Corporate Angel Network of Australia

Corporate Angel Network of Australia is a network of Corporations and individuals in hospitals, Cancer and Leukaemia support groups, Aviation Companies and business companies who work together in order to give air travel assistance to patients affected by cancer and leukaemia and to their families. Corporate Angel Network of Australia is totally Australian owned and controlled and Registered as a Charity in Queensland.

They exist for the sole purpose of providing free air transport to and from treatment centres for qualifying persons, namely cancer and leukaemia patients and bone marrow donors and their carers within Australia. They are a NOT - FOR - PROFIT organization run entirely by volunteers.

Many people in Australia are not eligible for Government travel assistance and this can create both financial hardship and emotional stress for people living long distances from major treatment centres. Long hours of travel by road or rail can be draining on a patient's strength and in many cases makes visiting patients very difficult for families living long distances from treatment hospitals. It can be very distressing when parents are separated from children or siblings separated from each other by distance.

Patients suffering from cancer or leukaemia and also bone marrow donors plus their carers are eligible for help. A carer is an immediate family member i.e. spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, child, the legal guardian or next of kin of a patient.

The Medical Service Provider or Patient Support Organization chooses which patient / carer needs help with travel assistance, in accordance with our definition of a "CANdidate". They do not impose a Means Test - Financial need is not a criteria for selection of CANdidates for travel, however, anybody who has an entitlement to Government assisted air travel is not eligible for assistance.

An individual cannot apply for assistance – the request must come from a medical provider or hospital.

For further information go to the web site www.angelnet.asn.au/index.html.

 

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National Police Service Medal to be recommended to the Queen

The Rudd Government has announced the criteria for the planned National Police

service Medal (NPSM), which will now be recommended for The Queen's approval.

The Government announced its intention to establish the NPSM in December 2008.

consultation with police representatives began in early 200g to determine the

eligibility criteria and medal design.

The views of Federal, state and territory police commissioners and policing

organisations have been incorporated into the criteria and design of the medal.

Cabinet Secretary, Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, said "This medal will recognise the

ethical service, significant commitment and unique contribution to the nation

demonstrated by sworn members of Australian police services".

Police officers serving on or after 30 October 2008, who have completed at least 15

years police service, will be eligible for the medal.

Commissioners will also be able to recommend awards for officers who have served

less than 15 years, if their period of service was terminated by death, injury or

disability caused by their service.

The NPSM will be awarded irrespective of any entitlement to other awards. The

National Medal will continue to recognise the long service of Australian police

officers.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, said "This new medal is another

way that the people of Australia can express their appreciation for the dedication and

sacrifice of our nation's long-serving police officers".

The Chief Executive of the Police Federation of Australia, Mark Burgess, said "We're

very pleased that the National Police Service Medal is about to become a reality for

the hard working men and women of Australia's police forces. This medal will

recognise the invaluable service Australia's police officers give communities across

our country 24 hours a day seven days a week".

The Government will now seek The Queen's agreement to the criteria, along with the

design and placement in the Order of Wearing. We aim to begin issuing the NPSM later this year.

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SHUTTLE BUS TO ASSIST DURING TEMPORARY PARKING ARRANGEMENTS AT CANBERRA HOSPITAL

Published: July 5, 2010, 1:22 pm
Section: Katy Gallagher, MLA | Media Releases

ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, said today that the implementation of a new shuttle bus service at Canberra Hospital will assist patients, visitors and staff during the next phase of temporary parking arrangements set to come into effect at the hospital this Saturday.

"Earlier this year I announced a consultation process with local residents near Canberra Hospital on a proposal for temporary on-street parking in streets surrounding the hospital campus," Ms Gallagher said.

"The on-street parking is part of temporary parking arrangements to replace spaces lost when we begin construction on the new Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit on the site of the current ground-level car park on the southern end of the hospital campus.

"The temporary parking arrangements involve maintaining current one-hour and disability parking areas close to main hospital buildings; converting the Yamba Drive South car park from staff parking to public parking; and making use of expanded temporary on-street parking in surrounding suburbs for hospital staff," Ms Gallagher said.

Since February ACT Health has consulted residents of Garran and east Phillip about the temporary on-street parking arrangements. In general, local residents have either been supportive of the proposal or have understood and accepted the hospital's temporary needs.

Following that consultation process, new temporary parking measures are set to come into effect from Saturday 10 July, when the large surface level car park on the southern end of the hospital campus closes and the main pubic parking is relocated to the Yamba Drive South car park.

"The Yamba Drive car park is flat, well lit and within easy walking distance of the hospital's main buildings," Ms Gallagher said.

"However, to further assist patients and visitors a new shuttle bus service has been established which will transport patients and visitors between the car park and the main hospital buildings. To ensure the safety and security of staff who will be required to park further away from the hospital, the shuttle service will also assist staff to their vehicles during the early hours of the morning and after dark.

"Over the past two weeks shuttle bus drivers have familiarised themselves with the hospital and have tested and timed proposed bus routes. Pick-up points are being established and will be clearly signposted throughout the campus.

"A great deal of planning has gone into the temporary parking measures to ensure that patients, visitors and staff have adequate parking until the new multi-storey car park is completed and fully operational in early 2011. Some lower floors of the new car park are expected to be operational by the end of 2010," Ms Gallagher said.

The Minister acknowledged that the arrangements may cause some short-term inconvenience to local residents, patients and visitors, and hospital staff however ACT Health is implementing a range of measures to minimise the disruption.

These measures include improving the hospital's cycling facilities; implementing a car pooling system that will allow staff to connect with other staff who have similar travel patterns and encourage them to car pool; implementing walking programs to encourage staff to park further away, or leave the car at home altogether, and walk to work; as well as providing material to encourage staff to consider bus travel options.

On-street parking is already permitted in various forms in most of the streets near the hospital. Half hour parking is provided in Gilmore Crescent and is primarily used by patients and visitors.

"Once the new multi-storey car park is completed and operational by early next year, the temporary all day on-street parking will revert back to previous time restrictions," Ms Gallagher said.

Information about the changed public parking arrangements is available on the Canberra Hospital website at http://www.canberrahospital.act.gov.au/ and is being advertised in local press.

Further information can be obtained by phoning ACT Health Parking Operations on 6244 2669 or by emailing: yourhealthourpriority@act.gov.au

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