellis said the evidence was clear that the quality of the experiences children had in their first five years of life had a profound influence on their future wellbeing.
   “With more children than ever before being enrolled in early childhood education and care, those early experiences are being increasingly shaped by their child care experiences,” Ms Ellis said.
   “The regulations that all States and Territories have signed up to will mean that parents can now have confidence that no matter where they live and no matter what child care centre their child is attending – they will be receiving an appropriate standard of care.”
   She said the Australian Government had committed an additional $2 million to print and distribute a comprehensive set of supporting materials for child care centres to assist with the harmonisation of regulations.
   These materials would be available soon through the new national body, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.
   Ms Ellis said the National Quality Framework was being implemented by all Australian Governments and would start to take effect from 1 January next year.
   The Minister said it would improve educator-to-child ratios so that each child received the individual time and attention he or she needed.

20 October, 2011

Conservation park
gets green light

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for public comment on a draft management plan for Bimbowrie Conservation Park
   According to the Director of National Parks and Wildlife for DENR, Greg Leaman the 72,000 hectare area of the Olary Ranges, south-west of Broken Hill had an extremely rich cultural history and included a hut used by South Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson.
   Mr Leaman said Bimbowrie was world-renowned for its geological history and striking fossil remains and provided an important refuge for arid land species such as the map gecko, Forrest’s mouse and the yellow-footed rock wallaby.
   It also contains several pastoral buildings of heritage significance, including the old Boolcoomata homestead.
   “Several Aboriginal groups have traditional associations with this region,” Mr Leaman said.
   “Bimbowrie contains a number of important historical and cultural sites, including numerous archaeological sites listed on the SA Aboriginal Heritage Register.”
   He said the draft management plan would enable continuing engagement with the local Aboriginal people in preserving the traditions and heritage associated with the park.
   He said DENR had worked with the Aboriginal groups and local landowners to draft the plan, which aimed to guide the rehabilitation of the park’s native flora and fauna.
   Public submissions on the draft management plan would be accepted until 13 January 2012.

20 October, 2011

Sleeping standards to
let sleeping bubs lie

New Safe Infant Sleeping Standards have been introduced following recommendations by the State Coroner at an inquest into the deaths of five babies in 2008.
   The Coroner found that adults sleeping with babies greatly increased the risk of sudden and unexplained infant death.
   Minister for Health, John Hill said the safest place for babies to sleep was in their own cot in the same room as adults.
   Minister for Families and Communities, Jennifer Rankine said there had been some debate about co-sleeping but South Australia had chosen the safest approach and one that could be applied universally.
   “The new standards have been developed by the SA Safe Sleeping Advisory Committee, following recommendations by the State Coroner and the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee,” Ms Rankine said.
   “They are based on current Australian and international research and are consistent with recommendations being promoted in many parts of the world.”
   She said the new sleeping standards promoted five key safe infant care practices: Sleep baby on its back from birth with its feet at the foot of the cot; sleep baby with its head and face uncovered with bedcovers tucked in securely; avoid exposing it to tobacco smoke; provide a safe sleep environment night and day in cot compliant with Australian Standards; and sleep baby in its own cot in the same room as its parents for the first six to 12 months.
   Ms Rankine said the new standards would help health workers, doctors, foster carers, child care workers, nurses and midwives raise awareness of issues around infant mortality.

20 October, 2011

Strong future for
disability services

A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has found that the number of Australians using disability support services continues to increase.
   The report, Disability Support Services 2009-10: Report on Services Provided Under the National Disability Agreement, shows the number of overall users increased by 47 per cent in the period 2004–05 to 2009–10.
   It found that nearly 300,000 people used services provided under the National Disability Agreement in 2009–10, accounting for approximately $5.8 billion of combined Government expenditure.
   According to the report, almost 45 per cent of combined Government expenditure in 2009-10 was on accommodation support, followed by community support (about 14 per cent), community access services (about 11 per cent) and employment services (about 11 per cent).
   It said that between 2004-05 and 2009-10, the number of Australians with disability using employment services rose by 83 per cent.
   Spokesman for AIHW, Sean Ackland said there were two types of employment services available to people with disability.
   “There are those that provide assistance for people in gaining paid employment in the open labour market and those that provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities to work in specialised and supported work environments,” Mr Ackland said.
   He said around a quarter of disability service users aged 15 to 64 years had some form of employment in 2009-10.

20 October, 2011

DTEI in drive for
roadworthiness

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure is to crack down on motorists driving unroadworthy vehicles.
   Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon said it was the responsibility of every driver to ensure that his or her vehicle was in a roadworthy condition and that increased penalties would focus on those who ignored police and continued to drive defected vehicles.
   “The State Government takes road safety and unroadworthy vehicles very seriously,” Mr Conlon said, “and is implementing a range of measures to crack down on those drivers flouting the law.”
   He said South Australia Police would continue to have discretion when determining whether to issue defect notices or expiation notices, noting that expiation notices were issued for less than 5 per cent of vehicle defects detected with most only issued to those with serious defects.
   He said enforcement officers, who included police and DTEI Inspectors, had the option of issuing a formal warning, a minor defect notice (where the vehicle must be cleared at a police station) or a major defect in the case of a very serious and immediate safety risk (where the vehicle must be inspected at the Department for Transport’s Regency Park inspection centre).
   He said drivers who disobeyed the law surrounding unroadworthy and defected vehicles would face increased penalties.
   “The expiation fee for breaching a vehicle standard will increase from $253 to $350,” Mr Conlon said.
   “A new expiation fee for a person who drives a vehicle or allows a vehicle to stand on a road contrary to the conditions of defect notice will allow offenders to pay an expiation fee instead of going to court.”
   He said the refined measures meant DTEI would receive $5 million less than expected by the Sustainable Budget Commission over four years and fees for minor vehicle inspections at police stations would rise from $27 to $52.
   “By regularly inspecting vehicles and having defects repaired as they arise, the costs of repair are lowered as a developing problem is usually found before it deteriorates,” Mr Conlon said.
   “I urge all South Australian drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, as the responsibility of driving a safe vehicle rests with you.”

