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Canberra Attractions
The essence of Australia’s culture, history and way of life is reflected in the national museums, galleries and institutions in Canberra.
These national icons hold and share the treasures of our nation, offering an intriguing insight into Australian character and democracy, and our journey from an Indigenous continent to a modern nation.
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Family Relationship Advice Line
Helping Families Build Better Relationships
The Australian Government has established the Family Relationship Advice Line to assist people affected by family relationship or separation issues.
The Family Relationship Advice Line provides free information, advice and referral:
Information - to help maintain healthy relationships or deal with family separation issues including information about the Family Law System and changes to the law;
Advice - to help develop and manage parenting arrangements after family separation, including advice on resolving disputes with going to court;
Referrals - to local, State and National services that can provide specialist help with relationship and family separation issues.
Call the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321
between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 10am – 4pm on Saturdays (except on National Public Holidays)
The Family Relationship Advice Line is an Australian Government Initiative !
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ACTSmart Public Event Recycling Program
This Program is designed to help event organisers and patrons to implement recycling at a public event. Event organisers are provided with a best practice guide, bin covers, signage/stickers, education and support to achieve a reduction in waste to landfill whilst increasing materials recovered for recycling.
Canberran’s are Australia’s top recyclers at home, and they expect the opportunity to recycle at public events. Many events produce significant amounts of material, some of which is waste, but mostly consists of potentially recyclable material including paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics and organics. The ACTSmart Public Event logo provides customer recognition of your waste management achievements.
The ACTSmart Public Event program is available to any event in the ACT, and a 12 month trial has commenced. These events can range from small to large, such as a school fete, festivals, fairs, shows or sporting events – any community-based event.
Reducing the amount of waste your event sends to landfill can have direct benefits for the event, staff and the bottom line. Here are some of the advantages:
• can reduce costs – sending waste to a recycling centre is 50% cheaper than tipping at the landfill
• reduces impacts on the environment which is very important to the public
• advertising of the ACTSmart Public Event brand to the wider community
To participate in ACTSmart Public Event Program, you will need to meet with the Public Event Team, and sign a Memorandum Of Understanding between your event and the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD) to undertake the ACTSmart Public Event waste management process.
It costs nothing to participate, and we provide the ACTSmart Public Event Guide, bin covers, advice and other resources to help you through every step of the process.
For more information, please Email or phone Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.
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Central Line Service for Homeless People – First Point
Phone 1800 176 468
First Point is a free service that offers one call once to help connect you to the best available support if you are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.
First Point is a central intake service that takes away the stress and anxiety people feel when faced with the reality of being homeless.
People in the ACT who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can now make a free call and get help through First Point that will connect people to the housing and homelessness support services they need.
First Point helps individuals and families find the right service and support to meet their needs and will keep working with them until those needs are met. There is no judgement and no one is turned away.
First Point will find accommodation and can negotiate with other service providers to help people find food, clothing and other supports they need.
Phone 1800 176 468 to access the First Point Central Line Service for Homeless People.
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Ambulance Fees and Charges
Many people aren't aware that ambulance services cost money...
Click here to download information in relation to Ambulance Fees and Charges
For further information, please visit www.ambulance.act.gov.au
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'Links to Learning' Volunteer Literacy Program
Need help to Read and Write ?
If you, or someone you know, would like assistance with developing their literacy skills... you may refer them directly or let them know about the ‘Links to Learning’ volunteer literacy program.
The service is provided by Southside Community Services, free to any persons living in Canberra.
Trained Volunteer Literacy Tutors meet with adult learners for 1 hour per week, either at an ACT Public Library or the student’s home.
There is no set program; the lessons are focused to the student’s needs.
It's FREE... take the leap !
Phone Alison today on 6126 4717 or Email for further information or to be matched with a suitable Tutor.
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Death Cap Mushrooms
The Death Cap mushroom is a deadly poisonous introduced fungus that is responsible for 90% of all deaths related to mushroom consumption.
