Month: October 2021

The Perrottet Government’s economic roadmap has mental health as a top priority with a record $130 million to provide immediate access to help for anyone whose mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding boost will provide more appointments for psychology and psychiatry services, address the sharp rise in eating disorders and self-harm presentations, free up more mental health beds and launch the biggest suicide prevention training program ever undertaken.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the lockdown combined with working from home and home schooling has seen a record number of people reach out to crisis lines.
“This funding means that parents, children and the most vulnerable in our community can get the help they need now,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As we navigate the economic recovery from this pandemic we must also support people’s mental wellbeing along the way.”
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the new funding will provide public access to private psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health beds as well as training 275,000 people in the community to become mental health first aiders.
“We want NSW to be a whole state of mental health champions, which is why we’re launching a statewide community training blitz to make sure help is always close at hand, from the schoolyard to the sports club and beyond.” Mrs Taylor said.
“This is all about fast-tracking access to boosted services to support people doing it tough right now as well as preventing the emergence of mental health issues in the future.
“Our focus over the next two years will be on supporting our young people and families, building system capacity to meet demand and supporting our communities to lead the recovery,” Mrs Taylor said.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding builds on the $2.6 billion 2021-2022 NSW Mental Health Budget – the largest mental health investment in the state’s history.
“We’re leading the nation with our COVID-19 mental health support for our communities, making sure the help is there for particularly vulnerable groups, from new parents to older adults, children and young people,” Mr Kean said.
“Mental health issues often present after the crisis, so as we emerge from lockdown and life returns to normal, this funding will mean parents and children will have free access to help, where they need it and when they need it.”
Key highlights of the mental health recovery package include:

• $35 million over two years to boost the surge capacity of the mental health clinical workforce. In partnership with Primary Health Networks, NSW Health will be able to access privately practising psychologists and psychiatrists and other mental health professionals for NSW residents. It’s estimated this will create an extra 60,000 psychiatry consultations and 85,000 consults with other mental health professionals, including psychologists.
• $20 million over 18 months to provide up to 55,000 additional services to young people through their local headspace centre. This funding will boost GP and clinical psychiatrist sessions at headspace centres across NSW. It will also enable masters and doctorate psychology students (clinical and general registration) and social work and occupational therapy students (pre-registration/masters) to undertake placements at headspace centres. Overseen by clinical educators, students will conduct comprehensive mental health assessments and deliver clinical sessions for young people.
• $14 million over two years to train 275,000 people across NSW in suicide prevention training. The training will target high school teachers and support staff; parents; youth influencers (e.g. sports coaches, club managers); community groups, and peer leaders.

• $21 million over four years to employ 18 FTE Aboriginal Care Navigators and 18 FTE Aboriginal Peer Workers across NSW. These roles will link Aboriginal Australians to a range of culturally-appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services.
• $16.5 million over four years to address the increase in eating disorder presentations. This funding will increase frontline workforce capacity to recognise and respond to eating disorder presentations. It will also fund the Butterfly Foundation to admit NSW residents into its national eating disorders centre at Wandi Nerida in Queensland.
• $6 million over two years to build the capacity of caseworkers and casework managers to provide timely support to child protection practitioners at high risk of trauma.
• $5 million over two years to fund a grants program for local community wellbeing events.
• $3 million over one year to assist NSW sporting bodies to deliver mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
• $3 million over one year to provide access to private beds for 12-24-year-olds experiencing complex trauma and eating disorders. This will be trialled in South Western Sydney Local Health District.
• $2.6 million over two years to expand Gidget Foundation’s services and provide an extra 280 psychological sessions every month.
• $3.2 million over four years to establish a Multicultural Mental Health Line – a NSW first.

The Sydney Opera House will be the backdrop for a special tribute to frontline workers and those who have been vaccinated as NSW passes the 80 per cent double vaccination milestone.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said images would be projected onto the sails of the famous landmark, to celebrate the efforts of so many throughout the pandemic, enabling NSW to lead the country in the vaccination stakes and reopen ahead of schedule.
“When the sun goes down on Monday evening the Sydney Opera House sails will come alive with reminders of the people who have kept us safe, either through their work or by simply rolling up their sleeve and getting the jab,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We want to thank everyone for doing their bit to look out for each other in this pandemic because it’s this combined effort that has enabled us to hit our vaccination targets and start to get our lives back on track.”
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the spectacle was a reminder of the freedoms that come with vaccination.
“Those who are fully vaccinated can now visit a hairdresser, watch their favourite sports, head out to dinner and catch live shows provided they follow health guidelines,” Mr Dominello said.
“The people of NSW have absolutely hit it out of the park when it comes to getting vaccinated and alongside our tremendous frontline workers we want to thank each and every one of them for contributing to this magnificent Team NSW moment.”
The sails will light up from 7pm Monday evening until midnight.
The light display builds upon the NSW Government’s “Let’s Do This” campaign which was launched in August to encourage people to get vaccinated. To book a vaccination, visit nsw.gov.au or call the COVID-19 vaccine helpline on 1800 020 080.

