Month: October 2024

The NSW Government is improving access to healthcare for people living in rural and regional communities, providing financial assistance to more than 41,400 patients in the past year through the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).

IPTAAS provides financial assistance to patients who need to travel long distances for specialist healthcare, not available locally.

NSW patients have also received more money back in their pockets thanks to increased subsidies, with the average reimbursement per patient higher than ever before at $482.

In 2023-24, 99,600 applications were approved, an increase of 21,200 applications from the previous year.

The number of IPTAAS applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients has also increased, up by 2,200 to 8,500 in 2023-24.

IPTAAS is reducing the financial burden on rural NSW residents like Noeline Nicholls who lives in Pilliga, almost 100 kilometres west of Narrabri. Noeline regularly visits Aboriginal Health Worker Jacob Shanley at Tamworth Hospital’s Healthy Deadly Foot Clinic to receive essential medical care.

In the 2023-24 financial year, $48,885,696 was provided in IPTAAS claims across NSW, helping  41,417 patients access specialist health treatment.

IPTAAS payments for 2023-24 by local health district are:

• Central Coast: $339,168
• Far West: $3,613,345
• Hunter New England: $12,757,239
• Illawarra Shoalhaven: $1,297,680
• Mid North Coast: $4,764,257
• Murrumbidgee: $7,961,022
• Nepean Blue Mountains: $345,373
• Northern NSW: $3,243,997
• Northern Sydney: $66,629
• South Eastern Sydney: $50,996
• South Western Sydney: $327,845
• Southern NSW: $5,274,675
• Sydney: $13,672
• Western NSW: $8,517,565
• Western Sydney: $53,516
• Outside of NSW: $258,716*

*Applications from locations outside of NSW are patients who reside in another state and are donating an organ or tissue to a NSW resident, or patients who reside on Lord Howe Island.

Reducing the financial burden for country patients to travel for their healthcare is just part of a comprehensive range of measures the NSW Government is embracing to improve access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities, including:

• Delivering more health worker accommodation in the bush;
• Doubling rural health worker incentives for the most critical and hard to fill positions to improve recruitment and retention;
• Boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model; and
• Deploying an extra 500 regional paramedics.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We’re making it easier for regional people to access healthcare through the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS). More people are accessing IPTAAS than ever before and they’re getting more money back in their pocket thanks to increased subsidies.

“We know that people living in rural, regional and remote NSW sometimes have to travel a long way for specialist care. The financial assistance they get through IPTAAS not only helps cover the costs of travel and accommodation, it can mean the difference between seeking care or not.

“Pleasingly, we’re seeing big increases in the number of people accessing IPTAAS, including those using the scheme for the first time, which means the money we’re providing is getting straight to the people who need it the most.

“Through important initiatives like IPTAAS, we will continue to support residents of NSW to access high-quality, timely and appropriate healthcare, particularly those living in rural, regional and remote communities.”

Pilliga resident Noeline Nicholls:

“If it wasn’t for IPTAAS, I wouldn’t be here.

“Where we live, we travel to get food, petrol and medical. If I didn’t have IPTAAS, I wouldn’t have been able to receive the medical care I needed.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to improve road safety in regional NSW with $45 million to be provided to council-nominated road safety projects across regional areas.

This comes from an additional $80 million investment into the Towards Zero Safer roads program, following an additional $200 million recently announced for regional projects on state roads, managed by Transport for NSW.

To be provided over three years, this funding will allow for the delivery of 23 road safety projects and to progress the implementation of three 40 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Areas on roads maintained by local councils in regional NSW.

The Towards Zero Safer Roads Program is a road safety infrastructure upgrade and speed management program aimed at delivering sustainable and long-term reductions in road trauma across the NSW road network by addressing high risk locations.

The program aligns with the Future Transport Strategy vision to achieve zero road trauma by 2050 and is a cornerstone of the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan, which aims to halve fatalities and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030.

Examples of the improvements this round of the program will provide to local communities in the regions include the installation of pedestrian crossings, roundabouts, shoulder upgrades and road widenings to help reduce the risk of crashes.

The program builds on the success of the previous Safer Roads Program, which is estimated to save up to 1,550 serious injuries and lives over the lifetime of the program.

Details of each funded project is available here

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Even though regional NSW only makes up a third of the NSW population, sadly two thirds of deaths on our roads happen on country roads.

“The Minns Labor Government has provided more than half of funding for these council projects to regional councils.

“I am pleased to say 23 regional council-nominated projects have secured funding under this round of funding which will result in much needed infrastructure for regional NSW.

“A highlight of the funding will be the delivery of three High Pedestrian Activity Areas to regional suburbs in the state’s north including at Fingal Bay, Charlestown and Wollombi Village to protect pedestrians.

“This investment will go a long way to ensure everyone gets home safely every time to their loved ones.”

The Minns Government is proud to celebrate the wealth of fishing opportunities on offer in NSW with the return of Gone Fishing Day on Sunday 13 October.

