August 2012
Victorian State Schools Spectacular
The Victorian State Schools Spectacular is one of the largest recurring performances in Australia. It is a professionally-staged production performed at Melbourne Park to an audience of over 10,000 people.
The Spectacular includes a cast of almost 3,000 government school students, working towards a common goal in a collaborative, competition-free environment. Its dual aim is to provide an invaluable performing arts opportunity to Victoria's government school students and to showcase the enormous talent that exists in our schools. This is manifested in a 2-3 hour scripted show that celebrates a diversity of performance mediums, including choir, dance, vocal, drama and orchestra.
To purchase tickets, simply visit Ticketek online or any Ticketek outlet and quote the code: SPECTACULAR.
VTAC Guide 2013
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) acts on behalf of participating universities, TAFE institutes and independent tertiary colleges, facilitating and coordinating the joint selection system.
The VTAC Guide 2013 is available now from newsagents and can be downloaded from the VTAC website. The Guide contains courses offered by institutions that participate in the VTAC system, information about these institutions, and general information relating to the application procedure, including key dates.
If you are intending to study in 2013, the VTAC Guide 2013 is essential reading.
Victoria's Small Business Festival
1-31 August 2012
Victoria's Small Business Festival is an annual, month-long program of events held across metropolitan and regional Victoria. This Victorian Government initiative provides inspiration, ideas and information to small business owners to help them succeed and prosper. Events cover a wide range of practical business topics such as business planning, marketing, social media, networking, financial management and much more.
The festival encourages, assists and celebrates small businesses, which play a vital role in the Victorian economy. Small businesses provide around 1.2 million jobs or 47 per cent of total private sector jobs in Victoria. It is coordinated by Business Victoria in collaboration with government agencies, industry groups, businesses and private sector organisation.
Bookings can be made online, over the phone (13 22 15) or in person. Check the booking details for each event in the events calendar or register to receive the 2012 Events Guide.
Gusto! A culinary history of Victoria
Friday 3 August 2012 - Sunday 28 April 2013
Savour the rich culinary history of Victoria in this FREE exhibition, featuring gastronomic treasures from the State Library of Victoria (SLV) collections – from the first Australian cookbook, published in 1864, to an actual World War I Army biscuit.
Gusto! explores Victoria's historic and contemporary culinary landscape, covering subjects such as the history of viticulture, Indigenous foods, sustainable food practices, fine dining and food rationing. It also features the fascinating stories of significant Victorian culinary figures. including Jacques Reymond, Rita Erlich, Guy Grossi and Stephanie Alexander.
In addition to the exhibition are a number of exciting associated events to enjoy.
Victorian Driveway Safety campaign
The call to action, Never reverse until you know where they are, is designed to help parents make sure they know where the children are safely located before they reverse in their driveway.
The campaign message, Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean I'm not here, is designed to remind parents of children under the age of 6, of how invisible a child can be behind a vehicle.
The Victorian campaign is a collaborative project led by the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, in partnership with the Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria Police, VicRoads, RACV, Transport Accident Commission, Kidsafe and the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Living Victoria Water Rebate Program extended and updated
The Victorian Government’s Living Victoria Water Rebate Program rewards Victorians for their efforts to be water conscious around the home, garden and small business by providing rebates on a range of water-efficient products and appliances.
Current rebates are available for products purchased and installed between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015.
Melbourne Day - Melbourne's 177th Birthday
30 August 2012
Melbourne Day is a day to celebrate all that makes Melbourne one of the world's greatest and most liveable cities. The city of Melbourne comes alive in August when it celebrates its 177th Birthday with a week-long program of events includes many free and discounted family-friendly events and competitions.
Schools can join the fun of Melbourne’s birthday with a history tour, group activities, art and craft competitions during Melbourne week.
On 30 August the Piazza and Promenade at Waterfront City, Docklands will host free entertainment from 10am to 2pm on the Main Stage.
Visit a participating venue on Melbourne Day and enjoy a present on Melbourne’s birthday.
Victoria Government Bookshop - Free Offer
11 August 2012 is National Bookshop Day which celebrates the importance of bookshops and their contributions to the local community, Australian literature, culture and society.
As part of our celebrations the Victorian Government Bookshop will be giving away a free copy of 150 Years Of Spring Street by Robert Murray to the first ten Information Victoria Newsletter subscribers who visit the Victorian Government Bookshop at Level 20/80 Collins Street in the month of August.
27th Melbourne Writer's Festival
23 August - 02 September 2012
Since 1986, Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) has been a cornerstone of the city's literary culture. The Festival's success – and that of the city’s writers, publishers and all those across the industry – has provided the opportunity for Melbourne’s community of readers and writers to grow and prosper. Each year, MWF invites novelists, playwrights, poets, screenwriters, journalists, songwriters, bloggers – anyone who's part of the world of words.
The Festival Program features an enormous range of literary activity including entertaining discussions, debates, readings, film screenings, interviews, literary banquets, performances, workshops and book launches, as well as a lively Schools' Program for primary and secondary students.
