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Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk carries an injured koala on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Half the island’s 50,000 koalas are estimated to have perished in the bushfires. Photograph: David Mariuz/AAP 

Dear OWN Members and Supporters,

At last most of us have some reprieve from the bushfires and while we take albeit a smoky breath, we have to reflect on the devastation. The 2019–20 bushfire season has burned an estimated 10.7 million hectares  – roughly the size of South Korea or Iceland -  destroyed over 5,900 buildings (including over 2,204 homes) and killed at least 27 people as of 13 January 2020 (Wikipedia)The bushfires are regarded by the NSW Rural Fire Service as the worst bushfire season in memory.

An estimated one billion animals have also been killed and some endangered species may be driven to extinction. With many wondering how to help, we have had several people bring to our attention the WIRES factsheets on knitting for possums and wildlife. We have had mixed reports on whether they are needed so please contact WIRES directly to see if they are still required. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has some good advice for looking after animals after a natural disaster and suggest the IFAW Wildlife Rescue App to see where your nearest rescue centre is.

It was good to see some photos of the bush regenerating with greenery and new shoots. It is indeed amazing what Mother Nature can do to rebuild and forge on. Dr Fensham, an Associate Professor from the University of Queensland, said on Radio ABC that our native trees, in particular our eucalyptus forests, had "superb adaptions for recovery and are prime for regeneration" (ABC Radio Brisbane by Jessica Hinchliffe).

Other suggestions on how to help relate to boosting the economies of the communities that have been directly affected. We particularly like the ‘Empty Esky’ movement. It invites you to grab an empty esky, a reusable bag, or an empty stomach and hit the road to visit a town which has been impacted by bushfires. Go to the local stores, buy things, eat at the restaurants and cafes, stay at the local accommodation, book all the fun activities on offer and ultimately have an ADVENTURE!  Follow their campaign here.

We have some suggestions further on in the newsletter for partner organisations helping in the current situation for older Australians. The Australian Government Department of Human Services can help with disaster recovery repayments and allowances. Assistance is available if you can show you have lost income or have been adversely affected as a direct result of the bushfires. You should also contact your bank or financial institution as the major banks have all now issued updates regarding their financial assistance packages for bushfire victims.


On another note, the events are coming in thick and fast for the NSW Seniors festival 2020. There is so much on offer and to book ahead for February and March. Many of the events are free. Check your local council website or scroll through our newsletter for a host of offerings.

Until the next issue of dOWNtime, stay well, and please keep safe and healthy.

The people of Kurrajong have banded together and made signs to celebrate the fire fighters. The last image is that of an orphaned koala with a vet on Kangaroo Island. 
They are there to help...
Seniors Rights Service acknowledges that many older people have been affected by the bushfire emergency. 
They recognise some home care services may have been disrupted. They are aware that some NSW residential aged care facilities have been evacuated.
For some, the fire crisis may have raised other issues, such as legal concerns. If you have aged care or legal issues, they are there to assist.

Call: 1800 424 079

Australian Council of Social Services -  ACOSS
has prepared a guide for people who need assistance with the bushfire crisis.
Click here

The Chair of the Royal Commission into the Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Honourable Gaetano Pagone QC, issued a statement on the Government decision to privatise the ACAT assessment workforce. Their media release is below.

"Public concern has been expressed about statements made by the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians that we had decided to support the privatisation of the Aged Care Assessment Teams in our Interim Report. I take this opportunity to make clear that the Interim Report did not endorse the Government’s stated position but noted that we would monitor with interest the implementation which the Government had announced. ......

It is desirable in view of the public concerns and statements which have been expressed that it is made clear that the work of Royal Commissioners is intended to be, and is, independent of Government. Our tasks as Commissioners are detailed in the terms of reference and we have not yet made recommendations about which sector or mechanism will best achieve an integration of Regional Assessment Services and the Aged Care Assessment Teams."
​​​​​​​​
OWN NSW says "NO" to the privatisation of the Aged Care assessment Teams (ACAT).

A new national disability strategy

The National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 was a plan to improve the lives of people with disability. It ends in 2020 and governments across Australia are working together to create a new strategy. Now is the chance for people to tell them what we think about the things we want to include in the new strategy.
OWN NSW would like to provide feedback to the draft of the new national disability strategy. If any OWN member would like to provide input, please contact info@ownnsw.org.au
 
Join Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow (Australian Human Rights Commission), with Brandon Bear (Manager, Policy, Strategy and Research at ACON), Dr Mary O'Sullivan (WEL NSW Executive Committee), Dr Deidre Palmer (President of the Uniting Church in Australia), and Professor Simon Rice (University of Sydney Law School) in conversation about the Bill’s potential impact and implications for human rights, and how you can comment on the Second Exposure Draft Bill.
The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and light refreshments will be served.
Click here to register.
Retired or about to? Hurry tickets going fast! It will be booked out soon!

