Dear friend

I am very proud to announce the launch our new website at www.alsnswact.org.au.

Last year the ALS Board and staff agreed our website required a makeover. It needed to be more user friendly, easier to navigate, and with more information that is relevant and current. The result is a brand new website which now meets the needs of ALS staff and our community.
Some of the features on the new website include:
there is a news panel on the front page for up-to-date information on the ALS and our community;
we now have a job vacancy page;
we have a page inviting the broader community to donate to the ALS as a Public Benevolent Institution;
our office details are easily located;
our ALS history is on the site;
we have Community Legal Education resources and films on our site for viewing;
plus many more features!
The website displays photos of our wonderful staff and volunteers as we feel it is important for people using our service to know who will be assisting them.

The new website reflects who we are, our strength and our survival. I am pleased with the new website as I hope you will be when visiting www.alsnswact.org.au.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the new website, have some news you want to put on the site, or have seen something that should really not be there, please don’t hesitate to contact Kate Finlayson on 8303 6699 or 0418 254 237. All of your comments are invited and welcome!

Regards,

Gerry Moore
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE
(NSW/ACT) LIMITED

As of July 1 2011, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW) have pooled funeral assistance funding, which will now be administered by the NSWALC. Aboriginal people will now be able to make a single application for financial assistance, depending on eligibility and available funds. All applications must be approved by NSWALC in order to receive final payment. NSWALC will process all applications using the existing NSWALC application form, which may be downloaded at www.alc.org.au.

For further information, please contact the NSWALC Funeral Grants
Hotline on (02) 9689 4470 or Free-call 1800 647 487.

Funeral Grant NSWALC Claim Form [PDF]

• There are signs of increasing influenza activity in parts of NSW and elsewhere in Australia.
• Three influenza virus strains (pandemic A(H1N1), seasonal A(H3N2) and B) circulated during the northern
hemisphere winter and all three are likely to also circulate in Australia during the 2011 winter flu season.
• Influenza viruses characterized to date are well matched to the three viruses in the current vaccine.

• NSW Health Influenza update for GPs July 2011 H11_29391 BW (Download/View PDF)
• Influenza update for Obstetricians July2011 FINAL signed (Download/View PDF)

Download/View PDF [ Concerned about your health care? ]

Website: hccc.nsw.gov.au

TUESDAYS AT 3.30pm
WALGETT DISTRICT SPORTING CLUB
STARTING 14TH JUNE 2011

ANYONE WANTING TO ATTEND MUST HAVE COMPLETED PRE EXERCISE SCREENING BEFORE STARTING SO DROP INTO WAMS OR CALL 6828 1611 AND ASK FOR SARAH OR ROS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Download Flyer (PDF)

Recently, Professor Jim Bishop, in his capacity as Australia’s Chief Medical Officer wrote to all general practitioners regarding new information about rotavirus vaccination and intussusception. A copy of the letter is enclosed for your information. Read Full Communication (PDF)

NSW is currently experiencing a significant measles outbreak and I am seeking your assistance in preventing the spread of measles by checking that all children in your centre are fully vaccinated.

I would be grateful if you could undertake the following actions as soon as possible, consistent with the NSW Public Health Act 1991:

1. Ensure that your childcare centre has a system to rapidly identify children for whom an immunisation history statement has not been provided.

2. Request that parents who have not provided an immunisation history statement do so as soon as possible.

3. Inform parents about the current outbreak and advise that if they have not provided an immunisation history statement, their child may be excluded from the centre if a case of measles is detected.

Parents can obtain an immunisation history statement by contacting Medicare Australia on 1800 653 809 or by visiting their local Medicare office.

Please use the letter attached as the basis of information provided to parents.

In addition, the National Health and Medical Research Council recommends vaccination with MMR for childcare workers and preschool staff who are not immune to measles. Many adults who were born during or after 1966 will not be immune unless they have received two doses of vaccine. I recommend that you encourage your staff who may not be immune to see their GP for vaccination.

Your local public health unit contact details are available on the attached documents.

A measles fact sheet is available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/measles.html

Import Information for childcare centre directors (DOWNLOAD PDF)

Important information for parents of children at childcare (DOWNLOAD PDF)