The Government will be hosting free community events across the state, giving both novice and experienced fishers a chance to enjoy fishing fun with family and friends.

Gone Fishing Day events will be held at Gordon Park in Nambucca, Queen Elizabeth Park in Taree, Lake Keepit, Lakeside Parkin Narrabeen, Spencer Park in Merimbula and Apex Park in Wagga Wagga, with activities kicking off at 9am.

Many fishing clubs, organisations and community groups will also run their own community fishing events and activities in their own local area on Gone Fishing Day, with support from NSW Government.

A total of 62 fishing clubs and organisations have been sent fishing packages with gear to use at their local events while another 49 clubs and organisations are receiving grants of up to $2000 to help run their events.

An open day and Gone Fishing Day event will also be held at the Gaden Trout Hatchery near Jindabyne to give the community a chance to see the newly renovated, state-of-the-art facilities, with the Government investing $8.6 million in upgrades to help futureproof NSW’s iconic trout fishing sector.

A range of family-friendly activities will be on offer at the Gaden Trout Hatchery open day, including guided tours, Try Fishing sessions, fishing demonstrations, fish feeding opportunities, children’s face painting and much more.

Gone Fishing Day is another example of the NSW Government’s ongoing work to promote and improve recreational fishing in NSW, with funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts.

To find out more on the DPIRD Gone Fishing Day community events near you or for more information, visit Gone Fishing NSW Day.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Gone Fishing Day is a great opportunity for people to get out on the water and take advantage of the many exceptional fishing locations we have across our great state.

“Whether you are an experienced angler or you’ve never held a rod before – we want everyone to get involved and wet a line!”

“It is a fantastic opportunity to attract keen fishers to take to the water and introduce kids to fishing, with casting competitions and Try Fishing sessions.

“We know that fishing provides so much more than just a nutritious food source and Gone Fishing Day allows us to share the benefits of this fun outdoor activity to everyone around the State.

“Recreational fishing is a $3.4 billion industry in NSW, so it is important that we acknowledge this day and the positive impact this industry has on our economy and communities.”

Millions of extra airline seats, tens of thousands of hotel rooms and a focus on experience-led tourism will transform the state’s visitor economy into a $91 billion powerhouse as set out in a government review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.

The Minns Government will adopt a more ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035 – a 40% increase on the previous goal. The accelerated growth is expected to provide a big economic windfall for regional communities, with $44 billion (48%) of the $91 billion expected to be spent in regional NSW. 

This ambitious growth trajectory will further cement tourism as a critical pillar of future growth in the NSW economy, driving up to 150,000 new jobs by 2035.

The next decade of growth in the visitor economy will be underpinned by a potential increase of 8.5 million airline seats due to the new Newcastle Airport international terminal opening in 2025, the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport in 2026, increased capacity at Sydney Airport and growth in cross-border arrivals through Canberra Airport and Gold Coast Airport.

The Minns government has already been working to boost aviation capacity through support for the recently announced Turkish Airlines route to Sydney Airport and an agreement to support Newcastle Airport to attract more international routes.

This additional capacity will increase competition, providing a greater incentive for European travellers to choose NSW as their holiday destination and put downward pressure on the cost of holidays for NSW families.

To meet the $91 billion stretch goal, the review highlights key challenges including:

• The need for 40,000 extra hotel rooms, a 41% increase on what’s currently available
• Significant worker and skills shortages in roles such as tour guides and chefs
• Need for increased business event facilities in Sydney, Western Sydney and priority regional areas.

The review sets out a series of recommendations for achieving the stretch goal including:

• Prioritise the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy as a government-wide economic focus.
• Anchor the Visitor Economy Strategy around ‘experience tourism’
• Celebrate First Nations culture and businesses through authentic visitor experiences.
• Increase accommodation quality across regional NSW and quantity in Greater Sydney.
• Boost aviation capacity in key domestic and international markets.
• Leverage leisure events to grow season al visitation and showcase NSW’s strengths.
• Dominate Australia’s business events sector.
• Capitalise on NSW’s status as being number one for international students.
• Foster a diverse, skilled visitor economy workforce.

The Minns government has begun work on attracting more business events with a $1.5 million increase in funding for Business Events Sydney in FY25.

Confirming the international appeal of the experiences on offer in Sydney, last week the NSW capital was voted ‘best city in the world’ in the Condè Nast Traveller UK’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. The poll cited Sydney’s ‘unique, indoor-outdoor way of life’ which speaks directly to the review’s recommendation to focus the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy on ‘experience tourism.’

The NSW visitor economy is the biggest in Australia, achieving a record $53 billion in expenditure in FY24 and employing almost 300,000 workers. The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 had a target of $65 billion. The review into the 2030 strategy will inform the new NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which will be released in the coming months.

A summary of the review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 is available here.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“From pristine beaches to lush national parks, NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists across the globe.