20 October, 2011

Green campaign
gets green light

A new campaign has been launched to encourage householders to consider what they put in their green organic bins.
   Minister for the Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica announced the campaign saying South Australians led the nation in recycling activity but some non-compostable items continued to be placed in kerbside recycling bins.
   “The latest figures show that between 2009 and 2010, 220,000 tonnes of organics was recovered for reprocessing in South Australia, most of which was collected from green bins at the kerbside,” Mr Caica said.
   “This material is processed into compost-based products such as soil conditioners, mulches, garden soils, top dressing soils and potting mixes and puts a great deal of nutrients back into the soil that would be otherwise lost to landfill.”
   He said however that green waste received at commercial composting centres showed that some householders were placing other garden-related items into their kerbside collected green bin.
   “Items such as garden hoses, old gardening tools, plastic pots, seedling containers and plastic bags are being placed in the bins, contaminating those items that can be successfully composted,” the Minister said.
   He said the Recycle Right advertising campaign would help to improve householders’ awareness of what could and could not be placed into green organics bins.
   “Organic material is a valuable resource of nutrients for South Australian soils,’’ Mr Caica said.
   “Compost helps soils to hold water, require less fertiliser and fewer pesticides and lower extreme soil temperatures and alleviate plant stress.
   “Mulches can save more than 30 per cent of irrigation water and compost can reduce soil erosion by up to 30 per cent through adding structure and assisting plant growth and vegetation establishment.”
   He said compostable items included lawn clippings, fallen leaves and fruit, dead flowers and weeds, twigs and branches, garden prunings and soft stems of plants, vegetable and fruit scraps, tea leaves and tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, old newspapers (shredded), sawdust and small amounts of wood ash or lime, tissues and paper towel, compostable corn starch bags.
   Non-compostable items included plastic plant pots, plastic seedling trays, plastic bags – not even to keep your clippings bundled together or tidy, non biodegradable bags, batteries, household chemicals, polystyrene or foam, nappies, metal, garden hoses, garden tools, dead pets/animals, magazines.

20 October, 2011

Ombudsman targets
clerical workers

The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced a national education and compliance campaign to focus on clerical workers.
   The Ombudsman, Nicholas Wilson said the campaign provided a great opportunity for employers of clerical workers to improve their understanding of workplace laws.
   “Most employers try to do the right thing by their employees, but we do receive about 2,000 complaints from clerical workers each year, so we believe this is an area that requires some attention,” Mr Wilson said.
   “We have excellent resources available to assist the large number of employers of clerical workers to ensure they provide workers their full entitlements.”
   Mr Wilson said the campaign was specifically focusing on the 40,000-plus businesses in the accountancy, bookkeeping, labour-hire, employment placement and recruitment services sectors.
   “We are aiming to improve awareness and compliance of workplace laws in these sectors, thereby equipping employers to provide some guidance on workplace laws to the many businesses they interact with, and the response so far has been very positive,” he said.
   The Fair Work Ombudsman is identifying 1,500 employers in the sectors throughout Australia and asking them to supply employment records for audit.
   Inspectors will check that employers are paying workers correct minimum rates of pay, penalty rates, loadings and allowances and are complying with their record-keeping and pay slip obligations.
   Key stakeholders, including employer groups and unions, have been briefed on the campaign and are assisting to promote it to their members.

20 October, 2011

ALRC puts view
on viewing

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has issued a discussion paper proposing fundamental reform of the classification system for media material.
   The Commission is concerned that the increasing numbers of media platforms, often merging into each other, is confusing for industry and the wider community.
   It wants Government regulation to concentrate on media contents that is of most concern to the general public.
   ALRC Commissioner in charge of the National Classification Scheme Review, Terry Flew said the goals of classification in balancing individual rights with community standards and protection of children remained vitally important.
   “But we need a new framework that minimises costs and regulatory burden, and does not penalise Australian digital content industries in a hyper-competitive global media environment,” Professor Flew said.
   Drawing on more than 2,400 submissions responding to its May Issues Paper, the ALRC found that the existing classification framework was fragmented, approached content inconsistently across media platforms, and was confusing for industry and the wider community.
   Its National Classification Scheme Review Discussion Paper puts forward 43 proposals for reform including the introduction of a new Classification of Media Content Act covering classification on all media platforms—online, offline and television.
   The discussion paper suggests a greater role for industry in classifying content—allowing Government regulators to focus on the content that generates the most community concern, and ensure access to adult content is properly restricted.
   It wants content to be classified using the same categories, guidelines and markings whether viewed on television, at the cinema, on DVD or online.
   It also suggests changes to classification categories, with age references - PG 8+ and T 13+ (Teen) - to help parents choose content for their children.
   Finally, it calls for the Federal Government to take full responsibility for administering and enforcing the new scheme.
   The discussion paper can be accessed at this PS News link and the closing date for public submissions is 18 November.

20 October, 2011

Disability report
finds health link

A new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has found that people with severe or profound disability rely up to 10 times more on health services than those without a disability.
   The report, entitled The use of health services among Australians with disability, showed that the high use of health services (such as general practitioners) among people with disability was linked to the prevalence of multiple long-term health conditions.
   Spokesperson for the AIHW, Sean Ackland said the combination of mental and physical health conditions was a particularly high contributor to the figures.
   “The high use of services prevails even after taking into account the multiple health conditions, with or without mental health conditions,” Mr Ackland said.
   “This suggests that the level of functional impairment, in addition to the presence of multiple health conditions, increases the likelihood of needing and seeking assistance from the health care system.”
   He said the report showed that in the 12 months before the data was collected people with severe or profound disability were 3.5 times as likely to have consulted a specialist doctor and 5 times as likely to have consulted both a specialist doctor and other health professionals as people without disability.
   He said the report also showed that of all people with mental disorders aged 16–64 years, those with severe and profound disability were 2.5 times as likely as those without disability to access health services (including hospitals) for mental health problems, and twice as likely to consult health professionals (including GPs) for mental health problems.
   “Of all people with a combination of a mental disorder and any physical condition aged 16–64 years, those with severe or profound disability were around 3 times as likely to access health services (including hospitals), consult health professionals (including GPs), or consult mental health professionals, for mental health problems,” Mr Ackland said.
   The full AIHW report can be accessed at this PS News link.

