Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is today launching its official winter vaccines campaign ahead of the peak respiratory virus season this winter.

International experience indicates the possibility of a higher than usual influenza activity season this year.

To ensure people have the essential services they rely on, the Minns Labor Government has worked to get the supply of vaccines out to doctors and pharmacists.

Vaccination rates for vulnerable groups have been declining nationally as well as globally.

In NSW, the influenza vaccine rate for six-month to five-year-olds has declined from 28.3 per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent in 2024, and for over 65s it was down from 62 per cent in 2023 to 60 per cent in 2024.

Influenza vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for:

• children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
• people aged 65 years and older
• aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older
• pregnant women
• those with serious health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, severe asthma, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease.

People can access flu vaccinations through their pharmacist or local GP.

Last month, the NSW Government announced an investment of $16.6 million to ensure all newborns in NSW can be protected from serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

It means newborns can either receive free protection from RSV through maternal vaccination or immunisation before they leave the hospital.

The NSW Government has invested $15 million to improve vaccine access to vulnerable communities across NSW such as culturally and linguistically diverse groups.

Acting Premier of New South Wales Prue Car:

“Today we are urging people across NSW to top up their yearly vaccinations ahead of the worst of the winter flu season.

“Whether you’re a member of a vulnerable group, or you want to protect your family members from sickness, it’s important to stay up to date with your vaccinations.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:  

“We are today urging the community to get vaccinated ahead of the peak respiratory virus season this winter.

“Respiratory viruses such as flu are expected to rise this winter – and we are expecting higher flu activity this season.

“The best way to protect your loved ones is to get vaccinated.

“That’s why we’re offering free flu vaccines for all children aged six months to under five years and people aged 65 years and older, as well as vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women and people with medical risk factors.”

A powerful collection of wartime artefacts testifying to the enduring legacy of the ANZACs is on display at the Anzac Memorial as the nation marks 110 years since the landing at Gallipoli this week.

Anzac Day is an opportunity to reflect on a legacy etched in courage and sacrifice that has shaped our nation and resonated through the generations for more than a century.

These artefacts offer a tangible connection to those who served at Gallipoli, ensuring their stories are preserved for generations to come.

Among the artefacts is an otherwise ordinary pocket Bible that saved the life of Corporal Alister Ross at Gallipoli. Carried in his breast pocket, the bible absorbed the full force of a bullet or high-velocity shrapnel fragment, its cover still bearing the imprint of that life-saving moment.

A rare surviving trench periscope, acquired by light horseman Sergeant Roy Harris during the campaign, speaks to the remarkable ingenuity of soldiers who improvised solutions to the challenges of warfare in the trenches.

The 9th Battalion’s marker pennant is a poignant remnant of the first battalion to land at Anzac Cove – among them, several hundred men from northern NSW who were part of that historic dawn landing.

Visitors to the Anzac Memorial can see these and many more artefacts from over a century of service by Australian men and women, including the Treasures of the Anzac Memorial exhibition marking the Memorial’s 90th anniversary. Entry is free and open daily, 9am to 5pm.

Many of the items in the exhibition can now be viewed digitally following the launch of the Memorial’s online collection on the Anzac Memorial website.

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“Anzac Day is a time for the NSW community to come together and pay tribute to the first ANZACs and to all the brave servicemen and servicewomen who have since followed in their footsteps.

“Thanks to the generosity of those who returned from Gallipoli and the families of those who served, artefacts like these now sit in collections such as the Anzac Memorial’s, ensuring the stories of courage and sacrifice of those who landed at Anzac Cove 110 years ago can be shared with generations to come.

“These artefacts hold a special place with my family, as my great great uncle Duncan Chapman served in the 9th battalion and was the first ashore at Gallipoli in 1915.

“I want to encourage everyone to visit these artefacts but for those who are unable to visit in person, the online collection enables anyone to view the memorial virtually and experience the thousands of donated items.”

Anzac Memorial’s Senior Historian and Curator Brad Manera said:

“The Gallipoli campaign in 1915 saw the birth of the ANZAC legend. The gallantry of the Australian soldiers attracted international attention and created a reputation for military skill that is the foundation of a tradition enjoyed by the Australian Defence Force to this day.

“The great-hearted men who fought at Gallipoli, and the women who nursed and supported them, are all long dead but the mementoes and souvenirs they acquired and entrusted to collections like those of the Anzac Memorial remain. These artefacts are tangible reminders of an extraordinary generation and their legacy of courage, endurance and sacrifice.”

