A FINANCIAL MOMENT

New website to better connect Tasmanians with local community services and support

From left, Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line NGO manager Rachel hales, CatholicCare Tasmania business systems and development general manager David Sakko, Anglicare Tasmania housing and community services contract compliance and business development manager Marnie Bower, Mission Australia Tasmania regional leader Jurek Stopczynski, TasCOSS FindHelpTAS project officer Leah Cleary, TasCOSS community sector development manager Simone Zell, Hobart City Mission chief executive officer John Stubley, The Salvation Army Tasmania public relations officer Major Brad Watson, Colony 47 housing solutions practice manager Bella Fountain, Relationships Australia Tasmania chief executive officer Michael Kelly, Uniting Tasmania executive officer Jeremy Pettet, and TasCOSS chief executive officer Adrienne Picone.

A PARTNERSHIP of community services organisations have banded together to launch Tasmania’s most up-to-date and comprehensive online community service directory.

The new FindHelpTas website provides a central, free, online directory of services that support the health and wellbeing of Tasmania’s communities, offering the ability to search for services ranging from LGBTIQ+ specialist services to emergency accommodation through to drug rehabilitation support and family violence counselling.

Hobart City Mission chief executive officer John Stubley said the pandemic really proved how vital it was that Tasmanians could easily find the community services they needed, and access them in a way that suited them.

“Over the past 12 months, the industry and our partners sought information on emergency relief services and food relief in growing numbers,” he said.

“This has resulted in many new linkages and collaborations being forged.”

“FindHelpTAS is for everyone – from individuals and carers through to community service providers and GPs – and features service listings from 400 community service organisations across the state with the database of services growing every day.

“It’s important that we have all the incredible support options available in this state in one place.

“FindHelpTAS’s new website includes better search filters and more than 900 up-to-date services listings.”

TasCOSS chief executive officer Adrienne Picone said FindHelpTAS was designed with the user in mind.

“We really focused on making the site and resources functional and easy to access so Tasmanians could find the support they need – whether it’s online, over the phone or in their local community,” she said.

“The new FindHelpTAS website has an easy-tonavigate interface that works on any device and the ability to search in your council area, region, suburb or postcode with the handy map.

“Printed directories are also available for community members who are unable to access their information via the internet.”

FindHelpTAS is a self-funded community initiative led by a partnership of Tasmanian community service organisations, supported by TasCOSS.

HOBART EYE SURGEONS

have acquired TASMANIAN EYE CLINICS

We are very excited to announce that Hobart Eye Surgeons has now acquired Tasmanian Eye Clinics. We would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your loyalty, and we will do our very best to maintain your relationship with Hobart Eye Surgeons through improvements in service, value and medical eye care. We will continue to provide healthcare for the previous patients of Tasmanian Eye Clinics, including patients of Dr Wise. All medical records will be kept on file. We now are able to offer four convenient locations at Hobart, Rosny, Kingston, and Glenorchy. If you have any queries please contact our friendly staff on 6210 6000.

A FINANCIAL MOMENT Family Payment Balancing

Hank Jongen General Manager Services Australia

IT’S that time of year again.

As the door opens to a new financial year, tax time brings with it a flurry of activity.

Many families who get Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy know Services Australia will balance family payments during this period.

However, if this is your first year getting a family payment, this may be the first time you’re hearing about ‘balancing’.

There are currently more than two million Australian families receiving Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy or both, and these payments are balanced each financial year.

This is where we assess your estimated family income against your actual income to confirm what you were entitled to.

This is to check we paid you the right amount for your circumstances.

When we balance your payments, if we find you were paid less than you were entitled to, we’ll pay you a ‘top-up’.

If you were paid more than you were eligible for, you’ll need to pay it back.

If you’re in this situation, don’t worry – we’re here to help.

You won’t have to pay it all back at once.

Most people repay the money over time and we will work with you to find a repayment plan that suits your circumstances.

For most families, we confirm your income when you lodge a tax return.

If you don’t need to lodge a tax return, you’ll need to let us know (even if you’ve already told the Australian Tax Office).

You can do this through your Centrelink online account through myGov or Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

If you can’t use our online options, you can call the families line on 136 150.

It’s open Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm.

For families receiving Family Tax Benefit, balancing commenced in mid-July after people received their final payment for the financial year.

We’ll then start balancing Child Care Subsidy payments from mid-August.

This is because we have to wait until your childcare provider sends us your family’s final attendance record for the year.

You don’t need to call us to find out where your balancing is up to.

Once balancing has started, you can track this through the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

Once we’ve finished balancing your payments, we’ll write to you with the outcome.

For more information about this process, visit the Services Australia website and search “payment balancing”.

Community News

Recognising successful exports in Glenorchy

GLENORCHY exporters are being encouraged to nominate for the Australian Export Awards to be recognised for the outstanding contribution they are making to businesses and the community.

The 59th Australian Export Awards will showcase Australian export businesses succeeding across 13 categories, with the 2021 Australian Exporter of the Year chosen from the 13 category winners.

“From one person working from home to large organisations, there are exporters in Glenorchy who are successful, innovative and resilient,” Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said.

