Thank you to everyone who attended the DRA Community Meeting on 17 July. With over 40 participants, it was a well-attended and constructive evening.

Presentations and a summary of the findings from the meeting are available below. The clear consensus was that Deakin needs attention and improvement in several key areas.

To take things forward, we are forming small working groups to act on the most pressing issues.

👉 Please indicate your interest in joining one or more groups via this .link 
It won’t be onerous, and your participation will help build community spirit and make real progress on the priorities identified.

If you haven’t already completed the DRA Community Survey, you can still do so here: DRA Survey  

On 21 June  2016, University of the Third Age (U3A) held a public seminar on the subject  “Are McMansions eating up our Garden City? ” at the Hughes Community Centre.

The seminar was co-sponsored by the ACT Council on the Aging (COTA).

The seminar heard from two highly qualified speakers:

• Dr Leo Dobes (Adjunct Associate Professor Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU) and
• Patrick Troy AO (Emeritus professor ANU ((Human ecology and urban environment, ANU)

The event was part of a  series of U3A/COTA lunchtime forums, held every Tuesday from June to October in the Hughes Community Centre Hall, 12.30 to around 1.45.

More details a from U3A on their website. https://www.u3acanberra.org.au/

We know that the population of Deakin includes a wide range of age groups and economic circumstances. We also know that Deakin residents have relatively high levels of professional skills and varied life experience. Some of us are able and motivated to contribute more to our community.

Southside Community Services is a non-profit association that provides a range of services including child-care and services to the ageing, across all the suburbs of Canberra’s Inner South.

They are current conducting a survey audit of the reservoir of skills and social assets that Southside residents might be able to contribute to community service programs of many kinds.

If you have skills or experience to offer, or would like to know more about this project, please download the Inner South Canberra Community Asset & Skills Audit.