Young people involved in Green Army teams in Bonner are seeing the results of their hard work come to fruition after completing their on-ground projects.

“Minnippi Parklands, Wynnum North and Mansfield have seen significant benefits from this project through each team’s work restoring local habitat and undertaking activities including brush cutting, weed control and seed planting,” Mr Vasta said.

“During the past six months, Green Army participants have made a significant contribution and through their dedication and teamwork, we can see firsthand the tangible results of their activities.”

“These participants have not only generated real environment and conservation benefits for our community, but they have gained valuable practical training and experience to help them prepare for the workforce, pursue further training or improve their career opportunities.”

As the Green Army grows, so too, do the opportunities for young people around Australia to get involved.

“I encourage all those interested in helping their environment and gaining new skills and training to seek out Green Army opportunities in their region,” Mr Vasta said.

Further opportunities to join a Green Army project can be found online at www.environment.gov.au/green-army.

The Green Army is a key Government commitment with $525 million budgeted over four years.

The Programme encourages practical, hands on action to support local environment and conservation projects across Australia, providing training to 15,000 young Australians by 2018.

Further information on the Green Army is available at www.environment.gov.au/green-army.

Manly West State School and P&C invites you to our Window On the World Festival on Saturday August 15th 2015, 10:00am – 3:00pm. 

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today said the launch of the Australian Government’s ‘An invitation that could save your life’ will boost screening awareness in at risk groups. 

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Australia, however if detected early and managed nine-out-of-10 cases can be successfully treated.

Mr Vasta said all Australian women aged 50 to 74 will receive an invitation that could save their life as part of a $55.7 million initiative.

“This campaign also marked the first time Australian women aged 70 to 74 have been specifically targeted for breast screening awareness, with an additional 220,000 breast screens expected to be delivered over four years as a direct result,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage all women in Bonner aged between 50 and 74 to make a breast screening appointment as we know the more Australian women who are screened, the more cancers that are detected. It’s an invitation that could save your life.”

The additional screening delivered as a result of the campaign could potentially lead to the detection of an extra 600 breast cancers across Australia a year.

More than 1.8 million women are screened every two years and more than 75 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50. Most women who get breast cancer also have no family history.  

The ‘An invitation that could save your life’ campaign will run across print, radio and online media to make sure women who receive a breast screen invitation in the mail are aware of its importance. 

The Abbott Government’s $55 million commitment will cover the cost of the promotional campaign, as well as the cost of additional invitations and free breast screenings generated as a result.

Women aged outside of the 50 to 74 age group are encouraged to talk to their GP or health professional to find out if breast screening is appropriate for them. For further information, please visit www.australia.gov.au/breastscreen.

Treat your mother this Mothers Day to something special and also help a local community group! See flyer for full details.

St Gabriel's Carindale is holding an Autumn Bazaar on Saturday 16 May – please see flyer for full details.

Patients in Bonner are set to receive better access to frontline health services, with Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta announcing who will be running the new Primary Health Network locally.

Primary Health Networks – or PHNs – are part of the Abbott Government’s plans to improve the health of the nation and will replace Medicare Locals from July 1. 

Mr Vasta said the successful bid by Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local to become the Brisbane South Primary Health Network was good news for local residents.

“The new Primary Health Network will ensure the people of Bonner are able to access the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Mr Vasta said.

“The key difference between Primary Health Networks and Medicare Locals is that PHNs will focus on improving access to frontline services, not backroom bureaucracy as we saw under Labor.”

“This is backed by the fact PHNs will deliver improved access to primary care services for local patients, as well as better co-ordination with local hospitals, while at the same time improving the overall operational efficiency of the network by 30 per cent.”

“There’s no doubting that, individually, there were some high-quality Medicare Locals across the country; however there were also plenty that haven’t lived up to Labor’s promise.”

The nation’s 31 new Primary Health Networks will better align with state Local Hospital Networks. 

Mr Vasta said PHNs would work directly with GPs, other primary health care providers, secondary care providers, hospitals and the broader community to ensure improved outcomes for patients.

“In addition to general health, the Abbott Government had also set PHNs six key priorities for targeted work in mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population health, health workforce, eHealth and aged care,” Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta said the Abbott Government had also added additional checks and balances via the creation of PHN Community Advisory Committees, which will ensure all patients and local communities can provide feedback to, and have direct input into, the PHN to ensure they deliver the localised health care requirements that were unique to their region. 

PHNs were selected following a thorough tender process run at arm’s length by the Department of Health.

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Support the wonderful work out local Chappies do for our community. See flyer for further information.