The Minns Labor Government has been caught sneaking out plans to slug families with massive camping fee hikes — driving up the cost of a simple family getaway by almost $150.

This is yet again another garbage dump from this NSW Labor Government for releasing its so-called “consultation”[1] during the school holidays, while parents were too busy to notice.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Chris Minns has found something else to make more expensive — family camping trips.

“Under Labor, a simple week-long camping holiday will now cost over $600. That’s a 31% fee hike — just to pitch a tent,” Mr Speakman said. 

• Current cost for a week: $476
• Minns Labor Government cost for a week: $623
• Price rise: $147 (31% increase)

Shadow Minister for Energy, Climate Change and Environment James Griffin said Labor had deliberately hidden the announcement during school holidays.

“Parents were packing the car, sorting out kids’ activities, and trying to enjoy time with their families — not checking government websites,” Mr Griffin said.

Labor used the school holidays to quietly drop their camping fee hikes, hoping families wouldn’t notice until it was too late.

• Under Labor’s camping fee hike:
  • Three nights away will cost $63 more.
  • Five nights away will cost $105 more.
  • Seven nights away will cost $147 more.

Mums and dads are budgeting for school excursions, sports fees, school shoes, and keeping the car running — they don’t have hundreds spare for extra camping charges.

Labor’s fee hikes will force families to think twice about the simplest, most affordable holidays.

Chris Minns isn’t just hiking fees — he’s hiking the cost of memories, time with loved ones, and the great Aussie tradition of camping,

Labor hikes your fees when you’re not looking — and leaves you paying more for less.

The iconic North Coast town of Byron Bay will become the first regional area to establish a trial Special Entertainment Precinct to promote and preserve its nightlife.

As part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing rebuild of the state’s night-time economy, Byron’s famous pubs, performance spaces and restaurants will be future-proofed as a nightlife precinct.

Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) allow councils to change trading hours and sound rules within a designated area to allow shops, businesses and local hospitality and entertainment operators to thrive and protect them against neighbour complaints.

The Byron Bay precinct – bounded by beachfront Bay Street, Jonson Street and the rail corridor, with Middleton and Browning Streets – will protect the famous vibrancy of the town centre as the area experiences cost and real estate pressures.

Within the precinct are time-honoured live music venues, the Backroom at the Great Northern Hotel, the Beach Hotel and The Rails.

The Backroom has hosted The White Stripes, PJ Harvey and Paul Kelly while Nirvana and Midnight Oil played the Beach Hotel in the past, while The Whitlams and The Cruel Sea have played at The Rails.

Byron Bay attracted 2 million visitors in the 12 months to September 2024.

Byron Shire Council is one of six regional councils in NSW that have put their hand up to explore establishing a SEP following the recent announcement that Burwood and Fairfield had been given the green light to establish their own precincts in Sydney’s west.

Enmore Road became the first permanent SEP in December 2023, boosting night-time foot traffic, visitation and business revenue. The area was soon after named on Timeout’s Top 20 coolest neighbourhoods in the world.

Byron Shire Council has received a Special Entertainment Precinct Kickstart Grant of $162,800 from the NSW Government which supports the local council to consult with operators and the community to determine new opening hours and sound rules.

The establishment of a SEP then precludes the need for local businesses within its boundaries to go through the expensive and time-consuming process of submitting new development applications to trade later.

Under the ‘eyes wide open’ provision of the vibrancy reforms, which will take effect later this year,  councils are also required to notify new property buyers, residents and businesses that they are make an informed decision to live in a vibrant precinct.

SEPs are being established alongside the Minns Labor Government’s vibrancy reforms which have:

• Permanently relaxed the rules for outdoor dining, allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space on private land, including car parks and bowling greens.
• Increased incentives for live music and live performance, with two hours’ extended trading and an 80% reduction in liquor licence fees for licensed venues offering live music and performance.
• Ended single noise complaints shutting down pubs and other licensed venues through sound management reform which established a single noise regulator for licensed venues, raised the number of complainants needed to consider a formal complaint from 3 to 5, and introduced an order of occupancy consideration.
• Created easier pathways for extended trading hours for licensed venues during major events like the Olympics and World Cups.
• Amended the Major Events Act so it can be used to cut red tape and support recurring significant events like Vivid Sydney and Sydney Festival.
• Made it easier for more venue types, including restaurants and small bars, to trade during special events across Sydney and regional NSW through extended event trading.
• Removed the ‘5km Rule’ for NSW registered clubs by repealing the requirement to become a member of a club to visit if a local resident lives within 5 kilometres of the venue.
• Stopped placing the standard condition on licensed venues that patrons must be seated while drinking outdoors.
• Made it easier to activate streets for festivals and events via the Transport for NSW Open Streets program and provided more guidance about traffic and transport management for special events.

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“A night out in Byron Bay has been a special part of the lives of so many people whether they are locals to the area or visitors getting a taste of North Coast NSW.

“Byron Shire is an iconic destination and the establishment of a trial Special Entertainment Precinct will ensure the classic days continue well into the night.

“Our commitment to rebuilding nightlife following the era of lockouts and useless red tape that strangled fun is by no means confined to Sydney, and Byron Bay will be one of a number of regional NSW centres to commit to their local nightlife with a Special Entertainment Precinct.

“I am delighted by the level of interest from councils across Sydney and NSW and in response, we have increased the funding pool to over $1.94 million, so more councils can establish SEPs in the coming months.” 

24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:

“The Byron Bay business chamber had been interested in the work of our Office for some time now and I am glad that there is a tangible project now on foot being led by the Council.

“The Special Entertainment Precinct model is not a one size fits all approach. It allows councils to work with businesses and local communities to put in place the right settings. I’m keen to see how this progresses. “

Byron Shire Council Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said:

“We’re so happy to receive this kickstart grant for a Special Entertainment Precinct in Byron Bay.

“This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with our community — our artists, venues, businesses and residents — to shape a night-time economy that’s vibrant, welcoming and truly reflective of Byron’s creative spirit and coastal lifestyle.

“With so much change over the past few years, this funding comes at the right time to support fresh ideas, local jobs and a safe, inclusive after-dark culture.

“We want to create a night-time experience that not only supports our local economy but also celebrates the essence of Byron — its people, its stories and its unmistakable energy.”

For more information, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/office-of-24-hour-economy-commissioner/vibrancy-reforms/seps

The NSW Government has stepped in to help five music festivals avoid the fate suffered by many others forced to fold since the pandemic.

The first round of the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund, established in September 2024, has allocated a combined $2.25 million of emergency funding to Bluesfest in

Byron Bay, Lost Paradise on the Central Coast, Your and Owls in Wollongong, Listen Out and Field Day in Sydney.

The fund is a response to the cancellation of festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, Spilt Milk and Groovin’ the Moo – RIP. The fatal headwinds for music festivals are a result of changes in ticket buying behaviours, inflation, insurance, freight and currency exchange. The financial support of up to $500,000 per festival aims to alleviate these pressures.

The music festival circuit is a vital part of the NSW live music industry that employs 14,000 people, which means further damage to the sector would have a significant impact on jobs in the sector. Regional festivals also have a significant impact on local visitor economies, particularly in areas like the Northern Rivers which has lost two major festivals.

The funding package is working in combination with reforms to the Music Festivals Act, designed to reduce costs and prioritise health considerations in festival planning. These measures included removing the ‘subject’ festival designation from the Act, introducing the requirement for a Health and Medical Plan and creating mechanisms for festival organisers to seek an internal review of proposed government costs directly with the relevant agency or appeal those costs through the newly established Music Festivals Panel.

The fight to save music festivals is part of the NSW Government’s broader commitment to strengthening the state’s music industry and rebuilding vibrancy in the night-time economy. This includes:

• Offering extended trading hours and an 80% discount on licensing fees for venues that program live music.
• Fixing the noise complaints system so single serial noise complainants can no longer shut down existing venues.
• Cutting red tape that restricted venues and increased operating costs.
• Rolling out Special Entertainment Precincts that future proof entertainment districts.
• Venue Upgrade grants for operators to install sound proofing and get their venues gig ready.
• Recording, touring and promotion grants to help artists and bands find new audiences and build their careers.

As Bluesfest wraps up this weekend and looks forward to 2026, the Contemporary Music Viability Fund will open its second round ahead of the next summer festival season.

Applications open from May 1 for eligible festivals on an as-needs basis.

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“The post covid era has been a financial nightmare for music festivals in NSW. The government needed to step in to save the furniture, and the feedback is that this fund has helped some of these festivals survive.

