The ACT Government has launched a public awareness campaign on affirmative sexual consent, following legal reform last term — its message: “Great sex starts with consent.”
In 2022, the passage of The Crimes (Consent) Amendment Bill required sexual partners to freely and voluntarily consent to sexual activity, every time.
Dr Marisa Paterson MLA, minister for the prevention of family and domestic violence, said the affirmative consent model “was a step toward systemic change to help victim-survivors get the justice they deserve”.
The laws she introduced three years ago made it clear: “Consent must never be assumed — silence or lack of resistance is not consent. Everyone has the right to say no at any time. Consent must involve ongoing communication and shared decision-making.”
“But changing the law is not enough,” Dr Paterson said. “In our beautiful city, an undercurrent of domestic and sexual violence continues to affect too many people… To truly shift our culture, every Canberran needs to understand what affirmative consent means.”
Advertisements will appear as videos on streaming services, dating apps, and social media; on posters and coasters in licenced venues; and on bookmarks, postcards, stickers, and mini-brochures in public places around Canberra.
“I look forward to seeing this campaign generate meaningful conversations, stronger understanding of consent, and more awareness of trauma responses like the freeze response,” Dr Paterson said.
For more information, visit https://www.act.gov.au/law-and-justice/affirmative-consent. The website features information about the ACT’s affirmative consent laws, and resources to help people better understand consent and feel more comfortable talking about it.
Apply to take part in the Multicultural Festival
The 2026 National Multicultural Festival returns in February 2026, and prospective performers and stallholders have until 26 August to apply to take part.
Stallholder applicants can apply under four different categories:
- Community (Food and Beverage; Retail Cultural Market Items; or Club – Food and Beverage)
- Information (Multicultural; Diplomatic; or General)
- Commercial (Food and Drink; or Retail Market Items)
- Market Stalls (Community; or Commercial)
The ACT Government’s festival team will hold information sessions over the coming weeks to help prospective applicants.
The festival welcomes local, national and international performer applications from music, dance, song, spoken word, performance art, roving performers, and ceremonies. Community groups and professional and volunteer performers can apply in the following categories:
- Cultural showcase
- Stage performance
- Community workshop
- Cooking demonstration
- Parade participation
Non-profit community organisations can apply for grants ranging from $100 to $10,000 for projects that promote community participation, inclusion and cultural diversity at the festival.
The ACT Government’s National Multicultural Festival Grant Program helps community organisations with performance costs, materials, costumes, performer and rehearsal fees, travel expenses, and Public Liability Insurance.
“Canberra’s diverse community is the heartbeat of the National Multicultural Festival,” Michael Pettersson MLA, minister for multicultural affairs, said. “I encourage individuals and organisations who want to help celebrate the ACT’s inclusiveness to apply to be part of the festivities.”
Visit www.multiculturalfestival.com.au for more information on the application process and information sessions. You can also subscribe to the newsletter for more information about the Festival.
Community Garden Grants
The 11th round of the Community Garden Grants, which supports the growth and vitality of local gardens in the Territory, opened today. Applications close on 5 September.
$40,000 — up to $10,000 per project — is available for projects including traditional food gardens, Indigenous bush tucker gardens, landscape gardens, and sensory gardens. Grants can help with purchasing or hiring materials, equipment and tools, and to employ specialised contractors to build new gardens or enhance existing ones.
Community gardens help reduce the urban heat island effect in suburbs and help the ACT cope with the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, Suzanne Orr MLA, minister for climate change, environment, energy and water, said.
“I encourage everyone who manages a community garden or is thinking of starting one, to apply for one of these grants, which will not only promote healthy living supporting our environment, but also encourage our local communities to come together, get involved, and socialise with their neighbours,” Ms Orr said.
For more information and to apply, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.