“People coming to New South Wales for a holiday is at an all time high, but this review shows there are opportunities to grow it even more, partially due to more airports opening and more flight routes being secured.

“We are ready to put our shoulder to the wheel and attract even more travellers to NSW, boosting local business and creating thousands of jobs.”

Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“This is a very exciting moment for the NSW visitor economy. We’re taking a sector that is already very strong and raising our ambitions even higher.

“This review dares us to dream big, but it also outlines the hard work needed to meet the opportunity.

“To reach this ambitious new target we need to build more hotel rooms, attract and train more workers and create and market the experiences that connect visitors with the culture, nature and people of NSW.

“NSW has the nature, the culture and incredible experiences. We just need to match it with hard work and planning.”

More than 3,900 students across NSW have already benefitted from the Minns Labor Government’s $120 million investment in tertiary health study subsidies, with all subsidies now awarded for the 2024 calendar year.

The recipients of the subsidies include 1,840 nursing students, 280 midwifery students, 1,020 allied health, 520 medical students and 262 paramedical students.

Students beginning their degrees will receive subsidies of $4,000 per year over three years.

The subsidies, announced as part of the 2023-24 Budget, are also expected to support a further 8,000 healthcare students over the next four years.

Students seeking to receive the subsidy in 2025 can apply from mid-January 2025 and must be willing to make a five-year commitment to the NSW public health system.

The subsidies form part of a series of measures introduced by the Minns Labor Government to further strengthen the state’s health workforce, including:

• Implementing the Safe Staffing Levels initiative in our emergency departments
• Providing permanent funding for 1,112 FTE nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis
• Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers
• Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

The full list of 2025 eligible workforce groups will be available in October 2024 on the NSW Health website.

Premier Chris Minns:

“I am so pleased more than 3,900 people across NSW have already benefitted from our health worker study subsidies.

“The subsidies help students with costs such as fees, technology, travel, and helps us keep talented people here in NSW, working in the country’s largest public health system.

“Attracting skilled healthcare workers is a longstanding challenge, and while there is a long way to go rebuilding our healthcare system, we are committed to doing it so that people can access the care they need, when they need it.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We are shoring up the future of our health workforce in NSW and we’re honouring our election commitment to reducing financial barriers to studying healthcare.

“When we boost our health workforce we improve health outcomes, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s encouraging to see such a strong subscription of these subsidies.”

The Minns Labor Government has released the findings of a major statewide survey, revealing widespread community concerns about the impact of social media on children, young people, and broader society.

The survey, conducted between 11 August and 15 September this year, engaged more than 21,000 participants from across the state through the ‘Have Your Say’ platform.

This is the largest response to a ‘Have Your Say’ public consultation to date.

It found that 87 per cent of respondents support implementing age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most suggested minimum age.

This sentiment was particularly strong among parents, with 91 per cent of those with children aged 5-17 advocating for age limits.

The survey reveals a growing concern over the time young people spend on social media, with those aged 16-17 averaging over three hours per day. This trend begins as early as 10-12 years old, where 70 per cent of children are already using social media, and usage steadily increases with age.

Additionally, 35 per cent of parents of 13-15 year olds, especially in single-parent households, report that social media has a ‘negative’ or ‘very negative’ impact on their child’s life.

Parents cited concerns over excessive screen time leading to issues such as addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and the detrimental effect on their children’s daily responsibilities.

Young people themselves echoed some of this sentiment, with 66 per cent of 16-17 year olds expressing that social media distracts them from essential tasks such as schoolwork and family obligations.

The survey highlights a clear correlation between time spent on social media and negative outcomes reported by parents. Parents whose children use social media for more than four hours a day were more than twice as likely to note negative impacts on their child’s life, compared to parents whose children spend less than an hour a day online. 

The most frequently mentioned issues include ‘cyber security risks’, ‘exposure to harmful content’, and ‘concerns over how social media usage is affecting children’s behaviour’. Notably, parents of younger children who lack rules or safety measures often cited uncertainty about what to implement, signalling a need for more guidance and solutions.

The insights gathered from the survey will play a crucial role in shaping discussions at the upcoming Social Media Summit.

Jointly hosted by the NSW Government and the Government of South Australia, the first of its kind two-day, two-state event will bring together experts, policymakers, young people, and community voices to discuss strategies to combat the negative impacts of social media and foster a more positive digital future.

The summit will start at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Thursday, 10 October and continue the following day at Adelaide’s Convention Centre.

Further details about the summit, including full event schedules and online live streaming information, will be released soon.

To see the full report of survey findings and to stay updated on the summit, visit www.nsw.gov.au/socialmediasummit.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“The community has spoken, and the message is clear. Parents are concerned about how social media is impacting the lives of young people.

“The huge response to this survey sends a powerful message about the extent of community concern.

“Parents and children are rightly concerned about this giant global unregulated experiment on young people.

“The feedback we’ve received will guide discussions at the Social Media Summit and help the government as we respond to the harmful aspects of social media.”