The New South Wales and Victorian governments are working together to build a new emergency department and short stay unit at Albury Wodonga Health’s Albury campus to meet the future health needs of the community.
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas joined NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Member for Albury Justin Clancy today to turn the first sod on the $36 million project, marking the start of construction on the new emergency department.
Mrs Taylor said the strong relationship between the NSW and Victorian governments delivering the project will help ensure the Albury-Wodonga community receives the world-class healthcare it deserves close to home.
“We’re here today to mark the beginning of construction on this important project which, once complete, will double the capacity of Albury Wodonga Health’s emergency department,” Mrs Taylor said.
“The new emergency department includes 42 treatment spaces, a specialised resuscitation hub, paediatric treatment area, acute treatment area, and multiple triage rooms with their own accompanying waiting rooms.”
Additional ambulance bays, X-Ray and CT scanning spaces, behavioural assessment rooms and private family consult rooms are also included in the project.
The NSW Government has provided $30 million towards the new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, with the Victorian Government providing $6 million.
Ms Thomas said the project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with local builder Joss Group and Albury Wodonga Health. It will create and sustain more than 100 local jobs during peak construction.
“The Victorian Government is providing $6 million towards the project through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to build a 16-bed short stay unit which will help reduce wait times in the emergency department, so local patients can get the very best care, sooner.”
“The emergency department expansion is being delivered in two stages. The first stage will deliver the new emergency department and is on track to be completed in late -2023. The second stage of the project will deliver the short stay unit in mid-2024.”
“Each project stage is receiving input from staff and the emergency department team, who are developing a new model of care. This includes increased staff numbers, a specialist and multi-disciplinary team approach and the early, appropriate clinical streaming of patients for the best care,” Ms Thomas added.
Mr Clancy said Albury Hospital is not an old hospital but the growing regional population and increasingly complex health needs have meant a much larger, more modern emergency department is needed to serve the border community.
“I am pleased the NSW and Victorian governments are working together to deliver this project which will provide substantial improvements on the current facility not just in terms of capacity but through more sympathetic streaming of patients to improve our experience at the ED,” Mr Clancy said.
“I thank NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Victoria’s Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas for coming to Albury today to announce that construction is beginning.”
The expansion will support almost 80,000 patients projected to go through the emergency department by 2031.
Author: admin
NSW Government steps up COVID-19 support for vulnerable communities
The NSW Government will provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to vulnerable communities and expand its existing program to include those accessing tests through the Federal Government’s Concessional Access Program, which is due to finish at the end of the month.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is committed to making sure no one is left behind and ensuring vulnerable communities have the support they need through winter.
“We are making sure those people who need it most get the help they need to help keep themselves and the community safe through winter by stepping in and providing free Rapid Antigen Tests,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said the expanded program would allow eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW to access 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months up until 31 October 2022.
“The NSW Government has already been distributing free Rapid Antigen Tests to vulnerable communities, and we have the capacity to extend this to those still needing them through the Federal Government’s program,” Mr Coure said.
“There is no need to rush or panic about whether or not you will be able to access tests—we have enough tests to support you.”
The NSW Government has already made millions of Rapid Antigen Tests available to vulnerable communities, including multicultural communities, people with disability and their carers, homelessness services, social housing tenants, and children and young people in out-of-home care.
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the decision to expand the program to include those currently eligible under the soon to end Federal scheme, is about keeping people safe.
“We want to keep the pressure off the state’s most vulnerable as much as possible, and the expansion of this program is a key way for us to do that,” Mrs. Maclaren-Jones said.
If you are at a higher risk of severe illness, plan ahead. Speak to your doctor now about antiviral or other early treatment for COVID-19, so you understand your options if you test positive. If you are not at higher risk of severe illness, do a rapid antigen test unless you have arrived from overseas and have COVID-19 symptoms or your doctor tells you to have a PCR test.
Tests will be available through 210 neighbourhood and community centres located across the state. For more information and to find neighbourhood and community centres providing Rapid Antigen Tests, visit www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/rapid-tests
Record investment in scholarships for early learning educators
More than 400 aspiring early childhood teachers across NSW are set to receive a cash boost to complete their studies thanks to a NSW Government investment.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell announced today that a record 439 scholarships are being awarded across the state, to attract and retain staff to support supply in the early childhood education and care sector.
Premier Perrottet said almost $11 million has been invested from the NSW 2022/23 Budget to deliver scholarships to support educators in entering the workforce or to boost their skills as degree qualified early childhood teachers.
