Category: Australian News

A new model to boost access to GPs in the Murrumbidgee region and make rural generalist training more attractive for young doctors begins today.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the Murrumbidgee Model would show how new approaches can address gaps in health care and improve the attractiveness of rural medical training.
The model, launched today in Wagga Wagga, will give junior doctors, interested in working in rural general practice in the Murrumbidgee region, the experience, exposure and qualifications they need to become rural generalist doctors – GPs with additional skills such as obstetrics or emergency medicine.
“This new locally-driven model is an important step in our commitment to delivering better healthcare for rural communities and ensuring rural practice is more appealing for doctors,” Minister Coulton said.
“It aims to improve the availability of quality health services where people live and means trainee rural generalist doctors can work in private practices and local hospitals to provide a greater range of care.
“This model will be used to test how new employment models for rural doctors can make working in rural and regional Australia an even more attractive career option – here in Murrumbidgee and across the nation.
“Building a stronger health workforce is key to strengthening rural communities. A big focus of mine as Rural Health Minister is demonstrating that rural areas are a land of opportunity for young doctors, and shouldn’t be seen as second prize.”
Joining Minister Coulton for the announcement, Senator for NSW, Perin Davey said the Murrumbidgee Model will see up to 20 new doctors trained over four years in the region. Sites include Cootamundra, Young, Deniliquin, Temora, Narrandera, Gundagai and an Aboriginal Medical Service in Wagga Wagga.
Dr Joe Murphy will be the first registrar to receive a Murrumbidgee Rural GP training contract through the model. Dr Murphy grew up on a sheep and wheat farm near the small village of Bribbaree, on the outskirts of Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
“Being able to stay with the one employer while I continue my training reduces the administrative burden of moving between employers and facilities,” Dr Murphy said.
“It allows me the flexibility to continue with my GP training in the community as well as do shifts as an Obstetrics Registrar at Wagga Base Hospital. I can also upskill in different areas such as emergency and paediatrics – areas that play a big role for rural GPs.
“Most importantly I have support in terms of being able to maintain and develop professional relationships.”
The model will be evaluated, to assist the Government to roll out the National Rural Generalist Pathway and approaches that work to support Australians living in other rural, regional and remote areas.
“Each rural community is different and requires a local solution to meet the needs of that area, which is why the Federal Government strongly supports this locally-led approach in partnership with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District,” Minister Coulton said.
“This new and innovative model is supporting the Australian Government’s efforts to improve health service delivery through the $550 million Stronger Rural Health Strategy and the $1.2 billion in last week’s Federal Budget earmarked to improve rural health.”
Under this model, rural generalist trainees will be employed as ‘state employees’ through the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and be able to bill Medicare for their work within participating primary care locations.
The training organisations, GP colleges and health services will ensure the standards of education and achievement remain at the highest level. The pathway is aligned with National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Ruth Stewart’s focus on implementing the National Rural Generalist Pathway.

The NSW Government’s new 10-year strategy released during National Carers Week will ensure the states 850,000 carers will receive better support and recognition to improve their financial and physical wellbeing.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the strategy aims to help carers overcome the challenges involved with caring for loved ones.
“National Carers Week is a significant time to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution unpaid carers make to our communities,” Mr Ward said.
“Under the strategy, the NSW Government will make it easier for carers to access information and services, reduce financial stress and look after their own health and wellbeing.”
This includes a new landing page for carers on the Service NSW website and an awareness campaign, It’s Caring, to help carers self-identify and seek help.
Action plans, released every two years, will set out the steps NSW Government agencies and the sector are taking to better support and recognise carers.
In NSW, carers provide care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency, long-term health condition or the elderly.
Carers NSW CEO Elena Katrakis said the strategy will provide an important framework and direction for supporting carers over the next 10 years and help to overcome the many challenges carers face.
“Carers are providing more hours of care than ever before and this new strategy will make it easier for carers to access the information and support that they need to continue their vital caring roles,” Ms Katrakis said.
To access the NSW Carers Strategy 2020-2030 please visit https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/inclusion/carers
Information on National Carers Week is at https://carersweek.com.au/

The enormous contribution of carers is being celebrated as part of National Carers Week.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said more than 2.65 million carers give their time, effort and love to look after a partner, family member or friend who needs them.
“The commitment of carers across Australia to support senior and vulnerable Australians should not be underestimated,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Carers are integral to the quality of life and independence of many Australians and make an important economic contribution to the community.
“For all those people who put the needs of others before their own, we say thank you.”
Minister Colbeck said the Government is particularly conscious of the additional demands the COVID-19 pandemic is having on carers across the country.
“We know the need to limit visitors to their home has increased the level of worry and stress for carers, but help and support is available,” Minister Colbeck said.
In what also marks World Mental Health Week, the Government has released a number of mental health packages to help support people and their carers during the COVID-19 pandemic including:

• The Head to Health website supports people and their carers needing help coping with anxiety or worry about COVID-19

• Dedicated coronavirus digital resources and a 24/7 phone counselling service led by Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) staffed by accredited mental health professionals

• Additional funding to bolster critical phone and online support services, including Lifeline (13 11 14), to help ensure it can meet increased demand.

