Month: September 2024

Planning reforms to fast-track minor works in cemeteries across the state, come into effect from today, scrapping more planning red tape.

The amendment to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) removes the need for a Development Application (DA) on low impact minor works and maintenance activities in cemeteries.

The streamlined pathway will mean cemetery operators and crematoria will not need to submit a Development Application (DA) for minor works like monuments, demolition activities, internal roads and maintenance sheds.

A DA will still be required for development beyond the boundary of an existing cemetery, or development that cannot comply with the proposed controls. It also does not include changes to the number of burial plots or operational hours.

These changes will reduce development assessment timeframes and will also help free up resources in councils, making sure our planners are doing the work they need to do to help speed up the planning system.

The NSW Government has prioritised cutting unnecessary red tape in the state’s planning system after inheriting a system that was as confused as it was confusing.

Many areas of the planning system still have thresholds and triggers that are based on outdated priorities and are not servicing communities in the most effective way. These reforms are just one of the many changes the Government is introducing to make sure the planning system is fit-for-purpose.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has worked closely with Crown Lands and Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW to ensure the reforms align across all of government.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Cemeteries play a crucial role in our community and are a place that each of us will interact with throughout our lives to honour our loved ones.

The amendment to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) removes the need for a Development Application (DA) on low impact minor works and maintenance activities in cemeteries.

The streamlined pathway will mean cemetery operators and crematoria will not need to submit a Development Application (DA) for minor works like monuments, demolition activities, internal roads and maintenance sheds.

A DA will still be required for development beyond the boundary of an existing cemetery, or development that cannot comply with the proposed controls. It also does not include changes to the number of burial plots or operational hours.

These changes will reduce development assessment timeframes and will also help free up resources in councils, making sure our planners are doing the work they need to do to help speed up the planning system.

The NSW Government has prioritised cutting unnecessary red tape in the state’s planning system after inheriting a system that was as confused as it was confusing.

Many areas of the planning system still have thresholds and triggers that are based on outdated priorities and are not servicing communities in the most effective way. These reforms are just one of the many changes the Government is introducing to make sure the planning system is fit-for-purpose.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has worked closely with Crown Lands and Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW to ensure the reforms align across all of government.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Cemeteries play a crucial role in our community and are a place that each of us will interact with throughout our lives to honour our loved ones.

“It is imperative that cemeteries can continue to operate effectively now and into the future. Operators should not be spending their time on simple DAs in existing cemeteries.

“These new tailored pathways recognise the unique role cemeteries play and provide simple operational and functional requirements for them to operate effectively.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government has been taking action to address the crisis in our cemeteries since day one.

“Once again, we are taking the necessary action to ensure we can meet the future needs in our cemeteries sector through responsible planning, finding more space for burials, and ensuring they are maintained, accessible, and respectful spaces to serve our communities.

“We want all people of all cultures and faiths to have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services, and we will continue to clean up the mess the Coalition left behind.”

“These new tailored pathways recognise the unique role cemeteries play and provide simple operational and functional requirements for them to operate effectively.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government has been taking action to address the crisis in our cemeteries since day one.

“Once again, we are taking the necessary action to ensure we can meet the future needs in our cemeteries sector through responsible planning, finding more space for burials, and ensuring they are maintained, accessible, and respectful spaces to serve our communities.

“We want all people of all cultures and faiths to have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services, and we will continue to clean up the mess the Coalition left behind.”

Museums of History NSW, the primary custodian and advocate of the state’s cultural history, has a new CEO.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said the successful candidate, Ms Annette Pitman, brings a breadth of experience in heritage preservation, activation and storytelling across public, private and not-for-profit sectors to the role. 

As Chief Executive of Create NSW for the last two and a half years, Ms Pitman led the revitalisation of Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, The Gunnery and many other significant cultural spaces and oversaw the development of the state’s first Arts, Culture and Creative Industries policy, Creative Communities.

With a proven track record in arts, heritage and cultural leadership, Ms Pitman is well equipped to elevate Museums of History NSW in its mission to preserve and share the stories of our state through places, collections and archives.

