NEWS
November 2021
We hope you enjoy reading our November issue of the newsletter and our last of 2021!
It’s a great way to catch up on some Irish community news and upcoming events.
If you would like to receive the newsletter direct to your email every 2 months, you can subscribe below.
AUSTRALIAN BORDERS REOPEN TO VISA HOLDERS
AUSTRALIAN BORDERS REOPEN TO VISA HOLDERS
From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can now travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
Please check the list of eligible visas here - https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/vaccinated-travellers...
the list includes Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa and Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa.
Information can also be found here - https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/refunds-and-waivers... for those who had applied for a visa but due to Covid 19 could not travel to Australia.
Travellers returning to Australia may only enter and travel between NSW, Victoria and the ACT without quarantining.
If you wish to travel on to another state or territory you may not be allowed to enter, or may be subject to a quarantine period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet entry and quarantine arrangements for each state or territory that you intend to travel to. You may be responsible for costs of quarantine if you arrive in a state or territory without meeting entry requirements.
Returning to Ireland
For anyone planning on returning to Ireland, make sure you have your international COVID 19 Vaccination Certificate, available through Medicare.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, details on how to access your vaccination history are also available in the link below.
For anyone planning on returning to Ireland, make sure you have your international COVID 19 Vaccination Certificate, available through Medicare.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, details on how to access your vaccination history are also available in the link below.
REUNITED
Reunited - Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents can now apply for an exemption to travel to Australia from the 1st of November.
Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents can now apply for an exemption to travel to Australia from the 1st of November.
Parents will need to provide evidence of their adult child's citizenship or permanent residency, along with their parental relationship to them.
They must also have a valid passport, visa, and proof of vaccination for travel to Australia.
Vaccination certificates from third countries will be acceptable for entry into Australia as long as they meet the following criteria:
✅Contain the passenger's name as it appears on their passport (I hope this doesn’t throw up any issues)
✅Are issued by a national or state/provincial level authority or an accredited vaccination provider
✅Contain the passengers name as it appears on their passport (I hope this doesn’t throw up any issues)
✅The passenger's DOB or Passport Number
✅The Vaccine Brand
✅The date of each dose or the date on which the full course was completed (Irish/EU certs only include the final vaccination date).
For more information head to the link below which also includes the link to the Travel Exemption Portal.
September Newsletter 2021 is here!
We hope you enjoy reading our September issue of the newsletter.
It’s a great way to catch up on some Irish community news and upcoming events.
If you would like to receive the newsletter direct to your email every 2 months, you can subscribe below.
Coogee Voice Podcast with Marjorie O'Neill MP and ISA President Marian Schaffer
Coogee Voice is a podcast, hosted by Dr Marjorie O'Neill, the Member for Coogee. This podcast is dedicated to our local community. Each episode we'll be chatting with local identities, from all walks of life but all from our eastern suburbs community.
On this episode, Marjorie sits down Marian Schaffer, Eastern Suburbs local and the President of the Irish Support Agency NSW Inc.
BBC documentary series / Art & Mental health
The BBC Studios Australia is producing a new factual series in Sydney which will explore the science of how art can benefit those who have lived experience with mental health conditions like depression, chronic anxiety, bipolar, PTSD and trauma related disorders.
We are looking for a small group of people who are based in Sydney and available during the month of November to share their individual stories. The group will explore exactly how being creative has the ability to lower stress levels, provide a calmness to an otherwise hectic mind space, and most importantly, express what some can’t do in words, on camera, through this series.
With the guidance of industry professionals and the Black Dog Institute, the program will bring together 8 individuals who will share their experiences with some of Australia’s best-known artists.
This factual series is based on the Art on Prescription program run & developed by the Black Dog Institute. Participants will be measured during the beginning, middle and end of the series as a means to illustrate exactly how being creative changes the mind space.
We will look to highlight exactly how creativity allows the mind to find its calm place, and the science behind it. Through the guidance of industry experts we will gain a second hand understanding and appreciation of 8 individuals who each have travelled a separate path. We expect that these participants will inspire hope in others who have similar shared stories.
We are looking for people of all ages and backgrounds from the Greater Sydney area who have a diagnosed, or self-identify, with a mental health illness to apply to be involved with this series. Ideally, applicants will have no experience with arts or creative pursuits. What we are looking for is a willingness to try something different. Filming will take place throughout the month of November and participants will be required for approx. 15 days over the course of 4 weeks.
Coming Home In Crisis – Experiences of Irish emigrants returning in crisis situations
Crosscare Migrant Project’s research and policy work raises awareness on many issues and presents evidence-based research to inform policymakers in support of the needs of Irish migrants.
