Month: September 2021

As students and staff are preparing for a return to face-to-face learning in NSW public schools next month, the NSW Government is ensuring that all schools are safe, clean and secure.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Department of Education is carrying out a systematic review of all learning spaces, including libraries and halls, to ensure all schools continue to operate in the safest ways possible.
“We are working with our schools to develop their specific return to school plans and implement the relevant on site restrictions; while this occurs we are also making sure each room is suitable for students return,” Ms Mitchell said.
The review will focus on ventilation in classrooms and also provide support to schools to adapt lessons to make full use of school facilities including outdoor learning areas.
“Most NSW public schools have openable windows. The review will ensure that all windows operate efficiently allowing natural ventilation, and that ceiling fans and air conditioning systems  are operating effectively and serviced regularly,” Ms Mitchell said.
Schools with air conditioning systems are also being checked to ensure they are fully operational, and the frequency of filter servicing and cleaning will be increased.
“This is a mammoth task, as we have 2,200 schools in the public system with more than 50,000 learning spaces.”
“The health of students and staff has always been our priority and parents should feel confident their child’s school is well equipped to keep them as safe as possible,” Ms Mitchell said.
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have made significant increases in the cleaning of schools and distributed large quantities of additional hygiene and safety supplies, including face masks, hand sanitiser and surface wipes.
Advice and supplies will continue to be provided to principals to support ventilation, personal hygiene, school activities, mask wearing and cleaning to ensure they can operate their school in a COVID safe way.
The review is informed by the expertise of NSW Health and latest research including the NCIRS report: COVID-19 Delta variant in schools and early childhood education.

Thousands of specialist staff are supporting the wellbeing and mental health of school communities during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government has been prioritising the mental health of students during the difficult lockdown period by ramping up wraparound wellbeing support.
“We know how difficult the last 18 months have been for our students, which is why there are more than 3,000 non-teaching staff available – including school counsellors, school psychologists, student support officers and a network of specialist facilitators, wellbeing nurses, school chaplains and school learning support officers – to make sure children feel as supported as possible while they learn from home,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We also continue to work closely alongside key mental health organisations such as headspace, Reach Out, Kids Helpline and the Black Dog Institute to provide evidence-based resources to our staff and students.”
Schools across the state are running workshops, “wellbeing days” and events to help students look after themselves and each other.
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the holistic approach was designed to help students stay mentally fit and build resilience during tough times.
“This is all about empowering families with the tools they need to look out for each other, especially during this challenging time of home schooling,” Mrs Taylor said.
“These resources have been developed with leading youth mental health organisations to ensure we are equipping parents, carers, teachers and children with the confidence and knowledge of when and where to seek help if they are feeling overwhelmed or particularly stressed out.”
Ms Mitchell added the mental health and wellbeing of school staff during the remote learning period was also paramount.
“Our teachers, leaders and school staff have done a tremendous job during this difficult period, and the NSW Government has implemented a specialised mental health program called ‘Being Well’ to support our educators,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The ‘Being Well’ program is running workshops for staff to learn how to spot the signs of struggle amongst colleagues and find methods of improving their own mental health along the way.
“We have also introduced a series of ‘wellbeing check ins’ for staff to connect and share ideas on sustaining their wellbeing with colleagues and wellbeing coaches.”
The Care and Connect Hub also continues to provide practical and targeted support by age group – from pre-school to end of high school – with information and guidance on how and what students, families and staff can do to take care of themselves and others.
Links to wellbeing resources can be found
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from-home/wellbeing/wellbeing-at-home

For the latest COVID-19 advice & information please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

ROADMAP TO FREEDOM UNVEILED FOR THE FULLY VACCINATED

• Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target.
• The roadmap is subject to further fine-tuning and health advice if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high.
• The freedoms for vaccinated adults and those with medical exemptions include the following.
• Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
  • Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
  • Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
• Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
  • Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
  • Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).
  • Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
  • Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
  • Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
• Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
  • Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
  • Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
  • Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
• Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
  • Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
  • Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
  • Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
• Travel:
  • Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will be permitted.
  • Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
  • Carpooling will be permitted.
• Masks:
  • Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
  • Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
  • Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
• Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household.
• Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.