20 October, 2011

Planning reforms off
the drawing board

The first stage of reforms for streamlining South Australia’s planning policies has been completed.
   Minister for Urban Development and Planning, John Rau said the reforms to the South Australian Planning Policy Library would simplify the zoning system and make it easier for Local Councils to align their planning policies with the South Australian Planning Strategy which included the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide.
   Mr Rau said the Stage One reforms would reduce the number of zones from 650 to around 48, with further reductions to be introduced in stages two and three.
   He said five new zone modules and associated policies had been developed following consultation with Government Agencies, Local Councils and industry.
   “These reforms will not only make planning policy more comprehensible and effective, they will also guide the implementation of key parts of the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide,” Mr Rau said.
   “For example, the new zones are designed to increase opportunities for residential and business growth in transit corridors, around public transport stops and in other strategic in-fill areas.”
   He said by focussing growth within existing urban areas the strategy would reduce urban sprawl and protect productive agricultural and environmentally significant land.
   He said it would also reduce car dependency and create liveable and accessible communities.
   Mr Rau said the new zone modules were:
   An Urban Core Zone allowing a combination of major land-use types such as residential, office, commercial and civic;
   An Urban Corridor Zone supporting a mix of higher density development on land that joined key transit corridors;
   An Urban Employment Zone that accommodated a range of business uses and activities that generated employment;
   A Suburban Activity Node Zone encouraging a range of medium and high density dwellings supported by a mix of transit stops, activity centres or high quality open spaces; and
   A Suburban Neighbourhood Zone supporting new forms of residential and related development in new growth areas and in-fill development at moderate densities.
   He said the second stage of the reform process had begun and would involve a review of all urban development zones to ensure they aligned with the South Australian Planning Strategy.
   Mr Rau said Councils would be formally consulted during the process.

20 October, 2011

Forestry strategy
grows on trees

The South Australian Forestry Industry Strategy has been released by the Minister for Forests, Michael O’Brien.
   According to Mr O’Brien, the aim of the Strategy is to deliver sustainable economic development to the forestry industry.
   He said the Strategy mapped out a long-term vision and strategic direction for the next five years to grow the industry which contributed around $2.6 billion to the State’s economy each year.
   He said the priorities embodied in the Strategy included articulation of the Government’s policy position on the forest industry to increase investor confidence; increasing the resource base and processing capacity to enhance competitiveness; capturing new value-adding opportunities; and achieving a stable operating environment across the State.
   He said it also prioritised promotion of the environmental benefits of forestry and forest products; developing more training, education and innovation in the industry; and fostering capability.
   Mr O’Brien said the Strategy was developed by the Forest Industry Development Board with support from PIRSA and followed consultation with industry and the community.
   “The strategy identifies market development opportunities around investment and innovation in sustainable resources, processing capacity, products and workforce development,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “More than ever, industry, government and the community are challenged to integrate economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability, capturing the opportunities in the transition to a low carbon economy.”
   He said he was confident that implementing the Strategy would ensure South Australians continued to benefit from the sustainable growth and future success of the forest industry.
   Chair of the Forest Industry Development Board, Lyndall Bull said the Strategy’s success would hinge on collaboration between government, industry and the community.
   “The South Australian forest sector has punched well above its weight for more than 130 years,” Dr Bull said.
   “We aim to build on this advantage.”
   The South Australian Forestry Industry Strategy. Vision 2050: Strategic Direction 2100-2016 can be accessed at this PS News link.

20 October, 2011

Work study finds
that work works

It’s official: Work is good for you!
   And according to the Commonwealth agency for workers’ compensation Comcare, it is especially good for people returning to work from injury.
   Chief Executive of Comcare, Paul O’Connor said statistics showed that people injured or harmed due to work recovered their health faster if they returned to ‘good’ work earlier.
   He said a long-term absence from work could have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of an injured worker.
   He said Comcare’s stats showed that injured workers away for more than four weeks had a 46 per cent chance of being off work for another nine weeks, and a quarter of those off for more than a month would not go back for at least another five or six months.
   Mr O’Connor said workers didn’t need to be fully fit to return to work.
   “The more time spent off work, the slower the recovery,” he said.
   “We need to help workers negotiate with their employers to get them back at work as soon as possible.
   “It doesn’t have to be full-time to start. A few hours of good work will make a real difference to recovery.”
   Mr O’Connor defined ‘good’ work as that which was fulfilling, meaningful, and matched to what the injured person could do.
   He said injured workers could often make a remarkable recovery on the job rather than sitting at home with little to do, worrying about what would happen next.
   He said Comcare had joined with the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP) and other professional bodies to sign a consensus document promoting the health benefits of work and development of the document was continuing.
   The early return advice had emerged from the dialogue with health experts and professionals.

20 October, 2011

And in Other News...

Neighbourhood Watch to expand
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia is to receive $1.5 million from the Commonwealth in funding to help with the expansion of its work across Australia.
   The organisation is Australia’s largest community based crime prevention program, covering more than three million homes across the country.
   This funding will enable it to expand to reach more communities and more houses across Australia, including in remote areas.

ABS reports on wealth
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that the net worth of the richest 20 per cent of households has increased by an average of 15 per cent since 2005-06.
   The poorest 20 per cent of households saw only a four per cent rise.
   According to the Bureau, the average wealth of an Australian household in 2009-10 was $720,000, up 14 per cent since 2005-06.

Universities unite
A new Regional Universities Network to advocate on behalf of universities based in regional areas has been established.
   The network will assist regional universities in their ability to help local communities diversify and drive growth and new development.
   It recognises that regional universities have strong links with local communities and have particular research strengths in areas like health, social and environmental sciences.

