Darling Downs Health has re-opened the drive-in COVID-19 testing site at the Baillie Henderson Hospital in response to the evolving situation in Brisbane.
The Baillie Henderson testing site in Toowoomba will remain temporarily open 8.30am to 4pm until Thursday, 1 April 2021. Entry to the test site is via the Mort Street entrance only.
Testing helps us find as many cases in the community as quickly as possible. This will ensure we are doing everything we can to manage Queensland’s response to the pandemic.
If you have any of the following symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.
– Fever
– Sore throat
– Runny Nose
– Diarrhoea
– Loss of smell and/or taste
– Cough
– Shortness of breath
– Fatigue
– Vomiting or nausea.
Alternative testing locations to the Charlton BP and Baillie Henderson Hospital sites can be found at www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing
We are closely monitoring the evolving situation relating to testing demand and are prepared to keep our pop-up drive-in testing sites open longer if needed. We are also prepared to open further pop-up testing sites at short notice if required.
If you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and planning to present to one of our hospital facilities for testing, please phone ahead to discuss your arrival with staff. In an emergency, please phone Triple Zero (000).
We ask anyone presenting for COVID-19 testing to understand that waiting times at our testing locations can vary. Please be prepared to wait and bring your Medicare card and other items you may need (for example, your mobile phone, phone charger, medications you may need to take while waiting, food and
water).
For more information about our testing sites, please visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns or phone the Darling Downs Health COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 468. Submitted by: Darling Downs Health Media Team
a: Cnr Hogg and Tor Sts, Toowoomba Qld 4350
Can you take a picture worth a thousand wordsâ€? If yes, then you are invited to participate in an exciting citizen science style PhotoVoice project. Photovoice is a long-established method in community capacity building. As the name implies, the process uses self-generated images and captions to help participants have a ‘voice’ and articulate their interests and concerns around some problematic situation. For example, the community impacts of environmental pollution or uncontrolled climate change.â€
Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 students and their home-schooled equivalents across the Toowoomba region are invited to get snap happy and find their voice in the lead up to the 2021 Youth Summit. Proudly hosted by Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc. and St Ursula’s College, the free virtual Youth Summit is being held from the 19th to the 22nd of April and will address current topical issues relating to the environment, social justice, animal welfare/conservation and heritage conservation and protection.
The PhotoVoice citizen’s science†project welcomes youth to submit a photo, short video or drawing/sketch of an issue that they find concerning, type up a short caption to match, and submit to HOPE by the 16th of April. This caption should aim to be about 30 words long and explain why the picture was taken, what it means to the student, why it is important, what issue it highlights and why it does so effectively, and what we as a community can do to improve the issue. Youth are urged to be respectful of the people’s personal space and privacy – always ask permission first! Try not to take close-up portraits, and instead try to take images of things rather than people. Make sure to stay safe, check-in with teachers and parents, don’t go adventuring alone, and avoid hazardous situations. Some jumping off points are shown below but students are encouraged to get creative and inspired and choose whichever topic sparks their interest.
Submissions for the PhotoVoice Project are due by Friday16th April, 2021 and are to be submitted to HOPE via email, Google Drive or any other easily accessible platform. For photos and drawings, please submit a scanned A4 PhotoVoice submission and for videos, please attach a link to your email. Youth are asked to include their name, year level and school in their submission.
Our next tour of the Rose Garden is this Saturday 27th March, and you’re invited. Members will be heading roses in the garden as well.
We are also holding a Market Day on Saturday, 10th April. Anyone wishing to book a stall please ring Jenny on 0439 335 356. Tables are available for $15.00. For any queries contact Sandy Martin on 0408 753 602.Submitted by: Sandy Martin President Queensland State Rose Garden
Around $13.8 billion in Australians’ hard earned wages is waiting to be claimed, in the form of lost and unclaimed superannuation.
Data released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for the financial year ending June 2020 shows that the Morrison Government’s reforms have had a big impact, reducing unclaimed super by $7 billion compared to 30 June 2019. But there is more to be done.
Workers may have lost or unclaimed super if they have:
•         Changed their name
•         Moved jobs or changed addresses
•         Forgotten to update details with their super fund in the last few years
Lost superannuation refers to inactive super fund accounts and ones that have lost contact with their fund member. By law, the fund is required to transfer certain accounts to the ATO, which then becomes ‘unclaimed super money’.