“The Australian Government has also invested $48.1 million to implement the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Through this plan, we provided $3 million to boost services through the Carer Gateway, as well as $500,000 to Carers Australia to encourage carers of people with a mental illness to connect with others in the same circumstances, and to access online resources for their own wellbeing and self-care.”
“Anyone at any time can become a carer so this year—and beyond—we acknowledge and commend the outstanding contribution made by carers in our community,” he said.
Support network, Carer Gateway, is among the services which offers counselling, connection with other carers, coaching, courses and emergency respite services.
Carers can contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, to speak to trained worker in their local area to help find the services and support required.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme also supports care relationships through planned respite services for older people, allowing carers to take a much needed break from their usual caring responsibilities.
Senior Australians, their families and carers also have access to a free dedicated mental health support line for those impacted by the spread of COVID-19.
The phone line offers practical help and guidance during this challenging time.
The number is 1800 171 866 and the service is open Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 6pm.
For more information, please visit the Carer Gateway.
National Carers Week continues until 17 October.

Australia needs political leadership that will ensure we emerge from the recession stronger than we were before it began.
History tells us attempting to deal with recessions by restoring pre-crisis conditions is a sure path to failure.
We need reform. Real reform.
Effective economic reform, as always, should focus on the three Ps – population, productivity and participation.
With the pandemic meaning that more people are leaving Australia than arriving, population will not be increasing.
Childcare reform is needed to boost participation in the workforce and productivity. That motivates Labor’s plan to address the absurd design flaw in our tax and childcare systems which discourages many working mothers from working full time.
Caps on childcare subsidies mean women who want to work more than three days a week often see the cost of childcare consume the bulk or even all of their wages.
For so many working women, it’s simply not worth working more than three days a week.
This derails careers, it deprives working women of opportunities they’ve earned.
This makes no sense.
It’s holding back families from getting ahead and it’s holding back our economy.
It means we are not fully utilising our nation’s greatest resource – our people.
A Labor government will fix this.
We will remove the $10,560 a year annual cap on the childcare subsidy from July 1 2022.
We will also increase the maximum childcare subsidy to 90 per cent – cutting costs for 97 per cent of all families in the system.
We will require the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to design a price regulation mechanism to ensure every taxpayer family benefits from this reform.
Families should be able to work out their own working arrangements without one gender being disadvantaged.
The economic payoff will be huge. Modelling shows that clearing the way for greater female workforce participation will boost economic growth by $4 billion a year.
Then there is the benefit to children.
The human brain develops 90 per cent of its capacity in the first five years of life.
Our reform will give children greater access to early childhood education, which will improve their prospects in later life.
This will benefit workplaces – not just day-to-day productivity but years of valuable experience and knowledge and skills.
Labor’s childcare change represents fundamental structural reform that will not only change lives, but also turbo charge economic growth.
This underlines the difference between Labor and the conservatives.
While the Liberals resist reform, Labor governments drive change in the national interest.
We take on the tough reform tasks that change our nation for the better.
Universal health care. Affordable university education. Compulsory superannuation. The National Broadband Network. The NDIS.
Then there are the great economic reforms of the Hawke and Keating era which set the platform for three decades of economic growth and prosperity.
Our childcare initiative is cut from the same cloth.
It is not just about fairness. It will transform our national economy for the better.