Hundreds of maintenance teams across NSW are finalising repairs and alterations to windows and ventilation systems ahead of the return to classrooms.
The NSW Government is investing $100 million in an air quality assurance program for schools as part of the economic recovery program.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the work was an extension of the NSW Government’s commitment to keeping the community safe throughout the pandemic
“As the community has adapted to living with COVID, so have our schools, and our approach to keeping them safe using a multi-layered approach that includes vaccines, on-site restrictions, mask-wearing, cleaning and ventilation,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The funding will enable us to support ongoing improvements to air quality in public schools, making schools some of the best ventilated spaces in the community.”
The program has several components, including installing automatic fresh air ventilation systems in smaller learning spaces to allow schools to utilise the areas fully.
Funding will also be directed towards replacing windows, ceiling and exhaust fans, and additional servicing of ventilation systems.
In addition, air purifiers have been sourced and will be provided to schools when individual school circumstances require the department to respond to poor outdoor air quality.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said parents should have confidence in sending their children back to school.
“Thanks to the individual ventilation audit reports, Principals know exactly how to use their spaces in a COVID-safe way – and any issues identified by the audit are being fixed in real-time,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The advice from experts is that maximising natural ventilation is the most effective method of minimising the spread of COVID-19 and our classroom ventilation strategy supports our implementation of this advice.
“What this program does is leverage the insights from our comprehensive audit and expert advice to future-proof our learning spaces not just for COVID-19, but for bushfires and other air quality issues.”

Thousands of new jobs and social housing properties will be created through the Perrottet Government’s economic recovery strategy with an additional $183 million dedicated to fast-track more than 1,400 new homes.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the investment will provide vital new homes for the State’s most vulnerable and create 1,100 direct and indirect jobs in the construction phase.
“The package boosts construction, accelerates over 1,400 new social and affordable homes and supports an extra 990 households through rent assistance, including in areas that have been hit hardest by the pandemic in Sydney’s west and regional communities,” Mr Kean said.
The package is part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategy and includes:

• $50 million to accelerate the delivery of around 2,800 homes, including around 1,000 social homes, to be built in Western Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour through Communities Plus projects, in partnership with the private sector and CHPs;
• $50 million for the delivery of around 290 new social houses in partnership with community housing providers (CHPs) through the Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF);
• $30 million for about 80 new small scale social housing, primarily in Western Sydney and regional NSW;
• $20 million for new and upgraded social and affordable homes in partnership with Aboriginal CHPs through the Aboriginal Community Housing Investment Fund;
• $20 million for about 45 new homes for large Aboriginal families to support kinship living and reduce overcrowding, aligned with Closing the Gap targets so more families live in the right size homes;
• $10 million for additional Rent Choice packages to support 990 households to secure or maintain housing in the private rental market; and
• $3 million to support around 130 additional vulnerable Aboriginal families through the Services Our Way program.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey, said the package builds on the $812 million COVID-19 social housing stimulus package announced in the 2020‑21 Budget, which is expected to deliver over 800 new social homes and upgrades to around 16,500 existing properties.
“This package will support the people of NSW through jobs for the construction industry, whilst continuing to tackle hard issues like homelessness, housing affordability and providing opportunities for home ownership,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Projects in Western Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga will be accelerated, by forward funding homes for tenants to relocate into, and local businesses will be used for these local projects.
“The investment unlocks a number of projects and accelerates our capacity to deliver the right homes, in the right areas for the people who need it most.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said by partnering with CHPs, the NSW Government is significantly increasing the supply of social and affordable housing.
“The CHIF is unlocking exciting and innovative development opportunities which aim to address homelessness and support people who need it most,” Mr Henskens said.
“Part of this package includes additional investment in rent assistance programs which will bolster support to help vulnerable people secure or maintain housing in the private rental market.
“This package builds on the enormous work we’ve done to prevent and respond to homelessness throughout the pandemic, and will provide a robust pipeline of new housing to support vulnerable people for years to come.”

