With summer almost upon us, it is time to
prepare for the coming hot weather and the
emergencies it can bring, including bushfire
and heatwaves. This is particularly important for
vulnerable members of our community, who may
require extra help during these events. On pages
4 and 5, we provide you with information to
prepare for the heat and potential disasters.
The new Cost of Living Concession is providing
much-needed support to about 205,000 South
Australian households. It can be put toward
their greatest financial need, including energy,
water or council rates. Turn to page 18 to find
out more about this concession, and how to
get details of other available concessions.
In Focus
A message from
the Chief Executive
Welcome to the latest edition of the
Department for Communities and Social
Inclusion’s Focus magazine.
We strive to help South Australians build
communities where people are involved and
feel connected, safe and supported. In Focus,
you can learn about the department’s programs
and services that make a big difference to
the lives of thousands of vulnerable South
Australians every day.
South Australia’s second Multicultural Festival
was held in Rundle Mall on 1 November to
showcase the customs and traditions of the
many multicultural groups who have made this
state their home. The event was again a huge
success, attracting about 80,000 people and
more than 70 different multicultural groups.
Turn to pages 6 and 7 for a review of this
fantastic festival.
In this edition, we also look at a number of the
services available through the department’s
Child and Youth Services. These include a
wonderful initiative to help children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder develop their social skills
through a popular toy – more on page 10.
If you are keen to find out more about
DCSI and our services, visit our website at
www.dcsi.sa.gov.au for helpful information
and resources. You can also follow us on
Twitter at www.Twitter.com/SA_DCSI for
our latest news.
Don’t forget that a digital version of
Focus is available on our website at
www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/publications. The
digital edition includes extra photographs
and video content, as well as links to online
resources and our social media accounts.
It’s easy to subscribe to receive an electronic
copy so you will never miss an edition – turn
to page 23 to find out how.
I hope you enjoy the latest edition of Focus.
Joslene Mazel
Chief Executive
Department for Communities
and Social Inclusion
Focus November 2015
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