Venue – The Newnham Hotel, 516 Newnham Road, Upper Mt Gravatt, 4122

Date & Time – Wednesday, 22nd August 2018, 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Registrations open at 6pm, with dinner served before 7:00pm. please come early to ensure you have the opportunity to network before the meeting begins.

Price – $30 for Members, $40 for Non-Members. REGISTRATIONS OPEN 18th JULY.

Email Enquiries – admin@southsidechamber.org.au

Phone Enquiries – 0414 342 087

If you require a special meal, please note this in the Special Requirements section when booking.

We look forward to seeing you! 

The Chamber’s Business Meeting is held every month and is an opportunity to meet and touch base with good friends in the Chamber and to also make some new business acquaintances. 

Local residents are warned about a number of telephone scams that are being conducted throughout Bonner and the greater Brisbane area targeting aged care facilities, retirement villages, and seniors.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said scammers are increasingly taking the opportunity to impersonate NBN Co and take advantage of consumers.

“I’ve received reports from a number of my constituents, and heard directly from NBN Co, that opportunistic criminals are calling people pretending to be NBN representatives, and that most recently they’ve been targeting retirement villages,” Mr Vasta said.

“People should know that NBN Co does not make unsolicited calls or door knock to sell broadband services.

“While NBN Co does make unsolicited calls, they do not make calls requesting for payment in relation to matters relating to medical alarms, or any other matter.”

Wynnum resident Jackie Butler said she had been disturbed by a recent call from a scammer claiming to be from NBN Co.

“They were using an automated voice and said my phone line would be cut off in 24 hours if I didn’t press button 1 for a technician,” Mrs Butler said.

“I was very upset because they were so threatening. It’s wrong and should be reported.”

Mr Vasta advised people to protect their personal information by being on guard, verifying who they are talking to, and not giving personal details or bank account details to any unsolicited callers.

Those who think they have been a victim should immediately report the scam to their bank or financial institution. People are also encouraged to report scams via the SCAMwatch report scam page.

For more information on NBN scams visit www.scamwatch.gov.au.

More child care support for more families in Bonner is here with the start of the Turnbull Government’s new child care system.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the reforms would provide much needed child care relief for local families.

“Our reforms will mean more subsidies for Bonner families working the most and for Bonner families earning the least, scrapping the annual rebate cap for most families as well as an hourly rate cap to keep downward pressure on fees,” Mr Vasta said.

“In Bonner over 7550 families are set to benefit. Many local families will be hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year better off under the Turnbull Government’s reforms. 

“Our reforms will inject an extra $2.5 billion into the system and are set to benefit almost one million families nation-wide.

“We’re also introducing an activity test to ensure subsidies are targeted to those who depend on child care in order to work, train, study or volunteer, or who are looking for work or want to work additional hours.

“This better reflects the needs of modern Australian families and their desire to base their child care around their work, rather than making their work suit their child care. It’s estimated around 230,000 families will increase their workforce participation. 
 
“These changes are key to the Turnbull Government’s plan for a stronger economy that helps guarantee the essential services that so many families rely on, such as child care and early learning support.”

If families haven’t made the switch yet, they should visit www.education.gov.au/childcare or update their details on myGov so they can start to benefit from the new system. Back payments of the new Child Care Subsidy for up to three months are available for families who are yet to make the switch.