Dr Seuss Picnic: Grab your tickets today

It’s fun to have fun but you have to know how! The young and young at heart are invited to join us for a morning of wacky fun in the park at our Dr Seuss themed picnic. Get into the spirit and come dressed as your favourite Dr Seuss character. We have lots of fun activities planned for all ages.

BYO rug and pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawns. We will provide some light snacks, cordial and water but you will need to BYO coffee

Deployment: Embracing the Challenge webinar series

DCO has recently launched a webinar series, ‘Deployment: Embracing the Challenge’, which aims to provide easily accessible support and information to families with a loved one who is deployed. Importantly, it’s also a chance to ask questions.

The next webinar is on the 30th of July at 2000 AEST and is aimed at helping families adjust to deployment.

Over the coming months there will be a number of webinars, with each targeting a different aspect of the deployment experience. For future webinars, follow DCO on social media for up-to-date information and links to get tickets for upcoming webinars in the series. Free webinar tickets are available through Eventbrite with links available from the ‘events tab’ on the DCO website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Forcenet.

Depending on your individual circumstances, there’s also a range of practical and emotional support available before, during and after deployment, such as:

• Immediate 24/7 support from our DCO Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608
• Brief intervention counselling from our regionally based social workers
• Referral to community and longer-term supports
• Absence from home support calls
• Crisis and emergency support
• And online resources and support packs like the Absence Support Booklet, Family Care Plan & Helping Kids Cope with a Parent’s Absence from Home factsheet

Check out DCO’s website for further information and to view the full range of services available, www.defence.gov.au/DCO

If you would like to access any of the services that DCO has to offer, the Defence Family Helpline is your first point of call for support and information, and can connect you to your local DCO team - such as to a Defence Social Worker, Family Liaison Officer or to one of our Education Liaison Officers.

The Helpline is available 24-7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists. You can contact the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608 or by email, defencefamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au

FREE training: Certificate II in Community Pharmacy

The Community Work Skills – Fundamentals of Community Pharmacy program is a unique program providing jobseekers with the opportunity to gain formal training and work ready skills to become a pharmacy assistant.  As part of the program, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch will deliver SIR20116 Certificate II in Community Pharmacy training to eligible Queenslanders in the Townsville region. This program is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative. Click here to learn more about the initiative.

The training is delivered full time face to face with a combination of classroom and practical learning. As part of the seven week program, participants are required to complete ten days of unpaid vocational placement, preparing them for the workplace and life as a pharmacy assistant.

 To be eligible for this government subsidised program, applicants must be:

• Aged 16 years or older
• Finished secondary school or have left school
•  An Australian citizen or permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant) living in Queensland,
• A New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Queensland,
• A temporary visa holder living in Queensland with the necessary visa & work permits on the pathway to permanent residency
• Presently not undertaking, enrolled or deferred from study in another course of study e.g. university or vocational training
• Currently not employed by a government department, government agency or local council
• Not in receipt of Australian Government services e.g. Centrelink and/or have accessed Government employment support e.g. Jobactive or DES providers) for more than 6 months and remain unemployed*

Course details

Course dates: 31st August 2020 – 16th October 2020

Venue: Seagulls Resort, 74 The Esplanade, Belgian Gardens Townsville 4810.

Duration: 7 weeks (including 10 days placement)

Times: Monday – Friday 9am – 4.00pm

Please note – this course is face to face delivery and is unavailable online.

To apply, please complete and submit the expression of interest form and one of our friendly staff members will contact you to determine eligibility.

Defence Family Helpline

For advice, support or local community information, contact our all-hours Defence Family Helpline. Run by the Defence Community Organisation, the Helpline is the best way to access the programs and services that we offer to help Defence families manage the military way of life.

The helpline is available 24-7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists.