Lifeline is hosting their Rainbow Connections event on Saturday 18th May at the Armitage Centre, Empire Theatre, Neil Street, Toowoomba.
You’re invited to this free one day event promoting regional action on LGBTI+ issues. Speakers include Ben Law, Daniel Witthaus, Rebekah Robertson, Georgie Stone, Nevo Zisin and local identities. At the end of the day stay on for complimentary drinks and canapes at the networking function. This day is about you so make sure you get all you can from this event.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial and Cyber Crime Group have issued a warning to Queensland residents about a scam using a Queensland Police Service phone number to legitimise a government or Australian Taxation Office (ATO) impersonation scam.
In this instance the criminals are using a practice known as caller ID spoofing where they inappropriately manipulate the telephone network to indicate the incoming call is from a different number (in this case a QPS number).
The scam starts when the criminal calls the victim impersonating a government department. They advise the victim has an outstanding fine or fee with them (for example, the ATO). While this type of scam has been doing the rounds for some time, police are concerned this version of the scam has an additional layer which may result in more members of the community falling victim.
The second part of the scam involves the criminal calling the victim from what appears to be a trusted or well-known government phone number, and impersonating an employee from the organisation (in this case a police officer) to legitimise the scam.  The criminal posing as a police officer threatens you with arrest or states they will commence legal action before demanding a form of payment.
“While this may sound alarm bells and cause the public to become extra cynical when they receive a call like this, then we are 100% fine with this. We want you to be on your guard and we want you to question anyone who asks you for money.
“The biggest fault in this scam is that they ask you to pay the fee or fine in gift cards. Just know, no government agency, law enforcement or any legitimate organisation will ask you to pay them in gift cards,†Detective Superintendent Terry Lawrence of the Financial and Cyber Crime Group said.
Australian Cyber Online Reporting Network (ACORN) indicates they have had 121 reports of the ATO scam in Queensland in 2019, totalling $173,000.
Police have commenced enquiries regarding this scam and the illegal use of the police number.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can also report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Master artisans and traditional tradesmen and women with hundreds of combined years of training will demonstrate and share their skills and talent for heritage trades at Lost Trades Fair Queensland at Cobb+Co Museum, Lindsay Street, Toowoomba.
Come and see trades being practised, just as they always have been, but usually behind closed workshop doors.
Its nearly here…. the anticipation is building of a great gathering at the DV Summit on May 16th, 2019. Its not a talk fest, it’s an information session, combined with a report card with a ‘where to from here’ call to arms for the whole community, an event not to be missed. There are still some spaces left so get in on it!
Submitted by: Tony Rehn Crime Prevention Officer Darling Downs District Queensland Police Service Ph 07 4631 6733
Clifford Park Special School has cashed in more than $10,000 with the recent introduction of the Containers for Change recycling program.
The school has operated its own recycling facility for many years which was used as a school-based work program for students.
Recycling program coordinator David Shinners said the funds would be used to increase their recycling program and to create a modern work environment where young people with disabilities engage in curricula and vocational activities.
Mr Shinners said they were aiming to process and cash in $1,000 of bottles and cans each month.
Principal Corina Searchfield said the program had a positive impact on the environment and provided students the opportunity to learn valuable work related skills.
Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki MP and Clifford Park Special School student Sam Jerome.
Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki said members of the community could donate their bottles and cans to the school via the drop-off point on Hursley Road or within the school grounds off Rob Street in Toowoomba.
Submitted by: Lacey Maguire
Media Adviser Office of David Janetzki MP Member for Toowoomba South Email:   toowoomba.south@parliament.qld.gov.au
Dr Lindsay Haase (right) said the EMET advanced life support refresher course, delivered by Toowoomba Hospital emergency specialist Dr Katie Mills (left), was a key factor in helping him to save a patient’s life recently.
Training provided by Toowoomba Hospital emergency specialists is saving lives in rural areas.
Just weeks after completing an Emergency Medicine, Education and Training (EMET) refresher course, Dr Lindsay Haase put his skills into practice with excellent results.
“While working in the South Burnett recently we had an EMET refresher course for advanced life support
(ALS) and not very long after we had a situation where had to resuscitate a patient,†Dr Haase said.
“That patient had ventricular fibrillation, which is an erratic heartbeat, which lead to a cardiac arrest, and had to be shocked using the defibrillator four times.”
“I was very glad to have just done the EMET ALS refresher training because I was prepared and ready to use those skills when they were needed and thankfully the patient lived. EMET training is invaluable, it’s a wonderful service to rural doctors and nurses throughout Darling Downs Health, because it saves lives.â€Â
Dr Sheree Conroy, Toowoomba Hospital-based emergency medicine specialist and Darling Downs Health Director of Clinical Training, has been coordinating EMET training for the past four years.