New training to build equal opportunity and human rights best practice
As the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 has been in force since August 2011, it is time to update your equal opportunity practice. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission now has a range of workshops available in 2012 to help you understand your equal opportunity and human rights obligations and move towards best practice.
The Commission can meet all your training needs, with free and cost-effective workshops scheduled in Carton, metropolitan areas and regional Victoria. Targeted workshops are offered for employers, union delegates, government employees and advocates, and training can be customised for delivery at your workplace. View the July-December 2012 training calendar or phone 03 9032 3415 for more information.
New laws protect Victorians in supported residential services
New laws governing the operation of Victoria’s supported residential services (SRS) are now in force to provide better protection for residents. The new laws, which commenced on 1 July, fall under the Supported Residential Services (Private Proprietors) Act 2010 and are designed to protect the safety, wellbeing and rights of vulnerable Victorians living in SRS. The accommodation and support standards have been developed to ensure that support services are tailored to meet the individual needs of residents.
The laws provide stronger enforcement and monitoring powers, as well as more powers to act where there is a pattern of poor regulatory compliance. Residents will benefit from new financial protections, including the new requirement to set up a trust account for residents and new limits on the type and amount of up-front payments that can be charged. New statutory occupancy rights will also reduce the risk of residents being unfairly made to leave.
New Publications
General Publications
A Field Guide to Victorian Wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes: for the Index of Wetland Condition
by Department of Sustainability and the Environment @ $55.00
The Unwanted Aussie: Autobiography of Matt Harris
by Matt Harris @ $20.50
I Succeeded Once: The Aboriginal Protectorate on the Mornington Peninsula, 1839-1840
by Fels, Hansen Marie @ $29.95
Melbourne: A Love Affair
by Irwin, Matt @ $89.95
The Good Schools Guide Victoria 2013
by Hobson's Guides @ $14.95
Local Histories
A Short History of the Nepean Peninsula: Sorrento and Portsea
by Cotter, Richard @ $25.00
New Legislation
New Acts
| A36.12 | Appropriation (2012/2013) Act 2012 | $8.00 |
| A37.12 | Appropriation (Parliament 2012/2013) Act 2012 | $3.90 |
| A38.12 | Duties Amendment (Landholder) Act 2012 | $12.60 |
| A39.12 | Education Legislation Amendment (VET Sector, Universities and Other Matters) Act 2012 | $12.60 |
| A40.12 | Health (Commonwealth State Funding Arrangements) Act 2012 | $5.85 |
| A41.12 | Local Government (Brimbank City Council) Amendment Act 2012 | $7.80 |
| A42.12 | State Taxation Acts Amendment Act 2012 | $7.80 |
| A43.12 | Statute Law Revision Act 2012 | $7.80 |
| A44.12 | Wills Amendment (International Wills) Act 2012 | $7.80 |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A65.97 | Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 Reprint 4 | $19.25 |
| A10097 | Credit Act 1984 Reprint 5 | $23.60 |
| A53.96 | Children's Services Act 1996 Reprint 3 | $16.25 |
| A91.09 | Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Act 2009 Reprint 1 | $19.25 |
| A56.04 | Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 Reprint 4 | $30.10 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| S53.09 | Children's Services Regulations 2009 Reprint 1 | $19.25 |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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A Field Guide to Victorian Wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes: for the Index of Wetland Condition
A Field Guide to Victorian Wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes has been produced by the Department of Sustainability and the Environment as a resource for natural resource managers and planners, particularly those assessing wetland vegetation as part of the Victorian Index of Wetland Condition (IWC).
The Winter Energy Concession on gas provides concession card holders with a discount of 17.5 per cent off mains gas bills from 1 May to 31 October of each year. From 1 July 2012 the concession will not apply to the first $62.40 of a concession cardholder's winter gas bill.
Business.vic.gov.au web portal helps to make compliance easier, solve problems and improve skills to assist business to grow.
Celebrate and experience the New Hamer Hall: Australia's most exciting arts destination with state of the art acoustics and exhilarating public spaces. An extraordinary opening season of events are now showing through to October.
Lilydale
Lilydale is located on Melbourne's eastern fringe at the northern end of the Dandenong Ranges. It is the main gateway to the rich wine and fruit growing areas of the Yarra Valley at nearby Yarra Glen and Healesville.
Along shady tree-lined Castella Street are some of Lilydale's oldest buildings and historic sites, including Lilydale's old Shire Offices (built in 1889), the Court House (1876) and the Athenaeum (1888) which now serves as a theatre. The award-winning Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is a stunning architectural blend of the historic Shire Offices and an innovative modern extension.
The 28-hectare Lilydale Lake is surrounded by parkland and wetlands. A lookout at the northern end of the lake provides panoramic views across the water to Mt Dandenong and the surrounding Dandenong Ranges.
The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is a walking, cycling and horseriding trail following a disused railway line through the Yarra Valley from the Lilydale railway station through bushland, farmland and fern gullies to the township of Warburton.
If you would like to see your town mentioned in the Region Focus - send us an email.
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