Acknowledgement of Country//

Headlines:

• Israel expands occupation of southern Lebanon, including Lebanon’s maritime zone
• Escalation of Israeli settler violence in West Bank, sanctioned by the IDF
• Firefighters union calls out Viva Energy refinery risks, following fire last week 
• Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owners announce intentions to negotiate Treaty
• Digital Rights Watch welcomes government response to Online Safety Act 2021
• Papunya residents challenge NT government failure to heat-safe public housing

We listened to some excerpts from the Wednesday 8th April edition of 3CR's Raising our Voices program, a long-running self-advocacy radio show by people with disability for people with disability. In this segment, the team shared their experiences with direct and indirect discrimination, and ways to stop it happening. Listen back to the full episode and find out more here, and tune in to Raising Our Voices live on the first Wednesday of every month from 6-6:30PM on 3CR 855AM.//

Hadissa*, Save Community Health member, spoke to Inez this week about the vital role that cohealth Collingwood and Fitzroy have played in her life for the past 10 years as a refugee from Afghanistan. Hadissa also discussed her submission to the government funded review of cohealth, which investigated the proposed closure of the service, as well as the ongoing efforts of the Save Community Health Campaign Group. To contact or join Save Community Health please email '; // --> . *alias//

Tom Cooper, a public housing resident, organiser and member of 44 Flats United, joined us for a conversation about the state government's attack on the older persons' public housing towers, concerns about displacement, the value of community, and the importance of fighting back. This weekend, Tom and his neighbours will be celebrating the recent achievement of a majority of tenants at the 150 Inkerman Street older persons’ high-rise signing a petition committing to fight for the future of their building. To keep up to date with 44 Flats United and support their work, follow them on Instagram or visit their website.//

Doctor and organiser Shaday was back in the studio to discuss updates from the campaign to save cohealth, including news about an upcoming rally demanding the urgent release of findings of the government funded review of cohealth. The rally will be held this Sunday the 26th of April from 12PM at cohealth Collingwood (365 Hoddle St, Collingwood). Shaday is a doctor who has spent 8 years working in Victorian public hospitals, and now works in a melbourne community health centre. She remains a dedicated activist involved in the campaign against the closure of cohealth. Follow and join the campaign on Instagram.//

Disability advocate Andrew Bretherton unpacked the Albanese Government's planned cuts to the NDIS in May’s federal budget, as well as the relationships between austerity, disability and inadequate recognition for people with ME/CFS. Andrew is an advocate for disability rights and culture and is the convenor for Accessible Victorian Greens.//