“From Bluesfest where I’ve been this weekend, through to Listen Out and Lost Paradise – people of all ages love the outdoor music festival experience and the artists they discover. We can’t afford to lose that cultural experience because the festivals can’t afford to pay their rising bills.

“The festival circuit a vital part of the live music industry which employs almost 15,000 people. It’s too important to lose, that’s why we’re backing festivals with emergency funding and reforms that bring down their costs.

“With the lockouts under the previous Liberal government, the pandemic and then the cost-of-living crisis it’s been a really tough time for the music industry. That’s why we’re backing it in any way we can.”

Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said:

“Sound NSW is committed to supporting diverse and world class festivals that provide significant benefit to NSW. Festivals are crucial to a vibrant music ecosystem, not just as an important part of artist career development, but for the wider benefit to our community’s wellbeing, job creation, economic development and social cohesion.

“The funding is providing critical support to iconic festivals and helping ease the burden of a rapidly changing landscape and supporting businesses while they adapt.

“We’re proud to be supporting great festivals to continue delivering world-class music experiences for the people of NSW.”

Managing Director Fuzzy Operations, Adelle Robinson said:

“The funding we received for Listen Out and Field Day from Sound NSW were lifelines for our business.

“We were seriously considering not moving forward with Field Day as the market was so precarious at the end of last year.

“A reset with our programming and the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund were the two reasons the show went ahead.”

Managing Director Australian Festivals Association, Olly Arkins said:

“The Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund saved some of NSW most iconic and most loved festivals. The support provided through Sound NSW has ensured that at a time when festivals were on the brink of collapse, the NSW Government stepped up and said ‘we’re with you and want to help you continue to thrive’.”

“Today’s announcement by Labor isn’t action, it’s delay disguised as progress. 

“It is now six months since the election, and all we have is an announcement that a tender will take place sometime in the future–we have no actual tender, no chair of the inquiry, and no detailed terms of reference.

“Labor has not announced anything new today.

“Given that at the end of last term, all parties agreed that a review was needed, and we are now six months along from the election, it begs the question of what the delay is?

“The fact is Labor’s approach slows poker machine reductions by a staggering 40% as compared to the pace achieved  by the Greens over the last seven years. 

“When the Greens were in the driving seat of gambling reform, machines were being pulled out faster — now, under Labor, progress is slowing dramatically.

NSW is further expanding and simplifying free access to the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine to ensure residents living in higher risk regional areas are protected, as the mosquito season continues.

Five additional Local Government Areas (LGAs) are now eligible to provide free JE vaccine, including Uralla, Glen Innes Severn, Kyogle, Lismore, and Richmond Valley. The eligibility criteria for free access has also been simplified to make it easier for people to access the vaccine.

The full list of 60 eligible LGAs is available here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/jev/Pages/vaccination.aspx

In NSW, the JE virus vaccine is available for free for people aged two months or older who live or work (including volunteer deployments) in any of the defined high-risk Local Government Areas and are at risk of mosquito bites.

In NSW this year, five people have acquired JE and, sadly, two of these people have died. JE virus is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans.

JE vaccine is available through local General Practitioners (GPs), Aboriginal health services and pharmacists. People should make an appointment and let the provider know it is for the JE vaccine, as they may require a few days’ notice to order the vaccine. Once vaccinated, protection can take up to two weeks to develop.

There is no specific treatment for JE. In some cases, JE can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions, reduced consciousness and death.

As many people will enjoy the great outdoors this long weekend and school holiday period, it is important that people throughout the state protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes. Here are some simple actions you can take:

• Apply repellent to exposed skin. Use repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Check the label for reapplication times.
• Re-apply repellent regularly, particularly after swimming. Always apply SPF 50+ sunscreen first before applying repellent.
• Use repellents that are safe for children. Most skin repellents are safe for use on children aged three months and older. Always check the label for instructions.
• Wear light, loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts, long pants and covered footwear and socks.
• Avoid going outdoors during peak mosquito times, especially dawn and dusk.
• Use insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units and mosquito coils to repel mosquitoes (mosquito coils should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas).
• Cover windows and doors with insect screens and checking there are no gaps.
• Remove items that may collect water such as old tyres and empty pots from around your home to reduce the places where mosquitoes can breed.
• Protect infants aged less than three months by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting, secured along the edges.
• While camping, use a tent that has fly screens to prevent mosquitoes entering or sleep under a mosquito net.