Irish emigrants return to Ireland in many different circumstances, including in crisis. ‘Coming Home In Crisis‘ explores the lived experiences of people who have returned home in need of support. It draws on interviews with returnees and Emigrant Support Programme funded organisations worldwide, as well as our own case-work in this area. The report presents an in-depth study of the impact of return migration on emigrants who face risk or vulnerability, setting out recommendations to address the range of challenges they encounter on return.
22 occupations added to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
Did you know that 22 new occupations were recently added to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)?
To see the occupations that have been click below.
To view the full list of occupations on the PMSOL click below.
Returning to Ireland- Updates from DFA.ie // July 2021
If you have plans to return to Ireland, please familiarise yourself with the current updates regarding PCR testing and quarantine requirements. These will depend on your vaccination status and the route in which you will travel home.
The requirements are ever-changing, so please keep up to date - https://bit.ly/3wKVHvV
If you have plans to return to Ireland, please familiarise yourself with the current updates regarding PCR testing and quarantine requirements. These will depend on your vaccination status and the route in which you will travel home.
The requirements are ever-changing, so please keep up to date - https://bit.ly/3wKVHvV
Multicultural Problem Gambling Service NSW
Earlier this week we sat down with Multicultural NSW Problem Gambling Service to look at the supports and services available to ALL residents of NSW.
Some key takeaways from our chat:
⊛ The supports and services including counselling, are free to all residents of NSW regardless of visa status or Medicare status.
⊛ There is a multi-venue self exclusion program that anyone can apply for and is easy to do.
⊛ One of the services they offer is to act as a financial liaison officer between you and certain organisations to support you through financial hardship.
If you, or anyone, you may know, would like further information you can contact the ISA for a confidential chat, or Multicultural Problem Gambling Service - https://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/mpgs
Returning to Ireland in Crisis during Covid 19 Pandemic
Crosscare Migrant Project is a Dublin-based NGO providing information and advocacy support to Irish emigrants and people who have moved to Ireland.
They are on the pulse of what is happening back in Ireland and are aware of the updated restrictions around travel and quarantine as it develops. They have put together this information document to help you make the journey home that little bit easier.
If you have further questions beyond that you can contact us or them directly through their website.
Federal Budget Analysis 2021/2022
Earlier this month the federal government released the 2021/2022 budget.
Here is a great analysis of what it all means and how it may affect you.
Further reading can also be done at https://budget.gov.au/
The Great Outdoors- Seniors Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
On Wednesday 12th May, we took 25 of our senior community from our Cara Club and Tír na nÓg, for a wonderful day trip to the Blue Mountains.
We departed Central Station and took the train to Katoomba where we were met by coach. We then travelled to Govett’s Leap, a spectacular lookout point with sandstone escarpments, sheer cliff walls, the deep canyons of the Grose Valley, and tall waterfalls. We then proceeded to another beautiful lookout of the Megalong Valley, the Aboriginal word Megalong means ‘valley below the cliffs’. Finally, we couldn’t have departed the Blue Mountains without visiting the wonderous Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley. The Three Sisters is the Blue Mountains’ most spectacular landmark. The Three Sisters is essentially an unusual rock formation representing three sisters who according to Aboriginal legend were turned to stone.
We were then ready for a refuelling lunch and we headed back to Katoomba to Plantbased Wholefoods owned by the lovely John and Robin Healy. John, originally from Co. Dublin also organised some musical entertainment which was an absolute delight. The whole experience was fantastic, the lunch was delicious and our seniors left very happy and very full!
It was then back to Katoomba station for our return journey to Central Station.
All in all, it was a lovely day out in the Blue Mountains. The sun was shining and the air was clear and crisp.
Thank you to everyone who made this day possible and to our seniors who were a pleasure to escort.
Expressions of Interest Sought- Bookkeeping and Accounting Services
The ISA is seeking expressions of interest/recommendations for Bookkeeping and Accounting Services commencing FY 2021-22.
Please contact Paula via admin@irishsupportagency.org.au
Expressions of Interest Sought - Irish Counsellor or Psychologist
The Irish Support Agency is seeking to expand our referral support network for our clients who express a preference for an Irish Counsellor or Psychologist. We are seeking expressions of interest for Irish Counsellors registered in Australia with professional membership of an organisation such as ACA/PACFA or Psychologists registered to practice in NSW with the Psychologist Registration Board. Please contact Paula via admin@irishsupportagency.org.au
Mandatory Hotel Quarantine Ireland - 23rd March 2021
**Important Update** for all passengers returning to Ireland via the UAE:
Mandatory Hotel Quarantine is now in place - https://www.gov.ie/.../a6975-mandatory-hotel-quarantine/
You must book and pay for the hotel quarantine yourself prior to your departure, it is an offence to travel without making a booking in advance.
Regardless of your departure/transit airport, you must also have a negative/‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland so please be careful if booking flights about your total transit time, allowing sufficient time for PCR test validity.
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.../