“A successful application for funding to the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine in the latter half of 2014 allowed us to start the Emergency Medicine Education and Training Program (EMET) in February 2015,†Dr Conroy said.
“Since then we’ve travelled more than 46,000km to provide 215 EMET training session at 17 of our hospitals, with more than 2,300 attendees. “The sessions are attended by doctors and nurses at each of the sites, as well as other personnel such as local paramedics or pre-hospital staff.”
“We go to one or two rural hospitals a week with two emergency specialists from Toowoomba Hospital
Emergency Department (ED) traveling to each site. We do separate training modules covering topics including airway management; breathing and respiratory; non-invasive ventilation; cardiac; paediatric; trauma; toxicology; and behavioural emergencies.
“These are things we can encounter on any day of the week at the Toowoomba Hospital ED but which are seen less regularly in our rural facilities, and that’s why it’s so important to visit our rural hospitals and upskill and refresh our excellent rural staff on managing these less common emergencies in their own clinical setting.”
“I think one of the best things about the program is not just seeing our clinicians upskill, but also getting to know them and developing relationships right across our health service, which is very beneficial given that Toowoomba Hospital is the major referral centre for all our rural locations.â€Â
USQ’s bid to preserve traditional Indigenous game
It’s like noughts and crosses, but played by young hunters in pre-colonial Australia.
Visitors to Toowoomba’s Cobb+Co Museum, part of the Queensland Museum Network, would be familiar with the floor game Burguu Matya, a traditional Australian Aboriginal activity from the Wiradjuri people.
In a bid to share this important piece of Australian history with more people, Cobb+Co has joined forces with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to bring the game to a digital platform.
Thought to be traditionally played with stones, the game can be likened to a more strategic tic-tac-toe or simplified chess.
USQ’s Zoe Lynch and Shane Gadsby (front from left), who developed and animated the browser-based version of the game, with Queensland Museum Head of Lifelong Learning Amy Boulding and Cobb+Co Museum Learning Officer Tony Coonan (USQ Photography)
USQ has officially handed over a browser-based version of the game developed by the University’s Office for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching.
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Helen Partridge said the initiative was a perfect example of USQ contributing to community. “USQ delivers high-quality education and research around the world, but our ties to local community are the backbone of our University,†Professor Partridge said.
“We want to share USQ’s culture of excellence and innovation in learning and teaching, as well as our expertise in developing exceptional education resources. “This particular collaboration will make a difference to the lives of the many young learners who visit Queensland museums like Cobb+Co.â€Â
Cobb+Co Learning Officer Tony Coonan said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture had become a major focus of school visits. “One of our favourite parts of school visits to our Binangar Gallery is when they play Burguu Matya,†he said.
“Burguu Matya is not only significant because of its connection to our First Peoples, but it also requires strategic and divergent thinking.†Mr Coonan said putting the game online allowed for a fantastic follow up when students returned to school or home.
“It allows the game to reach out into the wider community for people of all ages to enjoy,†he said. “This will hopefully encourage more people to visit or revisit our Aboriginal Gallery and develop a greater understanding of Indigenous culture.â€Â
Kids can step into the shoes of a Wildlife Ranger these school holidays at Cobb+Co Museum. Running each weekday until Thursday 18th April, a variety of animals will visit the Museum for the Wildlife Rangers school holiday program.
With live animal shows daily, children have the opportunity to meet furry new friends and learn all about the day to day lives of some of Australia’s favourite animals, including:
• Green Tree Frog or Magnificent Tree Frog
• Leaf Tailed Gecko or Burton’s Legless Lizard.
• Bearded Dragon, Frill Necked Dragon or Water Dragon.
• Crocodile
• Freshwater Turtle
• Green Tree Snake or Python
• Tawny Frogmouth, Barn Owl or Kookaburra
• Bandicoot or Wombat
• Ringtail Possum or Brush Tailed Possum
• And more.
 Live animal show held by Geckoes Wildlife educating kids on some of Australia’s favourite native animals.  Kids interacting with the animals and enjoying activities that are part of the Wildlife Rangers school holiday program.
The program is designed for children aged 3 to 12 years and costs $10 per child, which includes access to one of two live shows. The 10.30am show is best for ages 3-7 and the 12noon show is best for ages 8-12. However, please note all ages are welcome to attend either show.
Submitted by: Veronica Dawson Marketing Coordinator Cobb+Co Museum 27 Lindsay Street | Toowoomba | Queensland 4350 | Australia cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au
At the end of the day stay on for complimentary drinks and canapes at the networking function. This day is about you so make sure you get all you can from this event.
