Month: September 2024

Winners break gender stereotypes at 2024 NSW Training Awards

A female mechanical engineer and a male early childhood educator have taken top honours in the 2024 NSW Training Awards, highlighting the opportunities for those following non-traditional career paths.

NSW State of Origin women’s rugby league player, Rachael Pearson, was named Apprentice of the Year while early childhood educator, Lachlan Carey, who was forced to give up league after suffering two strokes as a teenager, is the 2024 Trainee of the Year.

For the second year in a row, women dominated the NSW Training Awards with four of the seven individual awards won by females.

The award judging panel described Ms Pearson, from Helensburgh, as a “multi-skilled, highly decorated individual and a shining example for what’s possible with vocational education”.

She excelled in a mechanical engineering apprenticeship and was awarded the 2022 Stan Gilmore Memorial Award for first in stage 1 Fitting-Machining at TAFE and followed that up by being named the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) Women in Trade Apprentice of the Year in 2023. 

The 31-year-old has put her career on hold to co-captain the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League Women’s competition but has every intention of getting “back on the tools” when her rugby league days are over.

Trainee of the Year, Mr Carey, from Newcastle, suffered two strokes in Year 10 which required multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery time.

He was forced to give up playing rugby league and did not return to school to complete his HSC.

But the health setback put him on a pathway to become an award-winning early childhood educator.

Both Ms Pearson and Mr Carey will now go on to represent NSW at the 2024 National Training Awards to be held in Canberra on Friday, 6 December.

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

“I congratulate all the winners and finalists at the 2024 NSW Training Awards, the annual showcase of the best skilled technicians, training providers and employers around the state.

“We know the economic prosperity of our state depends on us growing a skilled workforce in areas of critical importance such as housing, aged and early childhood care and manufacturing.

“The NSW Training Awards highlights the importance of our VET sector and the wonderful opportunities it offers for a rewarding and prosperous career.

“Importantly, our Apprentice and Trainee of the Year showcase that gender is no barrier to success in non-traditional careers and highlight the importance that breaking down stereotypes will play in meeting our skills shortages.”

2024 Apprentice of the Year, Rachael Pearson said:

“I am proof that if you are passionate about the trade, committed, dedicated and set realistic goals, you can have it all and most importantly you are paid to live this dream along the way.

“I feel so grateful to have my trade to come back to when I finish my NRL/W career.”

2024 Trainee of the Year, Lachlan Carey said:

“I chose a career in early childhood in the hope I could make a difference in the lives of children.

“I realised from my own personal experiences after my strokes that there were people who supported me, and their help and support has made a lasting impact on my life.”

The full list of winners can be found below:

Apprentice of the Year
Rachael Pearson, Helensburgh – Certificate III in Engineering – mechanical trade

Trainee of the Year
Lachlan Carey, Newcastle – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Baylun Williams-Pinkie, Matraville – Electrotechnology

Vocational Student of the Year
Samantha Zannes, Kelso – Early Childhood Education and Care

School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Dascha Harrison, Newcastle High School – Health Services Assistance

Women in Trades Award
Jacinta Ferris, Hunterview – Electrotechnology

VET in Schools Student of the Year
Gabriella Ward, Tamworth (Peel High School) – Health Services Assistance

VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year
Michael Pfeffer, Hospitality

Organisational Award Winners

Large Training Provider of the Year
Mines Rescue Pty Ltd

Industry Collaboration Award
ARC Training and Civic Disability Services for their Support Employee Program

Large Employer of the Year
NSW State Emergency Service

Small Employer of the Year
Early Childhood & Co. Services Pty Ltd

GREENS REFORMS THAT ENSHRINE RENEWABLES IN THE CONSTITUTION PASS PARLIAMENT 

The Victorian Greens have secured significant reforms that enshrine investment in renewable energy into the constitution, as the SEC Bill just passed the Upper House. 

The Constitution Amendment (SEC) Bill puts Victoria’s State Electricity Commission (SEC) into the constitution. It passed the Victorian Parliament today with Greens amendments ensuring that funds from SEC’s public ownership are funnelled directly into renewable energy and/or lower power prices. 

The Greens’ amendment not only drives investment into renewables but it prevents current or future Victorian governments from skimming capital and profits from the SEC into general government revenue in the form of ‘dividends’.

Victorian Greens coal transition spokesperson, Dr Tim Read: 

“The Greens have ensured that a publicly owned SEC will drive investment in renewables and lower power prices for Victorians. 

“Our changes mean that instead of the underfunded SEC being all spin and pre-election merch, it will actually help reduce power prices. 

“The future is clean, renewable energy and the Greens are the ones driving us there. 

“These changes to the SEC are a useful step but to tackle the climate crisis, Labor must stop approving new fossil fuel projects and invest real money in cheaper, cleaner, renewable solutions.” 

LAWYER X BILL SETS DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY 

The Victorian Greens have opposed the Labor government’s controversial Lawyer X Bill saying that it sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability. 

The Bill capping the state government from paying damages over $1 million in regards to the Lawyer X scandal passed the Upper House today with support from crossbench MPs. 

The Victorian Greens opposed the Bill saying that it undermines the legal right to litigation and sends a dangerous message to police that they can get away with misconduct.

The Greens said that the way to properly limit the millions of dollars the state pays on behalf of the police in compensation and legal fees was to establish a police ombudsman to hold police to higher standards of conduct, rather than seeking to limit the ongoing legal liabilities resulting from its rotten organisational culture.     

Victorian Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read: 

“Victoria Police are responsible for the Lawyer X scandal and after what we saw from police yesterday, today is not the day to be sending them the message that they can get away with misconduct. 

“This is legislation that meddles with people’s right to litigation and sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability. 

“The Premier believes in more legal consequences for 12 year old children, than dirty and corrupt members of Victoria police. 

“When it comes to serious misconduct, crimes, and corruption, Victoria Police are repeat offenders and it’s costing taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.

“We need to establish a fully independent and well resourced police ombudsman to expose the organisational culture of corruption and misconduct that permeates Victoria Police, and costs taxpayers.”

GREENS CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO POLICE TACTICS AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AT LAND FORCES WEAPONS EXPO

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, has demanded an independent inquiry into the police tactics and excessive use of force at the Land Forces protests in Melbourne this week. 

Ms Sandell has written to IBAC requesting an inquiry following independent legal observers witnessing police using pepper spray indiscriminately, police deploying weapons in very dangerous circumstances, multiple protestors injured by police, and extraordinarily violent arrests, as well as police charging horses into crowds of people and whipping people with horse whips.

Independent legal observers at the protests have themselves been assaulted and pepper (OC) sprayed by police.

Police have an obligation to protect the right to protest for all, without discrimination, and must not use indiscriminate policing tactics, except when it is strictly necessary and proportionate to do so. 

Yet in April this year a separate IBAC review of 15 separate investigations into Victoria Police’s use of OC spray found that “the decisions and actions of police escalated incidents or increased the risk of safety of those involved”.

Police officers are obliged to de-escalate all situations that might result in violence and exhaust all non-violent means, including by giving prior warning, before resorting to the use of force. This has not happened at these protests.

Ellen Sandell Greens MP:

“We have seen police throw flash grenades into crowds of protestors, police use pepper spray indiscriminately and whip people with horse whips, and police charging horses into crowds of people who don’t have any room to move away.

These are military-style tactics used by police against protestors who are trying to have their say, as is their democratic right. Police are using excessive force and violence, which escalates the situation and puts people at risk.

Victoria Police have a history of excessive force and pepper spray, and it’s time they were called out for it, because everyone has a right to attend a protest without fear that the police will use violence against them”.

Jeremy King (Principle, Injury Law and Police Misconduct – Robinson Gill Lawyers): 

“I am very concerned at the heavy-handed approach being taken by Victoria Police towards people exercising their fundamental civil right to protest. There is simply no place for the use of rubber bullets in Australia in the 21st century. They are dangerous and we know from history cause serious injuries and have even resulted in death. Victoria Police also have a most unfortunate history with indiscriminately using pepper spray at protests and this needs to stop now.”

HOUSING WAITLIST BALLOONS AS PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS FIGHT BACK AGAINST TOWERS DEMOLITION

The Victorian Greens will push to stop the Victorian Labor government steamrolling ahead with the demolition and privatisation of all 44 public housing towers across the state as the public housing waitlist continues to grow with a historic new bill being introduced into parliament today. 

