June 2021 – Page 6

$26 million to boost headspace services for young Australians

One in four young Australians are affected by a mental illness every year. Many young people have also been substantially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever to ensure access to youth mental health services.
headspace provides free or low cost youth-friendly support in four key areas—mental health, related physical health, substance misuse, and social and vocational support. It offers a safe, welcoming place where young people can get non-judgmental professional help and peer support, so they can tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them.
The additional funding will help headspace services that are experiencing high demand across the country to:

expand services, improving access to high quality, youth friendly mental health support
refurbish, expand or relocate headspace facilities to increase service capacity and make them more welcoming
deliver new strategies such as triage and a walk-in single session approach, workforce training, and access to more group activities.

40 headspaces services located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory will benefit from grants of up to $1.8 million each.
The grants are part of the Government’s $152 million investment in the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program, to reduce wait times and make capital improvements.
In addition, our Government has allocated $278.6 million in the 2021–22 Budget, as part of our record investment of $2.3 billion National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, to further expand and enhance the national headspace network. Ten new headspace centres will be developed and five headspace satellites will be upgraded to full headspace centres, bringing the total number of headspace services across Australia to 164.
The headspace services which will receive funding through this grant opportunity are:


State/Territory	headspace Service
New South Wales	Bathurst, Brookvale, Chatswood, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Grafton, Hurstville, Katoomba, Orange, Penrith.
Victoria	Ballarat, Bendigo, Bentleigh, Collingwood, Dandenong, Frankston, Glenroy, Mildura, Narre Warren, Shepparton, Sunshine, Swan Hill, Warrnambool.
Queensland	Caboolture, Cairns, Toowoomba, Taringa, Woolloongabba.
South Australia	Adelaide, Berri, Edinburgh North, Marion, Mount Barker, Onkaparinga, Port Adelaide, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Victor Harbor.
Western Australia	Albany
Northern Territory	Darwin

These investments will ensure better social and health outcomes for young Australians, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential in life.
The funding reinforces our Government’s strong commitment achieving better mental health for all Australians, and will complement the existing investment of $6.5 billion in mental health services in 2021-22.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through headspace, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Lifeline (13 11 14), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.

Local Government A Priority For Labor

An Albanese Labor Government would welcome local government back to Parliament by re-establishing the Australian Council of Local Government.
In 2008, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese established the Australian Council of Local Government as then Local Government Minister to “provide a new nation building partnership between the Commonwealth and local government.”
It was an annual meeting with the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Mayors, Shire Presidents and local government stakeholders engaging directly on matters of significance to local and federal governments.
The Liberals abolished the Council, ripping away an important function of the relationship between the two levels of government.
The Prime Minister kicked local government to the kerb when he replaced COAG with the National Cabinet.
As the closest level of government to our communities, local government served as an important part of the COAG process. The Liberals ignored the voices of our communities when they push local government to the kiddies table.
In addition to re-establishing the Australian Council of Local Government, Labor is also committed to putting local government on National Cabinet.
Throughout bushfires, floods and the COVID pandemic, council workers have been vital to providing services to help get us through.
The Liberals will never make local government a priority.
Only the Australian Labor Party will.

National Cabinet Statement

The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response to the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
There have been 30,356 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 19.7 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Globally there have been over 178.4 million cases and sadly over 3.8 million deaths, with 305,611 new cases and 6,700 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. To date 6,590,741 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 34,712 in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, more than 723,442 vaccines have been administered in Australia. To date 26.7 per cent of the Australian adult population have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 65.2 per cent of over 70 year olds.
National Cabinet agreed on the imperative to work together to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians as quickly as possible.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Professor Brendan Murphy, Chair of the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group and Secretary of the Health Department, and Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
Vaccine Roll Out
National Cabinet noted the updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the changes to the COVID-19 vaccination program.
The updated advice of ATAGI recommends the Pfizer vaccine is the preferred vaccine for adults under the age of 60, and that people aged 50-59 can now book appointments for the Pfizer vaccine.
All states and territories agreed to prioritise Pfizer appointments for people aged 40-59 and Phase 1a and 1b eligible people under the age of 40 years of age.
The Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Lieutenant General Frewen, provided each state and territory government with planning projections of Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses for their jurisdiction over the remainder of 2021, to inform state and territory vaccination plans.
The Coordinator General confirmed that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocations are provided on a proportional population basis. The Coordinator General confirmed that the Commonwealth delivers all first dose allocations to states and territories with matching second dose allocations delivered three weeks after first doses are administered. This ensures that states and territories have control over allocation of first and second doses administration based on the supply schedules.
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth is fast tracking plans to expand the number of access points for Pfizer. By the end of July, all 136 Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics, 40 ACCHS and 1,300 GPs will be administering Pfizer. Many more primary care providers will be offered the chance to administer mRNA vaccines as the supply of Pfizer significantly increases and the first supplies of Moderna arrive in September/October.
National Cabinet noted the forward COVID-19 vaccines communications strategy.
The Coordinator General confirmed that based on our expected supply picture, Australia remains on-track to offer every eligible person in Australia a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.

