Schools in Bonner have one week left to apply for funding through the Coalition Government’s Local School Community Fund to support small-scale projects.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said schools could apply for grants of up to $20,000 for school projects that benefit their students’ learning experience.

“Projects could be anything from upgrading playground and sporting equipment, to library resources, new computers and mental health and counselling services,” Mr Vasta said.

“My electorate has been allocated $200,000 in grant funding for projects and I urge all schools across Bonner to submit an application for funding though the Local School Community Fund.

“I want to see applications from every school across Bonner seeking funding for projects that will help their students and the local school community.”

The Local Schools Community Fund is open to eligible state, Catholic and Independent schools.

Schools may submit one application for up to $20,000 funding for each of their campuses.

Applications close at 5pm AEST on September 30, 2019 and projects must be completed by the end of 2020.

Schools can apply for the Coalition Government program through SchoolsHUB – https://schools.education.gov.au/.

Local businesses can now nominate for the 2020 Prime Minister Veterans’ Employment Awards which highlights the contributions made by veterans in the civilian workforce and the businesses that support them.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the awards were a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate businesses of all sizes who employ or support veterans of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

“This is a chance to be recognised as an industry leader in supporting veteran employment by nominating for these prestigious Awards,” Mr Vasta said.

Every year over 5,500 people leave the Australian Defence Force, and the Government’s aim is to ensure every person is able to transition into civilian life in towns across Australia effectively and find meaningful employment by business that support them.

Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the awards, now in the third year, were an opportunity to recognise and celebrate veterans, their entrepreneurial nature, and businesses from across Australia who employs ADF veterans and their families.

“We invest heavily in training our ADF personnel, providing them with qualities and capabilities that are valued by civilian employers — leadership, teamwork, and a strong sense of mission and purpose are all qualities employers can expect,” Mr Chester said.

“The extensive range of skills, abilities, behaviours and attributes veterans gain makes them an asset to any workplace.”

Information on the awards can be found on the new Veterans’ Employment website.

Nominations for the awards are now open online and will close on October 22, 2019 with finalists announced in early 2020.

An increased number of Australians are attending General Practitioner (GP) appointments without reaching into their pockets, with GP bulk billing rates in Queensland under Medicare hitting a record high of 86 per cent for the full year of 2018-19.

Since 2012-13, GP bulk billing rates in Queensland have increased by over four percent from 81.6 per cent, proving Medicare is stronger than ever before under this Government.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the new GP bulk billing figures were “evidence more Queenslanders are visiting their doctor without having to pay a cent.”

“Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, founded on Medicare,”Mr Vasta said.

“These figures show Medicare, under the Morrison Government is supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever.”

Nationally, a GP bulk billing rate of 86.2 per cent saw a four percentage point increase on the 2012-13 figure with a total cost of all Medicare services in 2018-19 of $24.1 billion which is an increase of 3.5 per cent in benefits paid.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said the figures showed Medicare was “supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever before.”

“By increasing our investment in Medicare, the Morrison Government is ensuring it supports quality health care,” Minister Hunt said.

On 1 July this year, the Government increased the patient rebate for further GP items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Specialist procedures, allied health services and other GP services such as mental health and after hour’s services, were indexed.

The Medicare Benefits Schedule Review will ensure Medicare services are effective and appropriate for patients now and into the future.

Time is running out for schools in Bonner to access funding for new computers, sporting equipment or refurbishments with applications for the Coalition Government’s Local School Community Fund closing soon.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said there was less than one month to go for schools to apply for funding through the $30.2 million Local School Community Fund.

“My electorate of Bonner has been allocated $200,000 in grant funding for projects at local schools,” Mr Vasta said.

“Local schools can apply for grants between $1000 and $20,000 for school projects.

“These projects can be anything that benefit the school community, from installing solar panels, kits for robotics, hydration stations, outdoor play equipment, wellbeing programs or composting and colour coded waste bins as an example.”

Mr Vasta said schools should think about the best way the funding could help their students and school and submit an application before it closed.

Applications to the Local Schools Community Fund are open to eligible government, Catholic and independent schools until 5pm, September 30 2019.

Each proposed project will be independently evaluated by a committee appointed by the Member for Bonner.

Schools can apply through SchoolsHUB – www.schools.education.gov.au/

Bonner local business, Skyborne Technologies has been awarded $462,690 by the Morrison Governments Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant to make their mark in Australia’s Defence industry through the development of their armoured drone- Cereberus.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta says Skyborne Technologies unique combination of Artificial Intelligence and lightweight weaponised drone engineering is the way of Australia’s defence future.

“The Cereberus provides air force level support that does pin-point precision strikes that reduce collateral damage,” Mr Vasta said.

“Combined with artificial intelligence, the Cereberus closes the margin of error to help defence drone operators make accurate decisions under pressure in the line of duty.

“The incredible forward-thinking by the Skyborne Technologies team is bound to have a significant impact on Australia’s defence industry and on the world stage.”

The grant will help Skyborne Technologies further their research into artificial intelligence for strategic targeting planning as well as the development of lightweight unmanned aerial drones engineered for warfare.

“The Morrison government wants to use Australian businesses like Skyborne Technologies to help build up a robust and resilient defence industry that will also contribute to driving economic growth and employment opportunities.”

The next round of the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants program close on 1 October 2019. Applications can be submitted through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability website at www.business.gov.au/cdic

Support is growing for a community garden and food waste recycling space on the vacant block in front of Woolworths Central in Wynnum.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP was joined by Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans MP on Monday (August 19) to tour the proposed site on Charlotte Street.

“This fantastic idea is being headed up by Wynnum Business General Manager David Bateson and Coffee Club Wynnum owner Kathryn Shepherd,” Mr Vasta said.

“Their proposal is to convert the Wynnum Central Park into a community garden, establish food waste recycling for food outlets, and relocate a hot composting machine to the site which is currently sitting unused.”

Mr Vasta said the project aimed to reduce food waste going to landfill, activate an unused space in the centre of town and position Wynnum at the forefront of ‘reduce reuse recycle’ initiatives nationally.

“I’m looking forward to supporting this project going forward and if we can get every level of government on board it will be a fantastic community initiative,” Mr Vasta said.

“The more we can do to reduce our food waste and encourage sustainable activity, the better off our local environment will be.”

The Morrison Government is investing more than $22 million in a new program to support local environmental projects, giving communities in Bonner new opportunities to protect and care for our natural environment.

Under the government’s Communities Environment Program, each electorate will be provided with up to $150,000 to fund up to 20 local projects, with grants ranging from $2500 to $20,000 per project.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Communities Environment Program would empower local community groups to deliver practical improvements to the local environment.

“Community groups in Bonner are already delivering fantastic projects, whether it’s planting trees, cleaning up local waterways, reducing litter or protecting native species,” Mr Vasta said.

“This investment of more than $22 million will help these groups to make our local region cleaner and greener for future generations.”

A broad range of organisations are eligible for nomination, including community clubs, not-for-profit organisations, landcare groups and schools.

More information is available at www.business.gov.au/cep.

‘Destination Moon’ is the theme of this year’s National Science Week and the students at Wynnum West State School were getting into the spirit with their creative moonscape maze.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP visited the school on Monday where year five students were using iPads to drive sphero robots around a moonscape maze.

“The sphero robots were purchased thanks to a federal government science grant and is an important part of the school’s STEM program,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s incredible to see the enthusiasm for science with students using robotic technology and learning how to code.”

Mr Vasta said National Science Week was a great opportunity to celebrate the social and economic impact of science on our nation.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of science, research and innovation, which are key drivers of the Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s particularly important that we inspire kids to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and I’m pleased our government is helping schools achieve this.

“Many of the jobs of the future will require STEM skills and it’s crucial we have students embracing these subjects through primary and secondary schooling.”

For more information visit www.scienceweek.net.au

The generosity of the community resulted in more than 30 blankets being donated to Rosie’s and Mt Gravatt Community Centre as part of the Bonner Blanket Drive during Homelessness Week.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP and Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services Luke Howarth MP visited a number of community organisations on Friday (August 9) to thank volunteers for supporting those doing it tough.

“I would like to thank everyone who dropped new and cleaned pre-loved blankets into my office so we could pass them on to community groups that support people in need,” Mr Vasta said.

“Homelessness Week is about raising awareness of people experiencing homelessness and it was great to take Mr Howarth to a number of local organisations dedicated to helping people who have found themselves without a safe and secure home.”

Mr Vasta said winter was an extremely hard time for people who did not have a safe place to sleep, and the Bonner Blanket Drive was just one way he could help support the community organisations that do so much.

“There’s always more that we can do as a community to help our vulnerable, but even the smallest act of selflessness can make a tremendous difference to someone’s life,” Mr Vasta said.

Homelessness Week is on from August 4 to 10. For more information visit www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au

Bonner company Foxo Technology Pty Ltd headed up by local entrepreneur Luke Fletcher has received a $603,000 grant under the Morrison Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme – Accelerating Commercialisation.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Entrepreneurs’ Programme was a flagship program aimed at supporting business growth, innovation and commercialisation.

“This grant will help Foxo commercialise its innovative new project – Foxo – a secure communication and collaboration platform for health professionals,” Mr Vasta said.

“Foxo is a real-time messaging platform that will enable a seamless and secure exchange of clinical information between health professionals using smartphones or desktop.

“This innovative platform will help improve communication, reduce medical errors and overall better patient care.”

Mr Vasta said the grant would support Foxo commercialise through the development of enterprise features, sales and an international marketing strategy.

“We have some amazing people in our community coming up with new and innovative ideas, and to be able to support their business and help take it to the next level makes all the difference,” Mr Vasta said.

“We want to see businesses succeed and I am so pleased our government is supporting Luke and the company Foxo.”