Media Centre
For media enquiries, please email marketing@commsatwork.org
Latest Media Releases for Download:
From food skills to life skills – How Canberra families are being supported through the OzHarvest NEST program (15 April 2026)
Communities at Work Galilee School calls for support in transforming a stone barn into a working cafe for disadvantaged hospitality students (2 March 2026)
Communities at Work to transition centre-based disability services participants to alternative providers (24 February 2026)
Communities at Work response to Legislative Assembly release of documents (24 Dec 2025)
Communities at Work response to Legislative Assembly release of documents (24 Dec 2025)
Family Day Care team named National Service of the Year (27 Oct 2025)
Communities at Work new CEO Lesley Jordan (7 Oct 2025)
The ACT Children First Alliance Urge the ACT Government to Strengthen Support for Community-Based Early Childhood Services (27 March 2025)
Empowering Canberra’s Youth: Galilee School and Lions Youth Haven join Hands Across Canberra Canberra Day Appeal (26 February 2025)
Canberra’s newest markets strike the perfect balance (22 January 2025)
25 years on: Galilee School’s unique mission to guide disadvantaged youth on the path to success (11 September 2024)
Budget boost for early childhood educators (15 May 2024)
Christmas Appeal supported by CMET and Gungahlin Village (29 November 2022)
Communities at Work to Welcome New CEO (4 October 2022)
Communities at Work wins ACT Large Employer of the Year at the ACT Training Awards for the 4th time (16 September 2022)
New Community Partnership Helps Vulnerable Youth Kickstart Their Careers (1 August 2022)
Communities at Work to reduce fees by 95% for educators with children enrolled in their services (28 February 2022)
Santa appeals to Canberra’s Christmas Spirit (1 December 2021)
MEDIA STORIES
The section below lists stories featuring Communities at Work published in the media. Please click on a link to open the story in a new tab.
6 March 2026: ABC Radio
Creating hope, belief and career pathways for disengaged teens
Interview with Tim McNevin, principal of Galilee School, chatting about his vision to turn an old stone barn on the campus to a working cafe for the disengaged hospitality students, to give them hope, self-confidence and a career pathway.
4 March 2026: Canberra Times
It survived the 2003 fires. Now, it’s about to change the lives of countless young people
Bosco’s Barn, a stone barn at Galilee School that survived Canberra’s 2003 bushfires, could soon help rebuild the futures of vulnerable young students, thanks to the Hands Across Canberra ‘Canberra Day Appeal’ fundraising drive to raise $15,000 to transform the barn into a training cafe.
4 March 2026: Canberra Daily
Bushfire survivor to student futures: Bosco’s Barn set for life-changing transformation
A stone barn that survived Canberra’s 2003 bushfires could soon help rebuild the futures of vulnerable young people at Galilee School, through a Hands Across Canberra ‘Canberra Day Appeal’ fundraising drive to raise $15,000 for Bosco’s Cafe.
16 Nov 2025: Region Media
Fill hearts instead of carts this Black Friday
Galilee School joins forces with OPC, Naming Rights Sponsor of our Black Friday Ball, to raise funds to support high school students dealing with complex life challenges.
29 Oct 2025: The Sector
Family Day Care team wins national award
Our Family Day Care teams wins Service of the Year at Family Day Care Australia’s 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.
8 Oct 2025: 2CC Radio
Meet our New CEO – Lesley Jordan
New CEO Lesley Jordan is interviewed by Rod Henshaw to discuss her plans and vision for Communities at Work.
6 Oct 6025: Canberra Times
Canberra’s most complained-about, compliance-breaching childcare centre still ‘exceeding’ standards
An overview of Canberra’s childcare providers and complaints and compliance-breaching.
25 March 2025: ABC Radio Afternoon Show
Canberra’s first Human Library event coming soon
Community Services Senior Manager Bas Smit and ‘human book’ Liz Stephens are interviewed about Canberra’s first Human Library event – a unique community connection initiative.
29 Jan 2025: ValleyFM Radio
How Galilee School is helping Canberra’s disadvantaged youth.
Galilee School principal Tim McNevin talks about Galilee School’s impact, its 25th anniversary, student testimonials and the second upcoming community market.
28 Jan 2025: 2CC Radio
Come along to the South Canberra Community Markets
Galilee School principal Tim McNevin promotes the second upcoming community market, in support of vulnerable youth.
8 Jan 2025: ABC Radio
Calling for storytellers for Canberra’s first Human Library
Community Services Senior Manager, Bas Smit invites people to share their life stories at Canberra’s first Human Library. (from 55.22 to 1.03.99)
16 Dec 2024: Canberra Times
Childcare centres opt out of the Albanese Government’s grant to boost wages
Director of Children’s Services, Kellie Stewart, talks about how signing up for the new government grant may leave our organisation well over one million dollars out-of-pocket.
13 Nov 2024: ABC Radio
Food Bank and Community pantries: working together to feed people in need
Our Community Services Senior Manager Bas Smit and volunteer Libby talk about how our community pantries help feed people in need.
2 Nov 2024: FM106.3
South Canberra Community Markets opens its doors today
Galilee School principal Tim McNevin invites the Canberra community to visit the opening day of the South Canberra Community Markets.
1 Nov 2024: Riot Act
Family Day Care Manager wins National Award
Our Family Day Care Manager, Theresa Roberts, wins the Perpetual Star Award at the 2024 Australian Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.
26 Oct 2024: CMS FM91.1 Radio
Getting involved with Celebrate Gungahin Festival
Community Services Director Ruth Zanker talks about our community service activities on show at the upcoming Celebrate Gungahlin Festival.
23 Oct 2024: ABC Radio Morning Program
Newest Canberra markets: South Canberra Community Markets opens
Galilee School principal Tim McNevin introduces Canberra’s newest community markets: a joint venture between the school and Lions Youth Haven to support programs for vulnerable youth. (Scroll to 1h 39min)
1 June 2024: ABC Radio
Galilee School: its mission and impact
Galilee School principal, Tim McNevin, talks about the mission of the school and the impact it has on young people facing life challenges and trauma.
18 Dec 2023: FM106.3
How is our Christmas Appeal impacting the Canberra community?
Community Services Director Ruth Zanker talks to 106.3 breakfast show presenter Nigel about how the Pack the Bus initiative and our Christmas Appeal help people in need and the amazing response from the community.
1 Dec 2023: Social Media – various
Organisations across Canberra support our Christmas Appeal
Giving Tree hosts across Canberra share their donation drives in support of the Communities at Work Christmas Appeal.
22 Nov 2023: WIN TV News
Communities at Work Pack the Bus Christmas Appeal official launches
Canberra FM Radio’s fundraiser Pack the Bus in support of our annual Christmas Appeal officially launches today.
9 November 2023: WIN TV News
Post -COVID anxiety leads to increased student absenteeism
Galilee School Principal Tim McNevin provides his views during discussions at Parliament House on the rise of post-COVID student absenteeism and resistance to schoolwork.
30 Oct 2023: Canberra Times
ACT Government funding for independent schools
Galilee School received the second largest amount of capital grant funding amongst Canberra’s independent schools.
17 Aug 2023:
ABC journalist Adrienne Francis extolls the benefits of Canberra’s op shops
Adrienne Francis cites our Best Dressed Store in Manuka among her favourite op shops for vintage fashion – and a bit of fun!
16 Aug 2023: Mirage News
Business Women’s Networking event comes to Canberra
A nationally successful women’s networking event on handling conflict, hosted by Angie Ford, is coming to Canberra, with money raised going to Communities at Work.
7 June 2023: ABC Radio Drive Show
Our Centres support ACT’s Government’s free period products
Community Services Director Ruth Zanker talks about the ACT Government’s introduction of free period products, and how our centres already support people in need through a Share the Dignity vending machine.
03 May 2023: The Educator Australia
Galilee School: Schools that are making a big difference to disengaged students.