The Perrottet Government has today committed to 103,000 additional free training places as part of a $100 million economic recovery package to turbocharge skills training and future-proof the workforce.
The recovery package contains new funding to extend the successful JobTrainer program,  hundreds of fully-funded school-based apprenticeships and traineeships for Aboriginal students and funding for new ICT traineeships in the public sector.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $100 million investment would support a pipeline of skilled workers and spearhead the State’s recovery by providing businesses with a highly- trained workforce.
“By investing in a skills-led recovery, the NSW Government is not only futureproofing jobs but ensuring people have the right skills to plug current shortages as the economy emerges from the pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW is leading the nation in free skills training in the joint Federal and State JobTrainer program with more than 136,000 people in NSW taking up a course since it was introduced last October.”
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the investment, part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery package, will benefit critical industries including construction, health and IT to help NSW bounce back better.
“This is a significant investment to help the people of NSW get back to work, upskill or enter the workforce for the first time, particularly in critical industries like construction, IT, health and hospitality,” Mr Kean said.
“These critical industries are vital to our economic growth and prosperity and the NSW Government will continue to invest in training initiatives to get more people into jobs.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said apprenticeships and traineeships were critical to supporting the careers of tomorrow.
“The NSW Government has always been committed to making training accessible to everyone, and this $100 million recovery package continues this Government’s unprecedented investment in skills training,” Mr Lee said.
The package includes additional Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grants and new ICT Traineeships, which will develop and support Aboriginal students and budding IT professionals across the State through the creation of training and employment opportunities in public sector agencies.

For the latest COVID-19 advice & information please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
NSW FLYING TOWARDS 80 PER CENT DOUBLE DOSE TARGET

• The State’s rapid rate of second dose vaccinations means that next Monday, 18 October is firming as the day that the Reopening NSW Roadmap’s 80 per cent settings will come into effect for those who are fully vaccinated.
• Community sport will resume, more friends and family will be reunited, and there will no longer be a cap on guests at weddings and funerals. Masks will also no longer be required in offices, and drinking while standing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors at hospitality venues.
• From 1 November, bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.
• Also from 1 November, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year.
• Travel between Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast) and Regional NSW will also be permitted from 1 November, to allow people in the regions more time to receive their second vaccine.
• To support regional businesses likely to be impacted by this change the NSW Government will defer the second taper of the JobSaver program until October 31. Eligible regional businesses will receive 30 per cent of weekly payroll, before tapering payments to the scheduled 15 per cent from November 1.
• If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.

REGIONAL RECOVERY PACKAGE TO KICKSTART ECONOMY AND CREATE NEW JOBS

• The NSW Government has unveiled a $200 million recovery package for regional NSW that will create new jobs and support events, shows and festivals to boost tourism and help young people reclaim the best years of their lives.
• The Regional Recovery Package includes a $50 million Regional Events Package, $30 million Regional Job Creation Fund and $40 million for priority infrastructure projects across Regional NSW. Further announcements will be made with respect to the remaining $80 million.
• The $200 million Regional package builds upon the NSW Government’s record investment in regional NSW through the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund and the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund and 30 per cent of the Restart NSW Fund.

DOUBLING DOWN ON DINE & DISCOVER

• Customers will have more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with two additional Dine & Discover vouchers up for grabs for NSW residents.
• The expanded program will support residents across the State and encourage economic activity as part of the government’s economic recovery strategy.
• To date, almost 4.8 million people have taken advantage of the voucher program since its launch in March, giving businesses a $430 million boost.
• NSW residents aged 18 years and over who are yet to apply will be able to do so until the program ends and will receive all six $25 vouchers.
• Participating businesses do not need to reapply. Those who want to join the program are encouraged to register, download the scanner app and get ready to redeem.
• More information will be made available in the coming weeks on the nsw.gov.au website.

INTEGRATED VACCINATION CERTIFICATE OPENS TO ALL ON SERVICE NSW APP

• Residents across NSW will be able to integrate the COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate into their Service NSW app, with the program now rolling out State-wide.
• As the vaccine data sits in the Federal Australian Immunisation Register to integrate the COVID-19 digital certificate into the Service NSW app you will need to:
  • Ensure your Federal MyGov account is linked to Medicare
  • Download the Express Plus Medicare app and sign in with your MyGov account details
  • Select ‘Proof of vaccinations’ and then ‘View history’
  • Select ‘Share with check in app’ and then ‘Service NSW’
• The Service NSW app will include a number of security measures to help compliance officers and businesses with checking and validating a customer’s vaccination status, including a NSW Waratah logo hologram and rotating QR codes, similar to the Digital Driver Licence.
• For more information, please visit nsw.gov.au or call 13 77 88.