 
The Morrison Government has officially opened Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank, Queensland, which will see hundreds of long-term jobs created for Queensland workers.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the new defence industry facility in Redbank is part of the Economic Recovery Plan to create jobs as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are committed to keeping Australians safe, while protecting the nation’s interests in a rapidly changing global environment,” the Prime Minister said.
“This week’s budget has seen the Federal Government bring forward $1 billion worth of capability projects and reservist days to support jobs, the Australian defence industry and the wider economy.”
“This Queensland centre will be where some of the most advanced armoured vehicles in the world will be produced, by Australian workers.”
“The MILVEHCOE will create more than 450 long-term jobs and become a national asset for military vehicles.”
The Prime Minister also congratulated Rheinmetall Defence Australia for securing work to export at least 30 Lance Turrets from MILVEHCOE to Hungary.
“This is a significant export order, and a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to supporting Australian defence industry to achieve export success,” Mr Morrison said.
“We make things in Australia. We do it well. And this is an example of how we are continuing to make things in Australia.”
“Defence is one of six priority areas under our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy and is backed by measures from Tuesday’s budget. This includes the JobMaker hiring credits to boost employment, a $2.8 billion programme to support apprenticeship and trainee jobs through wage subsidies and tax incentives so businesses can deduct the full cost of any eligible assets and to offset loss against previous profits, for businesses with a turnover of under $5 billion.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the vehicles from MILVEHCOE represent a new level of capability for the Army.
“As outlined in the 2020 Force Structure Plan, the Boxer will provide enhanced mobility, firepower, protection and situational awareness to our troops,” Minister Reynolds said.
“They will allow our Australian Defence Force personnel to rapidly deploy, achieve their missions and importantly, return home safely.”
“I join the Prime Minister in congratulating Rheinmetall Defence Australia on securing new export opportunities. A resilient and internationally competitive defence industry is essential to Australia’s national security.
Minister for Defence Industry, Hon Melissa Price said MILVEHCOE represented a watershed in Defence self-reliance, backed by a secure domestic supply chain provided by home-grown Australian businesses.
“Australian industry will play a vital role delivering and sustaining key Australian defence capabilities at the facility,” Minister Price said.
“Rheinmetall will use suppliers across Australia to design, build, assemble, test and support the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles and training systems.”
“The work at this facility is terrific news for Queensland workers and defence companies across the country.”
Rheinmetall will use the MILVEHCOE facility to build and assemble the majority of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, which are being delivered to the Australian Army under the $5 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 project.
The facility will also be used to conduct integration, support and heavy grade repair for the logistics trucks and modules being delivered under the LAND 121 Phase 3B and 5B projects.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt & Economic Justice Spokesperson Nick McKim have today slammed a deal between the Labor and Liberal parties to ram through tens of billions of dollars in tax cuts and corporate welfare.
Liberal & Labor also opposed Greens amendments that would have excluded millionaires from the tax cuts, and ensured goods purchased with company tax credits were made in Australia.
“Liberal and Labor have put the millionaires ahead of the million unemployed,” said Mr Bandt.
“In the middle of a recession, it is rampantly obscene that Liberal and Labor have fast-tracked tax cuts for millionaires.
“Instead of fighting Tories, Labor is cuddling them.
“Liberal and Labor have rammed through major changes to Australia’s tax system with zero pause or time for scrutiny.
“This budget is a trickle down con-job that spends big, but spends badly, and will prolong the recession. It favours millionaires over the millions, and puts corporate welfare ahead of helping people recover from the pandemic.
“This was a chance for our government to invest in delivering full employment and meaningful work in clean industries, as well as investing in the care economy, education, affordable housing, renewables and sustainable infrastructure. Instead, Liberals and Labor chose a gas-powered future that delivers billions in corporate welfare and tax cuts for millionaires.”
Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Nick McKim said:
“The Government and Labor worked together to block amendments that would have excluded millionaires from the tax cut, and ensure goods purchased with company tax credits were made in Australia,” Senator McKim said.
“Last night Anthony Albanese said the budget didn’t go far enough to boost Australian manufacturing – but today rejected a chance to fix it.
“These tax cuts deliver $2500 for millionaires, $250 for the working poor and a kick in the teeth for the unemployed.”

Flinders University has been awarded the contract to develop the first stage of the Australian Government’s new $34 million Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translation Research.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the centre, would draw on world best practice and examine new ways to deliver care for senior Australians, and training and education for aged care providers.
Stage 1 will establish the model for the centre and set the research priorities for the first year of operation.
“We expect to see improvements in aged care practice, as well as workforce efficiencies and the use of technology to continue to improve aged care,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It will promote workforce reforms based on evidence from research, provide an incubator to fast-track research into practice, and provide a forum to ensure that innovations can be taken up by the sector.”
The centre is one of the strategic actions from Australia’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy – A Matter of Care.
It will be pivotal in enhancing and fast-tracking the reform required to ensure the delivery of quality aged care services.
Minister Colbeck said the centre’s priorities will be informed by the findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and lessons learned through the COVID -19 pandemic.
It comes on top of the 2020-21 Budget allocation of $10.3 million over three years for the Aged Care Industry Council to implement an aged care workforce strategy.
The Council will be a significant partner in guiding the operation of the centre and disseminating its work to the sector.
“Older Australians deserve the best care possible, delivered by a skilled and capable workforce, using best-practice models of care and the latest technologies,” Minister Colbeck said.
Following establishment of the model, a request for tender will be released seeking a consortia to establish and operate the Centre from early 2021. Australian Government funding will continue through to 30 June 2024.