Schools that are making a big difference to disengaged students. Galilee is the first of 7 case studies across 96 independent special assistance schools around Australia.
21 May 2023: ABC RADIO
Tim talks about Galilee School successes
Galilee School is one of Canberra’s quiet achievers. Alice Matthews from ABC Radio Canberra found out just what an impact the school is having on the community when she recently interviewed Principal Tim McNevin.
19 May 2023: CANBERRA WEEKLY
How Best Dressed Store and clothing program help people
Need clothes for a job interview, funeral, court, or another important event but can’t afford them? An op shop about to celebrate its one-year anniversary at its Franklin Street location helps Canberrans become their best dressed selves.
14 MAY 2023: ABC RADIO
Trevor encourages businesses to host CANstruction food donation drives
Listen to Trevor Gilbertson, our Social Programs Manager, on ABC Radio as he addresses the cost-of-living crisis and how you can help. CANstruction is a friendly competition within an organisation to see which team can build the best construction from cans and other food products. This helps encourage food donations to our pantries whilst having a lot of fun.
7 December 2022: ABC TV News
Jo Cochrane invited to comment on the pot holes on Canberra Roads
Jo Cochrane was asked to comment on the state of Canberra’s roads given all the potholes from recent rain…
2 August 2022: HERCanberra
Iconic Canberra charities partner to give vulnerable youth a chance to kickstart their careers
Coming together to support vulnerable youth, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled and Communities at Work Galilee School have announced a new partnership…
1 August 2022: WIN NEWS Canberra
Next generation of workers getting much-needed hands-on experience
Galilee School’s vulnerable students will gain much-needed work experience as part of an innovative Farm Skills Program in partnership with Pegasus Riding for the Disabled…
18 May 2022: ABC NEWS Canberra
Child care isn’t accessible for many shift workers due to lack of extended-hours centres
Lee Maiden from Communities at Work, which runs 12 childcare centres in Canberra, says the organisation simply did not have the capacity to open longer than the current 10.5 hours per day…
13 May 2022: HerCanberra
Looking for a dose of happiness and wellbeing? Here’s why you should try volunteering
One proven way to improve both your mental and physical well-being for the long term is through volunteering. While at its core, volunteering may be all about helping others, you might be surprised…
11 April 2022: HerCanberra
A casual job that is flexible, rewarding and fun? Sign us up!
The timings of OSHC work out really well with my timetable. I’m able to go to uni in the middle part of the day and then work in the morning or the afternoon, either side of uni…
9 MARCH 2022: HerCanberra
Koala, quokka mates help children talk about their feelings in changing world
Adults have learned to adapt to our ‘new normal’ and adjust our expectations. But how have our children coped and what strategies can help them process the events making headlines…
7 MARCH 2022: HerCanberra
Breaking the gender bias in the workplace this IWD
Often, great change can start from as little as a conversation. To celebrate the IWD theme and encourage conversations around the acceleration of women’s equality, local organisation Communities at Work is hosting a thought-provoking online discussion…
1 MARCH 2022: WIN NEWS (TV)
Communities at Work hoping to repair its struggling workforce by providing a discount on fees for its educators
As the number of childcare workers declines, Communities at Work is slashing the costs for educators who themselves have kids enrolled in services…
28 FEBRUARY 2022: The Sector
Communities at Work latest provider to bring 95% discount to educator parents
The move takes full advantage of a recent legislative change which makes provision for ECEC providers to offer a discount of up to 95 per cent on the gap fee paid by employees of ECEC services who have children attending care in the same network…
11 FEBRUARY 2022: HerCanberra
Can you move sideways in your career and still love it? Chloe thinks so
If you feel like you’ve hit a bit of a ceiling with your current role, or are questioning whether you’ve found your calling, it might be time to look at other opportunities to progress your career…
04 December 2021: RiotACT
Pack the bus with gifts for those in need this Christmas
There’ll be a bus pulling up at locations all over Canberra next week. This may not sound like news, but this isn’t just any bus. Bus 702 is basically a Christmas tree on wheels…
