Month: October 2023

Disaster assistance following Bega Valley bushfires

Disaster assistance will be made available in the Bega Valley Shire Local Government Area (LGA) following severe bushfires on 3 October 2023.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the bushfire across the Bega Valley area caused significant damage.

“For many in the Bega Valley the threat of bushfires is still fresh from Black Summer,” Minister Watt said.

“This early assistance will begin the recovery process for those directly affected, as we continue to collect information to understand the full impacts of the fires. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Minns government, ready to support communities.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the assistance will support communities, landowners, farmers, and primary producers to help in the clean-up and recovery from the bushfires. 

“It is important that we open up this funding and support so impacted councils and some residents get their lives back on track,” Minister Dib said.

Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

  • Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply).
  • Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
  • Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations.
  • Freight subsidies for primary producers.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88launch or visit the NSW Government website.

To apply for a concessional loan, visit the NSW Rural Assistance Authority websitelaunch or call 1800 678 593launch.

Veterans’ transition to employment in NSW on the right track

The NSW Government held the annual Veterans Employment Roundtable at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park today focussing on collaborative communication to assist veterans transitioning from the Defence Force into private and public sector employment.

Around 1,200 Defence Force personnel transition to employment in NSW every year.

Minister for Veterans David Harris hosted public and private sector stakeholders along with veterans’ support and employment organisations to foster ongoing discussions and initiatives for veterans career opportunities after their service.

Roundtables have been held since 2020, with a focus on the work that government can do in partnership with private employers, to foster increased collaboration and supports to ensure veterans find meaningful employment.

This year’s Roundtable had a special focus on communication, and a key goal was to build opportunities between organisations to effectively share information about services and communications to reach and assist veterans in their job search.

Mark Bransdon, an Army Veteran of 22 years’ service, discharged in 2019 and is now the Learning and Development Officer at Campbelltown City Council. He shared his story with the Roundtable, highlighting the value to veterans transitioning to employment outside of the Defence Forces.

The NSW Government is committed to honouring our veterans and their families, and the NSW Veterans Strategy and 2023-2024 Action Plan ensures that the veteran community is supported. One of the strategy actions is the organisation of an annual NSW Veterans Employment Roundtable.

The NSW Government Veterans Employment Program leads the way in assisting veterans finding roles within the NSW public sector. For more information visit Veterans Employment Programlaunch.

Minister for Veterans, David Harris said:

“It was great to meet key leaders in the employment field to discuss how we can all work together and assist veterans with their job search and use the skills they have learnt while serving in the Australian Defence Force.

“Their unique skillset enables them to work in a range of sectors and contribute positively to the NSW economy and community.

“We understand it can be challenging for some veterans to apply for work after their service.

“Today’s discussions are a positive step forward to ensure our veterans have a clearer path and a smoother transition from military service to civilian life.”

Army veteran and Learning and Development Officer at Campbelltown City Council, Mark Bransdon said: 

“I have brought a lived experience to Campbelltown City Council with my transition.

“The hiring manager for the role I applied for was aware of the skills I learnt in Defence, that I could bring to the role. That made a big difference to my transition.

The opportunities moving forward are that we can share this information with other councils and organisations to make it easier for them to implement a program assists veterans transitioning.

“Councils are also a beneficiary as they employ someone with great skills that can add value to their organisation.”

Four new members join Multicultural NSW Advisory Board

The NSW Government has welcomed the appointment of 4 new members to the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board.

Malaemie Fruean OAM, David Giang, George Vardas and the board’s newest Youth Member, Polina Mycak, will each serve 3-year terms on the Advisory Board until 2026.

Ömer Incekara, was reappointed after serving a 3-year term and Esther Adeyinka was appointed to a general board member from the youth position to an additional 3-year term.

The merit-based selection process attracted more than 150 applications.

Minister Kamper thanked the outgoing Advisory Board members (Margaret Piper, Ken Hong, Sam Elmir and Grace Ho) for their committed service advising government on multicultural policy, improving equitable access to services for all people in NSW, and ensuring no one is left behind.

