Grants for projects supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families are now available, with the latest round of Veteran and Community Grants (V&CG) program now open.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the health and wellbeing of the veteran community was an ongoing priority for the Federal Government and the V&CG program was a way of supporting ex-service organisations (ESOs) and community organisations in providing local solutions.

“Veteran and Community Grants are for activities and services that improve the health and wellbeing of members of the veteran community,” Mr Vasta said.

“Grants can provide seed funding for projects that promote a healthy lifestyle, help veterans to remain living independently in their own homes, reduce social isolation, support carers and improve access to community services.

“Our local ESOs know best what will benefit veterans and their families and these grants will provide opportunities to community organisations to extend the important support they provide to veterans and their families.”

ESOs and community organisation partners are invited to apply for grants of up to $20,000 for local, community-based projects and activities.

A small number of large grants of up to $150,000 are available for projects that deliver wellbeing support services and activities of broad-scale benefit to the veteran community.

The 2020-21 grant round is now open online and follows the successful Veterans’ Health Week where social connection amidst the coronavirus pandemic was the theme and key focus of events.

“2020 has been a tough year for so many, and this year maintaining social connections has been more important than ever when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage any local ESO or community organisation with ideas for practical projects and activities that support safe environments for veterans and their families to connect and engage to consider making an application.”

Grant applications will close 29 January 2021.

For information about how to apply see the Community Grants Hub website: www.communitygrants.gov.au.

Assistance with grant application queries is also available by phone: 1800 020 283 or by email: support@communitygrants.gov.au.

To receive an email alert when veteran and other community grants are open for applications on the Hub, visit www.communitygrants.gov.au.

Local organisations in Bonner with research project ideas that encourage the community to get involved are invited to apply for a Citizen Science Grant.

Grants of between $150,000 and $500,000 are available to support projects encouraging community participation in four key research areas: disaster resilience and preparedness, environmental change, cyber security and artificial intelligence, and food and agribusiness.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the grants not only provide exciting opportunities for the organisations but also enable members of the community to get involved and participate in discoveries which could have an impact across the country.

“Citizen Science grants are all about coming up with innovative solutions to some of our biggest national challenges,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage organisations across my electorate to put their research project ideas forward for grants.”

Citizen Science Grants are part of the Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Programme, which encourages community participation in science and technology, with $4 million available over four years.

Applications for Round 2 are open until 17 December. For more information visit https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/citizen-science-grants

The Bonner community will stand in silent reflection and remembrance of the sacrifice of our fallen man and women who gave their lives in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations this Remembrance Day.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said for more than a century Australians had paused at 11am on 11 November to acknowledge our fallen service men and women.

“Remembrance Day is one of the most important days of our year as it represents a time where Australians can stand together with our service personnel and veterans to remember those who have lost their lives in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping,” Mr Vasta said.

“Originally known as Armistice Day, this day was in commemoration of the moment the guns of the Western Front fell silent on 11 November 1918 at 11 am.

“Just over 20 years later, Australia joined the Second World War, during which more than 39,000 Australians gave their lives. It was after the wars ended that 11 November became known as Remembrance Day.”

Tragically, over a century of service in wars, conflicts or peacekeeping operations, more than 102,000 Australian men and women have now made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

This Remembrance Day wear a red poppy to show they will never be forgotten.

Mr Vasta said on Remembrance Day we remember all our fallen service personnel and the sacrifices they have made, including the many locals who have served.

“It is incredibly important to continue the tradition of pausing in remembrance and respect of our fallen defence personnel, now and into the future,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage all members of the Bonner community to mark this day in a solemn and dignified manner by partaking in the minutes silence, or attending one of the local services.”

Remembrance Day Services in Bonner include:

Bayside National Servicemen’s Association7am – Darling Point Memorial, Manly.  

Holland Park/ Mt Gravatt RSL sub-branch 10.15am – Memorial Hall – 58 Arnold St, Holland Park

Wynnum RSL sub-branch10.30am – Pandanus Room of Wynnum RSL – 174 Tingal Rd, Wynnum

Manly Lota RSL sub-branch10.30am – Richard Russell Park, Manly 

This Remembrance Day, wear a red poppy in remembrance of our fallen.Along with the red poppy, the veteran community are encouraged to wear their Veteran Lapel Pin or Reservist Lapel Pin, provided as part of the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, as a way to readily identify service to our nation through the defence force.

Australians are encouraged to share their personal commemorations on social media by using the #RemembranceDay. For more information about Remembrance Day, visit the Anzac Portal.

Students in Bonner can have their say on the issues important to them by taking part in the 2021 Bonner Youth Advisory Council (BYAC).

Launched in 2020, BYAC invites each high school in the electorate to select students to take part in the program, which provides young people the opportunity to meet with Mr Vasta and other community leaders.

