AN Aboriginal woman walks into Ruah Community Service’s art group and sits down. It’s been a tough week; already homeless, she’s sporting a black eye after being assaulted on the street, her partner’s in gaol and she’s got barely any money to feed herself. But for the next hour she sits quietly and fills a…

THE state government could virtually wipe out homelessness by rethinking how it spends money on the issue, says a Royal Perth Hospital doctor. Amanda Stafford is the lead clinician of Royal Perth Hospital’s homeless team and this week addressed a mental health, housing and homelessness forum organised by Shelter WA. “From my point of view…

HOMELESSNESS WEEK runs from August 7 – 13, and apart from giving a donation to any of the noble charities providing succour to people on the streets, there’s a few activities you can take part in. Head to http://www.shelterwa.org.au/homelessness_week to have a look at the program of events. Meanwhile, the Voice presents part 2 of…

IT’S like speed dating, but an innovative event being held in Perth on August 19 and 20 is not looking to land teenage girls a boyfriend, but a mentor to guide them into a scientific, technological, engineering or mathematical (STEM) career. The event is part of National Science Week and is being organised by the…

SANDLE-WEARING environmentalists can be a bit self-righteous and didactic when it comes to saving the world. Thankfully the show Global Gamble uses comedy to surreptitiously teach school kids about serious issues like greenhouse gases, climate change and the importance of being energy wise. “Comedy and theatre combined is a powerful methodology to educate students as…

GAY Perth Labor MP John Carey says he was bombarded with homophobic  emails in the lead up to Liberal MPs rejecting a free vote on same-sex marriage on Tuesday. As a state MP it’s not in Mr Carey’s remit and he’s not a Liberal, but he still got several dozen messages from anti-gay campaigners, ranging…

VINCENT council staff fear for their jobs and morale is low, says former councillor Dudley Maier In July the Voice reported that 14 staff members had been offered redundancies or redeployment, some at a lower wage (‘Redundancy stoush’, Voice, July 22, 2017). Mr Maier, who still keeps a close eye on council business and is…

THE historic Maylands Post Office on Whatley Crescent may soon have a new life as a small bar. Bayswater council’s planning and services committee is due this week to vote on an application by architect Nori-Lynn Munoz to turn the building into an upmarket bar offering international wines and local boutique beers, with staff recommending…

BAYSWATER council has moved to crack down on opportunistic sponsors trying to permanently saddle community landmarks with corporate names. In May last year the council got a call from a very excited Bayswater City Soccer Club which had secured sponsorship from Wangara-based financiers Finance 365 and wanted to rename Frank Drago reserve stadium after its…

GOD might have said, “Let there be light,” but Bayswater council has disagreed and told the Jehovah’s Witnesses to turn off an illuminated sign outside their Maylands hall. The congregation, which is run by a body of elders, recently installed a couple of new signs at the Eighth Avenue church, but they were bigger than…