Chaired by Nick Kaldas APM, the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board provides advice and guidance on a range of matters relating to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Further information about the new members is as follows:

  • Polina Mycak (youth member) – Polina Mycak is passionate about the promotion of multicultural principles. She is also a member of the Ukrainian Youth Association, and an undergraduate at Macquarie University studying psychology and arts, with an interest in cross cultural psychology.
  • George Vardas – George is a practising lawyer, accredited mediator, and cultural heritage consultant. He has extensive experience advising on multicultural policy and working with multicultural groups to effectively campaign to bring about positive change.
  • Malaemie Fruean OAM – Malaemie is a strong advocate for Pacifica communities and is well known and respected across Western Sydney. She is committed to sharing her knowledge and extensive experience in community engagement to increase cultural awareness.
  • David Giang – David is Managing Director and Editor of Australia’s first and only Vietnamese language newspaper, Chieu Duong (The Sunrise Daily) – the only remaining Vietnamese print publication in Australia today. He recently founded the Independent Multicultural Media Association.

The following 2 members have been reappointed:

  • Esther Adeyinka – Esther is passionate about making sure that diverse voices are heard and respected in decision-making spaces, particularly the voices of young, diverse women. She works as a lawyer in a commercial law firm and is also a small business owner
  • Ömer Incekara – Ömer is passionate about community language schools and promoting multiculturalism. Ömer is CEO of an advertising agency and sits on several boards and associations. He is Chair of the Ataturk Scholarship and Director of the Australian Turkish Mutual Alliance (ATMA).

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“The Advisory Board has a vital role to play as a conduit between community, Multicultural NSW and the NSW Government.”

“Drawing on their community connections, cross-cultural understanding and lived experience, our Advisory Board elevates the voices of the wider community.”

“In partnership with Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta, I look forward to working with the new members and entire Advisory Board, to ensure future generations of NSW residents can enjoy the benefits of living in one of the world’s greatest multicultural states.”

Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Chair Nick Kaldas, APM said:

“Our vision is for a stronger NSW, using our cultural diversity as a vehicle to achieve cultural and economic prosperity.”

“We are committed to ensuring the views and concerns of all people are heard in government decision-making processes and that everyone has equal access to government services.”

“Through understanding our communities, we can deliver improved services, make better use of our cultural and linguistic resources and be more cohesive and resilient in response to challenges.”

Labor betrays Cootamundra and Gundagai communities

The Opposition condemned a callous backflip by the Minns Labor Government on council demergers.

Local Government Shadow Minister Wendy Tuckerman said that before the election Labor was telling communities that it was going to help councils to demerge, and even passed a legislative amendment to ensure the Government paid the demerger costs.

“Since coming to Government, Labor and Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig have completely changed their tune on council demergers,” Mrs Tuckerman said. “The Labor Government is trying to backpedal as fast as they can from their own amendment, and the Budget handed down just weeks ago has no funds available for councils like Cootamundra-Gundagai that had already done the hard yards and been through the Boundary Commission inquiries.”

“The former Coalition Government set out a clear demerger roadmap, in consultation with the council and the local community, that guided the entire process – which has now been completely and senselessly discarded by Ron Hoenig.

“Instead of following the roadmap, which was near completion to delivering a demerged council, the Labor Government – true to form – starts another review.

“The Coalition Government’s had also announced in February that the legal path for demerging the council would likely require legislative change to facilitate the process after the March State Election,” said Mrs Tuckerman. “So, either the Minister wasn’t paying attention, or he is wilfully misleading the community and should apologise.”

“Despite having a roadmap that is almost complete and advice to urgently create new legislation, the Minns Labor Government will be returning the issue to the Boundaries Commission for the third time further dragging out this process and risking the Council’s ability to hold a demerged election in time with other councils across NSW.”

“The Minister needs to urgently fix this mess, and provide clear details on the demerger process, including timelines and what financial support will be provided.”

“I am devasted for the residents and the Cootamundra-Gundagai Council staff – this is yet another example of Labor saying one thing before the election and doing another after the election. This is a Government that just doesn’t care about regional and rural communities,” Ms Tuckerman concluded.

URGENT CARE CLINIC FOR BRISBANE SOUTH

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to Brisbane Southsiders, with a provider for the Brisbane South Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) selected, following an Expression of Interest process.

Cornwall Street Medical Centre will be established as the Brisbane South Medicare UCC and will start seeing patients 23 October 2023.

The Brisbane South Medicare UCC will deliver on the Australian Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in Queensland to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Mater Hospital Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospital.<

The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.

Over 30 per cent of presentations to the Mater Hospital Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

The Brisbane South clinic is one of the 11 Medicare UCCs across Queensland – located in Bundaberg, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Northern Brisbane, Murrumba Downs (Redcliffe), Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“It’s a real privilege to be opening another Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, this time in Woolloongabba.

“Across Brisbane’s south, when Queenslanders need urgent care that isn’t life threatening – the Brisbane South Medicare UCC will be here to help.

“Prior to the election last year, we committed to rolling out 50 new Urgent Care Clinics across the country. When we complete our rollout – we’ll have exceeded our target and there’ll be 58 centres giving Australians urgent care, taking pressure off emergency departments all over the country.

the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler said:

“The Brisbane South Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to patients across the Southside.

“Southsiders will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.

“The clinic will ease pressure on the Mater Hospital Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.

“The Albanese Government is committed to strengthening Medicare and making it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.”

Labor Senator for Queensland, Minister Murray Watt said:

“The Brisbane South Medicare UCC will mean Southsiders who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.

“I know many Southside families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues

“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on our local emergency departments and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.”

Northern NSW man jailed for transmitting and soliciting child abuse material 

A Hunter man, 28, has been sentenced to a maximum of five years imprisonment in the Newcastle District Court for a range of child abuse material offences.

The investigation began after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user uploading child abuse material to several online platforms.

AFP investigators linked the Hunter region man, then 26, to the illegal activity.

A search warrant was executed at the man’s home near Raymond Terrance in August 2022, with AFP investigators seizing a mobile phone and laptop that contained child abuse material. 

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Stuart Millen warned that watching, downloading or purchasing child abuse material was not a victimless crime.

“The charges demonstrated the AFP’s commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse,” Det A/Supt Millen added.

“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators, and our investigators will continue to be relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material.

“Anyone who views this material is committing a crime.”

The man pleaded guilty to:

  • One count of using a carriage service to procure child under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • Two counts of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
  • One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Newcastle District Court yesterday (4 October, 2023), with a non-parole period of three years.

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit www.accce.gov.au.

GREENS READY TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE SUPER ON PPL

With the release of the Labor’s draft legislation today the Greens reconfirm their intentions to use their Senate balance of power to facilitate the government’s superannuation tax reforms, if they will commit to paying superannuation on PPL.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters said:

“The Government’s superannuation tax proposal is such a timid proposed change to the tax concessions the obscenely wealthy receive. If Labor is not going to improve it, the least they can do is put the revenue to good use for the legions of women retiring into poverty.

“Labor has said repeatedly that they want super paid on paid parental leave ‘when budget circumstances permit’. The expected revenue from its proposed changes to super is more than enough to cover the cost.

“The Greens have said we will facilitate the government’s superannuation tax reforms if they will commit to paying superannuation on PPL. We likewise stand ready to expedite super on PPL through any other bill that the government produces.

“Labor is making women wait for minor measures like paying super on PPL that would immediately improve economic equality, but can somehow find $313 billion for the Stage 3 tax cuts.

“The government has now received the final Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce (WEET) report, but we’re still waiting to see a response.

“The Greens will be pushing to ensure Labor actually listens to the WEET’s advice – on PPL and all other areas of women’s economic security – rather than cherry picking recommendations as they did with the interim report.

“We will use our balance of power in the Senate to get outcomes for families and for the women in Australia retiring with 23 per cent less superannuation than men.”

Trial grants program launched to improve flexibility in early childhood education and care

The Minns Labor Government has launched a $20 million trial grants program aimed at improving working families’ access to early childhood education and care when and where they need it most.

Offering providers a pool of up to $20 million over two years, the Flexible Initiatives Trial will provide grants to support existing ECEC services to expand and innovate, to better meet the needs of children and families and allow parents to enter the workforce or increase their hours.

New or adapted operating models will include:

  • extending hours of care beyond traditional working hours  
  • providing flexible pick-up and drop-off times    
  • improved access to ad hoc care arrangements outside scheduled hours
  • establishing new family day care services in remote areas.

The Flexible Initiatives Trial includes funding to ensure the workforce is supported to deliver flexible models of ECEC. It is one of a suite of ECEC programs to be delivered by the NSW Government in 2023-24, which aim to improve affordability and access.

As part of its recent Budget, the Minns Labor Government affirmed a $5 billion investment in the Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund (the Fund) to boost the early childhood workforce and make ECEC affordable and accessible for more families.

The Fund will help deliver on new initiatives that directly support those who need it most –  children, families and the early childhood education workforce.

It will also be used to provide $500 per child of fee relief to 3-year-old children attending eligible preschool programs in long day care centres, effective from early 2024.

Additional programs will be made available over the coming months.

All eligible ECEC service provider types are invited to apply for the Flexible Initiatives Trial, with funding to support family day care services on offer for the first time.

Applications are now open for the first round of the program, and close on 1 December 2023.

Visit the NSW Department of Education website for more information, including the program guidelines, eligibility and upcoming information sessions.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Penny Sharpe said:

“Flexible early childhood education and care options are a critical need for working families, particularly for parents and carers who are in part-time, casual or shift work.

“The Flexible Initiatives Trial is part of the Minns Government’s commitment to improving access to early childhood education and care.

“Through the Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund, exciting new initiatives are being developed to respond to the most pressing needs of the sector and the community.”

Using virtual reality to improve emergency stroke care

Emergency department nurses across NSW will gain valuable real-time experience with stroke care through new virtual reality (VR) training program being rolled out across the state.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park today officially launched the program, which will be rolled out across 27 hospitals in NSW, with a demonstration of the immersive training at Royal North Shore Hospital.

“Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency and this technology will help to improve outcomes for people presenting with stroke,” Mr Park said.

“Fast response and treatment of stroke is vital to saving lives and improving recovery.

“By simulating a real-time scenario, this training will give emergency nurses practise in how to handle those first critical minutes.

“A total of 27 VR headsets have been distributed to regional, rural and metropolitan hospitals, with a focus on smaller hospitals where staff may have limited exposure to stroke presentations.

“It’s really pleasing to see this innovative technology being used to train nurses.”

The stroke VR nurse training program will run in all regional local health districts, including the following hospitals: Tweed, Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Moree, Armidale, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Manning, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Blue Mountains, Goulburn, Cooma, Shoalhaven, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Deniliquin, Moruya and South East Regional Hospital (SERH).

It will also run in the Sydney, Northern Sydney and South Eastern Sydney local health districts at Royal Prince Alfred, Prince of Wales, St Vincent’s and Royal North Shore hospitals.

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Clinical Innovation and Research and Chief Executive, Agency for Clinical Innovation, Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque, said the VR training is another innovative way the public health system is using technology to improve patient care.

“VR training gives patients and nurses access to best-practice stroke care, especially in regional areas where a local hospital does not receive the same volume of stroke patients as its city counterparts,” Dr Levesque said.

“This new training program complements the successful NSW Telestroke Service, which uses video consultation to provide people living in rural and regional NSW with rapid access to specialist stroke diagnoses and treatment.

“Telestroke is now operating in 23 hospitals across the state.”

The TACTICS VR stroke training program is a collaboration between the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the University of Newcastle Centre for Advanced Training Systems.

University of Newcastle Professor Rohan Walker said the VR nurse training follows Telestroke training already produced using the TACTICS VR platform.

“Health staff find the immersive, interactive and evidence-based training easy to use and it improves their confidence in best-practice clinical care,” Professor Walker said.

For more information on stroke care, visit the Agency for Clinical Innovationlaunch.

New trout season kicks off

The state’s annual trout fishing season commenced on September 30, with rivers and streams in prime condition following the 4-month fishing closure. 

Great fishing across the NSW trout fishery is expected this season.

The annual closure allows trout to breed during the spawning season, to allow good recruitment and ensure we maintain our fishing assets for future seasons.

Consistent rainfall over the past few years has allowed for good natural recruitment, which bodes well for this open season.

NSW boasts an array of popular trout fishing locations, including a range of productive streams in the New England area, the iconic Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers in the Snowy Mountains, and the Fish River near Bathurst in the Central West.

It is important that all anglers check they have a current and valid NSW Recreational Fishing Licence. It’s also a good idea that anglers take the opportunity to remind themselves about the fishing rules, to ensure our trout fishery remains viable into the future.

The NSW trout fishery is carefully managed to ensure sustainability while delivering socio-economic benefits.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Trout are an incredibly popular freshwater sportfish in our general trout streams, artificial fly and lure streams, and create fantastic opportunities for fishers.

“DPI’s Gaden and Dutton trout hatcheries have completed their breeding programs for the season, and we are working with local clubs and acclimatisation societies to organise stocking of trout fry and fingerlings.

“The wet conditions over the past few years have given a great boost to trout fishing and we look set for yet another bumper season this year, right across the state.”

The 2023-24 trout season is open through to Tuesday, 11 June 2024. A summary of fishing rules and regulations is available via the FishSmart Applaunch or by accessing the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guidelaunch available at NSW DPI offices, fishing fee agents or online.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing or suspected illegal fishing should contact the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536launch or report illegal activity online via the link.