“Trade supports one in five Australian jobs and these awards recognise the substantial contribution our exporters and investors make to the nation’s economy and right down to the Eastern Shore community.

“I urge Glenorchy business people to nominate for an award so we can thank you for the work that you do and the jobs you support.

“Businesses that go down the export path typically find that new customers and clients drive profits which results in employing more people locally.”

Nominations for the awards opened on 1 July and close on 6 August.

Winners will be announced in November.

For more information, including the full list of categories and details about how to apply, visit exportawards.gov.au.

A PAW UP FOR AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS

From left, Tassielink Transit managing director Shane Dewsbery, Tasmanian Bus Association general manager Geoff Lewis and Guide Dogs Tasmania program manger Kim Ryan, with Zazu the Autism Assistance Dog.

GUIDE Dogs Tasmania’s Autism Assistance Dog (AAD) program has received a helping paw in the form of a funding boost from the Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus).

Through TasBus’ annual fundraiser, which raises money to go towards a charity that supports children in Tasmania, $16,927 was raised for the program.

“The money raised will go to the Guide Dogs Association for their Autism Assistance Dogs program to help children with autism be able to better assimilate into their families and the community,” Tasmanian Bus Association general manager Geoff Lewis said.

“We raised the money at our annual conference where we had a dinner, an auction and raffle, with the sponsors of the auction being suppliers of TasBus.”

Guide Dogs Tasmania program manager Kim Ryan said as part of the program, eligible participants would receive a dog

“The dogs promote confidence, independence and inclusion, and it’s enabling children to have a dog of their own so they have the confidence to go out and have a safety net,” she said.

Benefits of an AAD include assisting with early intervention training for independence and methods to reduce levels of stress and distress.

They also encourage a child to participate in social activities and interact with other people.

“We’re really appreciative of the support so we can grow the program and provide more dogs for Tasmanians,” Ms Ryan said.

“The funds will enable us to purchase more pups to come on to the program to train for these children, as well as much needed equipment and support to place more dogs out in the community.”

Eligibility criteria for an AAD includes being aged between three and eight years old, having a confirmed diagnosis of autism, a severe impairment in functioning, and limited social interaction ability.

“Children with autism are very isolated from their peers, but a dog can help a lot with that,” Ms Ryan said.

“Having a four-legged best friend by their side can keep them calm and often boost their confidence.”

For more information, phone 6232 1222, email info@ guidedogstas.com. au, or visit https:// guidedogstas.com.au/ ourservices/aad/.

Colony 47 recognises positive community outcomes

TO recognise and celebrate its achievements in the community for 2020, Colony 47 held a stakeholder event at MONA in July.

Colony 47 is well recognised in the community for its commitment to creating positive change by addressing the barriers to housing, education and employment that are faced by people.

“The event was an opportunity for Colony 47 to celebrate achievements throughout last year, to thank the community for their support over the past 12 months and to find out a little more about our focus and direction in the year ahead,” Colony 47 chief executive officer Danny Sutton said.

Attorney-General Elise Archer attended the event and received a certificate in recognition of the Tasmanian Government’s work throughout COVID-19, particularly in relation to rent relief and rental protections.

“I was delighted to attend the Colony 47 stakeholder event at MONA recently to celebrate achievements throughout the year, and it was a wonderful surprise to receive a certificate in recognition of our Government’s work throughout COVID-19 in my portfolio area that provided emergency rent relief and rental protections,” Ms Archer said.

More than $4.2 million in financial assistance has been provided to residential tenants and landlords through the Tasmanian Government’s COVID-19 financial support package.

“Tasmania was the first state in the country to introduce legislative protections to support tenants affected by the pandemic, and we have provided one of the most generous financial support packages in the country for tenants and landlords,” Ms Archer said.

The COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund, established in May 2020, was extended to five rounds and has provided $2.67 million to support 1,210 tenants, while the COVID-19 Landlord Support Fund, established in September 2020, was extended to four rounds and has provided $1.57 million to 995 landlords.

To provide tenants and landlords with support to transition back to pre-COVID-19 legislative arrangements, both of the support funds were extended until 30 June 2021.

“This is a great result and has been vital in helping tenants stay in their homes, while also reducing and often eliminating the rental arrears for those affected by COVID-19,” Ms Archer said.

“I thank my Departmental staff for their hard work and dedication, and for providing extensive advice and support to tenants and landlords during the pandemic, and in administering the funds.”

From left, Attorney-General Elise Archer with Colony 47 Housing Solutions Practice manager Bella Fountain.

Burn Brighter This Winter

Is your chimney smoking excessively?

A smoky chimney may mean you are contributing to smoke in your community. Excessive smoke can build up and linger in the air around our homes and neighbourhoods. This may cause a nuisance for neighbours and in some cases may cause significant health problems to Tasmanians with existing conditions such as asthma. Simple tips to reduce smoke: • Always burn with a flame - don’t let your fire smoulder • After reloading, open the air control and burn your fire on high for 20 minutes, especially before going to bed • Only burn dry, seasoned wood • Ensure your flue is clean