Ms Pitman will commence in the role on 14 October, 2024.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“The Museums of History NSW has an important role to play in collecting and celebrating our state’s cultural history across the vast archives and records, historic houses, museums and collections previously in the care of the Sydney Living Museums.

“I would like to congratulate Annette on her appointment to the role. I look forward to working together to deliver on the Government’s priorities for the sector and people of NSW.

“I am excited about the next chapter of this important organisation under Annette’s leadership, leveraging the successes and partnerships she has built across the NSW creative sector to further the mission of Museums of History.”

“I would also like to thank Mary Darwell for acting in the role for the past sixteen months, and commend her for the excellent contribution she made during her interim tenure. Mary led with care and integrity during Museums of History NSW’s important establishment phase, placing the community at the heart of its work. She leaves a substantial legacy.”

About Museums of History NSW:

• Established in December 2022, Museums of History NSW is a state cultural institution.
• The Museum brings together the historic houses, museums and collections previously in the care of Sydney Living Museums with the vast archives and records in the NSW State Archives Collection.

The largest-ever cohort of students completing their Higher School Certificate conclude their formal schooling today as Term 3 draws to a close and the countdown begins to the HSC written exam period.

The 2024 HSC enrolment snapshot released today shows a record 80,166 NSW students are completing at least one HSC course this year, with 76,221 of those students set to sit at least one HSC exam.

The snapshot, released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), provides a breakdown of enrolments by course, gender, and location. It offers insights into which areas of study students are interested in and how enrolments have changed, or remained stable, over time.

Continuing an 11-year trend, Mathematics (61,963 students), Business Studies (20,008) and Biology (19,444) again see the highest enrolments after English – with Ancient History moving into 13th place for candidature size, its highest place in recent years.

Six per cent of students are enrolled in language courses this year, consistent with 2023, with Japanese, French and Chinese continuing to see the highest candidature in a trend unchanged over the past decade.

In Vocational Education and Training (VET), Hospitality (7,587 students), Construction (3,529 students), Business Services (2,401 students), Retail Services (1,615 students) and Entertainment Industry (1,243 students) have the highest enrolment numbers, with Primary Industries (1,054 students) continuing to grow and attracting more female students than in previous years. 

The HSC is a family affair for some students, with around 1,647 siblings sitting exams this year, including 798 sets of twins and 17 sets of triplets enrolled in an HSC course.

As they near the end of their 13-year schooling careers, the HSC Class of 2024 are now set to finish classes and finalise preparations for their upcoming written exams in October.

HSC written exams are scheduled to commence on 15 October with English Paper 1 and conclude on 8 November with Geography.  

View the 2024 HSC enrolment snapshot on the NESA website.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said: 

“This point is a major milestone for HSC students, as they head out of the school gates and prepare to take on exams next month. 

“I wish students all the best as they get ready to do their very best in exams. You have done the hard work – now is the time to stay focused, take care of yourself and follow a healthy study schedule. 

“Thank you to the teachers of NSW who have prepared HSC students for this moment and to all teachers who have guided students through their 13 years of education.”  

CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority Paul Martin said:   

“Congratulations to the 76,221 students who are now finishing up their high school careers and preparing to sit exams in October.

“Be proud of what you have already achieved to get here, and go in to this study period with a clear mind, feeling confident in all that you know and have learned.

“The NSW education system, delivered by the country’s top teachers, has prepared our latest set of high schoolers for success now and into the future.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in the mental health of regional communities with the new $335,000 12-month pilot program to support the mental wellbeing of farmers on the north coast.

The program will enable the non-government, Northern Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), which is jointly funded by the Federal and NSW governments, to offer mental health coaching to a community that has endured an onslaught of drought, bushfires, floods, and biosecurity threats, as well as fluctuating commodity prices.

The pilot, which will run until September 2025, is part of an initiative designed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.

It aims to provide integrated support to NSW primary producers in the Northern Rivers region, which has weathered the cumulative impact of multiple natural disasters since 2017.

RFCS’s mental health coaches will complement the service’s financial counselling and will work directly with farmers to provide free, confidential and one-on-one support.

As part of the pilot the RFCS will employ at least one mental health counsellor in addition to financial counsellors currently working to support local farmers.

