Community Messages
Emerging Minds
Online resource: Five ways to support your children’s mental health
Every family is unique and will experience different ups and downs. Whether life is going well right now, or your child or family is navigating tough times, focusing on these five areas of family life will help nurture and protect your child’s mental health and overall wellbeing.
This resource includes videos and factsheets that explain how focusing on each of these five areas of family life can nurture and protect a child’s mental health and wellbeing. There are also suggested strategies, based on research and the experiences of other families and health professionals that you can add to your parenting toolkit.
To find out more, visit https://emergingminds.com.au/families/five-ways-to-support-your-childrens-mental-health/
Drop-in clinics for child development
Attending a free drop-in clinic is a great way to seek information or advice from the Child Development Service if you are worried about your child’s communication, movement or emotional development. You don’t need a referral. Please arrive early as you cannot book an appointment in advance.
The Child Development Service drop-in clinics include:
- speech pathology – for checking communication skills like talking, understanding language, stuttering and social interactions
- physiotherapy – for checking large movement and physical skills like rolling, sitting, walking and coordination
- occupational therapy – for checking small movement and physical skills as well as emotional development, like dressing, eating, using the toilet, reactions to sensory information and managing emotions.
If needed, they may:
- give you information about parenting programs, workshops or playgroups
- refer your child for an assessment with one of our therapists
- refer you to other specialists or services.
Where: Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong Child and Family Centres, or the Child Development Service at 26 Weingarth Street, Holder
When: All year – check the website for exact times/locations: https://www.act.gov.au/community/families/child-development-service/get-your-childs-development-checked
Who: Children from birth to 6 years living in the ACT who are not a NDIS participant.
ACT Instrumental Music Program
Extension Ensembles for 2026
The ACT Instrumental Music Program would like to invite students who will be in Years 4-7 in ACT government schools in 2026 to audition for ACT IMP extension ensembles.
The ACT IMP ensembles are an excellent opportunity for hard-working, skilled and committed young musicians to work together in an enriching environment. The groups are active performance ensembles, and the families of students auditioning need to be prepared to make a strong commitment to rehearsal and performance attendance for the full year.
Audition registration is now open for the following ensembles:
- Primary Concert Band – Students in Year 6 in ACT government schools in 2026
- Young Voices (Choir) – Vocalists (singers) in Years 4-6 in ACT government schools in 2026
Students are welcome to audition for one or more ensembles. Membership in each ensemble is considered separately.
Please note that students accepting a place in Young Voices for 2026 will also need to be members of their school choir, if the opportunity exists.
Audition registration closes Monday 3 November 2025. This is a strict deadline.
Information cards will be available from the Music/Arts teacher at your child’s school. Further details are also available on the IMP website.
Three ways to access the online audition registration form:
- http://www.imp.act.edu.au
- QR code
- https://forms.gle/mCLscYJSzpiQw6wC9
If you have questions about the audition process, please contact imp.admin@ed.act.edu.au
Audition requirements, set pieces and instructions will be available on the IMP website by the end of Term 3. Online auditions will be held in Week 6, Term 4 (17-21 November).
We look forward to receiving your audition registration!
ACT Instrumental Music Program
ACT Chorale for 2026
The ACT Instrumental Music Program would like to invite interested vocalists (singers) who will be in Years 7-12 in ACT government schools in 2026 to apply for membership in the ACT Chorale.
The ACT IMP ensembles are an excellent opportunity for hard-working, skilled and committed young musicians to work together in an enriching environment. The groups are active performance ensembles, and the families of students auditioning need to be prepared to make a strong commitment to rehearsal and performance attendance for the full year.
No auditions will be held for this ensemble. For reasons related to staffing and capacity of our rehearsal space, places will be limited. Selections will be made with consideration given to achieving a balanced ensemble across all voice types and year levels. Offers of place may also be made based on date of application submission.
Music reading skills are desirable but are not required.
Applications close Monday 17 November 2025. This is a strict deadline.
Three ways to access the online application form:
- http://www.imp.act.edu.au
- QR code
- https://forms.gle/wGeWfPxmHpUsMQJq9
Please note that submission of an application form does not guarantee an offer of membership.
Please note that students who accept a place in the ACT Chorale for 2026 will also be required to be part of their choir at school in 2026, if the opportunity exists.
There is a membership fee ($150 in 2025 and yet to be confirmed for 2026). Rehearsals will be held each Monday 5:45-7:00pm during school terms.
Information cards will be available from the Music/Arts teacher at your child’s school from Week 6, Term 3. Further details are also available on the IMP website.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact IMP.Admin@ed.act.edu.au
We look forward to receiving your application!