LOCKDOWN LIFTED IN PARTS OF REGIONAL NSW

• Parts of regional NSW currently deemed low risk and which have seen zero COVID cases for at least 14 days will emerge from lockdown at 12:01am Saturday 11 September, but will continue to operate under restrictions to ensure the safety of regional communities.
• Local Government Areas (LGAs) still seeing COVID case numbers will continue to follow stay-at-home orders and will be monitored by NSW Health with updates provided as circumstances develop.
• For a list of freedoms available to people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders have lifted, see the attached media release.
• For a list of LGAs where stay-at-home orders will remain in place, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/lockdown-lifted-parts-of-regional-nsw.
• For more information, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/

NSW QUEENSLAND BORDER BUBBLE REINSTATED

• Northern border residents will be able to cross the Queensland border from 1am on Monday 13 September for essential work and essential reasons with the reinstatement of the border bubble, following discussions between the NSW and Queensland Governments.
• The 12 LGAs included in the border bubble are Ballina, Byron Bay, City of Lismore, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes Severn, Gwydir, Inverell, Kyogle, Moree Plains, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.
• Essential work means any work or volunteering that cannot be reasonably done from home and people crossing the border for essential work will need to have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. NSW residents are not able to cross the border for recreation or social visits.
• Residents will still require a Border Zone Travel (X Pass) to cross the border, which can be obtained at www.qld.gov.au/border-pass.

FULL HSC TO GO AHEAD

• All HSC students will get the opportunity to complete their studies in 2021, with the full complement of HSC exams to go ahead from 9 November 2021.
• The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has issued a revised timetable, with 110 exams taking place over 19 days, ending on 3 December. Students will receive their ATARs on 20 January 2022, with their HSC results released on 24 January.
• Strict COVID-safe protocols supported by NSW Health will be in place to protect students, exam supervisors and school staff when HSC exam start on 9 November 2021.
• 68,710 students are on track to receive the HSC in 2021, according to the HSC Enrolment Snapshot, which will be released on Monday by NESA.
• View the 2021 HSC exam timetable: https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables/hsc-written-exam-timetable.
• View COVID-safe exam protocols: www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/covid-19-advice.

NEW LAWS SET TO TACKLE RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION

• The NSW Government will introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), adding religion to existing protected grounds of disability, sex, race, age, marital or domestic status, homosexuality, transgender status and carer’s responsibilities. These reforms will see NSW join other states and territories in making religious discrimination unlawful.
• In June 2021, the Commonwealth Government announced its intention to introduce a Religious Discrimination Bill to protect against discrimination based on religious belief or activity in key areas of public life into Federal Parliament by the end of this year.
• The NSW Government plans to await the passage of the Commonwealth Bill through Parliament before finalising the detail of NSW reforms, to enable it to consider the interaction of Commonwealth law with NSW reforms and to avoid constitutional inconsistency.

WESTERN SYDNEY FORUM TO KICK-START RECOVERY

• Plans to kick-start the State’s economic recovery will be enhanced and more targeted following feedback and ideas put forward by Western and South-Western Sydney business and community representatives at a virtual forum.
• Representatives from chambers of commerce, peak bodies and community organisations and local businesses outlined the issues people are facing on the ground and presented potential solutions to reignite our economy during the two-hour event.
• A range of ideas were presented at the forum including; a reopening package tailored to the region, upskilling young people for the post-lockdown economy, small infrastructure projects and housing affordability opportunities.
• Ideas and proposals put forward at the forum will help shape the NSW Government’s economic recovery efforts for Western and Southwest Sydney as well the rest of the State.

ZERO EXTINCTIONS TARGET SET FOR NSW NATIONAL PARKS

• Koalas, rock wallabies and the Nightcap Oak are some of the iconic species set to be protected under an historic National Parks plan to declare 221 sites as Assets of Intergenerational Significance (AIS) and set a target of zero extinctions of species on the NSW National Park estate.
• The new AIS have been identified as home to species at risk from feral animals, bushfire and climate change, and follow the first AIS declaration earlier this year to protect the ancient Wollemi Pines.
• The AIS initiative is a key pillar of the National Parks Threatened Species Framework, which will align NPWS with the global biodiversity agenda and position the agency as a world leader in threatened species conservation.
• An interactive map of all AIS sites can be found via https://ais-map-dot-npws-ais-portal.ts.r.appspot.com/map.

GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS RETURNS TO REBOOT LIVE MUSIC IN 2022

• The NSW Government is amping up the State’s live music scene once again with the return of Great Southern Nights in March and April 2022.
• ARIA-award winning indie pop artist Amy Shark and Yolngu rapper Baker Boy join Jessica Mauboy, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins and Peking Duk as the first artists of the line-up, with shows to be held from 18 March to 10 April 2022.
• Following its hugely successful debut in 2020, Great Southern Nights will again create jobs and revenue for artists, venues and crew in Sydney and across regional NSW, highlighting the State’s rich live music culture.
• Venues can apply to be part of the Great Southern Nights program via the website. For information: www.greatsouthernnights.com.au.