Unlike super funds, the ATO does not charge fees, and thanks to reforms passed by the Morrison Government, proactively consolidates any unclaimed super into an eligible, active super account where possible. Those reforms have seen $7 billion already sent back to workers.
There is $50 million unclaimed in Groom- money that workers may not even know they are missing.
Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said, You may have hard-earned money waiting to be claimed. By logging into MyGov, and checking for lost super with the ATO, in a few clicks you could boost your super balance.â€
Thanks to actions taken by the Morrison Government, $7 billion has already been reunited with workers, but with $13.8 billion still waiting it is worth taking the time to check.â€
The Government’s Protecting Your Super reforms have resulted in the ATO proactively reuniting more Australians with their lost and unclaimed super. Since November 2019 almost 3.3 million accounts worth almost $4.3 billion has been proactively reunited and paid out to their rightful owners.
Further information about lost and unclaimed superannuation is available on the ATO website at https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Research-and-statistics/In-detail/Super-statistics/Super-accounts-data/Lost-and-unclaimed-super-by-postcode/
After establishing the ATSIAC in the last term of Council, TRC Finance and Business Strategy Committee Chair, and ATSIAC Chair, Cr Geoff McDonald said it was important the Committee continued the progress made since 2018.
We first began this Committee with the purpose of providing leadership and direction on the interests of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,†Cr McDonald said
We realised there was a missing link in our community and set the group up to open communication lines further.
I’ve seen a number of ways we’ve helped bridge this gap already but this is something we need to continue to progress which is why it’s exciting to have members chosen for this Committee.
With these new members we will continue to offer advice around fostering leadership and direction on Indigenous issues to Council.â€
The following persons were appointed as community members on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee: Deb Anderson, Noeleen Dempsey, Amee Hetherington, Shandell Washington, Kay Blades, Caitlin Easton, Judy Hobson, Adam Wenitong, Kieren Gibbs and Roger Robinson.
The following persons were appointed as Aboriginal representatives on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee: Regina Munn (Bigamul Peoples), Averil Dillon (Barunggam Peoples), Tracy McLeod (Western Wakka Peoples) and Margaret McCarthy (Yuggera Ugarapul Peoples).
Council will have two representatives on the Committee with Cr McDonald as Chair and Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan as the Deputy Chair.
More information regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee can be found at www.tr.qld.gov.au/atsiac or by contacting Council on 131 872.
Submitted by: Brendan Steinhardt
Principal Media and Strategic Relations
Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
Toowoomba Regional Council
More than 1,000 General Practices, including those in Groom, will join the COVID-19 vaccination program from next week, further strengthening the Commonwealth’s capacity, and ensuring efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country.
Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said services will come online from 22 March. We all know the invaluable work our local GP’s do for our community,†Mr. Hamilton said. Now we will see them play a vital role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.â€
Phase 1B of the rollout will see 1,000 GP’s across Australia delivering COVID-19 vaccines for our elderly and immunocompromised, progressively increasing in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April.â€
Australians eligible for Phase 1B will be able to find a vaccination provider through the new national vaccination information and location service, at the Department of Health website.â€
This will enable people to locate their nearest general practice providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.â€
Vaccines are the game-changer in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and I urge everyone in Australia to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will protect themselves, their family, and their community.â€
Greg Hunt MP
In making the announcement, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt MP, said the rollout would continue to grow in the coming weeks. This staged scale-up will align with the supply of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, and as more vaccine becomes available more services will come online,†Minister Hunt said.
General practices will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. We are committed to making sure that every Australian that wants a vaccine will be able to be vaccinated,†Minister Hunt said.
Phase 1B includes vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with certain underlying medical conditions. No-one is better placed to support these people than our general practices.
Over 100 Aboriginal Health Services and 130 Commonwealth-operated GP-led Respiratory Clinics, who have been instrumental partners in the COVID-19 response to date will also be progressively added as additional vaccine providers.
Appointments on the service finder will increase as general practices establish their systems and vaccine supply. More appointments will become available as more clinics come on-board. People will still be able to book their vaccine appointments directly at a participating general practice – as they do now, for instance, to get a seasonal flu vaccine.
As the rollout moves into Phase two, additional general practices and selected community pharmacists will also participate in the program. No-one will miss out, whether they live in a city or country town or a very remote area.
There will be six million Australians in Phase 1B, and not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately. We recognise that every Australian will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the coming months and we thank every Australian for their patience.
