The Coalition Government is providing more than $100 million for regional, rural and remote pharmacies to better support their communities through an expansion to a critical regional pharmacy program.
Over 400 additional pharmacies will be eligible for the Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance (RPMA) program under changes announced today, with very remote pharmacies receiving significant additional funding to support the supply of medicines and healthcare in their community.
These changes will help ensure all Australians can access the medicines and pharmacy services they need, where and when they need them, and is a key outcome of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) signed with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in June 2020. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is also a Signatory to relevant parts of the Agreement.
Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing access to medicines and essential health services for the third of Australians who live in regional, rural and remote areas.
Our Government, through the RPMA, supports access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines and pharmacy services for people in regional, rural and remote communities.
The Coalition is boosting its investment in the RPMA program from $16 million per year under the previous 6CPA to $21 million per year of the 7CPA through changes agreed to by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
The changes to the RPMA program will support more than 400 new pharmacies which will be eligible for the first time to participate from areas that were previously not eligible.
This will take the total number of pharmacies eligible for the RPMA to 1215 community pharmacies.
In addition, higher allowances will be available for up to 960 community pharmacies in rural, remote and very remote areas with low prescription volumes.
The RPMA program will transition to the Modified Monash Model of rural classification, from 1 January 2021, to align with other health workforce distribution programs.
Eligible pharmacies will receive between $3,000 to $51,328 per year under this expansion, depending on their remoteness classification and PBS prescription volumes.
The Government recognises the importance of maintaining the pharmacy network to provide a steady and reliable supply of medicines and other pharmacy services, in particular to people outside in the regions.
Community pharmacies stepped up to support their patients during 2020, and have kept their doors open during this year’s bushfires, drought, floods and COVID-19 pandemic.
All Australians benefit from equitable and sustainable access to effective medicines, including highly specialised, expensive and lifesaving medicines through the PBS.
Making sure all Australians have access to timely, safe and affordable medicines continues to be an Australian Government priority.
The RPMA is one of a range of pharmacy programs supported by a $1.2 billion investment in pharmacy programs under the 7CPA.
The overall investment in the 7CPA over the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025 is expected to be $18.35 billion.
The Coalition Government has made approximately 2500 new and amended medicines listings on the PBS since 2013, at an overall investment of close to $12 billion.
Our Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.
George Tambassis, National President, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the increased support for community pharmacy.
“The Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomes this expansion of support for the vital work that community pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia perform every day.
“In many small towns across Australia, the local community pharmacy is the only health infrastructure, and it is imperative that appropriate support is given to enable those pharmacies to sustain their service to patients.”
“Direct contact with a health professional such as a community pharmacist is a benefit that all Australians should be able to have access to, wherever they live.”
“We thank the Government for agreeing to this increase in funding for the program, and we will support our Member pharmacies in making the transition to the new program,” Mr Tambassis said.
Month: December 2020
Thanks to Australia’s rural, regional and remote health workforce
Regional Australia has done exceptionally well in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and we are in a great position going into next year thanks to our world class health workforce.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the rural workforce – including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health professionals – has continually risen to the challenges of COVID-19.
“I want to particularly thank the health workers who maintained essential services in rural and remote communities during a time of great uncertainty and under considerable pressure,” Minister Coulton said.
“For many, it meant additional time away from their families and making a personal sacrifice to ensure their communities and rural Australia more broadly remained safe.
“Australia’s rural health care workers have shouldered a great burden to deliver high quality care during this crisis for the benefit of all Australians.”
“The past year has thrown up many challenges, including drought, fires, floods and the pandemic which our health system has responded to and supported communities through.”
Minister Coulton said while there were currently small outbreaks, the Federal Government’s sustained response to the pandemic, in close cooperation with states and territories and health professionals, has been extremely successful in containing the virus.
“Our management of this crisis means our world class health system was not overwhelmed by the virus.
“Australia, particularly regional Australia, has fared extremely well in comparison to the rest of the world. All Australians have played their part in helping to stop the spread of this virus.
Minister Coulton said it was important to remain vigilant and COVID-safe over Christmas and beyond to help maintain our extraordinary success.
“While many are feeling tired at the end of a long, difficult year, we should spare a thought for those who will continue to provide vital health care over the holidays,” he said.
“I extend my thanks and acknowledge the many frontline health staff who will continue to work throughout the festive season to safeguard the health of all Australians, now and into the future.”
Mandatory improvement to button battery safety to save lives
The Morrison Government is delivering on its commitment to improve the safety of button batteries with the introduction of new mandatory safety and information standards to help protect Australian children.
In Australia three children have died from injuries sustained as a result of swallowing a button battery, and since December 2017, there have been at least 44 individual cases where young children have suffered severe injuries following the ingestion or insertion of button batteries.
This equates to one child sustaining a serious button battery injury every month, with some of them sustaining lifelong injuries.
As button batteries are used in a wide range and variety of products found in people’s homes a comprehensive and broad solution is required.
This is why the new mandatory safety and information standards will require:
- secure battery compartments for consumer goods that contain button batteries, where the batteries are intended to be replaced, to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries;
- compliance testing of consumer goods that contain button batteries, whether or not the batteries are intended to be replaced, to demonstrate the battery is secure and cannot be easily released;
- child resistant packaging for button batteries, based on their risk profile, to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries; and
- warnings and information to alert consumers that a button battery is included with the product.
No other country in the world has been able to design and deliver risk based mandatory regulation that applies to all consumer products containing button batteries.
Today’s announcement is also a timely reminder in the lead up to Christmas of the dangers of button batteries and to remind parents to be alert to any that may exist in children’s presents this year.
I commend the work of the ACCC who have shared the Morrison Government’s concern about the safety surrounding the use of button batteries and have moved swiftly to reach today’s outcome.
The ACCC has undertaken extensive consultation in developing these new standards including with industry, health professionals, consumer advocates, retailers, suppliers and government.
It is important to note that the majority of stakeholders who made submissions supported new mandatory safety and information standards.
A transition period of 18 months has been provided to allow industry to implement any manufacturing and design changes to products and packaging and undertake any testing necessary to ensure compliance with the new mandatory safety and information standards.
Further information about the new standards is available on the Product Safety Australia website at: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/product-safety-laws/safety-standards-bans/mandatory-standards
Newcastle Libraries launch Your Summer Stories
With the summer holiday period fast approaching, Newcastle Libraries has your holiday reading material sorted, with an exhilarating summer reads program, offering something for everyone from podcasts, events and conversations.
Running until February 2021, Your Summer Stories encompasses a children’s summer reading challenge, with activities and grand prizes, plus, an adult (including young adult) summer reads program, featuring a curated selection of seven must read titles by award winning Australian authors:
- The Cartographer’s Daughter by Tea Cooper
- All our shimmering skies by Trent Dalton
- Sorrow and bliss by Meg Mason
- When She Was Good by Michael Robothom
- The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte
- Bluebird by Malcolm Knox
- Honeybee by Craig Silvey
You can borrow or reserve your copy from any Newcastle Libraries branch, the eLibrary, or get your Grab and Go copy at the Digital Library 12 Stewart Avenue, Newcastle West.
Head over to the Newcastle Libraries ‘Real’ podcast channel to listen to our conversational podcast series hosted by Dan Cox from 1233 ABC Newcastle, exploring the themes of resilience, change and love, featuring award-winning Australian authors. Your Summer Stories podcast episodes will be dropping regularly until late January 2021.
Your Summer Stories also Rewards Your Reading and the easiest way to get involved is by registering and using City’s new online reading and activity tracker, Beanstack or by downloading the Beanstack app for Apple or Android.
Once you have registered yourself and your family members with Beanstack, join the Your Summer Stories challenges for adults or the Your Summer Stories – Rewarding your Reading challenge for kids up to 14 years of age. When you have completed a book or an activity, log this in the challenge and see what rewards you release!
Your reading also gets rewarded in the Lean in Newy app. Download now to find out how!
By participating in our reading challenge via Beanstack – kids go in the draw to win one of three Kobo Claras or one of eight $50 vouchers from Maclean’s Booksellers.
For more information on Your Summer Stories, visit
Share your summer story on social media with #YourSummer @NewcastleLibrariesAU
Local professional surfer the face of a new COVIDSafe summer campaign
Local surf star Philippa Anderson has joined with City of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Council to promote COVID safety at local beaches and baths this summer.The Merewether surfer is the face of the interagency COVIDSafe summer campaign which consists of videos filmed on location at Newcastle, Bar, Caves and Redhead Beaches, and Merewether Ocean Baths to promote COVID safety to the community.
“I’m so proud to be part of this campaign to help spread the importance of staying safe at the beaches and baths this summer,” Anderson said.
“We are privileged to have such beautiful local beaches and ocean baths where we can surf and go for a swim, and we all have a role to play in staying safe while doing so.”
By keeping a towel length apart from one another, avoiding crowded areas at beaches and baths, and keeping our visits short, we can ensure that everyone has a chance to have a swim, surf or splash on warm summer days.
The COVIDSafe summer videos featuring Philippa Anderson will roll out on City of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Council’s website and social media platforms from today.
As part of the COVIDSafe campaign, new public announcements from the voice of local weather presenter, Gavin Morris, will be played at Newcastle and Lake Macquarie beaches to remind visitors to stay safe.
The joint agency project was supported by the NSW Police Force, on behalf of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Emergency Management Committees.