13 October, 2011

Strategy puts brakes
on road deaths

A new road safety strategy has been released setting out policies and targets to be adopted for better safety on the State’s roads through to the end of the decade.
   The strategy, Towards Zero Together, targets speed limit restrictions on a number of rural roads within 100 kilometres of Adelaide.
   Minister for Road Safety, Tom Kenyon said in 2010, 64 per cent of all the State’s fatalities occurred on rural roads.
   “This trend has continued throughout 2011 with 49 people dying on rural roads already this year,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “Currently, there are 49 individual State and Local Government roads within a 100 kilometre radius of the metropolitan area, and on the Yorke Peninsula, with a speed limit of 110 km/h.
   He had asked the Commissioner of Highways to review the speed limits on those rural roads and consider applying the rural default speed limit of 100 km/h.
   Towards Zero Together supported a demonstration project of an 80 km/h speed limit on unsealed rural roads and there would also be a consistent application of the 50 km/h default speed limit on more urban roads.
   “The strategy also foreshadows possible further changes to the Graduated Licensing Scheme for young drivers, which will be outlined in a discussion paper to be released for public feedback by the end of this month,” the Minister said.
   “The strategy’s Action Plan over the next two years also includes releasing a discussion paper on licensing changes for motorcycle riders, a review of school based road safety education programs, and a focus on improving the safety of our bicycle networks.”
   Mr Kenyon said implementation of the strategy and the Action Plan would be directed by a new Ministerial Safe System Task Force led by the Premier and the Road Safety Minister, and include the Treasurer, and Ministers for Planning, Transport, Police and State/Local Government Relations.

13 October, 2011

Bosses trained in
training package

The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology has published a new DVD and booklet package to help employers and workplace supervisors to supervise trainees and apprentices more effectively.
   The package, Supervising Your Trainee or Apprentice, will be distributed to more than 16,000 employers as well as Australian Apprenticeships Centres and industry.
   Chief Executive of the Department, Ray Garrand said it was essential to nurture and encourage trainees and apprentices to complete their training
   “To do this we need to provide them with high quality supervision and support,” Mr
   Garrand said.
   “The package will assist supervisors in their day-to-day management, enabling them to work more productively with trainees and apprentices while gaining a better understanding of their role and the role of others.
   He said training the workforce of tomorrow was crucial to delivering greater economic prosperity, and this was more important than ever in a climate of skills shortages.
   “Our apprenticeship system is the foundation for much of the training in the traditional trades, and it plays an important role in the future capacity of our workforce,” he said.
   “Greater partnership with industry and supporting a culture of training amongst employers are key objectives of the Skills for Allreform launched earlier this year.”
   He said Skills for All had the aim of significantly increasing current skill levels, lifting workforce participation and increasing productivity.

13 October, 2011

Sports kick goal with
student laboratory

Elite sports people are to be the beneficiaries of a new sport engineering laboratory at the University of Adelaide.
   The laboratory is intended to help students develop skills in the design and manufacture of sports and rehabilitation equipment.
   It will complement the University’s Sports Engineering Degree and will assist the University of Adelaide in teaching, learning and carrying out research in sports engineering.
   Federal Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis said the facility would play a huge role in the future of sport.
   “Sports engineering is fast gaining popularity and it’s pleasing to see young women enrolling in this course,” Ms Ellis said.
   She said women remained seriously under-represented in the science, engineering and technology disciplines.
   “Women make up 23.3 per cent of full time professionals in design, engineering, science and transport, and less than 10 per cent of engineering professionals are women,” Ms Ellis said.
   “The Australian Government supports women in sports leadership positions through the Sports Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women Program.
   “This program provides funding and support for women seeking training and education in coaching and sport management.”
   She said it also offered scholarships for women in upper sports management to gain qualifications to support them into senior executive roles.
   “The addition of this new laboratory will help further strengthen women’s position in sport and Australia’s position as a leader in engineering, innovation, science and technology, around the world,” Ms Ellis said.

13 October, 2011

Smoking measures
fired up for young

New measures to help protect young people from the harm of tobacco smoking have been announced.
   The measures are aimed at making it even harder for young people to buy or be supplied with cigarettes.
   Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, John Hill said among the new initiatives would be an increase in monitoring tobacco retailers.
   “This includes controlled purchase operations over the next few weeks, where young people are employed to attempt to buy cigarettes and test retailers’ compliance with the ban on sales to minors,” Mr Hill said.
   “These operations have been effective both internationally and in South Australia in increasing compliance rates.”
   He said statistics showed that most adult smokers started before they were 18 years old.
   “If we can stop young people from taking up or continuing to smoke, we are not only saving lives but saving our health system into the future,” he said.
   People needed to be reminded of the serious consequences if they were caught selling or supplying cigarettes to children.
   “For those retailers who are caught selling cigarettes to children, we will consider suspending or cancelling their tobacco retail licence,” Mr Hill said.
   “People who supply children with tobacco products can also be fined up to $5,000.”

13 October, 2011

Slamming the door on
itinerant traders

A national campaign has been launched warning consumers about itinerant traders and encouraging them to report any suspicious activity.
   Reporting can be made through a new online form and national hotline.
   Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gail Gago said consumer protection jurisdictions across Australia were working together on a coordinated operation using new prosecution powers and remedies available under the new Australian Consumer Law.
   Ms Gago said that in support of the hotline, Consumer and Business Services (CBS) had developed an electronic form for its website.
   She said this would enable consumers to report travelling conmen, dodgy traders or anyone they suspected to be unlawfully selling goods or services.
   “This service forms part of the national campaign to tackle a growing number of travelling conmen who are trading without a licence and often carrying out shoddy or overpriced work under the guise of a bargain or quick fix,” Ms Gago said.
   Consumers should be wary of people who knocked on their doors unexpectedly or offered cheap deals for “today only”.
   “Cheap offers to pave a driveway, paint a roof or fix a fence are examples of these scams,” she said.
   Under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 dodgy, unlicensed builders could face a $20,000 fine as well as other disciplinary action if prosecuted and convicted.
   Ms Gago said the national campaign has been developed by the Education and Information Advisory Committee and the Compliance and Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee.
   Consumer and Business Services is also providing a free Do Not Knock sticker for householders who want nothing to do with door-to-door traders.
   Ms Gago said the sticker gave consumers a tool to reject uninvited door-to-door sales approaches before they could be made.”