$26 million to boost headspace services for young Australians

The Morrison Government is investing an additional $26 million in headspace services to ensure that young people can access mental health services where they need them and when they need them.
One in four young Australians are affected by a mental illness every year. Many young people have also been substantially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever to ensure access to youth mental health services.
headspace provides free or low cost youth-friendly support in four key areas—mental health, related physical health, substance misuse, and social and vocational support. It offers a safe, welcoming place where young people can get non-judgmental professional help and peer support, so they can tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them.
The additional funding will help headspace services that are experiencing high demand across the country to:

expand services, improving access to high quality, youth friendly mental health support
refurbish, expand or relocate headspace facilities to increase service capacity and make them more welcoming
deliver new strategies such as triage and a walk-in single session approach, workforce training, and access to more group activities.

State/Territory	headspace Service
New South Wales	Bathurst, Brookvale, Chatswood, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Grafton, Hurstville, Katoomba, Orange, Penrith.
Victoria	Ballarat, Bendigo, Bentleigh, Collingwood, Dandenong, Frankston, Glenroy, Mildura, Narre Warren, Shepparton, Sunshine, Swan Hill, Warrnambool.
Queensland	Caboolture, Cairns, Toowoomba, Taringa, Woolloongabba.
South Australia	Adelaide, Berri, Edinburgh North, Marion, Mount Barker, Onkaparinga, Port Adelaide, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Victor Harbor.
Western Australia	Albany
Northern Territory	Darwin

These investments will ensure better social and health outcomes for young Australians, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential in life.
The funding reinforces our Government’s strong commitment achieving better mental health for all Australians, and will complement the existing investment of $6.5 billion in mental health services in 2021-22.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through headspace (https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Lifeline (13 11 14), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).

More support for first home buyers and single parents with children

The Morrison Government will release an additional 30,000 places to eligible applicants under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, the New Home Guarantee program, and the Family Home Guarantee from 1 July 2021.
Since the introduction of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and New Home Guarantee, almost 30,000 Australians have been able to enter the housing market.
As announced in the 2021-22 Budget, the Government will establish the Family Home Guarantee to support single parents with dependants, subject to the passage of legislation.
Starting 1 July 2021, 10,000 guarantees will be made available to eligible single parent families to build a new home or purchase an existing home with a deposit of as little as 2 per cent.
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar said that the new places will assist Australians in achieving the aspiration of home ownership.
“The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme has been a landmark success of the Morrison Government since its commencement in 2020. 30,000 first home buyers have been supported into home ownership through First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and New Home Guarantee already,” Minister Sukkar said.
“We know how difficult it can be to buy a new home or re-enter the housing market, and that saving a deposit is the hardest part of getting into home ownership. That’s why the Morrison Government has established the new Family Home Guarantee, which recognises the challenge of saving for a deposit is that much more difficult when you are a single parent with children.
“By supporting single parents and their children, we are helping them achieve the security and dignity that home ownership provides.
“Through our First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and the New Home Guarantee Program, the Morrison Government is helping more first home buyers and single parent families overcome the challenges of saving for a deposit and realising the Australian dream of owning your own home.
“With the 30,000 new places available from 1 July, now is the time for potential applicants to contact a participating bank or mortgage provider and get their applications underway.”
The New Home Guarantee commenced on 6 October 2020 as a temporary expansion of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. It will provide an additional 10,000 places for first home buyers seeking to build a new home or purchase a newly built dwelling with a deposit of 5 per cent and a construction commencement timeframe of 12 months.
To ensure that people can continue to purchase a home, as well as accommodate larger families under the Family Home Guarantee, the Government is also announcing the new property price caps under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.
These new property price caps will also apply to the Family Home Guarantee, while the same property price caps apply under the New Home Guarantee:

	First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and Family Home Guarantee property price caps, effective 1 July 2021		New Home Guarantee property price caps, effective 6 October 2020
	Capital City	Rest of State	Capital City	Rest of State
NSW	$800,000	$600,000	$950,000	$600,000
VIC	$700,000	$500,000	$850,000	$550,000
QLD	$600,000	$450,000	$650,000	$500,000
WA	$500,000	$400,000	$550,000	$400,000
SA	$500,000	$350,000	$550,000	$400,000
TAS	$500,000	$400,000	$550,000	$400,000
ACT	$500,000	–	$600,000	–
NT	$500,000	–	$550,000	–

The capital city price thresholds apply to regional centres with a population over 250,000, recognising that dwellings in regional centres can be more expensive than other regional areas. Regional centres include: Newcastle and Lake Macquarie; Illawarra (Wollongong); Geelong; Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Information on how to apply, eligibility requirements and the participating panel of lenders, is available on the NHFIC website.