Together with Inner West Council and NSW Health, OWN NSW invite you for a fun, thought provoking and insightful evening facilitated by Lex Marinos on what happens when RETIREMENT hits.

The lively panel discussion will feature our chair, Beverly Baker, together with Robert Webb, Cheryl Kernot, Guy Luscombe, Joanna Maxwell, and Jude Stoddart.

This Seniors Week event is free. ALL are welcome but bookings are essential.
When: 20th February 
Time: 5:30 pm - 8pm (Arrive at 5pm for light refreshments and entertainment)
Where: Palace Norton Street, 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt, NSW 2040
Bookings: Register here or ring 95198044 to book a spot.

#InHerShoes
Join over 10,000 others who have signed the petition! 
Stand with us in her shoes!

Older women are increasingly being sexually abused in residential aged care facilities, and are not being believed. Perpetrators include care staff, and other residents. OWN is working with Dr Catherine Barrett on this issue. We stand with these women and call for processes to be put in place to protect them. It's not just #MeToo, but also #SheToo.

We invite you to put yourself #InHerShoes, walk with the older women who have been sexually assaulted, and sign the petition to call on the Aged Care Royal Commission to look into this matter seriously so we can protect older women from this horror. A report has just been published that revealed there were 5,233 notifications of assaults in residential care made in the past year. Of these, 739 were sexual abuse cases.

Please sign here to support OWN NSW's Petition and share it with your friends. Watch out for our event - coming soon!
The Ageing on the Edge NSW Forum is a coalition of organisations working together towards housing justice for older people on low incomes. Based on widespread consultation with older people and the community sector in NSW, the Forum has adopted and promotes policy recommendations that are critical to addressing the needs of older people facing housing stress and homelessness. OWN NSW is currently a member of the organising team.

The Ageing on the Edge NSW Forum has called on the New South Wales Government to:

  • Provide 5,000 additional social housing dwellings in 2020-21 (as part of a long-term plan to increase social housing stock)
  • Improve access of older people to appropriate social and affordable housing by lowering the qualifying age for priority social housing to 55 years and increasing supply of social and affordable housing tailored to the needs of older people in terms of design, size and location
  • Establish a state-wide housing information and support service for older people to provide a central point of contact for older people at immediate risk of homelessness and those who wish to plan for their retirement housing futures
  • Increase security of tenure for renters
What can you do to support this initiative? Write to your NSW MP and state your support for these recommendations. 

OWN NSW will be hosting a table at the festival to advertise each of our OWN groups and what we hope to achieve as an organisation. We need you to volunteer on the stand and spread the word about the Older Women's Network. Join us at our table for a couple of hours and then you can be free to roam the festival! Contact the office today to pop your name down to help. Phone  02 9519 8044 or email info@ownnsw.org.au

The NSW Seniors Festival Expo is an annual free and fun event. It features over 60 exhibitors, live stage entertainment and plenty of games, giveaways and workshops. It has all the latest information on travel, lifestyle, health, services and more. The OWN Theatre Group will be performing, and we'll be putting on a drumming workshop.

When: 9am – 6pm Thursday 13 February 2020, 9am – 3pm Friday 14 February 2020
Where: Hall 4, Exhibition Centre at the International Convention Centre, Sydney

Read more here about the 2020 Expo and go into the draw to win a five night holiday to New Caledonia.

A new study released by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences quantifiec the impacts of climate change on the profits of Australian farmers. The study is based on a model that was designed to identify the effects of clime variability, input and output prices, and other factors on different types of farms.

The trend of decreasing average winter rainfall and general rainfall has been linked to changes associated with global warming. "We estimate that the shift in climate has cut average annual broadacre farm profits by around 22%,"  (Source: The Conversation  & ).

Overall cropping farms face greater climate risk than beef farms from the effect of drought on crop yields, with profits reduced by an average of 35%. At a national level, the cut in average profits amounts to an average loss in production of broadacre cops of around $1.1 billion a year.

Since this article was written we have been devastated by bushfires. It's time to rethink our climate policy.

Do you forget to drink enough during the day?

A study in the USA has found too little water can affect older women’s cognitive performance. ["Risks of dehydration and cognitive decline increase with advancing age."  (Bethancourt, H.J., Kenney, W.L., Almeida, D.M. et al. Cognitive performance in relation to hydration status and water intake among older adults, NHANES 2011–2014. Eur J Nutr (2019) doi:10.1007/s00394-019-02152-9)]

Make sure you fill up that water bottle and keep sipping throughout the day, especially with the current summer heat in NSW.

Free tickets still available!