For further information and ways to protect yourself visit Mosquito borne diseases.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“People need to take mosquito borne infections seriously, especially as Japanese encephalitis is expected to continue circulating across the state.”

“Now is a great time to vaccinate, not just because the mosquito season continues in warmer areas of NSW, but because the eligibility criteria is now expanded to include more affected regional areas.”

Construction has now started on Australia’s first ever wildlife specialist teaching veterinary hospital, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

This $80 million state-of-the-art facility will replace the current hospital, which has played a critical role in wildlife care since the 1970’s.

The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will expand the zoo’s critical rescue and rehabilitation work by delivering new surgical, rehabilitation and recovery facilities to cater for hundreds of animals per year.

As a dedicated specialist teaching hospital, it will also enable widespread training and upskilling of wildlife carers, students and veterinary practitioners – further protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity against ever increasing natural disasters.

The 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires affected billions of animals, including koalas, wallabies, platypus and critically endangered amphibians which Taronga’s hospital team was instrumental in treating. The devastation of these fires demonstrated a national need for a new, state-of-the-art wildlife hospital.

Taronga’s new multipurpose facility will feature:

• Modern surgical facilities and specialised rehabilitation and recovery spaces for species such as marine turtles, reptiles and amphibians before they return to the wild.
• Increased quarantine facilities for animals confiscated in illegal wildlife trade seizures and for those transferred from other zoos as part of global conservation breeding programs.
• Australia’s first Zoo Nutrition Centre dedicated to managing the diets of the zoo’s animals.
• A pathology lab for onsite analysis and testing.
• Public viewing galleries through which zoo guests can safely watch animal health checks and veterinary procedures.

The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital is funded by the NSW Government through an investment of $40.7 million. A further $40 million is being raised through philanthropic donations. 

This facility will support the important role of volunteer wildlife carers, by educating and sharing knowledge with volunteers. This will improve the state’s capacity to respond to wildlife crises through wildlife first aid. 

The NSW Government is undergoing state-wide consultation on the wildlife rehabilitation sector to gain a detailed understanding of how NSW can improve the way we care for our native animals. 

Premier Chris Minns:

“Taronga’s new wildlife hospital will be a truly unique facility as Australia’s first wildlife specialist teaching hospital.

“Once opened, this new hospital will allow specialist vets to deliver treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation for our native species – and families will be able to come to watch them in action doing what they do best.

“Our country is fortunate to have so many unique species and this facility will enable us to protect even more of our Australian wildlife for generations to come.”

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“As natural disasters become more common, veterinarians and vet nurses are increasingly being called upon to rescue and rehabilitate severely impacted wildlife.

“This facility will not only give us the tools we need to rehabilitate our wildlife, it will also allow for us to share critical knowledge with wildlife carers all over the state.”

Taronga Conservation Society Australia Chief Executive, Cameron Kerr AO:  

“Taronga’s Wildlife Hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo treat approximately 1,500 sick, injured or orphaned native animals for treatment and rehabilitation a year, caring for a range of wildlife from marine turtles to echidnas, possums, sea birds, snakes and everything in between.

“Every year, we see first-hand the increasing need to treat and care for wildlife. At Taronga, we are driven by our purpose to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. We knew we had a duty to forge the next step. The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will allow our expert veterinary team to care for and protect even more of our precious, native animals, and inspire future conservationists and veterinary practitioners to protect Australia’s unique species.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in the future of young people, with an additional $735,000 in grants to fund youth-led projects as the state celebrates NSW Youth Week 2025 from 9-17 April.

Sixteen organisations will receive up to $50,000 each to design and deliver projects under the Youth Opportunities program.

This is on top of the $1.5 million already delivered to 35 organisations in the 2024/25 funding round, which has supported a range of activities including cultural connection programs, creative arts workshops, self-defence classes, leadership camps, sporting activities and community engagement projects.

The grassroots projects are aimed at empowering and engaging young people aged 12-24 in their local communities.

The latest projects funded under the grants span the state and include sport, health and wellbeing, nutrition, art, music, podcasting, video production, life skills, financial literacy, and job readiness.

Young people are closely involved in the projects every step of the way, from identifying what their peers need, to workshopping the proposals and delivering the projects.

This innovative approach drives young people’s connection to their communities and provides an opportunity to forge leadership, communication, and management skills, helping them achieve their full potential.

Since it was first launched in 2012, the Youth Opportunities program has provided $19.8 million in funding and delivered 434 youth empowering projects across NSW.

