Update on postal parcel services to Ireland

From Wednesday 2 March 2022. Economy, Standard and Express parcel services resumed to Ireland for Post Office consumer and My Post Business customers only.

In September 2021, parcel services to Ireland were suspended due to the requirement by Irish customers for a 10-digit tariff or Taric code to be included on all customs declarations and captured in the Electronic Advance Data (EAD).

Articles sent to Ireland must have a 10-digit tariff or Taric code or they may be delayed or returned to sender. Customers will be able to search for the appropriate 10-digit tariff code when completing the online form and can access the Irish Post website at http://www.anpost.com/.../Int.../Find-a-TARIC-Commodity-code for the correct tariff code.

Please see below our international post guide to help you send packages back home!

For further information please see: https://auspost.com.au/.../international.../results/ireland

For queries please contact Australia Post (00 61 3 8847 9045) or An Post (353 (1) 705 7600)

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO ALERT PEOPLE ADOPTED FROM IRELAND OF NEW LEGAL RIGHT TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR BIRTH INFORMATION.

Please find as follows key points about this new legislation, including links to the new website established for those seeking their birth information and a copy of the press release issued by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI)- see attached; and a link to the Government issued press release

• A global campaign has been launched by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) to raise awareness of landmark legislation which means that people who were adopted in, or from, Ireland are now entitled to know about their birth information.

• The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, which took effect on 1 July, provides legal entitlement to full and unrestricted access to birth and early life information for any Irish person who was adopted, boarded out or had their birth information illegally registered, or who otherwise has questions in relation to their origins. This includes their birth certificate, care information, early life information, and medical information. It means that they will be able to find out their name, birthplace, and date, as well as their parents’ names, dates of birth, and other details.

• This information service will be available from October this year.

• The law also establishes a tracing service from October this year to facilitate contact between adoptees and birth parents and other birth relatives according to the preferences they register on the new Contact Preference Register (CPR).

• The Register, which is operated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, is now open for applications. Please register at www.birthinfo.ie

• People can register at any time but are encouraged to register in the first three months, especially those who wish to record a preference of no contact.

• The tracing service can be used by relevant persons – parents, adoptive parents, birth relatives, other genetic relatives, or those who were carers in relation to a relevant person – to enable contact or the sharing or requesting of contemporaneous information.

• Where the relevant person has died, their son or daughter will have the same right to information that relates to their parent, if the relevant person’s parents (i.e. the applicant’s grandparents) are also deceased. A next of kin can also apply for access if the relevant person died while resident as a child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution.

• In cases where a birth mother chooses to have no contact, this will not prevent her identity from being shared, but her desire not to be contacted will be respected.

• In cases where a birth mother chooses to have no contact, this will not stop adopted persons meeting or engaging with other family members, such as siblings or half siblings.

August Newsletter 2022

We hope you enjoy reading our August 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.

June Newsletter 2022

We hope you enjoy reading our June 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.

Claiming an Irish Pension whilst living in Australia

by Sarah Owen, Crosscare Migrant Project (18th May 2022)

Living in Australia, but previously worked in Ireland? You might be able to combine your Irish and Australian social insurance contributions to help you qualify for an Irish pension. You can even apply whilst living in Australia. Read on to find out more!

April Newsletter 2022

We hope you enjoy reading our April 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.

Onshore and Offshore WHV for those who held a Covid 19 affected WHM Visa

Great news

On the 4th March 2022, the Department of Home Affairs announced both an Onshore and Offshore Working Holiday Maker Visa.

You may apply if you held a ‘COVID-19 affected WHM visa’.

A ‘COVID-19 affected WHM visa’ refers to the WHM (subclass 417 or 462) visa you held on 20 March 2020, or if you held a WHM visa before 20 March 2020, it was the last substantive visa you held.

For further details click below.

Returning to Ireland

From 6th March 2022, international travellers to Ireland will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative PCR test upon arrival. There will no longer be any requirement to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form for travel to Ireland.

While the restrictions for persons travelling to Ireland have ended, other countries may require proof of vaccination, recovery or test. An EU Digital COVID Certificate can continue to be used as evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, booster vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

For further information:

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off payment to help you if a declared disaster significantly affects you. It’s not for minor damage or inconvenience.

How much you can get?

If you’re eligible you’ll get:

• $1,000 per adult

• $400 for each child younger than 16.

• If you’re a member of a couple, you can both get this payment. You and your partner will need to complete

separate claims.

Who can get it?

To get the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment you must:

• be an Australian resident or hold an eligible visa

• be 16 years or older at the time of the disaster or getting a social security payment

• live in an eligible Local Government Area (LGA).

We are hiring - Part time Outreach Worker

We are recruiting a part-time Outreach Worker (20 hours).

The role is an interesting and varied one, so we are searching for someone with a flexible, can-do attitude.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To provide high-level support to new and existing clients of the Irish Support Agency.

• Ensure client assessment and delivery of support are in line with policies, procedures and funding requirements.

• Collaborate with other agencies to ensure effective holistic services for clients and prioritise support from local and statutory services.

• Advocate on behalf of our clients in dealing with government and non-government organisations.

• Attend interagency case meetings to ensure that there is a coordinated approach amongst service providers regarding the case planning process.

• Visit clients in a diverse range of settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, detention centres, and prisons.

• Contribute to and attend functions that are hosted by the Irish Support Agency.

To view a full job description and to apply, please click below.

February 2022 Newsletter

We hope you enjoy reading our February issue of the newsletter and our first of 2022!

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.

Domestic and Family Violence Support team to provide support to temporary visa holders experiencing DFV in Australia.

The Domestic and Family Violence Support team’s primary focus is to support clients experiencing DFV so that they do not feel compelled to remain in such situations due to concerns regarding their visa status. Part of the work of the team will also be to inform future policy responses for temporary visa holders experiencing DFV.

Service providers (including legal, specialist migration and community organisations) can advise DFV Support team about visa issues impacting their clients and community members, so the Section can assist them as appropriate.

The Australian Red Cross can provide financial support for people on temporary visas up to $3000 to help them cover expenses such as food, accommodation, utilities and other essentials as well as access to legal assistance and migration support from nine Community and Women’s Legal Centres.

This information is available at https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/help-for-migrants-in-transition/family-and-domestic-violence-financial-assistance

DFA launches 2022 Back to Business Programme

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have launched the 2022 Back for Business programme. This free initiative helps returned emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned within the last three years or will soon return home; to start and develop businesses in Ireland based on their business idea.

The initiative is funded by the Diaspora Unit in DFA and each year it assists 50 successful applicants.

The programme is now open for 2022 applicants and the closing date for applications is February 15th.

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

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.

REUNITED

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.