THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY HERALD NEWSPAPER BUSINESS by Rod Aguilar
Computers Made Easy
For Seniors
Tip # 10 - Use technology to save on your electricity
Expensive Energy Costs
The cost of energy in NSW has steadily increased over the last 2-3 years . It is now much more expensive to use your gas heater and your air-conditioning compared to a few years ago . Those with swimming pools have noticed it the most as the cost of heating their pool has now substantially gone up . Many have reported that their energy bills have gone up by as much as 20 %! For a senior person that has the pension as their only source of income , this 20 % hike in their energy bill is quite significant . It hurts them financially so much so that I ’ ve heard of several instances where senior citizens could NOT afford to turn on their heater even in the coldest winter months . It ’ s either they stay warm that night or eat a decent meal the next day . The price hike in energy prices have some people having to choose between food and comfort . Thankfully , on this occasion enough citizens had petitioned their government representatives to do something about these energy hikes . For one of their initiatives , the government had turned to technology to make it easier to shop around online and get the best deal for both their gas and electricity providers . Smart Electricity Meters
Most households and
businesses today now have smart electricity meters installed . These meters are connected over a specific network . I don ’ t think these meters are directly connected to the Internet . There must be some secure gateway in place that allows secure access to these electronic smart meters remotely from specific websites . Your NMI number Now each home or business has a unique number assigned to it to allow the electricity providers to differentiate between the different properties . This is called the National Meter Identifier number or NMI number for short . You can find this NMI number on your latest electricity bill . At the present time , the NMI number has 11 digits . Here ’ s How It Works Step 1 : Open your Internet browser and type in the website address of : energymadeeasy . gov . au Step 2 : This is the ‘ Energy Made Easy ’ website that ’ s been created by the government . Select the ‘ Electricity ’ button , put in your suburb or postcode and hit the ‘ Get Started ’ button . Step 3 : Indicate how many people live in the house then select the ‘ Use My Meter Data ’ button . Step 4 : Next , enter in your current electricity provider and fill in your NMI number then press the ‘ Get My Data ’ button and this will proceed to communicate with your smart meter at your home or business . Once successful , it will say ‘ Connected ’. At this stage , the government website is now communicating directly with your smart meter at your property . This then allows them to take your current usage data and then go out to market to get the best deals for you automatically . To do this , you just hit the green ‘ Compare Energy Plans ’ button and within seconds you will be presented with a list of providers and their costs based on your current usage numbers . How good is that ? No negotiating over the phone . It just gives you the best deals around within seconds . Why not give it a go ? You ’ ve got nothing to lose except an expensive electricity bill .
For effective advertising . Tel . ( 02 ) 9725 7722 ; 041 119 6264 E-mail : pcherald @ iinet . net . au W : pcherald . com . au Fb : Philippine Community Herald News
CELEBRATING THE STATE ’ S VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS
The state ’ s best and brightest volunteers will be recognised for their dedication and countless hours of community service as part of the 2021 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards , with nominations now open .
Minister for Families , Communities and Disability Services Mark Speakman said the opening of nominations for the awards coincides with the start of National Volunteer Week – this year ’ s theme is Recognise . Reconnect . Reimagine .
“ The past 12 months have highlighted the pivotal role volunteers play in shaping and supporting our local communities . Volunteer week is an opportunity to shine a light on those people who put service above self ,” Mr Speakman said .
“ Whether they are from your local sporting club , volunteer rescue association or community group , if you know a local hero who is helping make your community a better place every day , nominate them for this year ’ s Volunteer of the Year Awards .”
The awards , now in their 15th year and run by the Centre for Volunteering , recognised more than 118,000 Volunteers last year from across the state .
Volunteers can be nominated for one of eight categories , including :
· Adult Volunteer of the Year ;
· Young Volunteer of the Year ;
· Senior Volunteer of the Year ;
· Volunteer Team of the Year ;
· Corporate Volunteer of the Year ( Individual );
· Corporate Volunteer of the Year ( Team );
· Club Volunteer of the Year ; and
· Excellence in Volunteer Management .
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the awards were a way to thank , recognise and celebrate the efforts of the state ’ s 2.4 million volunteers .
“ The awards are a vital way for every one of us to say thank you for the invaluable contribution of our volunteers ,” Ms Rygate said .
Nominations close on Friday , 9 July 2021 . For more information , visit the website .