“Early learning professionals are invaluable and we need more of them, which is why we are making a record investment in the early childhood education workforce,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This investment of almost $11 million in delivering 439 scholarships will support our commitment to address workforce supply issues and build a sustainable pipeline of early childhood teachers for tomorrow.”
Treasurer Kean said these scholarships will help create a sustainable supply of early learning professionals, with every successful applicant to be awarded up to $25,000 under the 2022-23 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program and Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Scholarships program.
“This record investment in scholarships will support our vision of a highly qualified and sustainable workforce, meeting the needs of NSW families and children,” Mr Kean said.
“We want to build a stronger and brighter future for NSW families and we know that building on the early childhood workforce is a no-brainer in delivering this commitment to families.”
Minister Mitchell said one third of all successful scholars live and work in regional and remote areas across the state, which will help create lasting benefits now and into the future for all NSW children, families and the economy.
“With submissions from hundreds of talented applicants, many already working in community preschools and long day care services, it’s great to support these applicants to retrain or start their early childhood career,” Ms Mitchell said.
“These scholarships will support recipients to deepen their understanding of early childhood environments, and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach.
“I congratulate the scholars on their commitment to education and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers.”
More than 18,000 prospective early childhood teachers and carers will be supported to enter the sector or boost their skills thanks to a $281.6 million workforce package in the NSW Government’s 2022/23 Budget.
The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
More information can be found on the Department’s website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education/professional-development-and-scholarships
Police appeal for information after man injured in fail-to-stop crash – Newcastle
Newcastle yesterday.
About 6.40pm (Friday 15 July 2022), a BMW R1150 motorcycle was travelling south on Stewart Avenue, near the intersection of Parry Street, when he was hit by a small white sedan, possibly a Toyota Yaris.
The 25-year-old rider was thrown from his motorcycle onto the roadway as the sedan continued travelling south on Stewart Avenue.
The rider was treated at the scene and taken to John Hunter Hospital with shoulder and rib injuries. He remains in a stable condition.
Officer from Newcastle City Police Area Command attended and established a crime scene and have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Australia supports Indonesia’s response to Foot and Mouth outbreak
The Australian Government will provide $1.5 million to support Indonesia’s response to the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The funding will provide at least 1 million FMD doses for Indonesia’s vaccination program, following a formal request for assistance from the Indonesian Government.
Indonesia’s vaccination program is focused on support for the small-holder farming sector, which makes up around 90 per cent of Indonesia’s cattle industry.
This support is in addition to Australia’s existing commitment of 435,000 Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccine doses that are currently being distributed to affected Indonesia provinces.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt discussed Australia’s support with Indonesian Minister for Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo in Jakarta today.
Minister Watt also met with Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority head and Chief of the Indonesian Task Force for Foot and Mouth Disease, Lieutenant General Suharyanto.
The Australian Government has also committed an initial $500,000 to Meat and Livestock Australia, responsible for coordinating support from Australian industry for the Indonesian feedlot sector’s emergency response to these diseases.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:
“Safeguarding the biosecurity of our region is a shared concern for Australia and Indonesia – this was something confirmed during the recent Indonesia-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting.
“The provision of 1 million vaccine doses to combat Foot and Mouth disease underscores Australia’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s response to the outbreak.”
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt said:
“During my meeting with Lieutenant General Suharyanto we offered to share Australian expertise on emergency disease management and biosecurity.
“The Albanese Government is taking a two-pronged approach to preventing the incursion of Foot and Mouth disease, first by strengthening biosecurity measures at the Australian border, and also by supporting efforts to curb the spread overseas.”
Libs: Independent costings show Budget worse under Labor
The independent Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has confirmed the Labor Government’s policies will result in higher debt and deficits.
Analysis in the PBO’s 2022 Election Commitments Report confirms Labor’s policies will result in a deterioration in the Budget position.
If fully implemented the Labor Government’s platform will see increased deficits across both the forward estimates and the medium term.
The independent body has also shown Labor failed to meet the same high standards for transparency during the election campaign. Despite waiting until the eve of the election to publish their costings, the report confirmed Labor’s costings document hid commitments from voters.
By contrast, today’s independent report confirms the Coalition adopted a transparent and fiscally responsible approach to costing its policies at the election.
The PBO’s report independently confirms the Coalition’s strong economic management and election commitments would have improved the deficit over the 2022–23 Budget forward estimates period.
The Coalition adopted best practice throughout the campaign by submitting all commitments for independent costing and public scrutiny before election day.
The independent analysis confirms the Coalition’s Budget was balancing the task of Budget repair while supporting Australians with the rising cost of living.
This builds on the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook released in April, which found:
- The Coalition left the Budget bottom line with the largest and fastest improvement in over 70 years, with $103 billion of improvements compared with last year.
- Australia was on course to stabilise and then reduce debt over the medium term.
- Resilient economic growth despite the shocks of the COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- A strong and improving labour market.
This is compared to Labor’s poor excuse for a costing document which has finally been independently reviewed by the PBO.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the independent report confirms that every year debt and deficits are higher under Labor.
“The impacts of Labor’s increased spending will constrain the government’s ability to provide cost of living relief and Budget repair without increasing taxes,” Mr Taylor said.
“With the Budget position confirmed to decline over the forward estimates under Labor, the Government must promise it will not increase taxes and will clearly commit to the previous Government’s tax cap.”
Shadow Minister for Finance Senator Jane Hume said despite promising greater standards of transparency, it has taken 54 days since the election for the Australian people to learn the full costs of Labor’s policies.
“The Government needs to explain to the Australian people why they failed to disclose all their policies and their costs to the Australian people before the election,” Senator Hume said.
Senator Hume said the Government should explain to Australians why now is the time to send the budget further into deficit.
“Anthony Albanese has said that if you don’t repair the budget, households wear the cost. Today we’ve confirmed that the Albanese Government’s plans – including those they never costed – will make sure households will wear that cost. They have no plan for fiscal responsibility and no plan to get spending under control,” said Senator Hume.
Rehabilitation of Ironbark Creek flows on
City of Newcastle has commenced the next stage of its award-winning Ironbark Creek rehabilitation project, targeting 350 metres of creek from Croudace Road, Elermore Vale, to Lewis Street Oval, Wallsend.
The $2.6 million stage of the project will significantly renaturalise the channel replacing weeds with thousands of native plants on the creek banks, and new rock work will better protect the creek as well as public and private assets.
The project will produce an environmentally friendly watercourse, which will improve flow and help make the creek and floodplain behave in more predictable ways during major floods.
Image: Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes inspects a previously rehabilitated section of Ironbark Creek with City of Newcastle staff (L-R) Sam Parker, Lindsay Nichols, Dean Jamieson, Ian Lacey, Stephen Long and Petra Freeman.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the complex project has been crucial in ensuring the health and long-term sustainability of the creek.
“City of Newcastle is committed to caring for and enhancing our natural environment and that is clear to see when you consider what we have achieved with Ironbark Creek. We started rehabilitation works 10 years ago and I’m proud to say that we are now continuing on with this next stage,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We expect this work will also improve the local tree canopy and habitat in the area, making the creek line friendlier for native plants, birds and other animals.”
The Ironbark Creek project began in 2011 and by using nature-based solutions, aims to rehabilitate the creek from Elermore Vale Park, downstream to Wallsend Park where the creek flows into a Hunter Water Channel.
“Ironbark Creek is the city’s largest tidal creek draining to the Hunter River. Its catchment covers nearly 13,000 hectares and is crucial to the health of our local catchment,” Cr Nelmes added.
“We have invested over $4.1 million into rehabilitating Ironbark Creek over the past decade, which provides flow on benefits beyond the creek, including into Hexham Swamp. Hexham Swamp is a fresh water and estuarine wetland, of ecological importance, which was once the largest predominantly freshwater wetland on the near north coast of New South Wales. The benefits will also reach as far as the Hunter River mouth at Sandgate.”
Work on this stage of the project is scheduled to be completed in November, weather dependent, with the next two stages currently in the design phase.
To find out more about the project, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/ironbark-creek
Knowledge gaps in the understanding of economic and financial abuse of older people identified
Economic and financial abuse of older people is a serious issue with wide-ranging impacts for victim-survivors and their families. To better understand this type of abuse in the context of domestic and family violence (DFV) further research is required, according to a UNSW Sydney report into economic and financial abuse funded by Commonwealth Bank (CommBank).
Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse and Older People in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence is the fifth report in a partnership between CommBank and UNSW’s Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN).
The partnership forms part of CommBank Next Chapter, which aims to help victim-survivors of financial abuse achieve long-term financial independence. Through the partnership, CommBank and UNSW’s GVRN hope to increase community and industry understanding and the prevention of financial abuse. With the release of the fifth report, the completed research series is one of the most comprehensive compendiums of evidence on economic and financial abuse in Australia.
GVRN conducted a comprehensive review of academic and policy literature to examine existing research on financial and economic abuse among older people. They found the term ‘elder abuse’ can obscure situations where financial and economic abuse may have been perpetrated as part of DFV.
“This can drastically impact service providing spaces and create barriers for victim-survivors seeking help,” says Professor Jan Breckenridge, Co-Convenor of GVRN at UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture.
