G'day from WA!

First up, I’d like to say a huge hello to Nan, ASCCA’s Emeritus President, on the 16th anniversary this week of our first meeting at the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Conference in Sydney.   I’m personally a firm believer in fate, and fate certainly played a hand on that occasion!   My life was irrevocably changed forever – thankyou, Nan!  It’s so good to still have you batting for ASCCA.  Nan hasn’t been too well of late and we all send her warm wishes.

Jane Chilcott, CEO, of Linkwest, has this last week announced her resignation. Linkwest is the peak body representing CRCs and NHCs in Western Australia.  During her time with Linkwest, Jane was also President of Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres in Australia (ANHCA) the national peak body for Neighbourhood Houses and Centres in Australia.  Many of you may recall she attended the ASCCA Conference in Sydney in 2018 when ASCCA handed the Be Connected banner to Linkwest for the project during that year. Since then ASCCA / SWADE has enjoyed sharing a number of partnership projects with Linkwest.  On behalf of everyone at ASCCA, we extend to Jane our sincere thanks for a successful and mutually rewarding extended working relationship.  Best wishes for your next endeavour, Jane!

We are also excited that the planning is already well underway for the 25th Australian Technology Conference for Seniors.  We have made some changes to the program in consideration of the fact that we now have members and contributors across the Australian time zones, which during daylight savings makes it even more challenging.  The conference will this year be hosted over two half days to better suit our audiences.  Save the dates!  October 10th and 11th between 10am and 2pm (AEST) each of these days!  Susan has already got the competition details up and ready for the eager beavers who want to plan their training schedules for their members, and prepare their entries.  

ASCCA’s Clubs Forum this coming Friday is shaping up to be one where some exciting revelations will be announced. So register now, and don’t miss out!

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing and stress-free time over the course of the last few months.  I know that the festive season has been challenging for many communities around Australia with record breaking flooding at one extreme and some nasty bush fires at the other around the country.  Here in the Kimberley, we have been cut off from Perth by road during the course of the once in a hundred year event at Fitzroy Crossing, knocking out Highway #1's single lane bridge that connected us to the rest of our state (and connected the two halves of Fitzroy Crossing itself, when the river peaked at 15.8m).  Not only are eggs increasingly difficult to come by, but so are some varieties of fresh fruit and veg, thanks to the stringent quarantine rules and the need for our food to come from Perth via South Australia and the Northern Territory now … but enough of that … 

DATES

February - Friday 3rd Feb 2023 - AI and ChatGPT

March - Friday 3rd March 2023 - Smartphone photography

Our times have changed this year - we will be running at the same time all year round - 11am AWST (Perth) time on the first Friday of each month.

Registrations for each month's session will need to be completed - and Zoom should translate that into your time zone.  
February and March times are as follows: 
11:00am AWST - Perth 
12:30pm ACST - Darwin
1:00pm AEST - Brisbane 
1:30pm ACDT - Adelaide
2:00pm AEDT - Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra/Hobart

Click here to Register to attend our next Zoom Meeting

It’s a new year and that means it’s time for the highlights of the Consumer electronics Show (CES) in the US. Some of the items that caught my attention from a disability perspective could have great implications as the year goes on.

Unfortunately 2023 is not showing any signs of letting up when it comes to bad people trying to steal our money! 

Safer Internet Day is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces.

This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward.

Senior Citizen of the Year Award

Awesome Contribution to AUSOM