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Volunteers are being empowered to provide welfare checks, deliver supplies and offer essential transport to vulnerable people through a new online platform linking community members with charities, NGOs and councils in need of support.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward encouraged volunteers and organisations to register on the new Emergency Support Volunteering website to help support people impacted by COVID-19.
“In times of crisis, we rally around each other and do everything we can to support those who are struggling. We saw it during the bushfire emergency and we are seeing it again now,” Mr Ward said.
“The pandemic is placing a significant strain on volunteer-driven organisations who support vulnerable members of our community, and many require more people to help meet demand.
“This platform allows you to register your details online and an organisation in your local area will get in touch and offer volunteering opportunities when they arise.”
The NSW Government has partnered with the Centre for Volunteering to develop the platform which is also operating in Victoria and Western Australia.
Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the platform prioritises the safety and wellbeing of participants and is designed to offer informal voluntary opportunities that consider physical distancing restrictions.
“There are many ways you can safely volunteer during the current pandemic, including by making welfare check phone calls from the comfort of your home, or by delivering groceries to those unable to do their own shopping,” Ms Rygate said.
“This new platform is a link for spontaneous volunteers and organisations, and has capacity to be used beyond COVID-19 as a means of connecting willing participants with organisations in need of support during an emergency.”
For more information, and to register, visit https://emergency.volunteer.org.au/.

Energy businesses, workers and consumer groups are being encouraged to help shape the design of the new Energy Security Safeguard, to ensure it will drive down power prices and improve the reliability of the NSW grid.
Energy Minister Matt Kean today called on interested stakeholders to respond to the Energy Security Safeguard consultation paper, which is an important next step to implement the State’s Electricity Strategy to lower power prices and improve the reliability and sustainability of the electricity system.
“The Energy Security Safeguard will extend the highly successful Energy Savings Scheme to 2050, with an energy savings target increasing to 13 per cent by 2030, to ensure households and businesses can continue to save money on their bills by upgrading to energy efficient technology.”
Mr Kean said the Safeguard will now also drive the rollout of appliances and equipment that reduce demand during peak periods when the electricity system is under stress, for example during the recent bushfire season or prolonged heatwaves.
“The existing Energy Savings Scheme supports over 1600 jobs and has already helped projects that will deliver about $5.6 billion of bill savings. This is our chance to deliver even bigger savings for consumers and support small businesses and their employees doing it tough with new markets and opportunities.”
“The energy efficiency industry is a big driver of business and employment in NSW and lowers power prices for everyone by reducing demand on the grid. I look forward to working with tradies, small businesses and other stakeholders to implement the changes as soon as possible to support a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19,” Mr Kean said.
The Energy Security Target and Safeguard consultation paper can be viewed at https://energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/consultation.
The NSW Government has also released a Draft Statutory Review Report on the Energy Savings Scheme, which can be viewed at https://energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/consultation.
An online public consultation forum for the Energy Security Safeguard will take place from mid-May with written submissions due by Monday 22 June 2020.

A fast-tracked program of courts and corrections facility upgrades is about to pump $9 million through regional economies hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Attorney General Mark Speakman said the package includes improvements to 63 regional courthouses, with upgrades to fire safety and security, as well as structural repairs and general maintenance.
“The NSW Government has prioritised projects that can begin immediately, to help communities rebuild after the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires and drought. These projects will focus on awarding construction work to small-to-medium sized businesses and prioritise local builders where possible,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Local tradies will begin working on courthouses across the state from Bega to Broken Hill and Wagga Wagga to Wilcannia to deliver the upgrades efficiently and effectively.
“Accelerating renovations is part of a huge recovery effort to kick start the economy, create jobs, support local businesses and help regional NSW get back on its feet.”
The courthouse projects are part of $10 billion in NSW Government support measures to underpin our state’s recovery from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $9 million funding forms part of more than $100 million for regional stimulus announced last month.
Mr Speakman said most of the projects will begin this month and be completed this year.
“It makes sense to carry out renovations while courts are sitting less due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because fewer disruptions mean the work can be completed faster,” Mr Speakman said.
“These investments will also put courts in the best possible position to address the busy period ahead when normal sittings resume.”
More information on the $9 million regional court upgrade program can be found at: www.coronavirus.dcj.nsw.gov.au/services/courts-tribunals-and-jury-services