The projects announced today will commence this year.

A full list of new recipients can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/youth-opportunities-program/previous-recipients/youth-opportunities-program-2024/25-round-13

Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said:

“The Youth Opportunities program delivers projects by young people for young people.

“I am thrilled to announce we’ve expanded this year’s program, with 16 additional grant recipients receiving grants to drive projects in their areas.

“From sport to mural making, these new projects will empower and engage young people, helping them connect with their communities and learn vital new skills to set them on a positive path for the future.”

Steve Hancox from Multicultural Communities Council Of Illawarra said:

“The Youth Opportunities funding enabled us to engage with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in our community.

“As a result of our project, more young people built strong community networks and developed essential skills to navigate life’s challenges.

“It was fantastic to see the participants in our project thrive with an increased sense of self-confidence and belonging.”

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS:

Organisation	Project title	Primary location	Funding amount
Auburn Youth Centre	Sport, Wellbeing, Events and Teamwork Training (SWEATT)	Lidcombe	$47,294
Belong Blue Mountains	Pick ‘n Mix: Connecting and Choice for Marginalised Young People	Blue Mountains	$50,000
Big Fat Smile	Ready, Set, Cook!	Bellambi	$49,600
Central Coast Council	Urban Art Mural Program	Central Coast	$29,000
Challenge Community Services	Voices of Youth in care	Tamworth	$47,000
Stitches Collection	Stitching Stories from Western Sydney	Sydney	$45,000
Griffith City Council	EmpowerYOUth2680	Griffith	$46,900
Gymea Community Aid & Information Service	Uniting Generations	Gymea	$48,521
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council	Illawarra Aboriginal Youth Leadership Development	Wollongong	$50,000
LeaderLife	LeaderLife with Life Skills	Dubbo	$50,000
PCYC Glebe-Leichhardt	Community Empowerment: Youth Peace and Sports Leadership	Forest Lodge	$50,000
Port Stephens Council	The Place Is Yours	Raymond Terrace	$50,000
SmartArts	Amplify	Kempsey	$39,500
Tamworth Regional Council	Youthie Grub Hub Training Opportunity Cafe	West Tamworth	$35,000
The Skill Engineer	Let’s Talk – Bean Bag Yarns	Colongra	$47,800
Youth Futures Network	LifeLaunch	Port Macquarie	$48,640

The Minns Labor Government is empowering regional and rural women with essential skills in first aid, and mental health and crisis support through free training with St John Ambulance. 

Coordinated by the Rural Women’s Network, the government has provided $90,000 in funding to deliver approximately 30 free workshops tailored for women across 15 regional locations.

The ‘Rural Women’s Network Skills Roadshow’ program will run workshops for up to 450 women across regional New South Wales from May until November 2025.

The program aims to be accessible and includes skills to respond effectively in emergency situations, recognise mental health issues, recognise situations where people may be in imminent crisis, provide appropriate interventions and learn where to direct people for further support.

Recent St John Ambulance statistics highlight the need to increase first aid and mental health knowledge:

In New South Wales, 33% of adults have never trained in first aid (the highest proportion of any state/territory in Australia) and only 37% have done training in the last three years.

Women are less likely to be confident providing first aid (44% of women are confident) compared to men (57% of men are confident).

87% of Australians would be more willing to provide help to a person with a mental health issue if they were taught how.

Workshop participants will receive a nationally accredited certification once they have completed their training.

To find out more about the roadshow and register for a course near you visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/rwn-events/rural-womens-network-skills-roadshow-2025.

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarity said:

“It’s so important to equip rural and regional women with the first aid skills that they need to be a crucial first responder during an emergency because it can literally be the difference between life and death.

“It’s not just about physical injuries either, this program helps develop the skills to identify and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis, until professional help is available.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“For the first time women across regional and rural NSW – from Ballina to Broken Hill to Bega – will have access to free first aid and mental health training thanks to this program.

“The New South Wales Government is making it easy for women to access this life-saving training to bridge an important gap, particularly for women who would have otherwise missed out due to cost or travel. We’re not only giving them essential skills but building resilience in regional communities.

“Thank you to St Johns Ambulance for partnering with us to deliver this exciting program, which will deliver 30 workshops right across New South Wales.

“For women living in regional or rural NSW, I encourage you to register for one or both courses nearest to you to help keep your family, workplace and community safe.”