Local Government News
 Ian
Causley
Canberra Connection
Website provides entry point for Australian Government
The Australian Government has a new, redesigned website to provide a single
point of entry for people wanting to access government information and services.
The new site - australia.gov.au - supports the Government's commitment to improving
access to quality government information and services and is the single and key
public entry point for these things. People can, at the touch of a button, access
useful information and services for business and personal purposes.
The australia.gov.au site is owned and managed by the Australian Government
Information Management Office and has links to over 700 government websites. It
provides a search function covering five million online resources across Federal,
State and Territory government agencies. The site also provides access to information
and services including electronic tax lodgment and business transaction services.
The website emphasises the Coalition's focus on the introduction of quality
content and a single point of contact for public access. We realise that government
sites should provide rich content in the form of information and services to the
public and I believe the new website does this.
Celebrating NAIDOC Week
This week is NAIDOC Week and I would like to extend my very best wishes to
all Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders as they celebrate their cultures,
traditions and achievements in community events throughout our local area, and
the nation, between July 3 and 10.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the first Australians and
enjoy a long, rich association with this wonderful country that all Australians
are lucky enough to share.
The Australian Government recognises this long and important association and
continues to make a major commitment to NAIDOC celebrations by funding a wide
variety of Indigenous community events and activities all round Australia.
The Government is also providing funding for the annual National NAIDOC Awards
ceremony and ball. This event recognises the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people, and the important contribution that Indigenous people
make to Australian life.
Aged care nursing scholarships
I would like to encourage nurses working in aged care facilities and people
wishing to become nurses in aged care to apply for aged care nursing scholarships
for study commencing in the 2006 academic year.
The ageing of Australia's population means that more people will require high
quality care delivered by aged care professionals. That is why the Australian
Government is investing almost $150 million in a range of initiatives designed
to help aged care nurses and other workers gain the skills, qualifications and
experience needed to provide the care and support that older Australians need
and deserve.
Up to 250 undergraduate scholarships will be available, with each scholarship
worth $10,000 a year, up to a maximum of $30,000.
Scholarships valued at up to $10,000 are also available to assist nurses currently
working in aged care facilities to undertake further education and training in
dementia care, palliative care and other similar higher education programs.
These scholarships will particularly assist people living in rural and regional
areas who wish to become nurses in aged care and enable existing aged care nurses
to undertake a broad range of professional development opportunities.
Applications for the Undergraduate Scholarships close on August 26, while applications
for the Postgraduate Scholarships close on September 23. Those interested in applying
for a scholarship should contact the fund administrators, the Royal College of
Nursing, Australia, on 1800 116 696 or visit their website www.rcna.org.au.
Aged care places
I am now encouraging aged care providers to apply for 255 new Australian Government-subsidised
aged care places being offered in the Far North Coast. The places being offered
include 150 residential places, 70 community aged care packages, 25 extended aged
care at home places, and 10 dementia-specific extended aged care at home places.
By offering these extra places in this region, the Australian Government is
helping to ensure that local older residents have the opportunity to remain in
their local community as they age. The places are part of an estimated 26,600
new aged care places to be allocated by the Australian Government over the next
three years. Applications close on July 29. For application kits contact my office.
Office contacts
Address: PO Box 1119, Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: 6621 9909
Fax: 6621 9959
Email: ian.causley.mp@aph.gov.au
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