NSW HYDROGEN STRATEGY TO DRIVE INVESTMENT, CREATE JOBS AND POWER PROSPERITY

• NSW is set to attract more than $80 billion of investment, drive deep decarbonisation and establish itself as an energy and economic superpower with the launch of the NSW Hydrogen Strategy.
• The Strategy will provide up to $3 billion in incentives, set the State up as a global hydrogen leader and increase the size of the NSW economy by more than $600 million by 2030.
• In addition to delivering an already committed $70 million to develop the State’s hydrogen hubs in the Illawarra and the Hunter, the strategy includes:
  1. Exemptions for green hydrogen production from government charges;
  2. A 90% exemption from electricity network charges for green hydrogen producers who connect to parts of the network with spare capacity;
  3. Incentives for green hydrogen production; and
  4. A hydrogen refuelling station network to be rolled out across the State.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING PROFESSION

• The NSW Government is implementing a raft of new initiatives to improve how it recruits, trains, and places high quality teachers where they are most needed.
• The $125 million NSW Teacher Supply Strategy will enable the NSW Government to create new opportunities and pathways to attract great people to one of the most rewarding professions.
• The strategy consists of three main pillars:
  • Grow overall supply of teachers
  • Encourage more teachers to upskill
  • Provide targeted support in areas of need
• The strategy will immediately invest $14 million in an overseas and interstate recruitment drive, $15 million in a mid-career transition program and $44 million in a variety of scholarships.
• More than 3,400 teachers have already been recruited as part of the NSW Government’s 2019 commitment to add 4,600 teachers to the workforce. The Teacher Supply Strategy will add another approximately 3,700 teachers to the public education system in NSW.

LOCAL SPORT SCORES $4.6 MILLION FUNDING BOOST

• Initiatives which focus on increasing participation in sport through events, development programs and facilities are the focus of the latest round of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.
• More than $4.6 million is available to local sporting clubs to make their ideas to boost participation a reality, as COVID restrictions ease.
• The NSW Government funded more than 930 projects across the State through the last round of the Local Sport Grant Program.
• Successful clubs can receive funding of up to $20,000, with up to $50,000 available for each electorate throughout NSW. Applications close on Friday, 19 November.
• For more information visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/local-sport-grant-program.

PUBLIC SERVANTS TO HIT THE PADDOCKS FOR HARVEST

• More than 4,500 staff from the Department of Regional NSW, including Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, will be able to access five days’ special leave to assist farmers for an expected bumper harvest season in 2021.
• The unprecedented move is another example of the good work this government is doing to help farmers source the workforce they need for another record harvest.
• The NSW Government has implemented a range of measures to overcome the agriculture workforce shortage, including subsidies for quarantine costs of 2,500 overseas agricultural workers, the Ag Workers’ Code and the ‘Help Harvest NSW’ website to connect agriculture employers with out of work Australians.

CLOSING THE GAP FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CUSTODY

• Reducing the number of Aboriginal people in prison and improving the health and safety of people in custody are the focus of a renewed commitment by the NSW Government.
• The Government response recognises that systemic changes and increased accountability are required to close the gap, including:
  • Releasing the NSW Implementation Plan, setting out the first roadmap for closing the gap;
  • Commencing a Thematic Review of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody to review and improve processes related to deaths in custody in Corrective Services NSW;
  • Boosting funding and support for the Coronial Jurisdiction, including a new full-time coroner;
  • Expanding court services and programs, including the NSW Drug Court;
  • Investments to remove hanging points in correctional facilities;
  • Reviewing health services in correctional facilities, and improving support for mental health and people with disabilities; and
  • Improving support for people leaving custody.

KEEPING SENIORS CONNECTED AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFT

• Seniors facing social isolation are the focus of a fast-tracked $600,000 funding boost by the NSW Government, as COVID restrictions ease.
• Round Two of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program will fund community groups to provide activities which keep older people active and engaged.
• Grants of up to $60,000 will go towards new and existing programs that promote seniors’ social inclusion. Projects must have a COVID-safe plan and run until December 2022.
• Social inclusion is a key priority of the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031.
• Applications for the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program close on Monday, 15 November.