Community given sneak peek of library upgrade to celebrate 150 years of Lambton

Lambton locals are set to be given a sneak peek at the restoration of the city’s oldest library building as part of a celebration of Lambton’s 150^th anniversary occurring this week.
Lambton Library was constructed in 1887 and was initially used as the Lambton Council Chamber before being converted into a library in 1950.

The century-old heritage protected building has been undergoing a significant facelift during the past 18 months and has been closed to the public since COVID-19 restrictions came into force in March 2020.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the community would be given a sneak peek of the ongoing works during this week’s community-led “Love Lambton” event, with the library also delivering a series of activities that will help bring the suburb’s history to life.
Lambton Library will temporarily re-open to the public on June 21, 26 and 27, before closing again for the finishing touches to the building to be completed.
“This much-loved community building has been a focal point for Lambton residents for more than 100 years as first a council chamber and for the past 71 years a public library,” Cr Nelmes said.
“While the passing of time has taken its toll on the building, City of Newcastle is prioritising essential improvements to deliver an improved space to the community.
“The roof restoration and an internal fitout including new equipment and self-service technology are now complete, however we still need to construct a bullnose verandah and entry, which will restore the building’s original heritage façade and create a fully accessible library entrance for the community.
“Once finished, Lambton Library’s refurbishment will have completely re-imagined the internal space to create a user-centric, modern experience that will allow extended community access and new activities in the library.
“While we look forward to permanently welcoming everyone back into the library later in the year, the Love Lambton celebration provides an ideal opportunity to show the results of this transformation so far while also helping to celebrate Lambton’s 150^th anniversary.”
Queen Victoria signed the papers to designate Lambton as a municipality on 26 June 1871. To commemorate the anniversary, a community-led Love Lambton 150 Years committee is delivering 150 hours of events, entertainment and community activations from 21-27 June, with City of Newcastle providing $12,000 through the Event Sponsorship Program.
Newcastle Libraries’ Local History team, in partnership with Curious Legends, have curated a collection of historic images showing the people and places around Lambton that will be projected onto the side of Lambton Library from 5.30pm – 10pm throughout the event. Historic images will also be used for an augmented reality experience in three sites around Lambton Park, which can be accessed via the City of Newcastle app.
Lambton Library will display rare documents including original minute books of Lambton Council, photographs of the first Lambton Councillors, early Lambton maps and plans, and samples of the first rates notices, while a podcast series with local historian Julie Keating is also being developed.

'Safeguards' Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams

A record government investment in child and adolescent mental health will ensure thousands of children and teenagers across NSW have access to specialised care.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor today announced funding for 25 Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams included in the 2021-2022 NSW State Budget.
Mr Perrottet said the funding package would enhance specialist child and adolescent mental health services in every Local Health District over the next four years.
“We’re committed to improving the health and safety of our young people and this new model of care will be launched with an initial $18 million investment, with a total of $109.5 million allocated over the next four years,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The new multidisciplinary teams will be established across the state, providing rapid and flexible community care responses to children and adolescents in acute mental health distress.”
Mrs Taylor said the ‘Safeguards’ teams will provide community based support to help children, teens and their families coordinate all aspects of their care.
“This is a game changer in addressing mental health for children and teenagers.
It’s all about bringing the right care at the right time and in the right place to children, adolescents and their loved ones,” said Mrs Taylor.
“These clinicians will work with patients and their families for 6-8 weeks providing wraparound support at home and school as well as facilitating access to follow-up care as required.”
“These teams will then transition the patients into longer term mental health community based supports.”
Skilled child and adolescent mental health clinicians will also help families in coordinating other aspects of their children’s mental health needs by linking them with appropriate services as needed such as GPs, private psychiatrists, headspace centres, education and vocational supports, NDIS providers, youth organisations or other needs such as housing providers.