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The Reading Writing Hotline
1300 6555 06
A national telephone literacy referral service for adults
The Reading Writing Hotline is a national telephone adult literary referral service funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and managed by TAFE NSW - Access and General Education Curriculum Centre. Its role is to provide callers with advice and referrals to educational providers offering courses in adult English language, literacy and numeracy. Since its inception in 1994, over 117,000 adult Australians have telephoned the Hotline. Most callers who telephone the service, request a referral to one or more of the 1,100 educational providers listed on the Hotline Database.
The Hotline often receives requests from medical personnel, seeking referral information on behalf of patients who wish to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
Phone the Reading Writing Hotline on 1300 6555 06 if you or someone you know, needs help with reading and writing; for information on adult literacy courses in your local area; if you are a language, literacy or numeracy provider for adults, and would like to be included on the Database; or if you would like more information about the Reading Writing Hotline.
It's never too late to learn, and it's easier than you think !
For additional information, Email or visit www.literacyline.edu.au
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ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services
Domestic Animal Services
For information on Lost, Found and Impounded Dogs; Dog Registration; Infringements; Dog and Cat Laws; Dog Care Tips; Fees and Charges; and Domestic Animal and Animal Welfare Legislation in the ACT, please visit click here
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ACT Locate
An Internet Mapping Service for the Australian Capital Territory
Search for and locate on a map, a feature such as a property address, road, block, etc.;
Create your own customised map by selecting only the information which is important to you;
Print your map on your local printer;
Get information related to a feature, such as the address of a block, or the classification of a road;
Measure a distance, select overlapping features and more, using the advanced tools.
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Links to Children's Services in the ACT
ACT Department of Education and Training
ACT Government preschools: Services and programs
Describes the Government preschools services, programs, places and session times.
Contact the individual preschool for further details.
Office for Children, Youth and Family Support
Child and Family Centres
Child and Family Centres provide services for children and families.
At the Centres, we can assist you with information, support and services for all members of your family.
Children's Policy and Regulation
Children's Police and Regulation brings together those core areas of the ACT Government entrusted with ensuring the interests, care and protection of children in the Territory.
Services include children's services, care and protection, adoptions, foster care, etc.
ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
Children's services
List of services for children in the ACT, including Child Health Services; Child Development and Child Protection, as well as licensed children's services and early childhood centres.
ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support
Children's services
Children's Services administers ACT Government Legislation in relation to the licensing of children's services in the ACT.
Find information about Centre-based Children's Services; School Age Care; Family Day Care; Independent Preschools and Playschools.
Department of Territory and Municipal Services
Kids at Play
The Kids at Play Program includes two Kids at Play Vans, equipped with play equipment and staffed by qualified play coordinators.
On this site you will find 'Play Sheets', a schedule of where and when the 'Kids at Play' Vans will be operating, a photo gallery, etc.
ACT Health
Parenting Support Services
Through the Child Health Clinics and other services, ACT Community Health provides support for you and your newborn baby right through to your child's early years.
ACT Community Health provides information, support, advice and education for you and your family.
ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
ParentLink
ParentLink is a service designed to increase parents' confidence and skills, by supporting and linking them with a back-up network of information, ideas and community services.
Find information on parenting tips, schools as communities, community events, parenting services directory, and further links and suggested reading.
Raising Children Network
Expert, impartial information on raising children, from newborns to eight years of age, including practical tools and up-to-date information on child health, safety, nutrition, learning, parental wellbeing, family management and kids activities.
ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
Review of the Children and Young People Act 1999
Access documents relating to the review of the Act and policies relating to the care and protection of children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect, sentencing and sentence management of children and young people who have offended against the law.
ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
Therapy ACT
Therapy ACT provides a multidisciplinary therapy and support service for people with disabilities and delays in their development aged from birth to 65 years of age.
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Links to Crisis Services in the ACT
Children's Policy and Regulation
Care and protection of children and young people
Care and Protection Services is responsible for facilitating coordination across Government for the care and protection of children and young people.
Care and Protection Services include three Regional Offices, and an After Hours service, who provide a cont...
Domestic Violence Crisis Centre
Provides information and advice to all those affected by Domestic Violence.
Includes a 24 hours/7 days a week crisis service.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service and MensLine
Information about the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, offering crisis support to people affected by Domestic Violence, including a 24 hour helpline; and information about MensLine, a helpline for men troubled by violent and/or abusive behaviours and the...
Lifeline Canberra
On this Site, you can find out about the services Lifeline provides, including the 24 hour Crisis Telephone Counselling Service, and LYNX Youth Service; how to access them, and how to become involved as a Volunteer with Lifeline.
ACT Health
Mental Health ACT services directory
Provides information on the extensive range of Government and non-government bodies providing support services to those with mental health needs in the ACT region, including crisis services.
ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
Women's Information and Referral Centre
Women's Information & Referral Centre (WIRC) provides information on a wide range of Government and non-government services in the ACT and region, including Women's Services; Accommodation Services; Support Groups; Services for Families; Links to relevant websites; a Community Calendar for Women; and Information Sheets on Domestic Violence and Separation.
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Public Toilets in the ACT
Click here to find the location of Public Toilets in the ACT
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Ginninderra Catchment Group
The Ginninderra Catchment Group is an incorporated umbrella group of community volunteers working in the water catchment of the Ginninderra Creek.
The primary focus of the Group is advancing the health of the Ginninderra Catchment, through effective engagement with government, agencies, business, schools and the catchment community.
We have a strong commitment to community education and capacity building, and seek to create diverse opportunities for people to become involved in catchment management, decision-making, and on-ground action.
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Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing
Aged Care Australia Website
Aged Care Australia is the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing’s premier online source of information for everything you need to know about aged care.
Aged Care Australia provides the community with access to government and
non-government information and services. It will help the community to make informed decisions about aged care options for themselves and their family members.
Click here to go to the Aged Care Australia website
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Capital Region Area Consultative Committee (ACC)
The Capital Region ACC is part of the Australian Government’s regional development network of 56 ACCs. We work in the ACT, along with the Palerang, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley and Queanbeyan local government areas. We assist groups to apply for funding through the Regional Partnerships programme for projects that provide broad community benefits.
Web link: www.cr-acc.asn.au
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headspace: where young minds come first
headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation. The headspace mission is to deliver improvements in the mental health, social wellbeing and economic participation of young Australian’s aged 12 - 25. To this end, headspace aims to be the focal point for youth mental health issues across the country. This includes providing funding to improve services for young people who may be experiencing mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues and the latest information about these important health issues for young people.
With mental health being the single biggest health issue facing young Australians, developing services which are responsive and able to offer early treatment is essential. The current mental health system is not resourced to deal with young people who have mild to moderate mental health issues. This often means that young people do not obtain timely treatment, or they have difficulty finding a service that can respond to their needs.
Delays in obtaining a service are also caused because young people do not necessarily know the best place to seek assistance. Young people are most likely to talk to friends or family members as the first step in their help seeking journey. These key people are often also unsure how to find best possible support options for their friends or children.
As Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace is tackling the issues which stand in the way of young people’s access to accessible and appropriate health services.
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Peer Support Service
Do you have schizophrenia or bipolar and would like to talk to someone else with a mental illness about your current situation?
The Peer Support Service (PSS) is a new volunteer based program being offered to people with a mental illness by experienced, mature, trained, insightful people with the same mental illness.
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10 Simple Ways to go Green
Our planet is not feeling well. It’s choking from pollution, caused by exhaust fumes and burning of fossil fuels.
Unregulated deforestation is stripping off layers of soil, increasing the incidence of floods.
Pesticides and industrial waste get into waterways, killing marine life. Global warming is turning weather patterns against us.
We may not see the effects of environmental damage in our immediate surroundings, but the whole planet is intricately linked, and the damage is already causing problems.
The detrimental effects are felt most by the world’s poorest people.
Click here to view the 10 simple ways to go green
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Community Liaison Advisory Safety Project
The Community Liaison Advisory Safety Project (CLASP) is the response of
the Council on the Ageing (ACT) to safety and security concerns of older people in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The aim of CLASP is to identify problems, and help older people reduce safety and security risks in and around their home.
This allows them to be both safe and more secure.
As a consequence, perceived risks and fears should also decline.
The CLASP Safety Handbook is an outcome of this Project.