The NSW Government is helping Creative Kids providers go digital in response to the COVID-19 crisis, expanding access to the popular program for kids across the State.
From today eligible Creative Kids providers will be able to access up to $5,000 in digital adaptation grants to help them offer creative learning activities online thanks to a $1 million injection.
This includes purchasing equipment and internet services to help them transition online so they can provide lessons to children or young people who are at home and can’t attend workshops or classes in person.
The program’s eligible activities are also being expanded to include those which support the 2020 school curriculum, with Creative Kids providers able to supply creative supplies and equipment such as instruments, art and craft supplies and other materials to children or young people.
The changes to the program announced today by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello include:

• $1 million in digital adaptation grants of up to $5,000 for Creative Kids providers  to further support online delivery of Creative Kids programs
• A toolkit to help providers pivot to online delivery
• Extension of the use of Creative Kids vouchers for online programs and educational materials
• Improved Service NSW website to make it easier for parents to find an online provider

Mr Perrottet said $1 million in small business grants would help arts and cultural providers deliver programs remotely providing a vital economic boost for small businesses doing it tough and keeping kids connected to quality cultural and creative activities.
“Whether it’s school education or extra-curricular activities, we want our kids to be able to maximise every opportunity. Creative Kids has been incredibly popular, and these changes will help to ensure that continues,” Mr Perrottet said.
“At times like this, adapting your business can be the key to survival. Our digital adaptation grants will flow to more businesses and sole traders in the arts and creative industries, helping to keep people in jobs and businesses in business in a sector that has been hit hard by COVID-19.”
“They say William Shakespeare wrote King Lear in quarantine, and we want to give our own generation of budding creative geniuses every opportunity to keep honing the creative skills that will enrich our culture in the years ahead.”
Mr Dominello said the updated Service NSW Creative Kids webpage would list the eligible providers and help parents navigate the process.
“In a Covidian world we need to use technology to make life easier for people. That is why we are building a new online navigator that makes it simple and hassle free for parents to identify the right program for their children,” Mr Dominello said.
The Creative Kids program offers families an annual $100 voucher for every school aged child to contribute to registration, participation and tuition costs for performing arts, visual arts, coding, languages, literature, music and other creative and cultural activities.
Applications for the Creative Kids provider grants will open 6 May 2020. To be eligible, grant applicants must:

• Be a Creative Kids Provider
• The provider must be a small business (have fewer than 20 employees). This also includes non-for-profit organisations.
• Clearly demonstrate adaptation and expansion of Creative Kids activities to online delivery
• Describe how this support can maintain or increase voucher redemption during COVID-19
• Meet the objectives of the Creative Kids program.

Find out more information including details on how to apply at www.create.nsw.gov.au

Police have charged four people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued four COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

• Just after 2am yesterday (Tuesday 5 May 2020), officers from Nepean Police Area Command were called to Station and Queen Streets, St Marys, following reports of a brawl. Upon arrival, police separated a group of seven people and directed them to leave the area. Two men – aged 21 and 22 – allegedly failed to leave after being moved on. Checks revealed the younger man received a $1000 PIN on 10 April 2020 and the older man received two $1000 PINs on separate occasions last month. The St Clair men were both issued a Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. They are due to appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday 27 July 2020.

• About 4pm yesterday, officers from Blacktown Police Area Command were patrolling when they stopped and spoke to a 23-year-old man outside a shopping centre on Patrick Street, Blacktown. Checks revealed the man was in breach of his bail conditions and has interacted with police on six prior occasions for contravening Ministerial Directions. He was arrested and as police were escorting the man, it’s alleged he threw a package of cannabis. He was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19, breach of bail and possess prohibited drug. The Marayong man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Wednesday 6 May 2020).

• About 11pm yesterday, officers from North Shore Police Area Command were called to a unit complex on Dorris Street, North Sydney, after reports of a disturbance. Police attended and found a 27-year-old man in his underwear in the complex’s underground carpark. Checks revealed he was breaching his bail conditions and had previously been dealt with for contravening Ministerial Directions. It’s alleged the man attended the location for an arranged meeting via a dating application, however, was asked to leave. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and breach of bail. The Islington man is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 28 May 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs included:

• About 11.40pm yesterday, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command observed a stationary vehicle on Maple Road, Casula, and spoke to the four male occupants. The vehicle was searched, and police allegedly found drug paraphernalia. Checks revealed three of the men – aged 20 and two aged 19 – had been given warnings on Sunday (3 May 2020) and were subsequently issued with $1000 PINs.

• About 12.30pm yesterday, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command were conducting patrols when they stopped and spoke to a 35-year-old Waterloo man drinking alcohol on Raglan Street, Waterloo. It’s alleged he could not provide a reasonable excuse for being at the location and had previously been given a warning. He was issued a $1000 PIN.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.