Returning to Ireland- Important updates on PCR test

Some important updates to anyone arriving into Ireland effective immediately:

Negative RT-PCR test required within 72 hours of ARRIVAL into Dublin, with evidence of same required at departure and arrival. If there is a genuine humanitarian emergency and you can’t get a test done in advance, contact Consulate/Embassy for advice.

Passenger Locator Form remains for the purposes of contact tracing and can be done online/in advance.

14-day quarantine period must be undertaken at the address specified on the Passenger Locator Form.

If you do not fulfil the legal requirement for mandatory quarantine you are committing an offence, and can be fined up to €2,500 or get a prison sentence of up to 6 months, or both.

You can only leave the nominated accommodation for unavoidable reasons of an emergency nature, to protect a person’s health.

Full details here - https://www.gov.ie/.../b4020-travelling-to-ireland.../

Seniors' Christmas Lunch 2020

We had a fabulous day yesterday for our Senior's Christmas Lunch in Penrith Gaels Cultural and Sporting Association. Thank you to John Grieve, Chairman, for generously sponsoring this special lunch. We were also joined by Adrienne Hickey, Deputy Consul General of Ireland, Sydney.

Everyone had an absolute ball and we were musically accompanied by the lovely Rebecca and Kurt. Our seniors look forward to this every year and it is great to see people coming together again, Tír na nÓg and Cara Club had a great turnout.

baile as baile || home away from home

baile as baile is an initiative of the Irish Support Agency in partnership with members of the Irish Australian community of NSW. The phrase, meaning ‘home away from home’, aims to support and strengthen the Irish community by offering a range of activities and events where people can safely connect.

Over the coming months, baile as baile will offer a vibrant and inclusive program of events to meet the needs and interests of our diverse community and will feature both online and face to face interactions in locations across Sydney.

Each event will be led by a host who has kindly volunteered their time to allow people to share a new experience or learn new skills. There will also be opportunities to explore, to socialise and establish new connections. 

2020 has provided us with an awareness of the importance of kinship amongst our peers and community. Now more than ever, it is time to reach out, to participate and share experiences and I would encourage you all to get involved as much as possible. 

We’re in this together, in our home away from home.

Go to www.baileasbaile.com.au for our full calendar of events and more information.

Sydney St Patrick's Day explores The Rocks

The ISA team were delighted to be able to host a stall at the Irish Markets as part of the Sydney St Patrick’s Day explores The Rocks event last weekend. It was great to see so many people out and about despite the inclement weather, enjoying the day and taking the opportunity to reconnect with friends, old and new.

Thank you to all who came to visit us to get a better understanding of what we do, those who donated or purchased one of our warm and snuggly sweatshirts or those who took the opportunity to become ISA members. We very much look forward to welcoming you to the ISA family.

World Mental Health Day

October 10th marks World Mental Health Day.

The past year has brought many challenges for us all, as we adapt to life in the midst of COVID-19.

It's more important than ever to take time for yourself and check-in with family and friends as we navigate through the coming months.

If you're in need of support, remember that help is close at hand.

Beyond Blue is a great resource or alternatively ring our team for a confidential discussion

R U OK?

There’s more to say after R U OK? Thursday 10 September is R U OK? Day – and a reminder that on every day of the year we should support people who may be struggling. But there’s more to say after R U OK? If someone says they’re not OK make time to listen, encourage action and check-in. To help people keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not OK we’re encouraging everyone to learn what to say after R U OK? To spread this message, we’ll be sharing information and resources that guide you through what to say after R U OK? If you need immediate crisis or emotional support you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or [If have local support service include the details here]. R U OK? is a national charity dedicated to inspiring all of us to have regular, meaningful conversations to support anyone struggling with life’s ups and downs. You can learn what to say after R U OK? at www.ruok.org.au

The Science of Sleep

Don’t miss out on our next Health and Wellbeing Event which will be covering all aspects of sleep and why it is important for our wellbeing. We are delighted to be joined by Kellie Hamill, an expert on sleep, nutrition and their impact on our Mental Health.

Topics covered include -How can we get better sleep? Is it quality or quantity? Is there a better time to fall asleep and wake up? What are some unhelpful sleep/ lifestyle habits that impact sleep?
Tips for people struggling with sleep during Covid 19.

Full details of the session can be found on the following link https://www.irishsupportagency.org.au/the-irish-30

John Hume 18 January 1937 - 3 August 2020 RIP

“I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.”

“I want to see Ireland as an example to men and women everywhere of what can be achieved by living for ideals, rather than fighting for them, and by viewing each and every person as worthy of respect and honour. I want to see an Ireland of partnership where we wage war on want and poverty, where we reach out to the marginalised and dispossessed, where we build together a future that can be as great as our dreams allow.”