The RFCS is well placed to deliver this initiative, having helped farmers, fishers, forestry growers and harvesters, and small rural businesses vulnerable to financial hardship for more than 30 years.

With national surveys showing that the mental health of farmers is at an historic low, this investment in the mental wellbeing will support farmers on the north coast as they continue to adapt to a changing climate, manage risks, recover and re-build their businesses.

More than 40 percent of NSW is in drought or drought affected as at 11 May 2024. At the same time the mental wellbeing of farmers has not had a chance to recover from the previous drought, due to compounding issues of COVID19, fires, floods and biosecurity disease risks and outbreaks.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report 2023, found that 30 per cent of farmers have attempted self-harm or suicide, and found that natural disasters, including drought, were the main trigger for the decline in mental health, followed by financial stress, inflation, and cost pressures.

In recent years the North Coast of NSW has experienced cumulative, and consecutive natural disasters and adverse events including biosecurity risks of Red Imported Fire Ant, Varroa Mite, Oyster QX and Prawn White Spot in addition to current drought conditions.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“What the last drought taught us is that farmers don’t necessarily want a handout – they are capable and resilient decision makers – however they do want support.

“This pilot demonstrates a new approach to providing mental health welling support alongside financial counselling advice.

“This additional investment in the Rural Financial Counselling Service will ensure producers in the RFCS’s northern service area are supported with the best possible mental health advice.

“A financial challenge doesn’t occur in isolation and is often intrinsically linked to a variety of factors including emotional and mental wellbeing impacts.

Minister for Mental Health and the North Coast Rose Jackson said:

“An unpredictable and difficult climate can place a significant burden on our farmers, which is why it’s crucial to deliver the support they need.

“Our priority is to ensure people in regional communities know where to go, who to turn to, and what help is available.

“This new pilot leverages the local expertise of our dedicated RAMHP coordinators to ensure the program is tailor made to meet people in regional communities where they are at.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said:

“I am very pleased to see that this initiative will be placed with the Rural Financial Counselling Service as they provide wholistic services and care to our famers and rural people.

“They fully understand the stresses and strains and since 2017 there have been compounding disasters and challenges that they “get”.

“The RFCS are trusted and will do a great job with this.

“I also thank Minister Moriarty for listening and responding well to the RFCS about the best way to give a wraparound service to our rural communities and applaud the Northern NSW Region RFCS CEO Gary Goldberg and his team for their outstanding work.”

Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer Rural Financial Counselling Services NSW, Northern Region, said:

“Since 2017, the Northern Rivers region has faced one disaster after another – cyclones, drought, bushfire, floods, Covid-19.

“Hardly a week goes by without one of our financial counsellors coming to me for advice because a client is showing signs of serious distress, feeling overwhelmed and/or experiencing severe depression.

“Our financial counsellors work hard to build a mutual trust and rapport with our clients to help them through times of financial stress.

Katrina McDougall, RFCS financial counsellor, said:

“We like to go out to meet our clients face to face whenever possible to make a connection and build trust.

“I am so pleased that Rural Financial Counselling Services NSW Northern Region will be able to offer a mental health service to support this community in a meaningful way.”

The Minns Labor Government today released the findings of a review as part of the NSW Government’s wider reform plans to put the state’s insurance and care system on a more financially sustainable footing, ensuring workers compensation remains affordable and protects workers.

The Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, commissioned the NSW Treasury Operational Expenditure Review: Insurance and Care NSW (icare) report. The review aims to assist icare to achieve a permanent reduction of five per cent in its net cost of service from 2024-25.

NSW Treasury made 14 findings as part of the review. These findings provide a roadmap to improve transparency over icare’s expenditure, hold icare accountable for its statutory objectives, and improve government oversight of performance and expenditure across the state’s insurance and care system.

Building on the findings of the review, the Minns Government is taking swift action to right icare’s foundations to tackle the pressures facing our workers compensation schemes.

This week the Minns Government introduced amendments to the State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015 that strengthen icare’s governance arrangements and lift accountability and transparency for icare’s business performance.

Under this bill, the CEO would no longer sit on the board of directors, while the Secretary of the Treasury Department would join the board. The appointment of the CEO by the board will also require Ministerial approval.

