Households get ClimateSmart

Thousands of Queenslanders are reducing their home energy consumption and their power bills by adopting ClimateSmart recommendations.

Through the Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart Home Service, householders can call in trained professionals to assess how energy is being used and how savings can be made.

A visit from the service costs $50 but householders can save on average up to $300 a year on their power bills. Go to www.climatesmarthome.com or phone 133 600.

 

Disability expert drives reform

Queensland has its first Chief Practitioner to provide advice to government and oversee major reforms in forensic disability.

Dr Jeffrey Chan has extensive behavioural expertise and experience in the care of people with disabilities with challenging behaviours and those on court-ordered treatment (forensic orders). 

Dr Chan’s appointment coincides with a range of reforms for people with an intellectual disability, but
not a mental illness, who are subject to a forensic order. At the time of going to print, the reforms were before Parliament.

 

DVD is wheelchair-user friendly 

When Sharon Boyce says her education resource kit is ‘user friendly’, the Toowoomba academic is referring to being friendly to wheelchair users.

The main resource of the kit is a DVD that explores how a person with a physical disability using a wheelchair can tackle everyday tasks.

In addition to the DVD, purchasers of the kit, Another Day in the Life of Sharon Boyce, also receive 26 laminated wall posters.

Sharon, who chairs the Darling Downs Regional Disability Council, says the $200 charge is to recover costs. The kit can be purchased online at www.discoveringdisability.com.au or by phoning Sharon
on 0417 708 945.

 

‘Go online’ signal to motorists

Drivers can now report their long term or permanent medical conditions through online forms.

“Jet’s Law”, named after a young boy who was killed in a crash involving a driver who had an epileptic seizure, requires driver licence holders to report any condition that may affect their ability to drive safely.

Jet’s Law requires drivers to report any such condition as soon as it develops or becomes apparent, rather than waiting until it is time to renew their licence.

Reporting has been made easier with online forms that can be completed by drivers or their medical practitioners.

For more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/licensing and go to medical requirements.

 

Post-disaster, awards beckon

Queenslanders are well-qualified for the 2011 Australian Safer Communities Awards for people and organisations who make their community “safer, stronger and more disaster resilient”.

The annual Australian Government awards honour individuals, community groups, private organisations and government bodies. They cover all aspects of community safety, with the focus
on emergency management.

Awards are made in seven categories, including one for projects developed or run by people under 18.

For more information visit www.ema.gov.au, call 3109 7232 or email kate.williams@dcs.qld.gov.au