Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is supporting more than 500 students across NSW to gain hands-on experience with cloud computing through a groundbreaking Virtual Work Placement Program.

During the week-long program, students will gain insights into how generative artificial intelligence and machine learning can be leveraged by businesses to drive growth and foster innovation.

The Australian-first initiative gives vocational and educational training (VET) students the opportunity to earn industry credentials and explore potential career paths in the digital sector.

30% of participating schools dialed in from regional NSW, from Tweed Heads in the north, Mourya in the south and Wagga Wagga in the south-west.

The program, a collaboration between the NSW Government, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the Youth Futures Network, addresses a critical skills shortage highlighted by a recent AWS study that found 90% of employers envision their companies becoming AI-driven organisations by 2028.

The NSW Digital Compact, a strategic initiative launched by the NSW Government is aimed at driving digital transformation across the state.

The compact serves as a framework between government, industry, academia and the community to accelerate digital innovation, enhance digital capabilities and improve service delivery.

This collaborative effort marks a significant step forward in addressing the digital skills gap in NSW, ensuring a robust and inclusive digital workforce for the future.

Get more information on the NSW Digital Compact.

Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister, Steve Whan today had the opportunity to speak with teachers and students participating in the Virtual Placement Week.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“I’m thrilled to see such enthusiasm and dedication from the 550 VET students participating in this ground-breaking Virtual Work Placement Program during National Careers Week.

“This initiative represents a significant opportunity for students to explore exciting digital career paths and encourages them to think about a future in the digital world.

“The Virtual Work Placement Program is just one example of the innovative initiatives stemming from the NSW Digital Compact that I launched late last year. It’s fantastic to see collaboration between government and industry to accelerate digital innovation.

“The NSW Digital Compact represents a significant opportunity for Government to work with industry to change people’s idea of ‘tech,’ expanding the inclusivity of the sector.

“By investing in programs like the Virtual Work Placement Program, we are laying the groundwork for a digitally skilled workforce and a thriving digital ecosystem in NSW.

“We’re not just bridging the skills gap; we’re building pathways for thousands of students, parents, and advisors to explore and embrace tech careers.”

Amazon Web Services, Australia and New Zealand Director of Enterprise, Louise Stigwood, said:

“Amazon Web Services is committed to fostering the skills and empowering the next generation of cloud talent.

“A recent study, commissioned by AWS titled “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Workforce of Australia for Jobs of the Future”, found 90% of employers envision their companies becoming AI-driven organisations by 2028 – cloud skills are key to future jobs.

“This Virtual Work Placement Program provides students with invaluable hands-on experience working with cloud computing technologies that are transforming industries around the world.

“We are proud to collaborate with the NSW Government on this initiative to help equip students with the digital skills they need to thrive in an increasingly cloud-enabled workforce.”

Significant strides have been made in reducing planned surgery wait times for paediatric patients in NSW, with Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network reporting a 92% reduction in overdue planned surgeries in the nine months since the NSW Government established the Surgical Care Government Taskforce.

Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (SCH) and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW) have reduced the number of children exceeding the clinically recommended time for planned surgery from 1091 to 86, ensuring more children are receiving timely surgical care.

During this period, there was a 98% reduction in the number of children waiting longer than clinically recommended for a semi-urgent planned surgery.

There was also an 89% reduction in the number of children waiting longer than clinically recommended for a non-urgent planned surgery.

All urgent planned surgeries were performed on time.

Several strategies were used to address the overdue surgery waitlist during this period, including:

• regular coordination with surgeons to maximise time in theatre
• extending operating time on weekdays and weekends
• running concurrent surgical lists where possible
• employing locum doctors to assist with specialty surgeries
• working with private hospitals to perform some lower complexity surgical lists.

On his first full day as Minister for Health Ryan Park established the Surgical care Governance Taskforce – reducing overdue surgeries from 14,000 to 2100.

Establishing the surgical care taskforce and reducing overdue surgeries is just one of a range of measures the NSW Government is embracing to improve access to care, including:

• Rolling out 25 urgent care services to create more alternative pathways outside of our busy and under pressure hospitals.
• Establishing the emergency department taskforce.
• Expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists to relieve pressure on GPs.
• Boosting staff and infrastructure.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Reducing overdue surgeries has been a priority of mine, and this is why we established the NSW Government’s Surgical Care Governance Taskforce in March 2023.