FAQ
Where do I go and how do I book in?
Go to the Department of Health website. Using the Eligibility Checker, you can find out which phase of the rollout you are in. If you are eligible, you will be able to view vaccination clinics and book an appointment online or via phone. If you are not yet eligible, you will be able to register your interest so that you can be notified when you are able to book.
If you prefer not to use the online option, you can call the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080.
Will I be able to choose where I can book?
You will be able to view and select clinic locations based on the postcode you enter.
What happens if there are no clinics or appointments in my area?
A list of Commonwealth vaccination clinics, participating General Practices, and state and territory vaccination clinics will be made available as they come online. Â
Do I have to use the Eligibility Checker in order to book?
The checker is a helpful tool to help you find out if you are currently eligible to book.
The checker will guide you through to a simple way to find and book vaccine appointments, or help you register to be notified if you are part of a later phase. If you prefer to book appointments directly at a participating general practice or Commonwealth state vaccination clinic, you can contact them directly to do so.
Submitted by: Laura Cocks Media Adviser Office of Garth Hamilton MP Federal Member for Groom Ph. (07) 4632 4144 E. Garth.Hamilton.MP@aph.gov.au
Toowoomba women will join thousands of people nationwide calling on the Prime Minister to act against gendered violence in Parliament and everywhere people live and work.
Event Spokesperson Louise Noble said Toowoomba’s march is one of 36 official ‘Women’s March 4 Justice’ events happening across Australia in response to continuous claims of misogyny, sexual harassment and sexual assault coming from Canberra.
More than 200 locals have registered their interest in attending to help us send the message that when it comes to ending gendered violence, changing harmful attitudes, building equality and stopping violent acts – action must start at the very top,†Ms Noble said.
In line with the apolitical, inclusive and respectful nature of this movement, we will have a diverse range
of speakers including First Nations leaders, Immigrant and Refugee community members, LGBTQI+ representatives and people with disabilities. We encourage participants of all genders and ages to attend,†she said.
Speakers include: Anna Jackson – Indigenous Activist, Janine Kelly – Yamatji (WA), DVAC Domestic Violence Action Centre, Genevieve Allpass, Lily Tombi (South Sudanese community), Emma (LGBTIQ community), Rojin Rash (Ezidi community), Alyce Nelligan (Disability Advocate).
Women’s March 4 Justice is CALLING FOR ACTION:
1. Full independent investigations into all cases of gendered violence and timely referrals to appropriate authorities. Full public accountability for findings.
2. Fully implement the 55 recommendations in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work report of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces 2020.
3. Lift public funding for gendered violence prevention to world’s best practice.
4. The enactment of a federal Gender Equality Act to promote gender equality. It should include a gender equity audit of Parliamentary practices.
Toowoomba Women’s March for Justice, Monday 15th March, 12 noon, assembling @ Queen’s Park, finishing at Art Gallery Park.
Submitted by: Louise Noble M 0415 974 313
Join us as the sun sets for a unique evening of life drawing at the museum, where we will celebrate our touring exhibition Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World. Relax with a prosecco in one hand and charcoal in the other as you settle in for an evening of muses, music and magnificent art.
Throughout the evening, you will have the opportunity to sketch three wonderful models and roam through three different museum gallery spaces.
Your ticket price for the evening will include:
A glass of prosecco (or alternative) on arrival and a tasting plate for one
Seating and a board or easel
Three fantastic local models dressed in traditional Roman costume who know how to strike a pose
Guidance and an introduction to the art of life drawing from local rotating artists Alice Rigby, Katie Whyte and Mike Grice.
Artists are invited to bring their own materials including paper and charcoal, however a limited amount will be available for use if needed.
Date:Â Friday 12 March 2021
Time:Â 6-8pm (arrive from 5.30pm)
Cost:Â $60 per person
Age: 18+ Book: Tickets are limited and available online until sold out. Please note, this event is not a workshop and local artists will be here to provide guidance and suggestion only.
This is a COVID safe event with limited capacity. For more information contact the museum on (07) 4659 4900.Â
Submitted by: Veronica Dawson Marketing Coordinator 27 Lindsay Street | Toowoomba | Queensland 4350 | Australia t. 07 4659 4914 |Â cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au
Darling Downs Health has re-opened the drive-in COVID-19 testing site at the Baillie Henderson Hospital in response to the evolving situation in Brisbane.