$1.49M FUNDING BOOSTS FOUR COUNCILS AND THEIR COASTAL MANAGEMENT PLANS

• The NSW Government has announced $1.49 million in funding to four local councils under the 2020-2021 Coastal and Estuary Grants Program to assist with increasing the resilience and health of coastal communities and their coastlines.
• The successful recipients are:
  • Central Coast Council Awarded $644,560 to complete stages two and three of its Coastal Management Program (CMP) for Tuggerah Lakes Estuary, and $326,667 to complete stage two of a CMP for open coast and coastal lagoons.
  • MidCoast Council Awarded $40,000 for a scoping study for Great Lakes, Karuah and Khappinghat estuaries, and $31,600 to review the current framework for management of Jimmy’s Beach.
  • Maitland City Council Awarded $381,667 to review and reset the strategic direction of the management of the Hunter River Estuary by developing a CMP. This project will bring together Maitland City, Newcastle City, Port Stephens and Dungog Shire Councils.
  • Georges River Council Awarded $66,666 to complete a detailed design for foreshore protection works required at Donnelly Park, Connells Point.

The $1.18 billion design and construction contract has been awarded to CPB Contractors and Downer EDI Works in a joint venture for the Warringah Freeway upgrade.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the upgrade will reduce congestion and simplify the complex road corridor, which is used by up to 250,000 vehicles each day.
“This crucial upgrade will make the Warringah Freeway more efficient and reliable for the drivers who use it every day, and will pave the way for the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link,” Mr Constance said.
“More than 15,000 jobs will be created during construction of the entire Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program, with about 600 direct jobs created for the Warringah Freeway upgrade.”
Early works are already underway with the main work to start early next year. Construction is expected to take approximately five years to complete, subject to the detailed design and construction program.
Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson said: “The Warringah Freeway upgrade is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce traffic on our local roads, and it will help create better connections for our community to the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.”
Member for Manly James Griffin said: “Community feedback has helped shape the Warringah Freeway upgrade, and the community will continue to be updated and involved as the entire Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program progresses.”
The Warringah Freeway upgrade includes:

• Upgrade four-kilometres of the Warringah Freeway, between High Street at North Sydney and Willoughby Road at Naremburn, to reduce the amount of merging required, and improve safety and traffic flow.

• Improve interchanges with Falcon Street at Cammeray and High Street at North Sydney, including a new northbound on ramp at High Street which will ease pressure on the existing ramp at Berry Street.

• Connections to the future Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link.
• Improved public transport links, with a continuous southbound bus lane from Miller Street to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Around 2.5 kilometres of new and upgraded cycleways and pedestrian paths, integrated with public transport networks, including the future Victoria Cross metro station at North Sydney

The community will continue to be updated throughout all phases of this project, with more information available at https://caportal.com.au/rms/wht

All HSC students will get the opportunity to complete their studies in 2021, with the full complement of HSC exams to go ahead from 9 November 2021.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell today announced that students will be able to sit their HSC exams and receive their results in time for university offers to be made.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has issued a revised timetable, with 110 exams taking place over 19 days, ending on 3 December.
Students will receive their ATARs on 20 January 2022, with their HSC results released on 24 January.
Ms Mitchell said that after a disruptive and stressful year, students now have the certainty of the timetable and eight weeks to focus on preparing for their exams.
“Being able to sit all their exams safely is the best and fairest outcome for our HSC students,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Whether our students go on to university, vocational training or take on employment, it is important all of them are able to sit their exams and demonstrate what they know.
“I know that teachers, families and friends are supporting our HSC students every step of the way, and that the whole NSW community is wishing them well after a tough 18 months.”
Chair of the NESA Board Professor Peter Shergold said that providing a fair, equitable and safe opportunity for students to receive the HSC in 2021 continues to be at the forefront of every decision made by NESA.
“Revising the timetable to start on 9 November and deliver results on 24 January required the reconfiguration of a massive logistical operation involving over 100,000 people,” Professor Shergold said.
“I am grateful to the NSW Vice Chancellors Committee and the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for their support, and for working with us to deliver an outcome which will see students receive their results and their university offers in a timely way.”
Strict COVID safe protocols supported by NSW Health will be in place to protect students, exam supervisors and school staff when HSC exam start on 9 November 2021.
The protocols for a COVID-safe HSC require exam supervisors to be fully vaccinated and strongly encourage eligible HSC students to receive two vaccine doses before exams start.
Other safety measures include:

• Mandatory face masks for students and staff, indoors and outdoors
• Check-in and health screening protocols for students and staff
• Physical distancing between students and staff at all times
• Minimising mingling of student groups
• Keeping exam group sizes as small as possible
• Desks spaced a minimum of 1.5 metres apart and exam rooms well ventilated
• Hygiene marshals and regular cleaning of exam rooms.

An illness and misadventure process is available for students who are unable to attend an exam due to having a positive COVID-19 test result, or being a close contact.
68,710 students are on track to receive the HSC in 2021, according to the HSC Enrolment Snapshot which will be released on Monday by NESA.
View the 2021 HSC exam timetable: https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables/hsc-written-exam-timetable
View COVID-safe exam protocols: educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/covid-19-advice