13 October, 2011

WorkCover to claim
claims manager

WorkCoverSA has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from businesses or organisations capable of providing a claims management service for the WorkCover Scheme.
   The EOI has the potential for more than one claims management contract to be awarded if this delivers the best outcome.
   Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Jack Snelling said an Evaluation Committee chaired by the Chief Executive of WorkCover would oversee the procurement.
   The Committee would also include the General Manager of Operations at WorkCover and three external non-stakeholder members.
   “South Australian workers and employers deserve a scheme that receives the best possible value in claims management services and we are confident this EOI will make sure this is achieved,” Mr Snelling said.
   Acting Chief Executive of WorkCover, Gael Fraser said the provision of high-quality claims management services was fundamental to achieving the best outcomes for injured workers and employers.
   “We have taken every effort to ensure the procurement process and related probity arrangements are thorough and robust,” Ms Fraser said.
   The current term of the contract for claims management services expires in December 2012 and the procurement process will not affect service delivery for injured workers or their employers.
   She said information and tender documentation is on the SA Tenders and Contracts website at this PS News link.
   Expressions of Interest would be received until 24 October.

13 October, 2011

Productivity slips
as wealth rises

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found that on average, Australians were less productive in 2010 than they were 10 years earlier.
   It also found they were living longer, were better educated and had higher incomes.
   In its paper, Measures of Australia’s Progress: Summary Indicators 2011 the ABS says that the average life expectancy of Australians’ had improved by two to three years, higher education qualifications were held by more of the population and average incomes had grown by an extra $8,200 over the decade.
   Against this it found that productivity - the efficiency with which an economy transforms inputs into outputs – had fallen by 2.1 percentage points.
   There had also been progress in other areas with unemployment dropping from 6.3 per cent in 2000 to 5.2 per cent in 2010, and average household incomes for both low and middle income Australians growing by more than a third (38 per cent).
   National wealth per person (real net worth) had risen from $285,700 in 2000 to $308,500 in 2010.
   The ABS says however there was more to progress than economic factors - the number of Australian animal species threatened with extinction had increased from 332 in 2000 to 432 in 2010 and greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 were 13 per cent higher than they were in 1999.
   Deputy Australian Statistician at the ABS, Trevor Sutton, said Measures of Australia’s Progress: Summary Indicators, presented reliable, easy-to-understand information that described how Australia was progressing across a range of social, economic and environmental measures.
   “Measures of Australia’s Progress is one of the most important publications the ABS produces for the Australian public,” Mr Sutton said.

13 October, 2011

Kitchen gardens
in growth spurt

The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide are celebrating Kitchen Garden month during October.
   The Community Kitchen Garden Project is supporting a number of events including the Community Garden Network at Earth Station in the Belair National Park from October 21to 23.
   Project Officer for the Community Kitchen Garden initiative, Jo Staniforth said many people knew their local community gardens existed but had never actually walked through the gate.
   “During Kitchen Garden month we’re encouraging everyone to discover the wealth of knowledge and practical advice community gardens have to offer,” Ms Staniforth said.
   “Whether it’s tips on how to prepare your soil or how to produce the best tomatoes in your backyard, it’s great to get to know other people interested in community gardening.”
   She said the enthusiasm and excitement around community gardens meant that they were good for health and wellbeing.
   “Community gardens provide a space for everyone to share and learn,” she said.
   A bus tour of community gardens across metropolitan Adelaide had been organised for groups and agencies either already involved, or planning to be involved, in community gardens.
   Ms Staniforth said more information on Kitchen Garden month activities or Community Kitchen Gardens was available on telephone 8222 9460 or email at jo.s...@sa.gov.au

13 October, 2011

Biosecurity on
trail of snail

The risk of green snails entering South Australia from Victoria has been highlighted by Biosecurity SA.
   Manager Plant and Food Standards at Biosecurity SA, Geoff Raven said the declared exotic plant pest had recently been detected in a lucerne crop near Cobram in northern Victoria.
   Mr Raven said the location was near an interstate route with the potential for the snail to be carried in hay bales, nursery stock or harvested leafy vegetables.
   He said the snails had become established in the Perth area in the 1980s and had damaged a wide range of vegetables, as well as wheat, lupins, pasture grasses and native plants. They may have been introduced to Victoria by a traveller.
   “If green snails got into South Australia they could have a significant effect on agricultural production,” Mr Raven said.
   “Primary Industries in Victoria has established a 25 kilometre radius exclusion zone around the Cobram site infestation.”
   He said travellers entering South Australia from Victoria or New South Wales should hand in any vegetables they were carrying at the border quarantine station.
   “Green snails can breed very quickly, resulting in up to 1,000 young snails per square metre, so it’s vital we do everything possible to prevent this voracious pest’s entry into SA,” he said.
   Mr Raven said any suspect observations of green snails should be reported to the Plant Health hotline on 1800 084 881.

13 October, 2011
Neighbourhood Watch to expand
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia is to receive $1.5 million from the Commonwealth in funding to help with the expansion of its work across Australia.
   The organisation is Australia’s largest community based crime prevention program, covering more than three million homes across the country.
   This funding will enable it to expand to reach more communities and more houses across Australia, including in remote areas.

ABS reports on wealth
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that the net worth of the richest 20 per cent of households has increased by an average of 15 per cent since 2005-06.
   The poorest 20 per cent of households saw only a four per cent rise.
   According to the Bureau, the average wealth of an Australian household in 2009-10 was $720,000, up 14 per cent since 2005-06.

Universities unite
A new Regional Universities Network to advocate on behalf of universities based in regional areas has been established.
   The network will assist regional universities in their ability to help local communities diversify and drive growth and new development.
   It recognises that regional universities have strong links with local communities and have particular research strengths in areas like health, social and environmental sciences.