The Premier’s Gala Concerts celebrate their 36th year in 2020. Produced by the NSW Government, the concerts deliver high-quality, free shows that feature Australia's best and upcoming musical theatre and recording artists.

Love will truly be in the air at the upcoming concerts, with the incredible John Paul Young as a part of the line-up.

The concerts will be held on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 February 2020. Each concert runs for 1 hour and 45 minutes including a short intermission.

We have secured some tickets for our members for Thursday 13th February at 2:45pm and Friday 14th February at 2:45pm. Contact us via email at info@ownnsw.org.au  or phone 9519 8044 to book your ticket.
Please include the following: name, phone number, address, what day you would like to attend and whether you prefer allocated floor seating (limited); and the name of your OWN group. You will be contacted by return email if you are successful.

This research project aims to determine the ambient temperatures at which menopausal women experiencing hot flashes can engage in work tasks without discomfort. If a hot flash is observed during trials, it will enable the laboratory to investigate the underlying factors that may occur prior to, or during a hot flash response. 

They are looking for volunteers. If you agree to participate, you will be required to participate in one preliminary session and three experimental sessions (total time commitment of approximately 13 hours) all performed within a climate chamber. You will be required to perform stepping exercises and in another trial, you will be seated for the duration of the trial (approximately 4 hours).

If you are between 40 and 60, and interested in assisting with this important and exciting area of research, or learning more please contact Dr Ollie Jay (+61 44 911 6760; ollie.jay@sydney.edu.au) or Mrs Sarah Carter (0409 856 972; sarah.carter@sydney.edu.au).

Did you know this road rule? This is the addictive everyday habit that could land you a $500 fine.

In NSW, motorists can receive a $448 fine and a loss of three demerit points for driving without “proper” control of the vehicle. This includes if they are caught sipping coffee behind the wheel. While there is no explicit law prohibiting motorists from eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving, an infringement notice can be issued if police find the driver is distracted while on the road. 

According to an article by  David Cronshaw in the Newcastle Herald, a woman travelling from Newcastle to Sydney in NSW was left gobsmacked when she was pulled over by police for what she thought was a strange reason – she was drinking her morning coffee while driving. 

The highway patrol officer warned the woman could receive a fine of $495 fine and lose three demerit points for sipping as it is “unsafe".  “He started telling me that it was unsafe to be drinking coffee while I was driving.”

Radio Skid Row is looking for women of colour to contribute to a new podcast series called Women of Colour in Solidarity & Struggle. There is an opportunity to be a co-producer of the podcast, and age is no barrier. They want women who are interested in media production. You will receive mentoring and training. However, the role requires time commitment and willingness to fulfill all the responsibilities of the position.  If you are interested or have questions, please send an email to Rose (Senior Producer: critical theory activist and community artist) at podcasts@skidrow.com.au OR call Del Lumanta (Project Coordinator) on (02) 9560 4254.
Women of colour are welcome, including identities that intersect culture, gender, sexuality and spiritual belief.

A pathway to employment. Now recruiting women aged 50+
for February 2020 - still a few spots left! 

Two Good's Work Work initiative is a purpose driven program for women who have experienced domestic violence or other traumatic events.  Work Work promotes self-belief, positive connections and the realisation of potential through gainful employment. 

Two Good employ women on a casual, 4-month contract in their kitchen. Working in a supportive environment, the women will be producing top quality food for corporates and refuges alike. At Two Good, they believe everyone is worthy of respect and love!  Outside the kitchen, the women will be supported to develop their resume and prepare for interviews so they are ready to land that next job. They'll continue the support for another 5-months once the women are placed in industry. 

Want to learn more? Email alex@twogood.com.au or call Alex on 0435 864 123.
The largest one day gathering and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia is held annually on 26th of January on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people in Sydney at Victoria Park.

Established in 2001, Yabun (meaning ‘music to a beat’ in Gadigal language) is a free event that features live music, a bustling stalls market, panel discussions and community forums on Aboriginal issues, children’s activities, and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural performances.

Yabun Festival welcomes everyone to honour the survival of the world’s oldest living culture. The Festival opens at 10am and closes at 7pm. Find out more here.
Radical Womyn Film Festival 2020 will screen for the first time in Sydney featuring 8 short films written and directed by women.

Come to support and celebrate talented emerging female filmmakers from all over the world! The Radical Womyn Film Festival welcomes you for an amazing night at the Dendy in the heart of Newtown. For more information on the films selected, visit the website!

Date And Time: Wed, February 5, 2020; 6:45 – 9:00PM 
Location: Dendy Cinemas Newtown; 261-263 King Street, Newtown
Get your tickets HERE!
Dementia Reframed assists family members and carers, especially those who care at home, to think and care positively and creatively through the demands that dementia makes. Dementia Reframed will be an integral part of the Southern Highlands Seniors’ Festival.