“I am really pleased with the results we have seen at our two paediatric hospitals, but there is still more to do.

“This has made a significant difference for the children and families relying on care from the skilful, dedicated and hard-working teams at Randwick and Westmead.

“I want to acknowledge the immense efforts of the dedicated staff at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.”

Member for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neill:

“To see the reduction in overdue surgeries achieved by Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick is remarkable.

“None of this progress would be possible without the dedicated efforts of clinicians and healthcare workers, who have worked so hard to perform these procedures and help ensure we are delivering timely medical treatment to children and their families.”

Director of Clinical Operations, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Alan Porritt:

“Children needing surgery are always prioritised based on clinical urgency, with the sickest children seen first, but every effort is made to ensure patients receive their surgery within the recommended timeframe.

“In recent months, we’ve seen planned surgical activity go from strength to strength and there is no doubt this has made a significant difference for our patients and their families.

“This achievement is a testament to the commitment of our staff and their exceptional efforts to ensure the health system bounces back from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The NSW Government is today announcing new measures to further boost police recruitment to address the critical shortage of police officers and boost community safety across the state.

It follows the outstanding success of the announcement on 31 October 2023, that the Government would pay recruits to study at Goulburn Police Academy.

Since that announcement, NSW Police Force (NSWPF) has received 1235 applications to train to become NSW Police (as at 5 May), a 26% increase on the same period last year.

In further evidence that the Government’s strategy to bolster police recruitment is working, Class 364, set to graduate in December, is at maximum capacity, with more than 350 recruits.

Now 2 new programs are specifically aimed at attracting both experienced officers and regional recruits to the NSW Police Force.

Experienced Officer Recruitment Scheme

The government will launch a Professional Mobility Program (PMP) that will incentivise officers from other Australian states and territories and New Zealand to join the NSWPF while keeping their equivalent rank (up to senior constable level 6).

Previously, serving police officers who wanted to join the NSWPF needed to complete 8 months study including 4 months in-person at the Goulburn before graduating at the starting rank of Probationary Constable.

Successful applicants will now undergo a 3-month course at the Police Academy in Goulburn focused on NSW policing policies and procedures. They will be paid in-line with the current payment for Student Police Officers.

This is expected to be powerfully attractive to serving police from interstate and New Zealand to join Australia’s largest and best police force.

Regional Recruitment Scheme

The NSW Government will also launch the ‘You Should Be a Cop in Your Hometown’ program that will ensure people from regional NSW serve in, or near their hometown after they graduate from the Goulburn Police Academy.

While new recruits currently nominate several areas where they would like to serve, ‘Be a Cop in Your Hometown’ will give appropriate officers from regional NSW the opportunity to request to return to their hometown or a nearby community.

Preference will then be given to these recruits to fill any vacancies in their hometown or nearby.

Rebuilding our Essential Services

We are currently carrying more than 1500 vacancies – a legacy of the previous government’s neglect and mismanagement of police recruitment and retention.

These vacancies are placing significant strain and a punishing workload on serving officers. Action to tackle this is critical.  These measures are vital elements of that response.

They build on the NSW Government’s support for community safety by boosting police numbers through the abolition of the wages cap while also paying students to study to become an officer.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“The last month has shown just how important police officers are, risking their lives to keep us safe.

“Our police work around the clock keeping us safe, and the decisions our government has made to support them is paying off with a 26% increase in applications to join the NSW Police Force.”

“But we know we need more police officers.

“We know we need more police officers. So whether you live in regional NSW or another state, our message is clear – now is a great time for you to consider joining the NSW Police Force.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Paying recruits to study is starting to look like a game changer but we won’t stop there.

“Our Class 364 which will attest in December is full to the brim with more that 350 new recruits – the first full class in years.

“We have more than 1500 vacancies to fill and mark my words, I’ve made it my personal mission, alongside Commissioner Webb, to fill them.

“I know our police are stretched and overworked. Many are exhausted. We need more boots on the ground and that’s what we’re determined to achieve.

“The 2 schemes announced today, alongside paid study makes becoming a NSW Police Officer the most attractive it has been in decades. The proof is there, the numbers don’t lie. We are getting many more recruits and a more diverse range of recruits.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said:

“It’s fantastic to be able to announce these initiatives today, which will make it easier for skilled police to continue their careers in NSW.