John Hume
- Northern Irish Peace Process Architect
- Nobel Laureate

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Travel Alert

Important Update for anyone travelling via UAE eg Dubai and Abu Dhabi
effective 1 August

Inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program

The Australian government is seeking submissions from the public on the Working Holiday Maker VISA and importantly the impact of COVID-19 on the program. The closing date for submissions is 24th July. If you have been adversely affected by having to return home, or being unable to undertake or complete your regional work, this presents a real opportunity to have your voice heard. The terms of reference and contact details can be found here

Terms of Reference Submissions

International travellers flying into NSW will have to pay $3000

International travellers flying into NSW will have to pay $3000 for their two-week quarantine from midnight on Saturday, July 18. The new charges mean that a family of two adults and two children over three will have to pay $5000 for their 14 day stay in a designated quarantine hotel.

NSW to charge returned international travellers for hotel quarantine

Important Update for Dual Citizens and Permanent Residents

Important Information -COVID-19 and the border

Leaving Australia -Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents

If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption.
You can apply online

but you must meet at least one of the following:

your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid
your travel is essential for the conduct of critical industries and business (including export and import industries)
you are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
you are travelling on urgent and unavoidable personal business
you are travelling on compassionate or humanitarian grounds
your travel is in the national interest.
You must provide evidence to support your claims

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

Your job search with John Corrigan

The Irish 30 continues its series of  webinars with a fresh new approach. On the first Monday of every month the team of experts will be introducing a new topic which has the potential to positively impact your mental health and well-being. Accessed through a link on the Irish Support Agency's website, it starts at 7pm and will last 30 minutes with an opportunity for Q&A . You can join using the link below.  

Kicking off the new format on Monday 6th July at 7pm will be Your job search with John Corrigan

Register

Blooms Day 16 June

Bloomsday is an annual celebration of the life and work of Ireland’s most famous author, James Joyce. Every year the events of his best-known novel, Ulysses, are recreated in their exact locations, and literary events are held around the world. Bloomsday celebrates Thursday 16 June 1904, the day depicted in Ulysses. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the central character in Ulysses.
We would love to hear from you wherever you are in the world and find about your special plans for Bloomsday.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Webinar

Our next Mental Health and Wellbeing webinar will be held on Monday 15th June 6 pm and can be viewed live on our website https://www.irishsupportagency.org.au/the-irish-30 or accessed later via The Irish Support Agencys YouTube channel

Staying connected during physical distancing can be challenging but not impossible. In this webinar we will explore the impact that social connections have on our wellbeing, the importance of different types of connections and ways to remain connected during COVID-19. We will also outline the role that ISA plays in connecting our Irish community in NSW

Irish Support Agency launch new ' You Tube' Channel

In a world which is digitalising rapidly and where the COVID-19 crisis has amplified the need to communicate online, The Irish Support Agency is launching our own channel on YouTube. This new communication platform will be used for a variety of messages and informative videos about what is happening within the Irish/Australian community.
You can check out the site at the link below

Irish Support Agency You Tube Channel

All our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Webinars are available on our You Tube channel

This week’s webinar discusses Mental Resilience with Ronan Mac Domhnaill

Wish you were Here

Troubadour Presents along with the Irish Embassy & Consulate are excited to present 'Wish You Were Here',

a free online concert & fundraising initiative raising much-needed funds for Irish Support Agencies in Australia during the covid-19 pandemic.

There are almost 18,000 Irish temporary visa holders in Australia, and many of them are unable to access Australian Government assistance of any kind, leaving them in financial crisis. Returning to Ireland is not a straightforward option for those who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the pandemic, and many will be seeking urgent support just to cover basic expenses

FEATURING (in alphabetical order)..

CHRIS KAVANAGH
DAMIEN DEMPSEY
DANNY O’REILLY (The Coronas)
DECLAN O’ROURKE
ELEANOR MCEVOY
JOHN SPILLANE
LUKA BLOOM
LUNASA
MARY BLACK
MICK FLANNERY
MICK MCHUGH
MUNDY
PADDY MCHUGH
PANTI BLISS
PAUL BRADY
PAULINE SCANLON
SHANE HOWARD
THE 2 JOHNNIES
ULAID

RSVP HERE

See you on Facebook Live on 23 May -please donate generously if you can.

Funds will be shared equally with the four Irish Support Agencies in Australia – Claddagh Association (Western Australia), Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland, Irish Australian Support and Resource Bureau (Victoria) and Irish Support Agency NSW Inc.

Irish 30

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Important News
We are excited to announce the launch of our new mental health and wellbeing initiative commencing the 18 May at 6 pm.
Promoting the mental health and wellbeing of our community has been a priority for the ISA for many years. The ISA and our skilled volunteers have been helping us address the critical issue of mental health and wellbeing during this challenging time. We are launching 'The Irish 30' on 18 May'; this is a series of free weekly wellbeing webinars designed to promote the mental health and wellbeing of the Irish Community in Australia during the Covid 19 challenge.

Irish 30