Get the appYoung artists aged 12 to 16 can explore drawing, painting, collage and visual journaling at The Line & Rail Artspace in Beenleigh. The Young Artists Studio runs from 3.30pm to 5pm on Thursdays in November. Sessions include Portraits and Identity on 5 November, Drawing Your World on 12 November and From Realism to Abstraction on 26 November. Each individual session costs $15. Bookings are made through the organiser on Eventbrite.
Melbourne's Immigration Museum will host a Diwali celebration on Saturday 9 November, running from 11am to 4pm on Flinders Street. The day includes a South Asian dance cypher, which organisers describe as the first of its kind in Australia, along with a collaborative 10-metre textile artwork that visitors can add to. Rangoli design activities, henna tattoos and traditional games are also planned. Most activities are free, while Indian embroidery workshops cost $15. The event is open to all ages and backgrounds.
Workshops aimed at preventing domestic violence will be held in San Remo and Blue Haven. The sessions aim to curb rising domestic violence incidents across the Central Coast.
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Get the appMonash Council is inviting residents to register interest in STAND Project Australia, an initiative examining community narratives that affect migrant and multicultural groups. Two community workshops will be held, with the first on Thursday 12 November 2026 at Monash Youth Services in Glen Waverley. The second workshop is planned for February 2027, with the date yet to be confirmed. Attendance at both workshops is required. Participants will help develop positive alternative narratives and co-design initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Monday 2 November.
Port Macquarie's Repair Fair, to be held at the Port Macquarie Library on Sunday, 8 November, aims to reduce landfill by giving damaged items a new life. Council innovation manager Rachel Bennett said last year's inaugural event, attended by 1500 people, showed a growing appreciation for repairing rather than replacing. Visitors can learn to patch clothes, maintain bicycles, repair fishing gear, surfboards and leather goods. The fair also includes an Eco Zone, a Car Boot Sale, activities for children and a council Repair Directory listing local services.
Nine events are listed across the Illawarra this week, from 16 to 22 October. They include a bromeliad show and sale at Berkeley, and a LEGO expo at Unanderra. A Lifeline South Coast Big Book Fair runs at Berkeley, with proceeds funding local crisis support services. Other options include a textile jewellery workshop in Shellharbour, a weaving circle at Wollongong Art Gallery, and a Walk4BrainCancer event at Beaton Park.
Brimbank community houses are running a range of activities for Mental Health Month this October. Sydenham Neighbourhood House will host a Paint and Pause workshop on Friday 23 October, combining guided mindfulness with painting. Food for Your Moods, a free session at Delahey Community Centre on Friday 30 October, includes a live cooking demonstration. Brimbank Youth Services offers free counselling for young people aged 12 to 25. This year's national theme, Together We Thrive, was set by Mental Health Australia.
The Larrakia Cultural Centre, a permanent cultural hub for the Larrakia people, has attracted over 2,000 visitors since its soft opening last month. Officially launched by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the centre offers immersive cultural experiences, workshops, and facilities that celebrate and preserve Larrakia heritage. Professor Helen Garnett, Chairperson of the centre, expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting its economic and employment benefits for local Indigenous communities. The centre, funded by a $58.5 million grant, features gallery spaces, a restaurant, and conference facilities, with workshops ranging from bushtucker tastings to traditional craft sessions.
The Regulatory Reform in Practice Summit 2026 will be held in Canberra and virtually from 1-3 December, featuring National Environmental Protection Agency CEO John Bradley. Other upcoming public sector events include a Probity and Integrity in Procurement course in the ACT on 13 October, a VPS 5-6 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem Solving workshop in Melbourne on 14-15 October, and a Managing Psychological Safety Through Change session online on 20 October.
Victorian farmers are being urged to report locust activity and sick or dead shearwaters. Shearwaters are due to arrive in Victoria from the Northern Hemisphere. Authorities also say H5 bird flu has become established in wild birds in the state. Bushfire recovery grants of up to $75,000 and concessional loans of up to $250,000 are available to farmers affected by the January 2026 bushfires. Grant applications close at 4 pm on 21 October.
Moorabool Shire will host a series of music, poetry and storytelling events in Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Blackwood throughout November. The Hide + Seek Presents program features touring artists and local creatives, with a focus on First Nations music and creative writing workshops for young people. Mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor said the program is designed to spark conversation and connection across generations. Events include Thin Red Lines at Ballan Mechanics Institute Hall on 7 November, and the spoken word salon Better Off Said at Bacchus Marsh Town Hall on 20 November.
The Sewing Basket has opened its first shop outside Sydney in Casino, on the New South Wales north coast. Achieve chief executive Jo-Anne Hewitt cut the opening ribbon. Achieve is a not-for-profit disability support provider that came to the Northern Rivers in 2016. Hewitt said the shop aims to be a community space, with workshops and guest artists planned for next year. The shop is at The Chambers, 98 Walker Street, and accepts donations.
Two free photography workshops are coming to Rossville in October and November. Led by Colyn Huber from Lovegreen Photography, the hands-on sessions aim to help people make the most of the cameras they already own. Phones, tablets, digital cameras and traditional cameras are all welcome. No prior experience is needed, and families, young people and budding photographers of all ages can take part.
The Royal Geelong Show returns to the Geelong Showgrounds from 15-18 October, offering families a packed schedule of entertainment. Young visitors can interact with farm animals at Harry’s Farmyard, watch racing pigs navigate obstacles, and encounter Australian wildlife through Educreatures. High-octane thrills come from monster trucks and Polaris buggies, while gardening workshops allow children to learn about bees and plant sunflowers. With rides, showbags, and food stalls also available, the event promises fun for all ages.
The City of Wanneroo is hosting a month-long program to reduce clothing waste, featuring workshops and events. Residents can learn to repair, upcycle, and swap clothes at venues including Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, Quinns Mindarie Community Centre, and Clarkson Library. The initiative aims to promote sustainability and reduce landfill waste, aligning with Buy Nothing New Month. About 230,000 tonnes of clothing were sent to landfill in Australia in 2024–25, with only 2 per cent recycled.
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Get the appStudents at Bass Coast College in Wonthaggi, Dudley, and San Remo participated in spoken word poetry workshops led by professional poet Sas Hall. The sessions, part of the Children's Book Council of Australia's Book Week program, aimed to build confidence in creative writing. Hall, known as The Wondering Poet, guided students through interactive exercises to craft their own narratives. Some students will now have the chance to perform their original pieces in an upcoming inter-school poetry slam.