OnTuesday 25 November a rally opposing the cuts to the ABC and SBS services was held on the lawns of Parliament in Canberra. These servicesa are vital to continued quality programming being made in Australia for Australians. This marks a full year of Tony Abbott breaking promises and proving that he never intended to keep the promises he made to Australians before the election.
25 November 2014
On Thursday 13 November, I had the great pleasure of attending the book launch for Julia Gillards book “My Story” It is an account of her three years and three days in power and I thoroughly recommend everybody read it.
13 November 2014
On Sunday November 2 over 100 people turned out for the inaugural Tasmanian Walk 4 Brain Cancer event. Despite some truly Tasmanian spring weather we raised over $13,000 for a truly good cause. With more events like this one day we may be able to find a cure for this truly awful disease.
2 November 2014
National Asthma Council
The National Asthma Council Australia will be presenting a host of asthma education at the upcoming General Practitioner Conference & Exhibition (GPCE) and Practice Nurse Conference & Exhibition (PNCE) in Melbourne this November. There are also several other respiratory sessions on the program.
Conference attendees are encouraged to join them at the conference. Their workshops and seminars can be viewed Here.
17 October 2014
On Saturday 20 September I was proud to officiate the opening of the greens at Kingborough Bowls Club. I had a very enjoyable afternoon playing a game of bowls with the club when the greens were open.
20 September 2014
On Saturday 20 September I was delighted to attend the official opening of the CRAG Art Trail at Kettering Hall. The event was well attended and supported by State Federal Member for Franklin Lara Giddings and Mayor of Kingborough Dr Graham Bury.
20 September 2014
On Tuesday 16 September, Senator Carol Brown and I visited Hobart Pathology, on this visit we learned more about the role of Pathology in medicine and about how the proposed $7 GP Tax will adversely affect low income Tasmanians when they are at their most vulnerable.
16 September 2014
On Friday September 12 Senator Bilyk kindly hosted a fundraising afternoon tea for Brave Hearts’ White Balloon Day. The event was a great success with Federal Member Julie Collins MP and representatives from local communtiy groups attending. The ladies from Kingborough Helping Hands provided the food plenty of treats for everyone. In that one afternoon Senator Bilyk raised just under $400 to help put an end to child sexual abuse.
12 September 2014
Senator Bilyk has started a petition to call on the Senate to take action to ensure that Licensed Post Office operators are treated fairly by, and receive appropriate remuneration for, the services they provide on behalf of Australia Post. If you wish to sign the petition or collect signatures can download it here. It is also available from Senator Bilyk’s office in Kingston and certain LPOs to sign.
30 July 2014
Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement (DSBS)
Earlier this year the Abbott Government cancelled the $16 a day supplement paid to approved aged care providers to assist with the additional costs of caring for people with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia.
However, the Government has been completely silent on whether it plans to reinstate the supplement, replace it with something else or continue to leave the aged care sector in the dark.
The Government is seemingly unconcerned about whether people with severe symptoms of dementia were being afforded the extra care and support they need.
Since 1 August 2014 providers have had to operate without this extra funding support. Many of them have had to consider whether or not they can safely invest in dementia-specific initiatives.
When this supplement was ripped away with no advance warning nursing homes in Tasmania had to reassess whether they could acquire specialist staff, plans for new buildings and facilities and invest in support resources.
The Abbott Government has to stop making excuses and restore the supplement.
To take a stand against Tony Abbott’s axing of the DSBS sign the petition here: http://www.alp.org.au/dementia.
21 August 2014
On 15 August, Senator Bilyk was pleased to make a donation of paper and sundries to the CFMEU Tasmanian Sub Branch. She is pictured with Helen Hortle, Co-ordinator of Fairer World, Alex Millar and Ken Fraser of CFMEU.
15 August 2014
On 12 August Senator Bilyk, with State Member for Franklin the Hon. Lara Giddings MP, attended an open forum hosted by Melinda Tankard-Reist in Hobart about the sexualistation of women and girls in the media.
12 August 2014
Senator Bilyk had the very great honour of launching the Haemachromotosis Australia: Overload exhibition. Now in its third year, the exhibition is held at The Stable Gallery, Cooleys Hotel, Moonah and will run until 4 September when it moves to Launceston.
6 August 2014
As Co-convener of the Parliamentary Friends of Asthma Group, Senator Bilyk met with Asthma Foundation Tasmania CEO Cathy Beswick and her team Caroline, Angela, Guy, Wendy and Andrea to discuss the current projects of the Asthma Foundation.
5 August 2014
Senator Bilyk attended a Higher Education forum at UTAS with Shadow Minister Kim Carr to discuss the Tasmanian and national impacts of the Federal Government’s regressive changes to higher education.
4 August 2014
On Friday 1 August, Senator Bilyk attended the Jeans for Genes day afternoon tea at Maranoa Heights Community Centre with Federal Member for Franklin Julie Collins and Member for Franklin Lara Giddings.
1 August 2014
Senator Bilyk is Co-Convenor of Parliamentary Friends of Asthma. In this role she has met with Ms Kristine Whorlow, who is the CEO of National Asthma Council Australia, to discuss the Asthma Buddy app available on iPhone and Android mobile devices.
