Just a quick post to fill you in on Childers Group activities for 2024. We have had a busy year meeting and advocating for the arts with our local politicians at the Assembly. We met with Labor, Greens and the Liberal opposition. We had meetings with the Minister Tara Cheyne and also submitted our ACT budget submission. We also organised a successful ACT Election Forum in October.

We have also met with Senator Pocock and his advisors.

Our plans for 2025 : We have already had a meeting with the new arts Minister Michael Pettersson. We will be seeking meetings with all the new MLA’s and the new leader of the Liberals, Leanne Castley and their shadow arts Minister James Milligan.

As it will be a federal election year in 2025 we are seeking meetings with our Federal members.

FORUMS : We are hoping to organise at least 3 forums over the next 12 months. If you have any particular ideas of any gatherings you would be particularly interested in then please let us know.
One issue that has arisen is new industrial relations laws that have come into operation over the past 12/18 months that will affect our sector. We would seek help from the Workplace Ombudsman for information on this. I attended a webinar in early December organised by Creative Australia and it was very interesting!! Possible issues : the use of fixed term contracts, conversion of casual employees to full/part time employees, employment of contractors (just because someone has an ABN does it mean that they are not employees?)

Any other possible forums or just get togethers you may be interested in, please let us know at our email address.

childersgroup@gmail.com

Cheers Michael White Convenor The Childers Group