“Financial institutions have a key role to play in identifying and responding to economic and financial abuse of older people perpetrated in the context of DFV.”
The report also found evidence that traditionally gendered financial management may enable economic and financial abuse against older people, including within First Nations communities. This includes the patriarchal norms around inheritance and the expectation for older women to play caretaking roles.
Effective responses to prevent financial abuse of older persons included family mediation, better training for health and legal professionals to detect and identify abuse, and formal regulations around transactions within families. However, the research found service providers who are responding to the economic and financial abuse of older people face a range of barriers to providing support, including: reluctance of the victim-survivor to disclose the abuse, and a lack of resources and training to handle suspected abuse.
The report suggested areas for further investigation, such as: deepening the conceptual definitions and data on economic and financial abuse against older people in the context of DFV, improving the understanding how gender roles and culturally and linguistic diversity influence abuse, and the impact financial and economic abuse has on older people’s financial security.
“At CommBank, we know elder financial abuse is prevalent and it can have a devastating impact on family relationships. This report is an important step in developing our understanding of this issue, and ensuring we continue to provide the right support for anyone impacted by elder financial abuse in the context of domestic and family violence,” says Claire Dawson, Executive Manager of Community Investment at CommBank.
Telstra Finalises Acquisition of Digicel Pacific
The Australian Government welcomes today’s announcement by Telstra of the finalisation of its acquisition of Digicel Pacific.
Digicel Pacific is the leading mobile telecommunications and network services provider in the Pacific and plays a vital role in the economic development of the Pacific region.
As a trusted and experienced industry leader, Telstra brings strong capabilities to ensure secure, reliable and high-quality services are provided to Pacific communities, including in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Nauru.
The Government is providing USD1.33 billion in a financing package, through Export Finance Australia (EFA), to support Telstra’s commercial acquisition.
Telstra will own and operate Digicel Pacific.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:
“The Australian Government’s support for this transaction reflects our commitment to help build a stronger Pacific family through investment in high-quality infrastructure.
“Telecommunications and digital access are critical to sustainable economic growth and development outcomes into the future.”
Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell said:
“The finalisation of Telstra’s acquisition marks a significant milestone in Australia’s economic engagement with our Pacific family.
“This transaction sends a positive signal of business confidence in the Pacific region, and we hope it will encourage further investment in the region from top tier Australian companies.”
Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:
“Telstra will be able to bring its extensive experience in the telecommunications sector to build on Digicel Pacific’s strong track record in support of economic development across the region.
“Now more than ever, the region needs access to high quality telecommunication services as it recovers from the economic impact of COVID-19.”
Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said:
“Telstra’s acquisition of Digicel Pacific is a positive development for our neighbours in the Pacific, who will experience a number of social and economic benefits through improved telecommunications infrastructure.
“Accessing reliable telecommunication networks is essential for families, businesses, communities and governments to connect and share information, which is why the Australian Government is pleased to support this acquisition.”
Greens: PM needs to choose: co-operation or confrontation?
Responding to the Prime Minister’s attempts to rewrite history and issue ‘take it or leave it’ ultimatums to the Parliament, Greens Leader Adam Bandt has warned that the Prime Minister risks misreading the national mood for co-operation on climate.
Mr Bandt added that Labor needs to understand its vote went backwards at the election and that while the government has a slim majority in the Lower House, the Greens also have an increased mandate in the Senate, and that the government risks creating 3 years of conflict by starting with belligerence.
“The Greens are willing to work constructively with Labor, but it seems Labor’s approach is ‘take it or leave it’,” said Mr Bandt.
“Labor risks letting their idea of the perfect be the enemy of the good.
“This ‘my way or the highway’ approach from Labor is setting Australia up for a very long three years.
“The government should choose co-operation over confrontation.
“Let me be clear. The Greens are willing to negotiate on climate. But it seems Labor isn’t.
“The Greens want to see a stop to new coal and gas projects, as do the Pacific Islanders, the UN, the International Energy Agency and the world’s scientists. Even Labor’s weak climate targets will be blown if they proceed with new gas projects like the Beetaloo Basin, which will lift greenhouse pollution by up to 13%.
“Labor would do well to understand the recent history of the election, where their vote went backwards, less than a third of the country voted for the government and voters put the Greens in balance of power in the Senate.
“The government needs to work constructively with the Senate this term if it wants to get things done. This could be one of the great reforming Parliaments of all time, and I’m sure there are Ministers that want to get a lot done during their term, but that will involve working with the Greens in the Senate.
“Three years is a long time.”