$4 MILLION BOOST FOR NSW SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS
Surf Life Saving Clubs across NSW will benefit from a $4 million funding injection following the opening of the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the program provides grants to Surf Life Saving Clubs for the upgrade and construction of new facilities.
“Surf lifesavers perform a vital service, protecting people in the water and helping the community in times of crisis,” Mr Lee said.
“It’s so important we keep their facilities modern and versatile so that they can continue to keep our beaches safe.”
Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes said Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club was the recipient of a $46,000 grant in 2018/19 for the upgrade of its first aid and patrol room.
“The volunteers at Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club are on the beaches every weekend, no matter what the weather is, protecting the residents and visitors to our beautiful Northern Beaches,” Mr Stokes said.
“The upgrade to facilities at Warriewood and other clubs in the area allows our surf lifesavers to have the best equipment when protecting the community, particularly in the peak summer season.”
President of Surf Life Saving NSW George Shales OAM said ensuring rescue facilities across NSW remained safe, accessible and secure was a top priority.
“Surf Life Saving Clubs are home base for our volunteers and this investment allows significant upgrades to improve access for our 75,000 volunteers,” Mr Shales said.
“With 129 clubs across the State, volunteer surf lifesavers performed 3,800 rescues, 197,000 preventative actions and 7,000 first aid treatments last year.”
Grants of between $30,000 and $350,000 are available to eligible NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs.
Applications open until 3 March 2021: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/SCF
PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE HUGE WIN FOR FREIGHT INDUSTRY
The freight industry will benefit from huge road safety improvements and time savings of up to three hours with the completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said now the 657 kilometre Pacific Highway duplication between Hexham and the Queensland Border was complete, primary produce, supermarket goods and hospital supplies will hit shelves faster.
“It has taken over two decades to finish the biggest regional road infrastructure project Australia has ever seen and the benefits to the freight industry are immense,” Mr Toole said.
“The Pacific Highway is the second busiest road freight route in Australia, behind the Hume Highway, with freight volumes on the upgraded section forecast to nearly double over the next 40 years to 23 million tonnes a year.
“The completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade will support this growth, allowing modern Higher Performance Vehicles to safely and efficiently travel between Sydney and Brisbane.
“The upgraded highway not only reduces travel times by almost three hours, but more modern and efficient vehicles means fewer vehicles on the road which improves safety, increases productivity and reduces freight costs.”
Jim Pearson, who operates the long established family business Jim Pearson Transport, said one of the biggest benefits of the upgrade has been improvements to safety.
“We have a fleet of about 260 modern higher productivity vehicles which make over 60 trips a day and the dual carriageway means there is plenty of room for higher capacity vehicles, making it safer for all road users,” Mr Pearson said.
“It also means we can carry more goods in less time to get where they need to be, including supermarket shelves.”
The Pacific Highway upgrade has also contributed to significant regional growth on the NSW North Coast, including benefits to local services, tourism and the economy.
Sunshine Sugar provides more than 400 direct jobs and is one of the largest contributors to the local economy, producing around 25 per cent of the domestic sugar market.
General Manager Operations David Wood said the Pacific Highway was critical to the timely delivery of products to customers with the duplication providing quicker, safer and more direct delivery into the Sydney and Brisbane markets.
“The upgrade has definitely been a positive for us, delivering savings in journey time, increased productivity and safer conditions for our drivers,” Mr Wood said.
“The highway upgrade has reduced the amount of time required to move between our three sugar mills and has eliminated the risk for trucks turning directly on and off the highway at our sites.
The opening of the new Wardell Bridge across the Richmond River as part of the upgrade has also seen the last remaining load-restricted bridge for HML vehicles on the Pacific Highway bypassed.
NEW COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR GREATER SYDNEY
To protect the people of NSW from the evolving Avalon COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney from tonight (11.59pm).
Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the following restrictions will tonight be introduced for the greater metropolitan Sydney region:
- Household gatherings will be limited to 10 visitors (until 11:59pm Wednesday 23 December).
- The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor settings including hospitality venues and places of worship.
- A cap of 300 people will apply for hospitality venues and places of worship.
- Singing and chanting at indoor venues will not be allowed.
- Dancefloors will not be permitted, except for weddings, when a maximum of 20 from the bridal party will be permitted.
People in the Greater Sydney area and the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Nepean Blue Mountains, are also asked not to visit aged care facilities until 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December, unless it is critical.
Up to 8pm last night, 36 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, 30 of which were locally acquired.
These restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of further community transmission.
‘Stay at home’ orders for residents in the Northern Beaches Local Government area will also continue until 11.59pm on Wednesday, December 23rd.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government then intends to provide further clear advice for the community ahead of Christmas.
“We realise the effect this will have on residents and venues, and hope to lift the cap and restrictions as soon as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“But we must take this action now to ensure we keep on top of this outbreak.”