For more information please click on the picture or here
16 July 2014
On Tuesday 17 June, CFMEU posted this image to thank Senator Bilyk for pledging to use Australian made paper in her office supplies.
17 June 2014
Senator Bilyk attended a diabetes risk testing session with Olympian Gold Medallist Cathy Freeman to promote the importance of undergoing the simple procedure.
16 June 2014
Senator Bilyk was proud to attend the Small Steps Programme launch at the Hobart City Mission on June 11 2014. She was pictured with Mr John Stubley, Hobart City Mission CEO and Donna Evans of Good Beginnings
11 June 2014
On Friday 23 May I received the following from Stefan Romaniw, Chairman of the Australian Federation of Ukranian Organisations
“Dear Colleagues
We have hit the mark. The Russian Federation is commenting on the Australian Government’ s position.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) is grateful for the efforts of the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott and his staff , the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop and her staff ,DFAT staff and Ambassador Jean Dunn on the ground in Kyiv for taking a strong position.
Thanks also to Bill Shorten, Catryna Bilyk , Tania Plibersek, Laurie Ferguson for their support
The response of the Russian Foreign Ministry in this article is another indication that they treat the international community with contempt.
The concept of the World is watching needs to maintained and strengthened.
Once again thank you for your efforts.
Stefan Romaniw
Chairman, Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations”
23 May 2014
On Sunday 18 May Senator Bilyk was happy to take part in the Geeveston Billy Cart Derby organised by Wayraparattee Childrens Centre.
18 May 2014
Senator Bilyk was happy to give up her time to help out at the Acorn Ladies Morning Tea in Hobart
7 May 2014
Senator Bilyk was happy to visit Port Cygnet Men’s Shed recently to learn more about the work they do in their local community
6 May 2014
Senator Bilyk recently visited Geeveston Primary school to make a donation to Principal Charles White for the Breakfast Club
6 May 2014
Senator Bilyk was honoured to pay her respects to Australian soldiers, past and present, at the Snug ANZAC Day Ceremony.
25 April 2014
Senator Bilyk was proud once again to draw the annual easter raffle for the Blackmans Bay Scouts on 19 April 2014
19 April 2014
Senator Bilyk was pleased to visit the wayraparattee Family Centre in Geeveston to discuss the vital work done by Leigh Oates, Leanne Roberts and Diane Page (pictured).
15 April 2014
Senator Bilyk Recently visted Kingston Men’s Shed to learn more about the student mentoring program with students from Kingston Primary School
14 April 2014
Senator Bilyk was pleased to make a monetary donation to Sue Martyn and Edna Penicott for Loui’s Van and to give up her free time to cook food and serve those who use this vital service
10 April 2014
Senator Bilyk was honoured to attend the Barnardos Tasmanian Mother of the Year awards and to meet winner Wendy Daft and her daughter Shay
9 April 2014
Recently, US President Barack Obama signed the ‘Gabriela Miller Kids First Research Act’, dedicating millions of dollars to research into paediatric cancers. You can watch the video here.
9 April 2014
Senator Bilyk and Robyn Boucher, a Qantas worker in Tasmania whom Senator Bilyk met at Parliament House when Qantas workers, the ASU and ACTU rallied for Qantas jobs.
20 March 2014
February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Wednesday 26 February 2014 is Teal Ribbon Day. Ovarian cancer is a significant health issue for women. It is the seventh most common cause of cancer related death in Australian women. Nearly 850 women died from ovarian cancer in 2007 and it is expected that over 1400 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, which is more than all types of leukaemia combined. The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are not well known. The four key symptoms of this disease include: abdominal or pelvic pain; increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating; needing to urinate often or urgently; and difficulty eating or feeling full quickly. This Teal Ribbon Day I encourage you to wear a teal ribbon in support of ovarian cancer sufferers, and to encourage any women who experience these symptoms to talk to their doctor. Early diagnosis can save lives. The Ovarian Cancer Australia website http://www.ovariancancer.net.au/ has information on local events that you might want to get involved with, as well as other fundraising ideas.
Pictured below, Senator Bilyk with Gai Brodtmann, Ovarian Cancer Ambassador, at the Ovarian Cancer Australia Fundraiser & Awareness Event held at Parliament House this week and attended by Female Parliamentarians, staff and Press Gallery Members.
12 February 2014
Senator Bilyk was proud to meet surf lifesaver Emily Schofield, a 17 year old school student who assisted 25 individuals over four hours in the line of duty. They were pictured at the official launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving group this week.
13 February 2014
As co-convener of the Parliamentary Friends of End of Life Care Group, Senator Bilyk was honoured to co-host a parliamentary briefing on Dementia and Palliative Care at Parliament House. Keynote speakers were Professor Rod MacLeod and Ms Ita Buttrose.
12 February 2014
This week Senator Bilyk was pleased to be able to facilitate a meeting between Federal Opposition Leader, the Hon. Bill Shorten, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek (Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs), and Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM, President of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations to discuss current affairs in Ukraine.
11 February 2014
Today Senator Bilyk met with Ambassador Katharine Siao-Yue Cheng of Taiwan to discuss relations between Australia and Taiwan
6 February 2014
Senator Bilyk was proud to attend the Australia Day Award ceremony in Kingston and to be patron of the Kingston Beach Regatta Association’s “A Day on the Beach” event
Senator Catryna Bilyk 