The Central West of New South Wales is set to benefit with 37 medical student places to be funded by the Australian Government at Charles Sturt University’s new medical school in Orange.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said it was important to ensure students and communities shared in the benefit that locally offered medical degrees would bring to the region.
“Regional Australia needs more doctors,” Mr Tehan said.
“Charles Sturt will be able to deliver a fully rural medical program that will allow students who grow up in country Australia to complete their medical degree at a rural university campus.
“This will also bring students from the cities to study and work in regional locations.”
The Orange medical school is one of five new rural medical programs that form the  Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network, and are sharing in $74 million in funding to help attract and retain doctors who understand local issues and concerns.
With building activities underway at Orange, students will be able to take advantage of cutting-edge learning facilities as well as student accommodation.
“As most medical training currently happens in the cities, this will mean students in Orange and the Central West of NSW can train within their local area,” Mr Tehan said.
“These new rural medical schools ‘flip’ the current model of medical training and students can do most of their training in regional Australia.”
Authorised by The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Parliament House, Canberra
Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton said regional Australian communities needed more doctors in the right place, at the right time.
“The Government is investing in the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network to help attract and retain doctors in rural and regional Australia,” Minister Coulton said.
“We know greater exposure to rural training opportunities leads to more doctors and health professionals choosing rural careers.”
Minister for Regional Education and Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee said he was excited to see Charles Sturt University’s new medical school open next year with 37 medical student places.
“We fought long and hard for this medical school which will train doctors in the bush for practice in the bush,” Mr Gee said.
“It is only fair that country students have the same educational opportunities as their city cousins and that includes training to become a doctor.
“Orange’s new medical school has lasting significance and will be training our country medical workforce for generations to come.”
Once all rural medical schools are operating, around 140 students will begin their medical studies across the Murray-Darling region of New South Wales and Victoria every year.
Charles Sturt University, one of the Network members, is partnering with Western Sydney University to deliver a fully rural medical program at Orange.

Labor is calling on the Morrison Government to create work for thousands of tradies in almost every suburb and town across Australia by investing half a billion dollars to fast-track urgent repairs to social housing.
This is what we would do if we were in Government right now.
Twenty-five per cent of Australia’s social housing needs urgent repair and maintenance. That’s 100,000 homes.
Some of these homes have problems such as mould, leaking roofs and water damage, while others are simply unfit for people to live in.
Repairs could start almost immediately, providing work for local plumbers, chippies, sparkies, plasterers and painters as well as companies that manufacture building supplies and materials. This would also provide opportunities for apprentices.
This should involve an immediate $500 million contribution from the Commonwealth and a partnership with the states, with the expectation they would contribute up to the same amount in new funding.
Housing construction is expected to plummet this financial year from 170,000 to as few as 125,000 new home builds.
This investment would be a win-win. It would provide work for local tradies, and fix homes that need to be fixed.
Data shows women over the age of 55 are the fastest growing demographic facing homelessness. Two-thirds of primary social housing tenants are women on low incomes.
A range of industry experts have called for more investment in social housing, including the Housing Industry Association, Master Builders Association, Property Council of Australia, Equity Economics and Commonwealth Bank.
This work needs to be done now.
Ahead of the next election, Labor will bring forward a comprehensive plan for the repair and construction of social housing.

Women are at the heart of Labor’s plan to kickstart the economy and get Australians back to work.
An Albanese Labor Government will introduce the Working Family Childcare Boost to cut child care fees and put more money into the pockets of working families, straight away.
Child care fees in Australia are some of the highest in the world. Under this plan, Labor will:

• Scrap the $10,560 child care subsidy cap which often sees women losing money from an extra day’s work;
• Lift the maximum child care subsidy rate to 90 per cent; and
• Increase child care subsidy rates and taper them for every family earning less than $530,000.

This means 97 per cent of all families in the system will save between $600 to $2,900 a year. No family will be worse off.
Importantly, Labor will keep working to fix Australia’s broken child care system, which currently locks out more than 100,000 families because they just can’t afford it.
The Productivity Commission will conduct a comprehensive review of the sector with the aim of implementing a universal 90 per cent subsidy for all families.
The ACCC will design a price regulation mechanism to shed light on costs and fees and drive them down for good. The ACCC will examine the relationship between funding, fees, profits and educators’ salaries.
Taxpayer dollars spent on child care should flow directly through to savings for Australian families.
The Coalition’s system has failed parents – particularly women. It has created a financial disincentive for many second wage earners to work full time, or even increase their hours.
On top of that, since this Government was elected in 2013, child care fees have skyrocketed by almost 35 per cent. Now, families pay on average $3,800 more per year.