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged the community to play their part in controlling the COVID spread, by getting tested if symptoms develop, by practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and by wearing a mask, particularly indoors.
“If these steps are not taken, we may see a rise in further cases,” Dr Chant said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the restrictions were a proportional and appropriate response to the threat.
“I want to thank everyone in the community for their patience and resilience. We are in the midst of a one-in-100 year pandemic and we are not out of the woods yet,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Now more than ever it is imperative that people continue to come forward for testing until we get this cluster under control.”
The government and health experts will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updated information and advice.
For more information on the cluster visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
$95 MILLION TO CONTINUE BUSHFIRE CLEAN-UP
The NSW Government is continuing to support councils and public land managers in parts of the State ravaged by last summer’s bushfires, providing a further $95 million of new funding to help manage waste from the ongoing clean-up.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the funding will provide a much-needed boost for cleaning up public land, provide valuable jobs for the regions and assist local recovery.
“Nothing is more important than a stronger and safer NSW which is why we are committed to assisting regional communities as we make our way forward,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Last summer it was fires and now we are starting to see floods, but regardless of the challenge we face we will continue to stand with our communities and support them to come back better than ever before.
“We have stood by our regional communities, providing more than $2.5 billion in bushfire recovery funding through grants, immediate clean-up, temporary accommodation and industry support.
“This new funding will play a key role in supporting our councils and public land managers to manage waste and keep the clean-up cycle moving.”
The $95 million funding, will be administered by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and be split across five programs:
· Green Waste Program: $45 million to remove burnt and partially burnt green waste from stockpiles that pose pollution and fire risks.
· Aboriginal Lands Program: $20 million to increase awareness about Aboriginal land protections and award clean-up contracts to local Aboriginal businesses.
· Council Landfill Program: $15 million to cover the costs of accepting extra waste at local landfills.
· FenceCycle Program: $10 million to recycle fencing, including up to 88,000 km of burnt boundary fencing.
· Bushfire Dumping Program: $5 million for the safe removal of illegally dumped bushfire waste and implementing deterrence measures.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the new funding will aid in the next step of the bushfire recovery process, helping to increase waste capacity, protecting the environment from illegal dumping and supporting our communities to rebuild faster and stronger than ever.
“Not only will these programs help with the ongoing clean-up they will provide local employment opportunities, with a relentless focus on engaging local sub-contractors and businesses where possible to keep the cash flowing to local economies,” Mr Kean said.
“We have worked with councils and land managers to make sure these programs address challenges they are facing on the ground, and we will continue to do everything we can to keep the recovery clean-up moving.”
The three programs targeting illegal dumping, fence recycling and council landfills will be funded by the NSW Government, while the green waste and Aboriginal land clean-up programs will be funded under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
All eligible councils and public land managers are encouraged to apply for funding for their local communities. For more information on eligibility and to apply contact the EPA via email bushfirerecovery.programs@epa.nsw.gov.au on 131 555 or visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/bushfire-recovery-programs
$45 MILLION BOOST FOR SMART PLACES IN NSW
The NSW Government will co-invest up to $45 million over three years to accelerate the development of smart places across NSW.
The NSW Smart Places Acceleration Program will allow the Government to partner with councils and place-owners, such as government agencies, owners, councils or regional organisations, to accelerate the adoption of smart technologies and capabilities in their areas.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said this program will connect and empower communities by driving investment in new technology and data.
“This $45 million investment will play a significant role in helping deliver the Smart Places Strategy,” Mr Dominello said.
“We want to use technology to make life easier for people. Whether it’s busting congestion or improving health outcomes, this funding is about strengthening communities.
“We are calling on expressions of interest and encourage all relevant councils and place-owners to bring forward ideas.”
The Government is seeking ideas and initiatives that respond to the priorities our communities see, and that can be deployed across the whole of NSW if they prove successful in trials.
Initial initiatives that are progressing have been designed to tackle challenges around parking, water recycling, mobile coverage and managing kerbside open space.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock called on all councils to take advantage of this unique opportunity to deliver measurable benefits for their local communities.
“Smart Places will open up a range of improvements for communities, from the introduction of smart CCTV to reduce crime, to reducing water usage through the use of real-time meters,” Mrs Hancock said.
“I encourage councils across the State to put their thinking caps on and get involved in this innovative project.”
To successfully access the Smart Places Acceleration Program, councils and NSW agencies should be able to demonstrate that they can meet and apply the foundational requirements established through the Smart Places Strategy.
To learn more about the Smart Places Strategy and to view the criteria and details on how to submit an expression of interest, please visit https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/strategy-and-reform/smart-places/smart-places-strategy
For further information please contact Smartplaces@planning.nsw.gov.au