“BYAC participants can be chosen by their school or they can self-nominate for the chance to be the youth voice of their peers,” Mr Vasta said.

“These are the future leaders of our country and we want to share and learn about the issues important to them.”

Mr Vasta said it was also a great opportunity for young people to learn about the role government’s play in their local community.

“The more they understand how the levels of government work and who is responsible for what, it provides them a clearer path on how to get involved, give feedback and influence change on the matters they care about,” Mr Vasta said.

“If you would like to be part of the 2021 BYAC, you can be nominated through your local high school or contact my office.”

Mr Vasta said BYAC members would have the opportunity to meet with different Members of Parliament and other community leaders to learn about the role they play, and share their feedback on important matters.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to have a voice and influence change,” Mr Vasta said.

Young people aged 15 – 17 can nominate for the BYAC by emailing ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au

Australians in Eight Mile Plains are set to be part of the first 100,000 premises to benefit from higher internet speeds as a result of NBN Co’s $4.5 billion new network investment plan.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said NBN Co had commenced work with construction delivery partners to design and construct local fibre networks passing at the street level around 100,000 premises in areas currently serviced by Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology.

“NBN Co has included Eight Mile Plains as part of the initial roll out as the company anticipates strong demand for faster internet in the area, and NBN Co has established construction and delivery partners that are well resourced and ready to work,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The initial footprint represents only 5 per cent of the FTTN upgrade program, and NBN Co will continue to design and deploy new local fibre networks to pass 2 million premises over the next three years.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said as well as the benefits faster internet could provide, this investment by NBN Co would deliver a much needed boost to economic activity and employment in the region.

“The commencement of these works by NBN Co will create jobs for the Bonner community and support local businesses by allowing them to take advantage of the benefits that faster internet can provide,” Mr Vasta said.

“Households and businesses in Eight Mile Plains will be able to access NBN Co’s fastest internet plans of up to 1 gigabit per second, with the fibre lead-ins connecting premises to the new local fibre network only built when a customer orders an eligible service.”

NBN Co will work closely with internet retailers over the coming months to define the process by which eligible customers can express their interest in ordering a higher speed broadband service and acquiring a fibre lead-in to their premises.

The annual Bonner Senior’s Expo has gone online for 2020, with the Virtual Bonner Senior’s Expo now live.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said every year he loved putting on the Bonner Senior’s Expo to meet with constituents and put on a fun and informative day.

“Unfortunately, with the coronavirus pandemic, it was important we didn’t put vulnerable people at risk with large gatherings, so for 2020 we’ve put together this Virtual Senior’s Expo,” Mr Vasta said.

“Last year’s Seniors Expo was a huge success despite my being in New York at the UN General Assembly.

“We had more than 500 people through the door with a range of exhibitors and fantastic guest speakers at the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club, who always provide great hospitality.”

Mr Vasta said the Virtual Bonner Senior’s Expo was live on his website where attendees could access links to all the stallholders.

“We still have some great raffle prizes donated by our generous sponsors, so head to my website where Bonner’s Seniors can explore all the local services to support them and enter the raffle draw,” Mr Vasta said.

“From local community groups to aged care support services, there’s plenty to check out online.

“I hope next year we will be able to come together again for the Bonner Seniors’ Expo to enjoy hearing from our guest speakers, have a chat and have a delicious morning tea, but for now, this is a great way to stay connected and also keep everyone safe.”

For more information or to visit the 2020 Virtual Bonner Senior’s Expo, visit www.rossvasta.com.au/community/2020-bonner-seniors-expo/

VETERANS and their families in Bonner can get socially connected this Veterans’ Health Week, with local events running from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1 2020.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said almost 400 events across Australia would be run by ex-service organisations and other local veterans’ groups, both in person and virtually, to support their veteran community with creative social activities within their local restrictions.

“There’s a number of local happening in Brisbane and surrounding regions and I encourage our local veteran community to join in and help raise awareness of staying socially connected,” Mr Vasta said.

“Practicing social connection, not just in Veterans’ Health Week, is a great way to embed healthy habits into our weekly routines to help improve our overall mental health and wellbeing.

“Manly-Lota RSL sub-branch will be hosting a BBQ meet and greet this Sunday from 10am-3pm and it’s open to all veterans and their families.

“I commend all of the ex-service organisations and other veteran groups in our community who have organised events for Veterans’ Health Week this year.”

Veterans’ Health Week events being hosted around Australia over the next couple of weeks include physical activity challenges, mental health activities, workshops, skill building opportunities, a record number of online virtual events and lots of chances to make new connections and renew old ones.

For more information on attending a Veterans’ Health Week event, visit the Veterans’ Health Week page on the DVA website.

You can also call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or email vhw@dva.gov.au.

Attendees and event organisers must be aware of local state or territory coronavirus restrictions in place and ensure their event is following all coronavirus guidelines.