6 October, 2011

Injunction turns off
parking meters

Legal action by the Public Service Association in the Industrial Relations Court has won a temporary injunction against the introduction of car parking fees for PSA staff at metropolitan hospitals.
   The PSA took that action as part of a dispute over the fees with the Department of Health.
   “Charging hospital staff for car parking is the same as a pay cut,” said the General Secretary of the PSA, Jan McMahon.
   “The PSA’s Enterprise Agreement provides for protection of existing entitlements, yet the decision by the Health Department to charge for previously free parking is causing immediate financial harm to workers.”
   She welcomed the Court’s injunction which will be in place until the Full Industrial Court hears the union’s case on 10 October.
   “In the meantime, hospitals are now prevented from continuing with the new charge arrangements,” Ms McMahon said.
   She said the practical effect of the injunction was that PSA members who were not paying fees before they were introduced were not required to pay them now.
   “Where members were previously paying a fee which has been increased, the increase should now not apply.”
   Ms McMahon said the Fair Work Act empowered the Court to make Orders to deal with contravention or failure to comply with an Enterprise Agreement.
   She said because the PSA had initiated the Court proceedings on behalf of its members covered by the Parity Agreement, the injunction technically only applied to them.
   “It will be up to the Department of Health to now determine what it may do in respect to persons not covered by the Parity Agreement,” Ms McMahon said.
   She said PSA members who were paying the new or increased car parking fees had been liable for fines for not complying with the car parking arrangements.

6 October, 2011

Executives off to
executive school

Five senior executives from the South Australian public sector have been awarded scholarships to the Executive Fellows Program conducted annually by the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
   Recognised as an outstanding opportunity for leading members of the South Australian executive service (SAES) the three week program provides a rare opportunity for them to engage with global best practice in public sector management.
   Entering its ninth year, the internationally renowned annual program will run from 17 October to 4 November, 2011 and will be held at the Melbourne Business School.
   The SAES executives chosen for the scholarships are Belinda Moyes from Country Health SA; Julia Grant from the Department for Water; Gino DeGennaro, Deputy Chief Executive in the Department of Education and Children’s Services; Deputy Commissioner of State Taxation, Ian Morris; and Justin Ross from the Department of Primary Industries and Natural Resources.
   According to the organisers of the program, past presenters included some of the world’s leading authorities on public sector management including professors from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the Melbourne Business School, the Australian National University, ANSZOG, and the UK’s National School of Government.
   “Additionally, non-academic practitioners from a range of Government and non-Government organisations have delivered presentations and engaged participants in crucial debate.”

6 October, 2011

Election body to
push boundaries

The Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission has called for public submissions ahead of a proposed redistribution of South Australia’s state electoral boundaries.
   The Commission is chaired by Justice Margaret Nyland and includes the Electoral Commissioner, Kay Mousley and Surveyor-General, Peter Kentish.
   According to Ms Mousley, the State boundaries redistribution was a separate exercise from the Federal redistribution which was also being undertaken this year.
   “The South Australian Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission is required to review boundaries after each State election,” Ms Mousley said.
   “The Constitution requires that we ensure, as far as practicable, a group which attracts more than 50 per cent of the popular vote at the next State election will be able to form government.”
   She said that in establishing new boundaries, the Boundaries Commission would look at the economic, social, regional and other aspects of districts resulting from a redistribution; the population of the proposed electoral districts; the topography of the areas within new boundaries; the feasibility of communication between electors and their MP; and any substantial demographic changes likely to take place between the date of redistribution and the next State election.
   Ms Mousley said the new boundaries would take effect at the 2014 State election.
   She said the Boundaries Commission invited written submissions from individuals and organisations who had until 31 January, 2012 to comment.
   She said more information about the Boundaries Commission and its work is available from this PS News link.

6 October, 2011

Ideas flow for
Riverbank

A draft Master Plan for Adelaide’s Riverbank precinct has been released for comment by the Minister for Infrastructure, Patrick Conlon.
   Mr Conlon said the draft Plan included 11 key guiding principles to provide direction and a reference point for future development of the Riverbank.
   He said it was developed by a consortium and identified ‘considerable opportunities’ for the private sector to play a vital role in redeveloping the underutilised precinct.
   “These opportunities include new multi-storey commercial buildings, potential for expansion for existing operators such as the Casino and the Intercontinental and new food and beverage outlets,” Mr Conlon said.
   “We also believe there is room for associated and appropriate retail activity to make the area more attractive for visitors, tourists and residents.”
   He said the consortium had identified six “new” destinations in Riverbank which should be considered as part of the revitalisation:

Festival Square which would replace Hajek Plaza with a new gathering place with cafes, restaurants, commercial buildings and a new foyer for the Festival Centre;
New Elder Park by reshaping the grassed area to cater for larger gatherings and performances;
River West: A new area between the Convention Centre and Festival Centre to enhance the riverbank experience;
River Crossing which would be a new pedestrian bridge across the Torrens with an active hub on the southern side with easy access to public transport via Adelaide Railway Station;
Natural Riverbank by reshaping of the area known as Pinky Flat and creating a series of wetlands with a network of boardwalks and a new fountain; and
Riverbank Gateway which would be a new urban tree-lined street to help bring to life the edges of Station Rd.

