ACT Government

Christmas is traditionally a time for giving. There are lots of ways you can help locally this holiday season. While most charities will gladly accept financial donations, Canberrans can also help those who might be doing it tough by donating gifts, toys, gift cards and non-perishable food items to charities, including: • Communities at Work • Roundabout Canberra • Hands Across Canberra • Vinnies ACT • St John's Care • Canberra Hospital Foundation • Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT • ACT Rescue and Foster Inc. (ARF) • Canberra Pet Rescue • Local food pantries • Local street pantries Find out more about how you can help, at: https://bit.ly/3Bm63KY

ACT Fire & Rescue today welcomed 16 new firefighters to its ranks. The College 51 recruits have spent 21 weeks training to be firefighters with ACT Fire & Rescue. As part of this training, the graduates had to complete 52 subjects covering a range of topics including firefighting, rescue and HAZMAT. The recruits came from diverse working backgrounds before starting in ACT Fire & Rescue including nurses, teachers, plumbers, electricians, mechanics and careers in the Army as well as the disability and aged care sector. These recruits will begin their first shifts after graduating next week including some who will have their first shift on Christmas Day. Thank you to all ACT Government staff who will work throughout the holiday period to continue to support the Canberra community. Your service and sacrifice is appreciated.

Keep the New Year's Eve celebrations going this year and support local by taking advantage of extended trading hours at Canberra licenced venues. New Year’s Eve 2024 has been declared a special event under the Liquor Act 2010, allowing Canberra businesses to ring in 2025 with extended trading hours. Check out the fireworks display at Lake Burley Griffin, then head to one of Canberra’s wonderful restaurants and entertainment venues that have extended trading hours for the evening. Venues can automatically extend their trading hours and supply liquor in open containers at the premises past their usual licensing times, up to 2am. They must adhere to any other conditions on the licence during the extended period and have an obligation under the Act to serve alcohol responsibly. See more information, at: https://bit.ly/3D7u3lE

New ACT rental laws to help victim-survivors leave abusive situations are now in place. The new laws allow tenants who have experienced domestic and family violence to break a lease immediately. To give their landlord a family violence termination notice, tenants need to provide supporting evidence. This could include a declaration from a specified list of professionals or a relevant legal order. The legislation also seeks to ensure victim-survivors’ confidentiality by preventing landlords or agents from sharing tenants’ sensitive information. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3DmVkRf

With the raising London Circuit project entering its final stages, construction will start on light rail to Commonwealth Park in February 2025. With Canberra expected to grow to more than 780,000 people by 2060 it's important we build this transport infrastructure to avoid the future traffic gridlock so many other cities face. The extension of light rail will support the delivery of more housing, new public spaces and better commercial precincts in our city centre. By 2028, workers, residents and visitors to the city centre will be able to more easily connect to more locations, including City West, New Acton, Commonwealth Park and Lake Burley Griffin, using three new light rail stops 🚋 As work gets underway on and around London Circuit, Commonwealth Avenue and Parkes Way, sections of London Circuit west will be closed to motorists and cyclists between Northbourne Avenue and Edinburgh Avenue. Find out how these changes impact you at: https://lnkd.in/gyEPMK8S

It’s a sign the campus is almost complete! With construction nearing completion we’re excited to see the new CIT sign officially installed on the CIT Woden Campus. It’s been a big year on the project from the installation of the sustainable timber superstructure and Brindabella-inspired façade to the completion of the Youth Foyer brickwork and the construction of the first bus shelters and platforms on the Woden Public Transport Interchange. CIT will welcome students to the new Woden Campus in mid-2025. What a milestone to end the year on 🏗️ Find out more and keep up with construction updates here: https://lnkd.in/gkBAycAk

Construction is about to start on a new Yurauna, Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educational Centre of Excellence. Yurauna, a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘to grow’, is CIT’s dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educational Centre of Excellence, offering tailored culturally appropriate courses to improve literacy, numeracy and communication, and providing vocational training for First Nations peoples. The new CIT Yurauna will be built at CIT Bruce Campus to replace the current facility, which is relocating as part of CIT’s transition out of the Reid Campus. CIT Yurauna will be operational at the CIT Bruce site in 2025, and ready to welcome students, community members and those passionate about preserving First Nations culture. A traditional smoking and cleansing ceremony was held in early December, led by Ngunnawal Traditional Custodian Bradley Bell. The start of construction preparation works was marked with the official turning of the first sod, a long-standing tradition in the construction industry. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/49FtcVq

Two specialised firefighting helicopters arrived in Canberra today, prepared to respond and support firefighting operations across the ACT this bushfire season. The helicopters include: - A Firebird 100, which is a Specialised Intelligence Gathering (SIG) helicopter, able to provide crucial real time streaming and critical intel to teams on the ground - A HeliTac 101, which can assist with waterbombing and transporting remote area firefighting teams to those harder to reach areas The helicopters, as well as their pilots, engineers and ground crew, will be based in the ACT until March 2025, during the time of year bush and grass fires are most likely to occur. In addition to fighting bush and grass fires, these helicopters will also be available for training drills and education to help upskill ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) volunteers. The Canberra community can also take their own steps to be emergency ready this season. For more information on how to do this, visit: https://lnkd.in/ev7EJ7QQ

One of Canberra’s iconic bus shelters has had a makeover. 🎨 The Macquarie bus shelter, at the front of Canberra High School, now has an artwork highlighting the importance of Reconciliation Day. The artwork was designed by Canberra High School Year 10 student Harper Hudson, as an entry for the 2024 Reconciliation Day School Poster Competition. The design was painted onto the interior of the bus stop by Indigenous Contemporary Art’s Eddie Longford. Harper also won Canberra High School a $1000 prize, which was spent on the school’s Reconciliation Garden and a painting. The school also received a canvas of Harper’s design to be displayed for years to come.

School is almost out; let the summer school holidays begin! 😁 From getting up close and personal with dinosaurs to craft sessions and story time, there’s always lots to do across the capital. Add these family-friendly activities to your list: • For $89.10, the Canberra Mega Pass will get you access to three of Canberra’s most iconic attractions - the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Zoo & Aquarium, and Questacon. • The National Arboretum Canberra has activities suitable for children 5 and up, including a kite making workshop and family orienteering. • Canberra Theatre Centre has a line-up of shows appropriate for children of all ages, including Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show and The 78-Storey Treehouse. • Thirty huge dinosaurs will stomp onto Black Mountain Peninsula from 11 January to 2 February for Dino Fest Canberra – Age of the Tyrannosaur. • Be brave at Treetops Adventure, with more than 90 aerial obstacles and 16 zip lines. There are three junior courses and five tree top ropes courses. For the full list and lots of school holiday inspiration, visit: https://bit.ly/4gxMMVP 📷 Nathan Darma, Treetops Adventure