Veterans Health Week 2016
Encouraging health and wellbeing and tackling the challenges faced by veterans and their families is a priority for the Australian Government.
Veterans’ Health Week runs from 22-30 October and this year focuses on social connection, with more than 300 events planned around the country.
We owe enormous gratitude to the men and women who serve in defence of our country. Veterans’ Health Week is an opportunity to acknowledge that service and encourage veterans, serving Australian Defence Force personnel, and their families to be pro-active about their health.
Veterans’ Health Week supports initiatives that keep people connected with their families, friends and communities and provides an opportunity to make new connections through a common cause.
I encourage veterans and their families to participate in activities and influence the health and wellbeing of themselves, their friends and our community.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has a range of health information, online resources and support services for serving and ex-serving members, including the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) that provides free and confidential counselling and support (visit www.vvcs.gov.au or call 1800 011 046).
In addition, the Men’s Health Peer Education program trains volunteers to provide health information to their veteran peers to help them make informed lifestyle choices about their health. Further information about this program is available at http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/mens-health-peer-education
For information about Veterans’ Health Week, including details of events around Australia, visit http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/health-events/veterans-health-week
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Grants to inspire young science and maths students
Young locals who are passionate about science and maths now have more opportunities to learn from and compete with the best through new government funding for a range of science, technology, engineering and maths activities.
The best and brightest students in the local area will have more options to travel to national and international competitions, more opportunities to participate in the National Youth Science Forum and a chance to meet and compete against their peers as Australia hosts the Asian Physics Olympiad in 2019.
The grants will enable some of the best students in the Parkes electorate to test themselves against their counterparts from across the country and around the world, enabling them to build their knowledge, skills and networks.
As part of the Coalition Government’s National Science and Innovation Agenda, grants of up to $5000 per student and $20,000 per application are available, with matching contributions required for grants of over $10,000.
These grants are now open and are available until the annual allocation is used up.
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Greg Hunt said skills in science, technology, engineering and maths are essential to Australia’s economic future, with 75 percent of future jobs expected to require these skills.
Funding of $2,992,000 over four years will enable Australian Science Innovations to deliver the Australian Science Olympiads and support some of our most talented science students participating in the International Science Olympiads.
A grant of $1,760,000 will support Australia’s hosting of the 2019 Asian Physics Olympiad, the first time this event has been held in this country.
The new Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions includes funding of $6.4 million over four years for students under 18 to participate in science events, activities and competitions in Australia and overseas.
There is also funding of $1,496,000 over four years to the Australian Mathematics Trust to support participation of our most talented Australian students in the International Mathematics and Informatics Olympiads.
The National Youth Science Forum will use funding of $660,000 over four years to expand their National Science Teachers Summer School and start an additional January residential forum, hosting 200 students. They will also establish a fund to assist students from lower socio-economic and disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in their activities.
For more information on the Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions go to www.business.gov.au/sgseic