It comes as public housing residents have triggered a parliamentary debate today calling on the government to protect public housing. 

The Greens will introduce their new Protecting Public Assets and Services Bill 2024 which could protect the towers from demolition and prohibit the privatisation of any public assets or services without the permission of the parliament. 

New figures reported in the Age this morning indicate a 5 per cent increase in three months in Victorians joining the public housing waiting list that already sits at over 100,000 people.

Earlier this year, the Victorian Housing Department admitted to the Yoorrook Justice Commission that they can’t tell how long people on the list will be waiting for a home. 

The Victorian Greens Public and Affordable Housing spokesperson, Samantha Ratnam said that while Labor continues to demolish public housing and hand over public land to wealthy private developers, the waitlist is only going to continue to spiral out of control making the housing crisis worse. 

Public and Affordable Housing spokesperson, Samantha Ratnam: 

“The public housing waitlist already underrepresents the amount of people who are facing homelessness as we know that many people have no faith in this system that takes years, if ever, to actually get a roof over people’s heads.

“Labor has no excuse for tearing down the existing public housing that we do have in the middle of a housing crisis when the waitlist is spiralling out of control. 

“It’s clear that Labor is planning to force public housing evictions, but public housing residents from the towers are fighting back. 

“The Greens are proud to be standing with public housing residents who are resisting the demolition and privatisation  of their homes by tabling their petition and introducing new legislation today that will protect their towers from Labor’s disastrous plan that will displace thousands of residents and make the housing crisis worse.” 

Making it easier to get the party started in streets across Newcastle

Street parties and festivals could become a more regular fixture in five locations across Newcastle as part of a pilot program designed to create vibrant, activated spaces for the community to enjoy.

City of Newcastle will receive $500,000 from the NSW Government for the Newcastle Street Events Made Simple project to help make it easier and more cost-effective for organisers to deliver free-entry, street-based community events.

View from Nelson Street during the Wallsend 150th celebration

This is part of the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package – Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program, an $8 million program being rolled out by Transport for NSW to 16 Councils across the state.

“When I first came to office and was briefed on the cost of opening a street for an event, I was told it could cost up to $122,000 on each occasion. I couldn’t believe it. We are now fixing this,” NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said.

“We want to make these events cheaper and easier for councils to run, so they can host them more often. These events bring communities together, having fun and supporting local businesses without blowing the family budget.”

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said community events provide significant social, economic and cultural benefits to Newcastle.

“We know from the success of our own events just how important these occasions are for local communities, with the recent Wallsend 150th celebration involving more than 35 businesses and attracting over 7,500 people to the festivities along Nelson Street,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Local events provide important opportunities for social inclusion and a shared sense of identity as people to come together and connect with other members of their community.

“Events also provide a drawcard for visitors from outside the area, all of which deliver a beneficial flow-on effect for the local businesses from the increased foot traffic and trade during the event, as well as the potential to encourage repeat visitation.

“This funding will allow City of Newcastle to develop a suite of resources to decrease the cost and complexity for organisers to host street-closure events on Darby Street and Laman Street in Cooks Hill, Beaumont Street, Hamilton, Wharf Road, Newcastle and Nelson Street, Wallsend.”

Resources developed under this program will include off-the-shelf traffic management plans and a street-events guide.

The grant will fund the installation of supporting street infrastructure such as onsite power, water, safety barriers and/or bollards to further reduce the costs involved in hiring equipment.

The Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program is part of the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package and is complemented by the Open Streets Program, which will temporarily transform main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces, with over 130 events planned across NSW.

City of Newcastle received $150,000 from the Open Streets program to support the delivery of the recent Wallsend 150th celebrations in Nelson Street and the upcoming New Annual Festival First Night event in King Street.  

Business case overhaul to fast-track key infrastructure proposals

An overhaul of how major infrastructure proposals are assessed will help to speed up decision making in the middle of a housing crisis.

A new framework governing the business case system will cut red tape, save money and get potential projects out of a clogged system and built faster.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will today announce new rules which include:

  • Developing a fast track for significant proposals in the fields of housing, health and energy infrastructure.
  • Relaxing the criteria for when a business case is required, including:
    • Increasing the threshold for a business case on recurrent proposals from $10 million to $20 million.
    • Allowing lower-risk, lower-cost proposals (Tier 3 and 4) to have a lean business case or short-form assessment.
  • Sharpening the purpose and content required in business cases.
  • Supporting more work in-house to reduce overreliance on consultants.

These changes, if enacted five years ago, would have avoided the requirement to prepare more than 1,200 business cases.

The changes will return business cases to their primary purpose, which is to set out the evidence needed to inform government investment decisions.

For major projects, expensive and time-consuming work including detailed procurement plans, management plans and technical investigations will now be conducted following government approval for projects to proceed to this stage – instead of before, which could be a waste of money if the project is not approved.

In some of the worst examples of waste, the former government spent a combined $134 million on business cases to support buildings dams at Dungowan and Wyangala, which never stacked up from the earliest stages and were never built.

And in NSW schools, business cases for new school investment had been outsourced on a rolling contract, instead of the same straightfoward analysis being done in-house.

In the middle of a housing crisis and an energy transition, there is no time to waste.

These changes will help to streamline the business case system and ensure government can make timely decisions on projects that NSW needs into the future.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“These reforms will see us continue to rely on thorough business cases for government decision making. But they’ll be adjusted to ensure that we make the cases that need to be made.

“If these changes were in place 5 years ago, we could have avoided the requirement to create more than 1,200 business cases.

“Overall, these new rules should improve the efficiency, quality and cost of our decision making and ensure NSW builds the future people need.”

Builder appointed for Blayney health facility redevelopment

Construction of the Blayney Multipurpose Service (MPS) redevelopment will soon get underway following the appointment of the building contractor to deliver the project, which will enhance access to healthcare for the local community.  

The Blayney MPS redevelopment project is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $297 million Multipurpose Service Program to deliver health facilities across rural and remote communities.   

The new facility will be built on the existing Osman Street site and will have more inpatient beds, increased chair-based services and room for future expansion.      

Taylor Construction has been engaged following a competitive tender process to build the new Blayney Multipurpose Service, which will deliver a new purpose-built and modern facility to improve health and aged care services for the people of Blayney.  

Taylor Construction is an experienced contractor in the health sector, with recent projects including the Campbelltown Hospital Redevelopment, Freshwater Mental Health Unit within the Long Bay correctional complex, and Bathurst Hospital MRI Imaging Department Extension.  

Taylor Construction will reach out to the local community including trades, businesses, and suppliers about opportunities to be involved in construction for the redevelopment.   

The contractor has been working closely with the Health Infrastructure, Western NSW Local Health District, Blayney MPS staff, residents and their families, and the local community to finalise the design.  

Features of the new MPS include: 

  • Residential aged care wing, all with single rooms and bathrooms 
  • Increase in number of inpatient unit beds 
  • Increase in ambulatory care treatment chairs 
  • Increase in HealthOne rooms 
  • One main entry to replace the three existing entries 
  • Enhanced courtyards and outdoor spaces  

A construction timeline will be confirmed once planning for the build progresses, with the community to be kept updated.    

For more information about the Blayney MPS Redevelopment please visit mps.health.nsw.gov.au or email HI-BlayneyMPSRedevelopment@health.nsw.gov.au.    

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:  

“The appointment of the building contractor is a significant milestone in the delivery of this project, which will ensure the Blayney community have access to improved health facilities, now and into the future.” 

“This new facility will have more treatment spaces, a residential aged care wing with single rooms and scope to expand in the future to meet the needs of the Blayney community.”

Labor Spokesperson for Bathurst Stephen Lawrence:  

“This progress means the community of Blayney are now closer to getting a new state of the art healthcare facility.”

“Not only will this result in a great healthcare facility, this will create new training and job opportunities throughout construction, which also provides a significant boost to the local economy.”  

Finalists announced for Premier’s NSW Export Awards as more businesses are encouraged to take on the world

Leading exporters from a diverse range of industries, including agribusiness, manufacturing, creative arts and advanced technologies are finalists for the 2024 Premier’s NSW Export Awards.

Now in its 62nd year, the awards celebrate the success and resilience of NSW exporters, who help grow the NSW economy.

In 2022-23, NSW exports were valued at $150 billion, representing 19 per cent of Gross State Product.

Sixty-eight NSW businesses have been named as finalists, representing categories including Western Sydney, Women in International Business and NSW Exporter of the Year.