03 December 2021: RiotACT
How Communities at Work helps Canberrans live their most independent lives
Jo Cochrane, who heads up lifestyle services at Communities at Work, is direct about its endgame, and why the organisation’s support workers are called life skill educators…
02 December 2021: The Sector
Santa visits Gungahlin Village shopping centre to launch Communities at Work appeal
Santa has made his annual pilgrimage to Gungahlin Village shopping centre in the ACT, dropping off donations for the Communities at Work Christmas Appeal to help bring joy to struggling Canberrans…
23 November 2021: Radio Today
Mix 106.3 Packs the Bus to help families this Christmas
Mix 106.3 in Canberra is filling a bus with food and toys to deliver to families in need this Christmas, and listeners are being asked to help. The mission, in partnership with Transport Canberra and Communities at Work…
10 NOVEMBER 2021: HerCanberra
Five reasons your business should consider supporting a charity this Christmas
Whether you like it or not, the festive season is upon us. It’s a time for giving, and as well as treating your loved ones and clients, it’s also the perfect time to do what you can to support the community that supports you…
29 October 2021: The Canberra Times
Early childhood education welcome children after taking financial hit during lockdown
Communities at Work’s Ngunnawal Child Care and Education Centre manager, Natasha Weissmann said there were a few tears but mostly joy when the children signed in with their COVID-safe procedure…
13 October 2021: ABC Radio
Child care isn’t accessible for many shift workers due to lack of extended-hours centres
Communities at Work’s CEO Lee Maiden discusses mandating vaccinations and additional measures taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Canberra community…
13 October 2021: The Canberra Times
Mandatory COVID vaccination for many Canberra teachers, school staff to come into force next month
Communities at Work chief executive Lee Maiden said it was a positive step for early education and care and outside-school-hours care workers to be vaccinated. Her organisation had already decided…
5 October 2021: HerCanberra
The rewarding career where you can truly move people
When Julie Trueman moved to Canberra from Queensland four years ago, she was looking for a job. She saw a role advertised as a driver for Communities at Work and figured she liked driving…
20 September 2021: The Sector
Communities at Work wins large employer of the year for third year in a row
13 August 2021:ABC Radio
Here for Canberrans during the ACT Lockdown
As the ACT enters a snap lockdown, there are many questions surrounding to continuation of the services people rely on…
9 August 2021:ABC Radio
Supporting clients and the wider community to complete the 2021 Census
Through a series of pop up services hosted by the ABS, Communities at Work is giving people to opportunity to ask their questions and find support while filling out their 2021 Census…
29 July 2021: HERCANBERRA
Here’s why you should consider family day care for your child
Finding the perfect childcare option for your children that is available, affordable, and conveniently located can be difficult, not to mention somewhere that is safe, has a great atmosphere…
29 July 2021: Canberra Times
Early childhood sector calls on ACT government to support educators amid shortage
28 July 2021: ABC Canberra
This Canberra teenager says she owes her life to this School – now it’s opening its doors to more students.
When she dropped out of school halfway through year nine, Jordan-Jo thought her education was over. Living in a shelter with her mum…
27 July 2021: Canberra Weekly
Galilee School expands Holder campus
Canberra’s only special assistance school, Galilee School, has just completed construction works at their Holder campus as they expand into offering year 11 and 12…
26 July 2021: ABC Radio
Galilee School offers students a chance to reconnect with learning
With a newly expanded Holder campus, Galilee School looks to allow students to continue their learning through to year 11 and 12…
07 July 2021: HerCanberra
Discover south Canberra’s hidden gem of an upmarket op-shop
Find a bargain, help the environment, and support important community initiatives at the Communities at Work’s Best Dressed Store at South.Point…
30 June 2021: The riotact
Behind the scenes of great school holiday programs that children love
Sliding in mud, splashing in water and playing with chicks, they’re all sure-fire ingredients of a great school holiday program, according to those who know – children…