$8.5 million in support for migrants and refugees

To mark Refugee Week, the NSW Government has announced $8.5 million over three years to continue important support programs for refugee, new and emerging communities as part of the 2021-2022 NSW Budget.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the multi-year funding will ensure the continuation of key projects for newly arrived communities.
“Funding in this space will ensure we can continue to support our refugees, newly arrived migrants and emerging communities with programs to help them settle and thrive,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Programs such as these are central to the successful integration of newcomers. In particular, they are crucial in helping to reduce social isolation for families who don’t have established networks or access to support.”
The funding will enable the continuation of programs to help newcomers find educational and employment opportunities, navigate and access support services and create community connections.
Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward said the NSW Government works incredibly hard, through cross-sector collaboration with our broader community, to ensure newcomers feel welcome and supported.
“We are committed to bringing existing and emerging communities together, and seeing people from all backgrounds thrive,” Mrs Ward said.
“Refugee Week is also a chance to extend our gratitude to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers for their valuable contributions to our communities.”
The NSW Government is also committed to progressing opportunities for regional resettlement through an existing $3 million investment to deliver the NSW Growing Regions of Welcome (NSW GROW) Pilot Program, which has launched today.
NSW GROW aims to attract and retain newcomers, and to assist with relocation to regional NSW.
“This funding will improve NSW’s capacity to promote social cohesion and encourage successful settlement across the state,” Mrs Ward said.
The NSW Coordinator General for Settlement, Professor Peter Shergold AC, said this significant investment will continue to achieve positive outcomes for NSW.
“NSW GROW will address critical workforce needs in regional areas that would usually be filled through overseas migration,” Professor Shergold said.
“This Program will support coordinated efforts across sectors to create secondary migration linkages between western Sydney and regional NSW and drive sustainable social and economic outcomes for participating regional communities and newcomers alike.”
The Australian Red Cross and Regional Development Australia will support delivery of NSW GROW in western Sydney, and the Murray and Riverina regions.
For more information about Multicultural NSW, visit: www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au

$21.6 Million to build specialist cardiac capacity for patients across NSW

People with a type of debilitating heart valve disease will have greater access to specialist treatment, wherever they live in NSW, thanks to a $21.6 million funding boost from the NSW Government.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding in the upcoming 2021-22 NSW Budget will help patients with aortic stenosis, particularly the elderly, who may have no or extremely limited treatment options.
“This funding will allow complex patients who can’t undergo open heart surgery, to have a less invasive, life-saving procedure,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Importantly, this will also improve quality of life. In an ageing population, this is a critical issue and we need to ensure our health system is able to help support that.”
Aortic stenosis is a condition where the aortic valve cannot fully open and close, restricting blood flow. It is generally caused by a build-up of calcium on the heart valve leaflets, and is the most common type of heart valve disease in elderly Australians.
During a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure, an artificial aortic valve is implanted into the patient’s heart via a thin tube inserted into an artery, and maneuvered with a wire up to the heart.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said TAVI is one of the great success stories in interventional cardiology and this funding offers opportunities to expand this treatment option to our most complex patients.
“Importantly the investment will help NSW Health define and strengthen referral pathways for our regional and rural patients into the seven hospitals offering the highly-specialised High-risk TAVI service,” Mr Hazzard said.
“In addition to extending and improving the quality of life of those affected, our aim is also to build specialist capacity within our health system to deliver TAVI to this high-risk cohort of patients.”
The High-risk TAVI Supra-LHD Service will be available at John Hunter Hospital, Royal North Shore, Royal Prince Alfred, St Vincent’s, Westmead, Liverpool and at a yet to be determined hospital within South East Sydney Local Health District.
The investment in expanding the revolutionary key-hole heart surgery follows the NSW Government’s $150 million investment in cardiovascular disease in the 2018 Budget

Multi-million investment in sport infrastructure

The NSW Government has announced a major investment in sports facilities across NSW awarding more than $52 million in grants under the Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund.
Eighty-nine sporting bodies and councils across NSW have shared in the investment to boost sporting infrastructure across the state.
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the projects would keep communities healthy and active while creating a sports infrastructure construction boom.
“The NSW Government recognises investing in new and existing sports infrastructure is vital to improving the health and wellbeing of NSW residents,” Mrs Ward said.
“Over the next two years, we will continue to stimulate local economies, boost employment and importantly, facilitate healthy lifestyles by investing in sports infrastructure.
“These projects will continue the construction boom across the State as part of the NSW Government’s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure pipeline.”
The Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund provides grants from $100,000 – $1 million to Councils, local sporting bodies, NSW State Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability, National Sporting Organisations and private enterprises.
Highlights of Round One include funding for the construction of community snow sport facilities at the National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC), upgrades to Temora Swimming Pool, Moree Artisan Aquatic Centre and netball facilities at Fred Finch Park, Berkeley, plus the redevelopment of amenities at Darling Street Oval, Hamilton South.
Mrs Ward said projects aimed to improve existing accessibility, inclusion and participation opportunities for females and people with disability were a priority of the Fund.
“Providing sports facilities to meet the needs and expectations of the community is a focus of the Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund,” Mrs Ward said.
For further information on the Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants