Month: July 2024

NSW Ambulance has welcomed 82 new paramedic interns today after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony in Sydney.

This is the fifth class to join NSW Ambulance this year, with 54 of the paramedics joining the team from interstate and two from New Zealand.

Following completion of a tertiary degree at university, the paramedic interns have completed six weeks of induction with NSW Ambulance.

They will now be posted across the state to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships.

More than half of this class will start their careers in regional NSW, with 16 heading to Hunter New England, 12 to the North Coast, 15 to Southern NSW and four to Western NSW. This is a significant boost for these regional areas and will further assist NSW Ambulance in providing world-class emergency and mobile healthcare across the state.

Following their year as an intern, the paramedics will return to Sydney to complete their training before taking up permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting our paramedic workforce, having started the roll out of 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities and investing in a record pay increase for paramedics in December making them among the highest paid in the country

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“I’m proud to welcome our latest paramedic interns to NSW Ambulance where I know they will provide the people of NSW with the best care possible when they are unwell and at their most vulnerable.

“I congratulate these new paramedic interns for reaching this milestone as they start their careers on the frontline of emergency healthcare in NSW and thank them for their dedication to their community.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr Dominic Morgan:

“I warmly welcome these interns into NSW Ambulance where each of them will play a vital role in keeping the people of NSW safe and healthy.

“I know all who were inducted today have demonstrated a high level of clinical skills and dedication to their training.”

People at risk of harm from alcohol and drug use in NSW will have greater access to support and treatment with the Minns Labor Government funding 12 new alcohol and other drug hubs across the state.

Twelve not-for-profit organisations will receive a share of $33.9 million over four years to deliver new, wrap-around alcohol and other drug support services, as part of the NSW Government’s response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’.

The hubs are a new approach to service delivery, bringing together multiple agencies working in partnership to provide tailored treatment and care to help people address their substance use as well as broader health and social needs in a coordinated way targeted to priority populations.

Six organisations are funded to launch new AOD hubs to specifically meet the needs of priority populations in regional and rural NSW and include:

• Australian Community Support Organisation, Shellharbour
• Directions Health Services, Bega and Eden
• Orange Aboriginal Medical Service
• Social Futures, Singleton
• St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Armidale
• The Salvation Army, Wagga Wagga

A further six organisations are funded to add access to alcohol and other drug treatment and support to their existing community services. These include:

• The Buttery, Nimbin
• Grand Pacific Health, Queanbeyan
• Aboriginal Community Housing, Kempsey
• Gandangara Health Service Ltd, South Western Sydney
• Bill Crews Foundation, Ashfield
• Mission Australia, Sydney

Building on this commitment to better health outcomes for people impacted by drugs and alcohol, the NSW Government is also announcing the dates for its drug summit.

The multiday summit will comprise of two days of regional forums in October 2024 and two days of forums in Sydney on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 December.

The Drug Summit was an election commitment.

It will bring together medical experts, police, people with lived and living experience, drug user organisations, families, and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives and build consensus on the way NSW deals with drug use and harms.

The NSW Government will begin initial discussions with stakeholders in determining the terms of reference of the summit. 

Premier Chris Minns:

“We made a commitment before the election to hold a drug summit.”

“We know that drug use impacts individuals, families and communities in many different ways. The drug summit will bring people together to find new ways forward to tackle this incredibly complex and difficult problem.”

Health Minister Ryan Park:

“These new alcohol and other drug hubs will boost access to much needed support services, particularly in regional and rural areas and for priority populations.

“They will provide welcoming, culturally safe environments and tailored treatment options to support people affected by alcohol and other drugs, and their families, to achieve enhanced quality of life.

“The drug summit will provide a range of viewpoints from those who interact with illicit drug use and addiction, from both health as well as non-health contexts.

“This is an important conversation for us to have and it will be the first of its kind in a quarter-century.

“A lot of work has gone into this so far, and more work will go into this in partnership with the community to ensure we get this right.”

Experienced barrister, Justice David Chin, has been officially welcomed as a judge of the Industrial Court of NSW and Vice President of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW.

In front of family, friends and colleagues at a ceremony attended by Attorney General Michael Daley in Sydney, Justice Chin committed to upholding integrity in the state’s workplace relations system.

Justice Chin is a specialist in workplace health and safety, industrial, employment and discrimination law, who co-authored The Modern Contract of Employment. With 30 years’ experience as a solicitor, barrister, lecturer and author, he has a long-held passion for advocacy, and for industrial law and justice making a positive change to people’s lives.

For more than two decades, His Honour has been a barrister admitted in the High Court of Australia and in NSW and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019. He was also admitted as a solicitor in the NSW Supreme Court in 1994.

Justice Chin worked on a range of cases during this period, including high-profile matters. From 2017 to 2019, he appeared for the Public Service Association of NSW in a major pay equity case before the Industrial Relations Commission. His work meant that female-dominated assistants employed in NSW public schools received substantial pay increases to rectify gender-based undervaluation.

He also appeared for the labour-hire employer in both the Federal Court and High Court of Australia in the landmark WorkPac v Rossatolitigation which settled the common law definition of casual employment.

At the same time, he was involved in academia. Justice Chin first taught at the University of NSW for three years and later became an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Sydney University Law School, where he ran a master’s degree course for more than 10 years.

His Honour was sworn in on 1 July 2024.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I am confident Justice David Chin will play an integral leadership role in the Industrial Court of NSW and the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

“Coincidentally, after returning to Australia from a master’s degree at Oxford University in 1995 and working with the Labor Council of NSW, his first ever appearance was at the IRC. It’s there he realised his values aligned with its purpose – to be independent, fair, and efficient.

“Once again, I would like to congratulate His Honour on this well-deserved appointment.”

City of Newcastle is progressing the centrepiece of its Harbour Foreshore Masterplan, seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for contractors to deliver the city’s largest playground.

The inclusive regional playspace and waterplay area will be located at the western end of Foreshore Park and have a distinctly Newcastle character, paying tribute to the city’s Aboriginal heritage as well as its industrial and maritime links.

An artist’s impression of the water play area to be created at Foreshore Park

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was delivering on its commitment to provide enhanced recreational opportunities for the community.

“We know how much our community values open spaces and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and engage in an active and healthy lifestyle,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This is why we continue to invest in and deliver a range of local, district and regional level playgrounds to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access quality facilities now and into the future.”

The EOI process, which closes 20 August, will enable City of Newcastle to shortlist suitably qualified contractors to proceed to the tendering phase for the design and construction of the new playground and waterplay area.

Work is also underway to enable construction of an accessible amenities building and kiosk that will serve playground users and the broader park.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said these staged works were key elements of the larger Foreshore Masterplan, which will help realise the full potential of the city’s premier park and events space.

“Our Harbour Foreshore Masterplan will deliver enhanced connectivity between the city and the harbour’s edge around Foreshore Park and along the Joy Cummings Promenade, creating a drawcard destination for locals and visitors from across the region to enjoy,” Cr Clausen said.

“The playspace project is a fantastic example of collaboration between City of Newcastle, our community and Touched by Olivia, a charity dedicated to the delivery of inclusive playspaces across Australia.

“It will transform the Harbour Foreshore into a more inviting recreational space that is inclusive and accessible for all members of the community.”

The flagship playground project will create a fun, inclusive and intergenerational experience designed to convey distinct Newcastle stories under the banners of trade, exchange, history, culture and environment.

It will feature junior and toddler areas, water and nature-based play areas and quiet spaces, connected via accessible paths, seating, shade, gardens and lawns.

Bespoke playground equipment will add to its unique and unquestionably local character, including a central whale-themed swing area that takes inspiration from a traditional Awabakal story, and an elevated play structure symbolising Newcastle’s strong industrial ties.

Extensive tree planting and landscaping will be carried out throughout the precinct as part of the broader masterplan to significantly increase shade canopy and create greener public spaces.

The project is supported by the NSW Government, Variety the Children’s Charity, Touched by Olivia Foundation and the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund. 

The Minns Labor Government is helping futureproof the State’s farming industry and support regional economies by extending a program focused on upskilling the State’s agricultural workforce.

AgSkilled is an industry-led training program designed to upskill and better prepare the agricultural workforce for fast-moving changes driven by innovation, research, and technology.

In the past year, the program delivered 601 courses across 145 locations in NSW, with 2,536 participants. An impressive 95% of these participants completed their courses, showcasing the program’s effectiveness and popularity.

With the extension of AgSkilled, the program aims to:

• Attract, develop and retain a productive agricultural workforce.
• Support career progression, entry pathways, and employment outcomes in agriculture.
• Increase agricultural farm efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
• Develop industry capacity to adopt new technologies and sustainable farming practices.
• Leverage research and development to ensure training is relevant, current, and meets industry needs.

Popular and priority courses, based on industry feedback, include honeybee biosecurity, chemical risk management, biosecurity training for managers/supervisors and farm workers/employees, farm business planning and operating and managing remote pilot aircraft systems.

AgSkilled is delivered by Training Services NSW in partnership with industry associations, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and the Agriculture, Food, and Animal Management Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB).

This collaboration ensures the program is designed to meet the evolving needs of the agricultural sector.

More information on AgSkilled 3.0 and how to participate in the training programs, can be found HERE.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is supporting a resilient and innovative agricultural sector.

“It’s great to have programs like AgSkilled to further assist agricultural workers to stay up-to-date with research and developments, new technologies and help increase agricultural farm productivity.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“This $5 million extension of AgSkilled reflects our strong commitment to supporting and advancing the agricultural sector in NSW.

“By investing in the skills and training of our workforce, we are ensuring that our farmers and agricultural workers are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

“AgSkilled is not just about training; it’s about building a resilient, innovative, and highly skilled workforce that can drive productivity and sustainability in our agricultural industries.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Veterans David Harris will attend the inaugural Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration today to honour the service of contemporary veterans.

Hosted by RSL NSW at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, the service takes place three years to the day the Federal Minister for Defence confirmed all Australian Defence Force personnel had departed Afghanistan, bringing our nation’s longest war involvement to a close.

The conflicts in the Middle East were in response to the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks, and Australian military personnel and civilian staff from various agencies took part in campaigns across the Middle East Area of Operations between 2001 and 11 July 2021.

Our nation’s participation came at a terrible cost with 54 lives lost in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

Many more service personnel returned home with long-lasting physical and mental injuries, which are still felt today, and, tragically, a high number of veteran suicides.

The commemoration comes a day after the NSW Government announced a $2 million investment to building a new war memorial dedicated to honour the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Middle East campaigns and their families, delivering on a key election commitment.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Today we honour the immense contribution and sacrifice of our contemporary veterans in Middle East conflicts.

“We recognise their courage and their service, as well as the ongoing toll of their experiences, both visible and invisible.

“These veterans continue the proud tradition of our armed forces, serving abroad to protect the Australian way of life at home.

“This day will forever be enshrined in remembrance of these brave men and women.”

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“Today we gather to acknowledge the service of our contemporary veterans. These servicemen and servicewomen who have served in recent conflicts have made extraordinary sacrifices to continue the legacy of our Anzacs from the First World War.

“They have served our country with distinction, but have also felt enormous loss as a result of conflicts. Many continue to wear this burden long after they departed the Middle East. I would like to thank them for their service, and also thank their families for supporting their loved ones.”

A training program in Western NSW is helping to break down barriers and ensure Aboriginal communities have better access to mental health support on Country.

A training program in Western NSW is helping to break down barriers and ensure Aboriginal communities have better access to mental health support on Country.

Communities in Nyngan, Warren and Condobolin, Coonamble and Gulargambone are benefiting from better access to culturally safe and informed mental health services following the graduation of 20 trainees from the Marathon Health Aboriginal Wellness Worker traineeship program.

It comes a year after Marathon Health received $1 million in funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program to roll out the program and help graduates like proud Wiradjuri woman, Shaana Daley, deliver culturally safe outreach support to western communities.

Trainees such as Ms Daley are employed by Marathon Health during their studies and receive on-the-job experience helping young people aged 12-25 years in Western NSW improve their mental health literacy, increase help-seeking behaviours, and receive basic health assessments and referrals to appropriate services.

The traineeship program is about removing barriers to education and employment and assists students with accommodation, travel costs, meal allowances and support during their studies.

Ms Daley, who recently completed her Certificate IV in Mental Health at the Warren Youth Centre and Community Hub, is grateful for the opportunity to deliver the kind of mental health support she would have liked to receive while growing up.

She is among a total of 29 participants in the Aboriginal Wellness Worker traineeship program, including:

• 13 graduates in the first cohort, who graduated with a Certificate IV Mental Health.
• Seven graduates in the second cohort, who graduated with a Certificate III in Primary Health.
• Nine students in cohort three, who are currently undertaking their Certificate III Community Services

Through Marathon Health’s Youth Outreach Project, graduates like Ms Daley will begin servicing additional communities in Bourke, Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Collarenebri later in the year.

The program is supported by Western NSW Primary Health Network.

Minister for Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is committed to boosting mental health outcomes in Western NSW, and I am pleased to share that we have extended the Aboriginal Wellness Worker traineeship program to now facilitate a third cohort of trainees who will graduate with a Certificate III in Community Services.

“The thing I love about this program is that it is working towards addressing an immediate healthcare need in Far West communities while also giving trainees hands-on experience and on-the-job training while they complete their studies.”

“It means that by the time our trainees graduate, they already have some great experience under their belt to support and help youth in their local communities to help ensure they are aware of what mental health support services are there when, or if, they need them.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:

“The NSW Government’s commitment to achieving its Closing the Gap priorities emphasises the need to address mental health for Aboriginal people, and the Aboriginal Wellness Worker Program will ensure that Aboriginal communities have access to mental health support from professionals with firsthand knowledge of local issues.

“Closing the Gap is about empowering local Aboriginal communities to drive shared decision-making and self-determination. We know there are better outcomes when Aboriginal organisations and people design, lead and implement Closing the Gap initiatives, which this program is a wonderful example of.

“With 20 First Nations trainees now certified and more to come, this achievement signifies a strengthening of the First Nations workforce in 10 communities across Western NSW and promises better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The theme of NAIDOC Week 2024, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud,’ celebrates Indigenous identity and empowers First Nations people to stand tall in their heritage and support each other –  Graduates like Wiradjuri woman Shaana Daley exemplify this year’s theme, and I look forward to seeing what she does in her community.”

Marathon Health Program Team Lead, Brendan Cubby, said:

“It is really encouraging that many of our learners are seeing opportunities for themselves and their families that just weren’t possible before taking part in this program,” Mr Cubby said.

“The program is breaking down barriers and opening up wider pathways for people from remote communities”.

Shaana Daley – Cohort 1 graduate– Certificate IV Mental Health:

“Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of support where mental health was concerned,” Ms Daley said.

“Mental health is very important, especially for our youth. They need to have that support.

“I can already see the benefits of just being there for them, for the kids to have someone they can talk to and open up to – especially our Aboriginal kids. This is something that has been needed for a very long time, and if I can help even one kid, that’s enough for me.”

Stevie Carr – Cohort 2 graduate– Certificate III Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care:

“The youth outreach program has not only given the chance to further my career but also allowed me to better support my community,” Stevie said.

“I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn and further my knowledge of my people and how important it is to ensure meaningful community engagement when it comes to our health and education.”

Lacey Boney – Cohort 3 trainee – Cert III Community Services:

“I believe that having qualifications in community service can have a significant impact” Ms Boney said.

“By acquiring these skills, I feel that I can contribute by creating culturally safe environments that are welcoming and provide a sense of belonging and overall well-being for community members.”

The NSW Government is providing certainty for the state’s aerial bush firefighting capacity, with a new 10-year aviation contract signed by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) that will boost local jobs and home-grown skills.

Coulson Aviation Australia, which has managed the majority of RFS aircraft for the past five years, has been awarded the contract to oversee the management, operation and maintenance of the entire RFS fleet for the next decade.

The fleet includes 11 aircraft ­- a 737 large air tanker, two Cessna Citations, six Bell-412 helicopters, a Chinook helicopter, and a Beechcraft Super King Air.

Under the new contract, the aircraft will be overseen by primarily Australian crews, in a shift that bolsters the local workforce and makes NSW more self-sufficient as bush fire seasons typically grow longer and more intense.

Global demand for trained air service crews is high as many travel between hemispheres to fight fires which are becoming more challenging to control.

Building local fleet and aviation teams will minimise the need for aviation support from the company’s international personnel as the bush fire seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres increasingly overlap.

The new contract will also help develop the next generation of aviation personnel in NSW, with an expansion of the apprenticeship program attached to the RFS fleet.  Providing training for local crews in advanced firefighting techniques will also ensure the community is better protected.

At least two mechanical apprentices will be part of an aviation team at any given time, providing an opportunity for them to learn from the industry’s best and develop their skills handling firefighting aircraft.

During the 2022-23 bush fire season, RFS aircraft undertook more than 340 taskings and rescued 113 people. The RFS’s 737 ‘Marie Bashir’ was dispatched on 41 occasions to help battle 26 bush fires, dropping more than 600,000 litres of retardant.

The fleet is also used to support other emergency services, such as the NSW State Emergency Service for rescues during floods, when they are not being used for firefighting duties.

The new Chinook helicopter added to the NSW fleet last year will soon be able to hold its full capacity of 11,000 litres of water or retardant to fight fires this upcoming bush fire season, once the new water tanker is installed as part of the new contract announced today.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“The RFS is at the forefront of aerial firefighting innovation and response, with its fleet playing a pivotal role in firefighting efforts not just here in NSW, but right across Australia.”

“We are now looking to the future and working on making our local fleet and aviation teams even more self-sufficient, with fire seasons expected to become more challenging as the climate changes. Meanwhile, the RFS aviation teams will continue to support other emergency response efforts, such as flood rescue and reconnaissance.”

“It is important that we continue to grow the skills and experience of the local workforce, and the expansion of apprenticeships with the aviation crew will help build the next generation of firefighting aviation personnel.”

Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers said:

“The RFS aviation fleet has progressively grown in recent years to better respond and support firefighting and emergency operations across NSW, interstate and internationally.”

“In support of ground crews, aviation assets are a vital tool to help stop or slow a fire’s run and protect lives and property.

“The RFS has found a reliable and high-performing partner in Coulson Aviation, and we look forward to working with them as our aerial capability continues to expand.”

Coulson Group CEO Wayne Coulson said:

“We are extremely pleased to have been chosen as the sole aviation supplier to operate the NSW RFS-owned fleet of firefighting and emergency services aircraft.

“Coulson Aviation Australia has been the leading supplier of Large Air Tankers and Very Large Heli-Tankers to the Australian Government for the past decade and it’s an honour to have been selected again, to continue to run the world class RFS fleet.”