The Minns Government has directed NSW Treasury to work with icare to address the findings of the review. Minister Cotsis has written to the Chair of the icare board to request advice on how review findings will be addressed. The icare board will also be required to advise the Minister on how it will make measurable progress on its savings plan without detracting from levels of service and care.

Key findings of the review are that:

• There is a need for greater clarity and continuity in measuring icare’s contribution to system performance and impact on the financial sustainability of its insurance and care schemes.
• icare is addressing a difficult legacy of accountability, governance and culture, and investing in digital transformation. The complexity, scale, cost and pace of this investment will require proactive management to reduce duplication and deliver expected benefits.
• That NSW Treasury, icare and SIRA need to work together on opportunities for a joined-up reporting framework that promotes greater accountability for system performance, including the efficient allocation of resources and value for money outcomes.

The review focused on icare’s controllable business costs to deliver insurance and care schemes on behalf of the community and government. The final report can be found here: https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/operational-expenditure-review-into-icare

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis said:

“This review provides a roadmap to drive greater transparency, accountability and focus on operational efficiency across icare and the State’s insurance system.

“It’s a necessary step to restore confidence in icare and part of the government’s commitment for a financially sustainable insurance and care system with better outcomes for injured workers, employers and other policy holders.”

Up to 1,800 children and young people experiencing domestic and family violence each year will now have access to specialised support services to help them recover and disrupt the cycle of abuse. 

The Specialist Workers for Children and Young People (SWCYP) program provides a path to recovery for children and young people from 0 to 18 years of age, staying in refuges with their mothers after escaping domestic and family violence.

The $48.1 million SWCYP investment from the NSW Government provides funding to expand the program to 10 new services covering an additional 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across NSW, the majority of which are in regional and rural NSW.

Funding for 21 existing services will ensure delivery of the program in over 22 women’s refuges across 46 LGAs is extended to 30 June 2026, providing certainty for these services.

This enhancement means children and young people accompanying their mothers in over 32 refuges across regional and metro NSW will have access to support from more than 55 specialist workers.

The NSW Government is working hard to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.

Domestic and family violence can have a devastating impact on children and young people, whether they have witnessed or directly suffered abuse.

The SWCYP program is a key part of the NSW Government’s $245.6 million domestic violence package. It recognises children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right and offers tailored support that is more holistic, trauma-informed, and preventative.

Specialist workers develop an individualised support plan for each child or young person to help break the pattern of violence and prevent intergenerational trauma.

An evaluation of the program by the University of NSW found the program delivered positive outcomes for participants by providing early intervention, preventing problems from escalating and disrupting the cycle of domestic and family violence.

The evaluation noted children and young people who had received support from a specialist worker reported positive outcomes relating to their physical health, education, social needs, mental health, emotional needs, safety, cultural needs, employment and family relationships.

See UNSW’s “Specialist Workers for Children and Young People Outcomes Evaluation – Final Report”.

The NSW Government is taking a whole of government approach to address domestic and family violence, including rolling out our first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy, holding perpetrators to account, and strengthening protections for victim-survivors through bail reforms and proposed changes to ADVOs.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Supporting families through this holistic response is a critical step to preventing future cycles of violence.

“Extending and expanding this program recognises that children and young people are victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in their own right. So it’s vital that we provide them with this much-needed support, that is a different response to their mother, in the space where refuge is sought.

“This investment by our government is crucial and will provide life-changing help to children and young people as they recover from past trauma.

“Every child deserves to live free from violence and its destructive impact on their health and wellbeing.”

Domestic Violence Service Management CEO Stephanie Smith said:

“Specialist workers for children and young people allow for a long-term sustainable solution to ending domestic and family violence in Australia. By intervening early with children and young people we are able to disrupt the normalisation of domestic and family violence and allow a reframe of values about relationships and gender dynamics early.

“Our specialist workers are there specifically for the children who historically may have been left behind in the inevitable crisis caused by domestic and family violence. These workers allow the experience of children to be heard, acknowledged and addressed.

“Our services are person-centered which means we don’t have a one-size-fits-all way of doing things. We start with thorough assessments based on what the child and parent are telling us and we regularly review and adapt our way of working with children to ensure we see progress.”