|
|
And in Other News...Women’s day dinnerAn International Women’s Day Gala Dinner Celebration is to be held next month, celebrating the achievements of women working in the public sector. Hosted by the Institute of Public Administration Australia, the theme will be “ Inspire”, and bring together the stories of inspirational women who have taken on challenges in Australia and overseas. Master of ceremonies will be Victorian branch President of IPAA and Secretary of the Department of Health, Fran Thorn with speakers for the evening adventurer Rachael Robertson, singer Kerrianne Cox, and classical violinist Sarah Moire. The dinner will be at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday 8 March from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Housing list shorter The latest public housing waiting list figures reveal a slight decrease in applications in the December 2011 quarter. The total number of applicants for the quarter fell by 240 (0.6 per cent), from 38,806 to 38,566. The December quarterly report showed waiting lists had dropped across five of the eight regions, with the greatest fall recorded in the Barwon South West region, which recorded a 2.3 per cent decrease. Thousands in the swim More than 4,500 children have enrolled in this year’s VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program, which offers subsidised swimming lessons to families. Aquatics and Recreation Victoria managed the learn-to-swim program in partnership with 12 metropolitan swimming pools, 70 regional pools and nine open water venues around Victoria. Building boards open Expressions of Interest are being sought for Statutory Board positions in the building and plumbing industry. There are vacancies on the Building Appeals Board, the Building Advisory Council, Building Practitioners Board, Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and Plumbing Industry Advisory Council. Polystyrene waste program Households can now drop off their polystyrene for recycling at locations across Melbourne free of charge. The Metropolitan Waste Management Group said polystyrene could not be recycled from kerbside recycling bins, and did not break down in landfill but nine resource recovery centres would accept it from residents and small businesses. Once collected, the polystyrene will be recycled and re-manufactured into domestic building products. Manufacturing awards open Nominations are being sought for the 2012 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards. Now in their eleventh year, the awards have recognised a total of 116 companies, added 24 recipients to the Honour Roll and acknowledged eight young Manufacturers of the Year. This year, three new awards will be introduced to recognise the Manufacturer of the Year in each of the categories of small, medium and large businesses. Nominations close 29 February. Research for State wards A research study on young people transitioning from State care has been announced. Minister for Community Services, Mary Wooldridge said about 400 young Victorians aged between 16 and 18 left child protection out-of-home care every year, and often lacked any form of family or social support mechanisms. She said the $1 million research project would track a cohort of young people in out-of-home care over four years to better understand the difficulties they faced, the life outcomes resulting from time in out-of-home care, and how they could be better supported. Tree frogs return home About 260 captive-bred Spotted Tree Frogs are being released into the Mount Buffalo National Park in the State’s north-east in a bid to re-establish the species there. Senior Biodiversity Officer at the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Glen Johnson said the species was confirmed extinct at the site in 1983 but a small number of frogs rescued from nearby had been used in a captive breeding program. He said the release was part of a National Recovery Program, led by DSE in partnership with agencies and groups from Victoria and New South Wales. Edition 250, 8 February 2012
|
 |
