ACT Greens: Homelessness

As well as committing to build 10,000 affordable public homes, the ACT Greens would set up a Homelessness Services Project Fund to target gaps in homelessness services, deputy leader Rebecca Vassarotti announced.

The Greens would also make housing a legal right, requiring government to end homelessness; create a youth homelessness strategy; develop a public retirement village to offer affordable housing for older Canberrans; and support Aboriginal Community Controlled Housing Organisations to better meet the housing needs of First Nations people.

Ms Vassarotti said that the Greens are the only party presenting a “bold and transformative plan … to truly address the homelessness crisis”.

ACT Labor: Free school camp

ACT Labor has promised to fund a free school camp at Birrigai for one grade level in every public primary school.

Schools can choose which year level participates based on their needs.

The program would start next year, and is estimated to save a family with two children $400.

“No student should have to miss out on a school camp because of the cost, and no parent should have to choose between paying for a school camp or paying the bills,” a Labor spokesperson said.

Strong Independents: Aged care facility

The Strong Independents propose establishing an aged care facility at the University of Canberra, next to the University of Canberra Hospital.

The facility would serve as a training and education centre for students studying aged care, and give academics and lecturers access to a close-by facility. The Strong Independents envisage that the facility would serve as a model for best practices in aged care across the region and the nation.

“Canberra probably has the brightest most educated group of people over 60 than any other jurisdiction in Australia,” Peter Strong AM said. “It makes sense that Canberra should be the Centre of Excellence and best practice, when it comes to care for the aging population.”

Recruitment of student nurses and midwives

The ACT Government is offering permanent jobs to third-year nursing and midwifery students at the University of Canberra and Australian Catholic University to join Canberra Health Services.

Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith says this simplifies the recruitment process and eases students’ workload and stress in their final year.

407 initial employment offers were made, and nearly 300 students registered their interest.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation ACT branch said it welcomed the recruitment initiative. However, secretary Carlyn Fidow said that while attracting students into the health system was important, Canberra Health Services also needed to have structures in place to support early career nurses and midwives.

The ANMF is collaborating with Canberra Health Services to ensure the system is ready to attract and retain future nurses and midwives, Ms Fidow said. 

Logo for Aunty Agnes High School

The logo for Aunty Agnes Shea High School, which will open in Gungahlin next year, has been revealed.

The school is named after the late senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea OAM. The logo was designed with her family, based on an artwork titled ‘Journey’ painted by her grand-daughter, Selina Walker.

The school uniform design is also inspired by the ‘Journey’ artwork.