   Mr Conlon said the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure had received more than 1,000 responses a recent call for community engagement on the Riverbank.
   He said the details in the draft Master Plan were intended as an overall vision and concept for further consideration and was not a final plan.
   The next step was to seek community and stakeholder feedback.
   “Once the final Master Plan has been completed it will be presented to Cabinet by the year’s end for its consideration and endorsement,” Mr Conlon said.
   He said members of the public would be given a number of chances to have their say on the plan through website questionnaires and direct engagement with the Master Plan team.
   He said more information was available from this PS News link or by contacting the Project Team on 1300 305 255 or emailing DTEI.RiverbankProjectTeam@sa.gov.au

6 October, 2011

Road safety blitz
in for long haul

A month-long road safety blitz has been launched by SA Police concerned that the road tolls from last year and this year are about to collide!
   In their efforts to ensure the number of fatalities for this year do not pass last year’s the police have unveiled their month long, State-wide blitz Operation Safe October.
   According to Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Harrison, they will target drink/drug driving; speeding, seatbelts and inattention or driver distraction.
   “October 2010 was a horror month on our roads with 12 dead,” Assistant Commissioner Harrison said.
   “We don’t want the same result this year.”
   He said the figures represented a great deal of suffering and grief for the family and friends of those whose loved ones had been taken from them.
   He said police would use a range of tactics during the operation including a highly visible police presence; directed patrolling activities; speed detection; and static and mobile random driver testing.
   Assistant Commissioner Harrison said on-the-spot fines would be issued for speeding, drink and drug driving, driver inattention and failing to wear seatbelts.
   He said Operation Safe October was supported by the Motor Accident Commission (MAC) and the SA Ambulance Service.
   General Manager of Corporate Affairs with MAC, Ben Tuffnell said everyone had a responsibility to drive safely on the roads and treat all road users with respect.
   “Motorists are requested to be patient,” Mr Tuffnell said.
   “Obey all road rules, drive the conditions of the road, plan your journey in advance and take time to get to your destination.”
   He said no-one was immune from the devastating effects of a car crash.
   “Don’t become another road statistic.”
   Executive Director of Patient Services at the SA Ambulance Service, Keith Driscoll urged all road users to act responsibly and take care.
   “As paramedics, we attend road crashes far too frequently,” Mr Driscoll said, “and we see far too many precious lives lost this way.”
   “As far as we are concerned, one death on our roads is one too many.”

6 October, 2011

Teacher performance
to be put to test

A new performance development and management policy for teachers has been released by the Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill.
   Mr Weatherill said the policy was aimed at ensuring the highest standards in the State’s teaching profession and was part of a suite of measures designed to lift the status of the profession among the community and to attract and retain the best and brightest to teach in South Australian public schools.
   He said new guidelines also had been introduced to ensure a culture of performance development in schools and to make it easier for principals to address concerns with underperforming staff.
   “Everyone agrees that we must strive for the highest standards of teaching – both to ensure students are receiving the best possible education and to raise the esteem of our teaching workforce,” Mr Weatherill said.
   “This new policy is about developing and managing performance by providing better planning for teacher development and more feedback to teachers as well as more effectively addressing concerns about performance.”
   He said renewal and refreshment of the teaching workforce was necessary in the lead-up to an expected surge in retirements in the next few years.
   “This new policy, which has involved extensive consultation with staff and the Australian Education Union, will reform the performance management process,” Mr Weatherill said.
   “Previously, principals have been bound by unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, making it difficult to manage unsatisfactory performance when it occurs.
   “Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the policy provides more flexibility to ensure we intervene in a timely fashion to deal with underperforming staff.”
   He said the overwhelming majority of teachers were doing a great job, but the community couldn’t afford to have performance issues affecting children’s time in the classroom.
   “Under the new policy, there is a clear expectation that unsatisfactory performance will not be tolerated.”
   Mr Weatherill said the policy focussed on developing all educators by providing for better planning for development, more tailored professional learning, and more feedback to teachers about their performance.
   “Like all employees, teachers want to have feedback about their performance,” he said.
   “This new policy has a strong focus on supporting continuous improvement of our workforce through professional development.”
   He said the policy would be reviewed in the second half of 2012 to ensure schools had effective performance and development programs in place and that unsatisfactory performance processes are being implemented fairly and effectively.

6 October, 2011

New faces named on
IPAA Executive

The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) has appointed a new national Vice President and Treasurer.
   The Institute has announced that Yehudi Blacher (Vice President - Journals and Partnerships) and Len Scanlan (Treasurer) would both join the Executive of the National Council.
   National President of IPAA, Percy Allan welcomed both to the Council.
   He said Mr Blacher would take over as Vice President from fellow Victorian Peter Allen, who had served on the IPAA National Executive from 2008.
   He said until recently Mr Blacher was Secretary of the Department of Planning and Community Development.
   “He has held senior management positions with the Department for Victorian Communities, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Human Services and the Office of Local Government in Victoria,” Mr Allan said.
   He said Mr Blacher served on six boards and had authored numerous articles and contributed to books such as Local Government Reform in Victoria and The Collaborative State.
   “In his role as Vice President (Journals and Partnerships), Mr Blacher will be overseeing the Institute’s two publications, the Australian Journal of Public Administration (AJPA) and Public Administration Today (PAT),” Mr Allan said.
   “He will also be fostering the affiliations IPAA has with national and international bodies such as the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand, the Chinese Public Administration Society, and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.”
   He said Mr Scanlan’s career in the Queensland public sector had spanned more than 30 years.
   “Len Scanlan was the Auditor-General of Queensland from December 1997 until December 2004,” Mr Allan said.
   “He also served with the Premier’s Department working in inter-governmental relations, the Transport Department in policy and planning, and Queensland Treasury in the area of financial management policy.”
   He said Mr Scanlan was Chair of the Audit Committees for Brisbane City Council, Queensland Health and Queensland Urban Utilities where he was also a Board member as a Non-Executive Director.
   “Len brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of Treasurer and we are very happy to have him on board,” Mr Allan said.
   He said Mr Scanlan would replace Barry Mewett who had stepped down after more than 20 years as Treasurer for the Institute.”

6 October, 2011

Lifestyle stats have
satisfaction guarantee

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found that 78 per cent of Australians aged 18 years and over are satisfied with their lives.
   This is similar to the 76 per cent who reported being satisfied in 2001, according to the Bureau’s records.
   In 2010 it found that 43 per cent were pleased or delighted with their lives, while 34 per cent reported being mostly satisfied.
   Those who were married (82 per cent), widowed (78 per cent) or never married (76 per cent) were more likely to be satisfied with their lives than those who were divorced (66 per cent) or separated (56 per cent).
   People who had contact with friends and family outside their household at least weekly were much more likely to be satisfied with their lives (78 per cent) than those who either had no recent contact (33 per cent) or who had no friends or family outside their immediate household (28 per cent).
   Most Australian adults (97 per cent) had at least weekly contact with family or friends living outside their household, however, changes in technology were clearly having an impact on how Australians communicated with their friends and family.
   In 2010 twice as many adults (40 per cent) spent time engaged in internet social activities compared to 2006 (20 per cent). The proportion of people using internet services such as email and chat rooms to contact friends and relatives also increased, from 47 per cent to 60 per cent over the four years.
   More information from the Bureau’s General Social Survey could be obtained from this PS News link.