The NSW awards will also celebrate the state’s dynamic export partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – NSW’s third largest trading partner and a region projected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Sydney Town Hall on Friday 11 October 2024.

NSW winners in national categories will then progress as finalists representing NSW at the Australian Export Awards in Canberra in November.

For a full list of finalists for the 2024 Premier’s NSW Export Awards visit the Export Council of Australia: https://export.org.au/premiers-nsw-export-awards/

The announcement of the finalists coincides with a suite of new opportunities released today as part of the 2024-25 NSW Export program, which will support up to 200 businesses to chase their international growth objectives.

This year’s program will help NSW small to medium enterprises (SME’s) in established industries such as Food and Beverage and Health, as well as emerging export sectors including Cleantech, Space and Mining, Equipment, Technology and Services, export to markets in Southeast Asia, the Americas, Middle East, India, UK, Greater China and North Asia.

Briar Ridge Vineyard has taken part in four program opportunities to the United States, UK, Japan and South Korea. The winery, based at Mount View in the Hunter Valley, is a family-owned business that’s been operating for 52 years.

The program supported Briar Ridge to pursue export opportunities through market introductions and education around regulatory issues, and local pricing. With the support of Investment NSW, Briar Ridge is growing its presence in their target markets, including the United States. 

For more information on the 2024-25 NSW Export Program, and the opportunities available for businesses to export visit Investment NSW.

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“From food and beverages to advanced manufacturing, NSW exporters are pushing the boundaries of innovation and taking their products to new and exciting markets.

“Their success is our success, and we pay tribute to all this year’s finalists in the Premier’s NSW Export Awards, who are showcasing to the world the best of what NSW has to offer.

“With the number of businesses in NSW climbing by more than 25,000 in 2023-24, many will be setting their sights on selling their goods and services overseas, helping to further bolster the NSW bottom line.

“The NSW Government is committed to unlocking the export potential of the state. One in five jobs in Australia is supported through trade, playing a significant role in driving NSW’s economic future.

“The new round of programs seeks to help NSW companies overcome barriers to expansion by providing them with the tools, know-how and market introductions to succeed and flourish internationally.”

Briar Ridge Vineyard General Manager Michael Bentley said:

“Our wines are fantastic, but we needed to let more people know how fantastic they are.

“As a small business looking to export, the challenge is getting in front of people, getting those market introductions and support on the ground in the countries you’re going to.

“The help of Investment NSW has been really beneficial for us – we first took part in a program to South Korea and were supported with translation services, one-on-one meetings and attendance at a food and wine exhibition where we were front and centre with key players looking to buy Australian wine.

“More recently, we’ve cracked the largest fine wine market in the United States – exporting to five states – and that’s in part thanks to NSW Government support.”

New legislation To Acknowledge Biological Reality

Legislation amending the Sex Discrimination Act to acknowledge biological reality over contrived gender identities will be introduced to the Senate today by One Nation.

Party leader Senator Pauline Hanson said the move was aimed at protecting the rights, privacy and safe spaces for biological women.

“As we saw in the case of Sall Grover’s ‘Giggle’ app, biological women’s private spaces and rights are being attacked by biological men,” Senator Hanson said. “This platform was intended to provide a safe space for biological women free from the harassment often experienced by women online.

“However the court ruled in favour of a biological male who had changed their gender identity, allowing them access to this woman-only space.”

Senator Hanson warned the Labor government not to allow the Greens to block the introduction of One Nation’s Sex Discrimination (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill.
“The Greens have always moved to block any examination or scrutiny of gender ideology, identity politics and its many victims,” Senator Hanson said.

“Along with Labor, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, the Greens have blocked a number of enquiries into the massive increase in Australian children presenting with gender dysphoria and being treated with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

“They have all ignored the pleas of Australian women to protect their private spaces, and protect their safety in sports, from biological men who have ‘transitioned’.

“Generations of Australian women have fought for their rights and equality with men, only for transgender men to swoop in and take those hard-won rights for themselves.”
One Nation’s legislation seeks to reverse the amendment made to the SDA under the Gillard Labor Government which inserted gender identity and removed the definition of men and women.

“Our intention is to return the definition of men and women to their original meaning, as defined by human biology,” Senator Hanson said. “This is about acknowledging reality.”