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Help Protect Australia from Terrorism
1800 123 400
National Security Hotline
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Are you a Victim of Crime?
A victim of crime is any person who:
suffers harm because of crime;
suffers harm assisting a police officer who is attempting to arrest a person or
prevent a crime;
witnesses a crime where a person has suffered harm; or
was dependent upon a person who has been injured or died as a result of a crime.
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ACT Human Rights Commission
Information for Indigenous People,
on Race Discrimination, and Your Rights
Have you been treated unfairly?
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The Salvation Army
Dealing with Problem Gambling
It is now estimated that there are around 300,000 problem gamblers in Australia.
It is also believed that for every one problem gambler, many others are affected – usually family, friends and employers – creating a flow that affects around two million people.
In fact, few people today are not affected in some way by the impact of problem gambling upon our society.
If you or someone you care about, has a gambling problem, you may feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to deal with it. You may even feel the problems are insurmountable. Be encouraged.
Click here to download The Salvation Army ‘Dealing with Problem Gambling’ Brochure.
The information contained in the Brochure, aims to help you identify a gambling problem in yourself or someone you know. Most importantly, it aims to show you how to get help quickly… before it’s too late.
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The Salvation Army
Dangers of Drugs
Whether you’re a teenager considering experimenting with drugs; a drug user; a concerned friend and citizen; or a worried parent, it’s vital for us all to be informed about the negative health effects of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Click here to read more about the Dangers of Drugs
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Essential Services Consumer Council
Are you facing disconnection of services, due to unpaid bills?
Phone: 6207 7740
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Welfare Rights and Legal Centre
A free community legal service for low income earners in the Australian Capital Territory and its region.
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Disability Discrimination Legal Service
The Disability Discrimination Legal Service provides advice to people with disabilities and their associates, about their legal rights, under disability discrimination law.
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Canberra Connect
Canberra Connect is an ACT Government initiative that provides information and services through three direct channels: Contact Centre, Shopfronts (including the Civic Driver Licence Service) and Online. This allows to the community to interact with the ACT Government, without the need to understand the structure and workings of the various ACT Government Departments and agencies.
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SIDS and Kids
Safe Sleeping Practices for Childcare Services
Sleeping infants and young children safely, is a responsibility for those who care for other people’s children. It is therefore important for childcare workers to ensure that children in their care are safe at all times, and that service policies and procedures reflect evidence based research.
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Canberra 100
Celebration of a Century
Reaching 100 is a great reason to celebrate. In cricket, it prompts a standing ovation. In life, expect congratulatory letters from The Queen and the Prime Minister.
For Canberra, Australia’s national capital, reaching its 100th Anniversary year, will provide a once-in-a-century opportunity, to celebrate this wonderful city, and all it represents.
A centenary year, 2013, will provide an ideal springboard to launch the ‘new Canberra’ to Australia and the world.
The Centenary could even be viewed as Canberra’s ‘coming of age’.
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*** Kidsafe ***
Child Safety Is No Accident!
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TIPS FOR CHILDREN ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
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Menslink
Valuing Young Men
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*** ParentLink ***
Just A Phone Call Away!
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Breast Screening
The BreastScreen Clinic operating from the ACT Health Building, offers free breast screening to women over 50 years who live in the ACT region.
For women in this age group, breast screening is the best way of finding cancer before it can be felt or noticed.
Early detection is the best protection.
If you are over the age of 50, and have not had a mammogram in the last two years, phone 13 20 50 for an appointment.
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Human Rights ???
Australia is the only Western country without a national Human Rights Act or equivalent.
Click here to find out what you can do about it!
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Australian Government
Emergency Management Australia
Community Safety: Severe Storms
Severe storms are very localised events, not usually affecting wide areas as tropical cyclones and floods do, so their devastating impact is often under-estimated.
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Drink Spiking… Are you at risk?
Drink Spiking is when alcohol or another drug is added to your drink, without you knowing. This results in you becoming drunk, or drug affected, unexpectedly.
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can be spiked, and it can happen at clubs, bars, and at parties.
Spiked drinks are also called a ‘mickey finn’ or being ‘slipped a mickey’.
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Canberra Community Support Website