6 October, 2011

DTEI in drive for
roadworthiness

Green campaign
gets green light

Ombudsman targets
clerical workers

ALRC puts view
on viewing

Disability report
finds health link

Planning reforms off
the drawing board

Forestry strategy
grows on trees

Work study finds
that work works

And in Other News...

Land Services moves
The Land Services website has moved to sa.gov.au.
   Part of the Ask Just Once policy, the website has become www.sa.gov.au/landservices with individual webpages being retired as they migrate to the new address.
   According to Land Services, access to online systems such as PropertyAssist, PIERS Online and Property Location Browser will not change.

Review for beekeepers
Biosecurity SA has announced a comprehensive review of the State’s apiaries program with the aim of establishing an enhanced sustainable and effective industry for the future.
   The review is to be led by Queensland’s former Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Ron Glanville.

Fisheries warns on crabs
PIRSA Fisheries has issued a reminder to recreational fishers of the strict regulations that apply to Blue Swimmer Crabs in time for the warmer weather.
   Fisheries Regional Manager for the Central South, Randel Donovan said that strict size, bag and boat limits apply to Blue Swimmer Crabs to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
   The rules for blue swimmer crabs are a daily bag limit of 40 per person,; daily boat limit of 120; minimum size 11cm across the carapace; it is illegal to take female crabs with eggs; and recreational crab fishers are not permitted to sell or trade their catch.

Grapevine breakthrough
A scientist with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Dr Mark Sosnowski has helped develop a way of exterminating a dangerous grapevine disease without destroying the vineyard.
   The fungal disease black rot is not yet found in Australia, but Dr Sosnowski led a team from the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) that worked with their American plant biosecurity colleagues to make the breakthrough.

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PS call to spearhead Indigenous jobs

Union’s survey is women’s wish list

Evaluation to size up obesity problem

Facebook lined up to extract dentists

Disabled enabled in vision for the future

Cold water thrown on fires in parks

Police take names for identity theft

Hospital app is good medicine

Bureau storms in for cyclone season

Healthy grants for health researchers

Biosecurity seeds new weed policies

Crisis centre to be centre of crises

Planting guide takes root

Fourth university on course for SA

Emergency volunteers get online support

Desalination plant earns its salt

And in Other News...

Fourth university on course for SA

Emergency volunteers get online support

Desalination plant earns its salt

Mature age students ripe for advice

Better childcare comes into play

Conservation park gets green light

Sleeping standards to let sleeping bubs lie

Strong future for disability services

DTEI in drive for roadworthiness

Green campaign gets green light

Ombudsman targets clerical workers

ALRC puts view on viewing

Disability report finds health link

Planning reforms off the drawing board

Forestry strategy grows on trees

Work study finds that work works

And in Other News...

Strategy puts brakes on road deaths

Bosses trained in training package

Sports kick goal with student laboratory

Smoking measures fired up for young

Slamming the door on itinerant traders

WorkCover to claim claims manager

Productivity slips as wealth rises

Kitchen gardens in growth spurt

Biosecurity on trail of snail

Injunction turns off parking meters

Executives off to executive school

Election body to push boundaries

Ideas flow for Riverbank

Road safety blitz in for long haul

Teacher performance to be put to test

New faces named on IPAA Executive

Lifestyle stats have satisfaction guarantee

DTEI in drive for roadworthiness

Green campaign gets green light

Ombudsman targets clerical workers

ALRC puts view on viewing

Disability report finds health link

Planning reforms off the drawing board

Forestry strategy grows on trees

Work study finds that work works

And in Other News...

PS call to spearhead
Indigenous jobs

Union’s survey is
women’s wish list

Evaluation to size up
obesity problem

Facebook lined up
to extract dentists

Disabled enabled in
vision for the future

Cold water thrown
on fires in parks

Police take names
for identity theft

Hospital app is
good medicine

Bureau storms in for
cyclone season

Healthy grants for
health researchers

Biosecurity seeds
new weed policies

Crisis centre to be
centre of crises

Planting guide
takes root

Fourth university
on course for SA

Emergency volunteers
get online support

Desalination plant
earns its salt

Fourth university
on course for SA

Emergency volunteers
get online support

Desalination plant
earns its salt

Mature age students
ripe for advice

Better childcare
comes into play

Conservation park
gets green light

Sleeping standards to
let sleeping bubs lie

Strong future for
disability services

DTEI in drive for
roadworthiness

Green campaign
gets green light

Ombudsman targets
clerical workers

ALRC puts view
on viewing

Disability report
finds health link

Planning reforms off
the drawing board

Forestry strategy
grows on trees

Work study finds
that work works

Strategy puts brakes
on road deaths

Bosses trained in
training package

Sports kick goal with
student laboratory

Smoking measures
fired up for young

Slamming the door on
itinerant traders

WorkCover to claim
claims manager

Productivity slips
as wealth rises

Kitchen gardens
in growth spurt

Biosecurity on
trail of snail

Injunction turns off
parking meters

Executives off to
executive school

Election body to
push boundaries

Ideas flow for
Riverbank

Road safety blitz
in for long haul

Teacher performance
to be put to test

New faces named on
IPAA Executive

Lifestyle stats have
satisfaction guarantee

DTEI in drive for
roadworthiness

Green campaign
gets green light

Ombudsman targets
clerical workers

ALRC puts view
on viewing

Disability report
finds health link

Planning reforms off
the drawing board

Forestry strategy
grows on trees

Work study finds
that work works