Risk of lung cancer increased almost 10-fold among Australians smoking as few as 1-5 cigarettes per day New evidence reveals cancer risk increases with every cigarette , even for light smokers
In advance of World No Tobacco Day , The Daffodil Centre released an Australian first study , with findings showing tobacco smoking significantly increased the risk of 12 types of cancer and that 1-in-7 current smokers will get lung cancer in their lifetime .
The risk of cancer increased with the number of cigarettes smoked per day , and even ‘ light ’ smokers of 1-5 cigarettes per day had an almost 10-fold increased risk of lung cancer . The findings were drawn from the Sax Institute ’ s 45 and Up Study , one of the largest ongoing longitudinal studies of health and ageing in the world , surveying more than 250,000 Australians . Dr Marianne Weber , Senior Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre said , “ We know that smoking causes cancer . This new evidence reveals the extent of smoking related cancer risk in Australia , capturing the health effects of smoking for Australians born in the early part of the 20th century .”
“ Some smokers are at the point where they are smoking a few cigarettes a day and don ’ t realise the cancer risks they are running . Cigarette smoke is directly coating their mouth , throat , oesophagus and lungs with 7000 chemicals , including 69 carcinogens , and the increase in cancer risk even with light smoking is dramatic .” “ The good news is that the risk of cancer was significantly reduced among participants who had quit smoking – and the younger they quit , the better . “ These results demonstrate that quitting smoking is much more effective at reducing disease than ‘ cutting down ’ the number of cigarettes smoked , Dr Weber said ”.
Globally , there is very little evidence on the impact of light smoking , and for Australia , this is the first large scale study to present estimates of smoking-related cancer risk . Study findings include :
· Lung cancer risk increased by 7 % with every cigarette per day
· For current smokers , the lifetime risk of lung cancer ranged from 14 % overall to 26 % ( 1 in 4 ) for those who smoked more than 35 cigarettes per day , compared to 1 % risk for never-smokers ( 1 in 100 ).
· Tobacco smoking significantly increased risk for cancers of the lung , larynx , liver , oesophagus , bladder , pancreas , head and neck , stomach , colorectum , kidney , gallbladder , and cancers of unknown primary site . Anita Dessaix , Chair , Public Health Committee , Cancer Council said , “ Governments need to re-introduce hard-hitting mass media antismoking campaigns to reach Australia ’ s 2.5 million daily smokers .”
“ It ’ s been over a decade since Australia had a national mass media antismoking campaign for the general population . We are calling on the Federal Government to run a hardhitting anti-smoking mass media campaign for the general public within the next calendar year ,” Anita said . Smokers can access support through the Quitline on 13 78 48 or find more information on quitting at iCan- Quit . com . au .
PROMOTING CHILD SAFE ORGANISATIONS
Children and young people will be better protected by legislation introduced to NSW Parliament today which implements important recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse .
Minister for Families , Communities and Disability Services said the Children ’ s Guardian Amendment ( Child Safe Scheme ) Bill 2021 would help make organisations safer for children and young people by strengthening oversight and practice .
“ The Royal Commission exposed the most heinous and shocking abuse of vulnerable children . Our Government is committed to implementing its recommendations to keep kids safe ,” Mr Ward said .
“ These changes are all about improving how organisations protect children and young people from abuse and neglect , by placing their voices and interests at the heart of what they do .
“ The Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission speak for themselves – this Bill will implement a legislative Child Safe Scheme to create stronger , safer environments for children in line with what the Royal Commission recommended .”
The Office of the Children ’ s Guardian ( OCG ) conducted extensive consultation with child-related organisations and other government and non-government stakeholders in developing the Child Safe Scheme .
The Standards provide a framework for organisations to create and maintain child safe cultures , operations and environments while offering the flexibility to apply them in ways that suit their size , resources and the nature of their involvement with children .
The Bill also gives the OCG additional powers to monitor , investigate and enforce implementation of the Child Safe Standards to ensure organisations are doing their utmost to prevent the abuse of children .
The OCG will support all organisations with implementation of the Scheme , with capability building and support being the foundation of their approach .
The Bill builds on the NSW Government ’ s strong framework for protecting children and young people , following legislative changes in 2019 which gave the Children ’ s Guardian greater authority and oversight to protect children and young people .
9 -- MAY 2021 -- THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY HERALD NEWSPAPER -- 9