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Parents will have information relating to their child’s school at their fingertips, with the NSW Government today launching the first ever ‘School Updates app’.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the app will ensure parents receive immediate alerts if their child’s school is to be closed the following day.
“The past few months have been incredibly challenging both for school communities in bushfire and now flood impacted areas,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We have learnt you can never over-communicate in a crisis. This app provides an extra channel to inform parents if their children’s school is closed.
“During the fires last year and floods this year, schools worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone was informed. The app complements these efforts with an automated and personalised alert informing parents their school is closed and to seek additional advice.”
At the peak of the bushfire crisis, in November, there were up to 20,000 people accessing school safety information on the Department’s website each minute – and a total of 1.35 million visitors in the last four months.
The app will expand over time to provide more centralised information to parents and families.
“It will be particularly helpful for parents with children at separate schools, as multiple schools can be registered on the app to provide local information,” Ms Mitchell said.
The app is an opt-in service, and is available at app stores for iOS and Android users.
Downloaded the School Updates app here:

• Apple app store

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/nsw-school-updates/id1494658146

• Google Play store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.nsw.education.nswschoolsafetyupdates
Information about non-operational schools is also available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety

Women’s health, economic and social contribution are the focus of events taking place across NSW this week as the State celebrates Women’s Week, ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8 March.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor acknowledged the important economic and social role NSW women play in the community and workforce, urging them to get involved in events that celebrate and empower them.
“From boardrooms to building sites, fundraising to firefighting, women are the backbone of our community,” Mrs Taylor said.
“NSW Women’s Week recognises and applauds the amazing work women do whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder, volunteering at the local school or collaborating on creative projects.”
More than 20 organisations across NSW have received a share of $100,000 in funding from the NSW Government to stage a range of events for women of all ages, backgrounds and interests.
Events during NSW Women’s Week include a bioengineering student challenge at the University of Sydney, a women’s art and music festival in Lismore, a business networking event in Braidwood and free sports clinics for 2,000 girls.
Now in its second year, NSW Women’s Week coincides with the NSW Women of the Year Awards on Thursday, 5 March and International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8 March.
Established under the NSW Women’s Strategy 2018-2022, the week promotes:

• economic opportunity and advancement;
• health and wellbeing; and
• participation and empowerment.

For more information on NSW Women’s Week 2020, go to: https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/nsw-womens-week
What date is NSW mens week???

Eligible Hunter residents will be able to access interest-free loans for battery and solar-battery systems which could deliver more than $250 in savings a year, thanks to a NSW Government pilot program launched today.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the pilot is an important first step in the delivery of the NSW Government’s Empowering Homes program which will reduce energy bills for up to 300,000 households while helping the State to transition to a clean energy future.
“This is about unlocking the saving and sustainability benefits offered by solar-battery systems” Mr Kean said.
“For households that use more than 6,000kWh of electricity a year, installing a solar and battery system can help reduce their annual electricity bill by putting more than $250 a year back into your pocket.
“This will help create jobs, reduce emissions, increase system security and reliability, and place downward pressure on energy costs for everyone.
“The NSW Government remains committed to achieving net zero emissions in NSW by 2050 and this is one of the many clean energy initiatives we’re introducing to deliver on that target.”
Interest-free loans of up to $14,000 for a solar-battery system, or up to $9,000 for the addition of a battery to an existing solar system will be available to owner-occupiers with an annual household income of up to $180,000.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide finance for the pilot, which will be administered by delivery partner RateSetter.
Running for up to 12 months, the pilot will be available to eligible residents who have postcodes in the areas of Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
Homeowners in the Hunter region are encouraged to check the Energy Saver website to see if their postcode is eligible and for details on how to apply. Homeowners across NSW can also register their interest in the broader program, which will be rolled out across the state after the pilot is complete: www.energysaver.nsw.gov.au/solar-battery-loan-offer

More than 20,000 social housing tenants are now accessing services and support at the touch of a button thanks to the NSW Government’s MyHousing app.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the app has been an overwhelming success and means both tenants and housing staff are saving significant time when seeking and providing support.
“Since the app went live in August, it has been used more than 112,000 times, with each individual engagement averaging less than three minutes,” Mr Ward said.
“Having access to important services and support at your fingertips means less time spent on the phone to housing staff and more time raising children, working and enjoying life.”
The app allows tenants to manage and view accounts including rent and water, as well as to make payments, lodge maintenance requests and connect to a range of supports, including temporary accommodation and homelessness services.
Tenants have given the app a resounding thumbs-up, with MyHousing receiving a 4.7/5 rating on iOS and 4/5 on Android.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the app is making life easier for thousands of housing tenants across the state.
“This app saves time and provides people with greater choice and convenience by putting more power in their hands. We are committed to using technology to tackle pain points across Government and help some of the most vulnerable in the community,” Mr Dominello said.
DCJ manages 100,000 tenancies and 60,000 applications for social housing assistance. A survey of 14,000 clients in 2018 revealed 98 per cent of them owned a smart phone and could therefore potentially access services online.
The NSW Government is also rolling out self-serve terminals at Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) offices to help streamline services for people who visit our centres to access services.
You can download the free app from the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).