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The amendment to the Health and Safety in Employment Act comes into force from May 5 and OSH is running a series of seminars throughout the country to explain the Act and the changes made by the amendment.
The free seminars also aim to help employers and employees prepare to work and understand their rights and responsibilities under the new provisions.
Masterton's are to be held this Thursday, March 6, at the Copthorne Resort, starting with a seminar for large employers at 9am, small employers at 1.30pm and for the general public at 6pm.
Anyone wanting to register can contact Linda Clifford on 04 566 8962 or email linda.clifford@osh.dol.govt.nz.
For those in the northern part of the electorate, if you missed the seminars in Dannevirke and Pahiatua on Tuesday, you can catch one in Palmerston North on March 7, 10, 11, or 12.
The contact for these is Vanessa McAdam 06 359 1919 or vanessa.mcadam@osh.dol.govt.nz.
More information on the Act can be found at www.workinfo.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 209 020.
A blueprint to foster much closer partnership between government and community care and protection services has been released.
The Care and Protection Blueprint 2003 was developed following a recommendation in Mick Brown's review of Child, Youth and Family. It aims to improve the way government and community agencies work together to respond to child abuse and neglect.
A wide range of individuals and organisations are currently working in this area, but are often isolated from each other. To date, there has been no co-ordinated strategy to ensure vulnerable children and families are responded to in an integrated way.
The Blueprint starts from the principle that a close partnership between government and community agencies will ensure at risk children get the help they need, when they need it. It was developed co-operatively by the care and protection community.
Both community groups and government organisations were involved in its development and a Blueprint Steering Group drawn from across the sector, to be established this month, will lead its implementation.
For anyone interested a copy of the Care and Protection Blueprint 2003 can be found here.
Now for more local news.
Health Minister Annette King was in Masterton on Thursday to open the Vision Hearing Technician's National Training Seminar and conference at the Copthorne Resort Solway Park.
Later the same day I received the the Federation of Ambulance Officers Union NZ National Ambulance Petition presented on the steps of parliament by the president Sue Gullery & General Secretary Karl Anderson.
It was great to see so many New Zealanders supporting our ambulance crews.
While on the subject of emergency services Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins, whose portfolio includes responsibility for the new Zealand Fire Service, hopes to visit several Wairarapa fire brigades when he travels from Napier to Wellington between March 11 and 13.
These include Porangahau , Norsewood, Ormondville, Dannevirke, Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Masterton and possibly Carterton, Greytown and Featherston.
During the early part of the week I made a lightning trip to Sydney to give the keynote address and co-facilitate discussion at the Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales forum.
The forum sought to identify the areas of the law and public policy where some communities still suffer major disadvantage, and proposed strategies and reforms to overcome these.
As with most of my overseas invitations, all expenses were paid by the host country and I took the opportunity to mention our lovely part of the world at every chance I was given.
Last Friday I visited Ormondville School, took part in a shoot for the upcoming TV series 'A Flying Visit' with TV One weatherman Jim Hickey and visited the New Pacific Studio at Mount Bruce.
This is a great place to spend some time and, as it is not far from the Mt Bruce Wildlife Centre, should be included on any itinerary to that area.
Congratulations to everyone who worked on the new Bill Monk Wing at Carter Court. The wing is a new 14-bed residential unit that is the first stage of the major redevelopment work at Carter Court and carries on in the spirit of Carterton's namesake Charles Rooking Carter.
I look forward to seeing the completed project.
On the subject of buildings, on Saturday I attended the gala concert celebrating the completion of the restoration of the old St Mark's Anglican Church building in Carterton.
My thanks to all who supported and worked towards this very worthwhile project.
Congratulations also to all those who took part in this year's Golden Shears and also to the organisers of the 2003 Martinborough Country Fair.
Once again, two very successful Wairarapa events.
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