Month: December 2022

Another 122 community and not-for-profit groups will be able to host cultural celebrations in their local communities next year thanks to more funding awarded by the NSW Government. 
 
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the groups had received a share of more than $1 million through the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program to host the events and festivals.
 
“Local streets right across our state are set to become so much brighter next year, thanks to each of the 122 local events we are funding,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“These events are important for so many reasons; they celebrate our unique diversity, they bring people together and they break down barriers, which fosters greater understanding and respect between people.”
 
Each of the community groups received grants between $5,000 and $15,000 to host cultural events and festivals between 1 February and 30 June 2023. 
 
Mr Coure said the grants program had been boosted from $500,000 to $1 million thanks to the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
 
“This year, through the Stronger Together Festivals Grants program, the NSW Liberals and Nationals have funded 283 community organisations with $2,098,329 to host events and festivals in their local areas,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“Each of these events is a reflection of the rich diversity of our communities right across the state. 
 
“This is one of the great things about our diversity here in NSW—you don’t need to travel overseas to experience the colour and vibrancy of other cultures, you can do it right here at home.” 
 
For more information about the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au

Liberal Candidates for Coogee and Vaucluse, Dr Kylie von Muenster and Kellie Sloane, are encouraging Eastern Suburbs families to participate in the upcoming consultations on the future of local public secondary education.

In early 2023, the Perrottet Government will invite the local community to have their say on a range of options that will deliver more public education choices. An independent external agency will be engaged to conduct the consultation process and canvass local views on three options:

1. Retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High Schools.

2. Retaining single sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School and extending the intake areas of existing co-educational high schools to provide families with the option of single-sex or co-education.

3. Merging Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School to create a new co-educational campus.

Dr von Muenster welcomed this consultation as it will give local families an opportunity to guide the Government’s decisions on local schooling.

“I am very excited to be running as part of the Perrottet team, as this Government has shown a real commitment to taking local views and needs into account when making important decisions,” Dr von Muenster said. “Speaking to people across the local community it becomes clear that they really appreciate opportunities to guide these choices that will have a sizeable impact on future generations.”

Ms Sloane said that getting kids into a good local school is a high priority for all parents.

“Every parent wants to see their kids start off on the right foot, and getting a good education is a critical part of that. While a lot of families make their home here because of our unique character and beautiful setting, many also move here for our great schools,” Ms Sloane said. “This consultation will allow the community to put their views forward on the best way to accommodate the schooling needs of our kids.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government wants to make sure that this consultation captures the views of the whole of the Eastern Suburbs community.

“We want to engage constructively with the local school communities to ensure that we identify and plan for the best option for public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Consultation will take place throughout Term 1 in 2023, with a report to be finalised for consideration by government in mid-2023.”

The independent consultation will focus on parents, students and the wider community, with a particular emphasis on families of potential future students. It will look at short, medium and long term options to ensure the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney have strong public education options for future generations.

Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said it’s important we start consultation with parents and have a plan moving forward with one of the three options.

“This process is about securing the future of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs and making sure that local families always have access to a high quality public education options.

“I look forward to working with our school communities during this process when consultation gets underway early next year.”

Based on the current population projections, local schools are able to accommodate current and future student demand through utilisation of existing schools. However, the Department will continue to explore opportunities to future-proof the provision of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs.

The NSW Government will make the practice of rent bidding illegal to improve affordability for those seeking rental accommodation amid high cost of living pressures.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said banning rent bidding would help prospective tenants secure housing in a tight rental property market in a fair way.

“It’s time to put an end to this practice and give more people security and certainty so they can plan for their future,” Mr Perrottet.  

“The search for a rental property is tough enough without it turning into a bidding war that pushes people beyond their comfort level.

“An advertised rental fee should be just that and we will take action to ensure rental bidding is outlawed.”

The outlawing of solicited rent bidding, the practice where a landlord or agent invites, suggests or asks prospective tenants to increase their offer of rent for a property in order to secure it, will be made through urgent changes to regulations under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002.

The new regulations will apply to all new listings from Saturday, 17 December 2022.

Minister for Fair Trading Victor Dominello said the reforms to regulations struck the right balance between the interests of renters, landlords and real estate agents.

“It can be very distressing for prospective tenants who have submitted a rental application only to be told to increase their offer to improve their prospects of securing a property,” Mr Dominello said. 

“From this weekend, agents will be prohibited from inducing a prospective tenant to offer an amount higher than that advertised for the property.

“Further, real estate agents cannot advertise a property unless it specifies the rent payable for the property.”

NSW Fair Trading will work with real estate agents and landlords to ensure they are aware of and comply with the new regulations. 

Advice for renters is available on the NSW Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting.

More than 1,470 paramedics, Control Centre staff and flight nurses have been recognised today at the largest NSW Ambulance graduation ceremony since the start of COVID-19.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the past two ceremonies had been postponed due to the pandemic and the event recognised all those who have completed graduate and further specialty training.
 
“Over the past few years, our paramedics, Control Centre staff and aeromedical teams have faced some tough times, but all have risen to the occasion,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“Whether it was working through bushfires, COVID-19, floods, or the demands of a flu outbreak, all have served our community with distinction, courage and compassion.  This is a special day for those being honoured and their families. They should be very proud of their achievements and contribution in what has been a difficult few years. 
 
“In the last financial year, NSW Ambulance transported more than 750,000 patients, more than any other State or Territory, yet it leads the nation in transfer of care results,”  Mr Hazzard said.
 
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the new and upskilled staff will provide a great boost in the months and years ahead.
 
“NSW Ambulance is one of the largest ambulance services in the world and an integral part of our health system, and it offers wonderful career opportunities such as our newly implemented virtual clinical care service,” Dr Morgan said.
 
“It is an organisation where you can develop and progress your own career goals, and a place where you genuinely make a difference to the lives of others every single day.”
 
Today’s ceremony also included several significant awards for leadership, as well as the Minister for Health’s $5,000 Bursary for Excellence to help fund further education.
 
NSW Ambulance has received funding from the NSW Government for 2,128 staff which includes 1,858 paramedics, 210 support staff, 52 nurses and eight doctors. 
The NSW Government will also deliver eight new stations at Warilla, Kincumber, Lisarow, Gateshead, Swansea, Cherrybrook, Raby and Narellan, with a further 22 stations to be announced over the next four years.