Date:12 February 2020      Where: RSL Club, Mittagong
10 am Festival launch, and launch of Dahlias for Dementia
2–3 pm Older Women's Theatre Group  performing ‘Don’t Knock Your Granny’ - DON’T MISS IT!

Dahlias for Dementia Day will be held on the 1st March at the Welby Garden Centre, Mittagong.

Find out more about the Dementia Reframed Workshops or volunteer to get involved here. 
This series of free seminars to inform you about financial matters is is run by the Australian Government Department of Human Services.

Upcoming Seminars in February:

Understanding Your Pension Monday 17th February 2020 @10.30 am
Income and assets test – Concessions and other services – Rights and obligations

Estate Planning Monday 24th February 2020 @10.30 am
-Guardianship – Power of attorney – Intestacy and wills

Where: Bryan Brown Theatre & Function Centre 80 Rickard Rd, Bankstown
Bookings: Bookings are essential. Email: fis.seminar.bookings@humanservices.gov.au  or Phone 136 357. For more information read HERE.
Bondi Beach is now accessible for everyone. You are invited to celebrate inclusion and the official opening of the new accessible ramp at North Bondi.

Join in with a BBQ and summer entertainment. Beach matting will be rolled out and beach wheelchairs will be available to try.
Saturday 1st February 11am – 2pm
To find out more, click HERE
Canterbury City Community Centre invite you to their Tea and talk for over 65s. Save the following talks for Term 1 in your diary now!

Arthritis - 12 February 2020
Falls Injury Prevention - 11 March 2020
Medication Management - 8 April 2020

Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Cost: Free
Where:  Canterbury City Community Centre, 130 Railway Parade Lakemba NSW 2195

This is a free Seniors event with lunch provided. You can book at Eventbrite: https://nnclinedancing.eventbrite.com.au
Date: Friday, February 14th 
Time: 1 - 3 pm
Venue: Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Bedford Avenue, Newtown

Save the date...

The 2020 Apia Young at Heart Seniors Film Festival is back with an opening event celebration and world premiere screening of the comedy-drama Never Too Late. The festival website with the full programme announcement and tickets will be launched on Wednesday, January 29. 

Never Too Late | Wednesday, February 19 | 3:00pm 
Oscar-nominees Jacki Weaver and James Cromwell join an impressive ensemble of septuagenarians in this surprisingly hilarious tale of a group of Vietnam vets breaking out of a nursing home.

Event Details: 
Wednesday, February 19 
3:00pm Afternoon Tea
4:00pm Never Too Late film screening
Join the Inner West Women's Shed's Free Knitting Sessions and make a Twiddle Muff. They are currently making these for evacuated nursing home residents and people with disability from fire ravaged areas who have been relocated.
The Soroptimist International of the Hills and Soroptimist International of Hornsby and Women's Community Shelters will be hosting a forum on “Action on Homelessness-Older Women in Crisis” on 3rd March 2020.  Please save the date. Our chair, Beverly Baker, will be a panelist.
Where: Rydges Norwest, Sydney 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills 
When: 3rd March 3pm - 7pm 

More information and booking details to come.
All senior members of the Inner West are invited to come together with Aboriginal and multicultural communities for a special Seniors’ Festival event.

'Love to Celebrate Happy Ageing Together' is a day to engage in creative activities, forums and showcases - sharing culture, conversation and cuisine.

Includes: Refreshments, cultural performances, wellbeing activities, information and entertainment.
When: 19th February 2020 from 10am to 2pm
Where: Gumbramorra Hall, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville 2204
Translation and transport services may be available by arrangement. Registration is essential by 31/1/2020. Limited seats available. Individuals and groups of maximum 20 guests please book via Eventbrite or by ringing 9569 7633 or 8507 2027 or email: hong.pham@ccci.org.au

This is a free forum hosted by The Little Bay Coast Centre for Seniors in partnership with the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA).

With the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia affecting three million Australians by 2050, the inaugural Coast Centre for Seniors Healthy Ageing Forum will look at strategies to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in later life and promote positive ageing. The talks will not only showcase the wonderment of the brain but also that we have the capacity to improve brain health.

Keynote Speakers
"Can We Really Prevent Dementia?" by Professor Perminder Sachdev, AMCo-Director, CHeBA
"Mind Fitness: Maximise Brain Health for Late Life" by Dr Nicole Kochan, Senior Research Fellow, CHeBA

When:Thursday, 19 March 2020 10:00am –12:00pm
Where:The Little Bay Coast Centre for Seniors. 1 Darwin Ave, Little Bay
Registration Essential: Book here.
Morning Tea provided.

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Older Women’s Network NSW · 8-10 Victoria Street · Newtown, NSW 2042 · Australia

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