A full list of events in  can be found on the DVA website.

Manly-Lota RSL sub-branch is located at 184 Melville Tce, Manly

From 1 November the Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over the next four years to provide greater access to life saving medicines for Australians living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and various forms of cancer.

MS is the most commonly acquired neurological disease in younger adults with over 25,600 Australians living with MS and over 2.3 million people affected globally.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP said the average age of diagnosis was only 30 and around 75 per cent of those affected with MS in Australia were female.

“There is a high clinical need for effective treatments for patients with progressive forms of relapse onset multiple sclerosis,” Minister Hunt said.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said Mayzent® (siponimod) would be listed on the PBS for the first time to treat those patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

“Without PBS subsidy, these patients would pay more than $25,000 per year for treatment with approximately 800 patients benefiting from this listing each year,” Mr Vasta said.

“The PBS subsidy now means patients will only need to pay $41 per prescription, or $6.60 with a concession card.”

In addition to this listing, Australians diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma which affects the skin will receive subsidised access to a new medication and specialised treatment from 1 November 2020, through an investment of over $11.5 million.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin and causes an accumulation of malignant T-cells in the skin, resulting in raised, rash-like or itchy patches of skin, skin lumps or ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.

Mr Vasta said Uvadex® (methoxsalen) would be listed on the PBS for the first time for treatment of patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have not responded to other treatments.

“Around 75 patients per year may benefit from this listing and without this PBS subsidy, these Australians would pay more than $3400 per year,” Mr Vasta said.

Other PBS listings from 1 November ­– announced in the Budget 2020-21 – include the expanded listing of:

• Tecentriq® and Avastin® (atezolizumab and bevacizumab) for use in combination to treat patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer. An average of 500 patients per year may benefit from this. They would normally pay up to $170,000 for a course of treatment without PBS subsidy;
• Lynparza® (olaparib) for the treatment of newly diagnosed advanced high grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers. An average of 300 patients per year may benefit from this listing and would normally pay around $140,500 per course of treatment for this medicine.

These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved over 2,450 new or amended listings on the PBS.

This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $11.8 billion.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Bonner’s local Men’s Sheds can now apply for funding as part of the latest round of the National Men’s Shed Development Program (NSDP), with priority given on applications with a strong focus on health, wellbeing and safety.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said in acknowledgement of the impact COVID-19 has had on the community, the grants would be used to help local Men’s Shed groups during their recovery and help facilitate increased connectivity amongst shedders.

“I strongly encourage the Men’s Shed groups in Bonner to apply for this grant to support the great work they already do,” Mr Vasta said.

“Now more than ever, Men’s Sheds offer men a critical avenue for social support and engagement. They have become a focal point for the Bonner community and encourage men to stay healthy, socialise and do regular activities in good company.

“This funding can help our Sheds deliver programs with a strong health, wellbeing or safety focus and I urge all local Sheds to apply.”

Men’s Sheds can apply for financial support across the following funding categories:

• Category 1: Health, Wellbeing, and Events $8,000 maximum
• Category 2: Shed Improvements $8,000 maximum
• Category 3: Equipment $5,000 maximum

Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP said Men’s Sheds were vital in providing a safe space for men to talk and work on meaningful projects.

“This new funding round will provide financial support to assist in both setting up and maintaining Men’s Sheds across Australia,” Minister Hunt said

Since 2013, the Coalition Government has provided $5.4 million to support Men’s Sheds across Australia.

Applications for the current funding round close Friday 27 November. For more information, visit https://mensshed.org

The Morrison Government’s Job-ready Graduates legislation has passed the Senate which means from next year there will be more university places, and study subjects in areas of expected job growth will now be cheaper.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said for year 12 students currently completing their final exams, it was positive news to know they had more opportunities with more university spaces available to continue their education.

“This legislation will create up to 30,000 additional university laces for Australian students next year, when combined with the 12,000 places announced in the 2020 Budget,” Mr Vasta said.

“People wanting to undertake further study can also take advantage of the extra 50,000 short course places in 2021, to learn new skills in national priority areas like mental health, engineering and mathematics.

“In the Budget the Morrison Government announced a $51 billion investment in education, including $550.3 million for additional university places and short courses.”

Mr Vasta said because of that investment, more Australians would get the opportunity to study for a university degree and more Australians would benefit from cheaper fees in areas of expected job demand.

“Australia’s economic recovery will be built on our strengths, and that includes a highly skilled workforce,” Mr Vasta said.

“Our plan will also establish a $900 million National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund to better align the university sector, with local businesses to encourage job placements, formal research partnerships and advanced apprenticeships and internships.

“To support women in STEM, our Government is providing $22.1 million for universities and employers to provide advanced qualifications and industry cadetships for women in science, technology, engineering and maths.

“Getting on-the-job training as part of a degree is invaluable and leads to better job outcomes after university.”