“Policing is a career that provides so many opportunities. Each day is different to the next and it’s such a satisfying and rewarding job.

“But in the past, NSW may have missed out on potential recruits who may not have applied because they thought they wouldn’t be able to serve in their hometown, or those who didn’t want to lose their rank if they moved interstate. My message to those people is – now is your time to apply.

“We are seeing a significant lift in application numbers following the reforms announced, and I’m confident this announcement will make a career with the NSW Police Force even more appealing.”

President of the Police Association of NSW Kevin Morton said:

“It is heartening to see the pay-to-train model that the PANSW advocated for is working.

“The NSW Government continues to show its commitment to bolstering our ranks and ensuring the retention of our serving police officers. Their efforts deserve to be recognised.

“These additional recruitment initiatives will hopefully begin alleviating the strain on our frontline workers.”

Proposed changes to the NSW planning system are set to make it easier for regional landholders to build sheds and carry out earthworks without the need for a development application (DA).

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is inviting feedback on the changes to the complying development codes for rural earthworks and sheds to align the Rural Housing Code and the Inland Code.

The changes would remove the need for an application to be lodged for certain development types, clearing the path for critical housing and public infrastructure DAs to be assessed by councils faster.

There are currently inconsistencies between the Rural Housing Code, which operates in the 38 LGAs east of the Great Dividing Range, and the Inland Code, which applies to the 69 LGAs to the west. This includes different definitions and size controls for sheds based on whether they are on the coast or in the outback.

The proposed changes would create a shared set of rules so that all rural and regional LGAs are subject to the same provisions. Subject to specifications, the complying developments would include:

• Hay, machinery, and shearing sheds.
• Storage tanks and retaining walls.
• Stormwater drainage works and rehabilitation of eroded or disturbed land areas.

The changes are on public exhibition from today until Friday, 14 June 2024 at 5pm.

Find out more on the NSW Planning Portal

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“We inherited a confused and confusing planning system, and this policy reform is the latest measure in a series of changes to correct inconsistencies and get things moving.

“The changes would provide consistency around the types of development farmers can carry out without needing to lodge a complex application and wait for a lengthy council assessment.

“We are committed to removing red tape and allowing councils to focus more on the assessment and delivery of key housing and infrastructure.

“I encourage everyone to have their say on this important reform.”

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

The consultation will examine the challenges facing the sector, identify best practices and recommend next steps.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Trish Doyle will lead the consultation and provide a report on the outcomes to Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe within 12 months.

In NSW, 40 wildlife rehabilitation groups involving more than 8600 people rescue an average of 110,000 animals a year.

The sector is mostly made up of dedicated and passionate volunteers who respond to more than 180,000 calls for help from the community each year.

This work is supported by specialised wildlife hospitals and many local veterinary services.

The value of the sector’s work is estimated at $27 million a year.

The consultation will consider a range of areas:

• challenges for the sector
• resourcing
• connections within the sector
• service gaps and duplication
• involvement in emergency response and significant wildlife events
• administrative and legislative provisions
• support for wildlife hospitals and veterinary practices.

Our state is home to animals which live nowhere else on this planet and the NSW Government is committed to ensuring sick and injured native wildlife receive the best care and rehabilitation. The government recently invested $8 million into wildlife hospitals and care facilities across NSW and another $500,000 to support wildlife rehabilitators in Sydney’s South West.

This consultation will inform next steps for the NSW Volunteer Wildlife Rehabilitation Sector Strategy 2020-23. That strategy will be extended until 30 June 2025 while this review is underway.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“Wildlife rescuers and rehabilitators are essential to the care and survival of native animals across NSW.

“We need to build on the achievements of the previous strategy and ensure the sector is supported for the future.

“I look forward to receiving this review, which will help inform and guide this important work.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Trish Doyle said:

“The NSW Government values the contribution of wildlife rehabilitators, who provide valuable work for the community by rescuing and caring for sick, injured and orphaned native animals across the state every day.

“I look forward to listening to their experiences to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

“We need an integrated, future focused strategy to support the wonderful people who care for our native animals, while ensuring wildlife rehabilitation services are well connected and sustainable.”

The NSW Opposition has called on the Minns Labor Government to deliver the school upgrades it promised before the election, after parents raised concerns about funding shortfalls.
 
The Capital Commitment to Other Schools program included 11 projects across the state, with $4 million to go towards a multi-purpose hall for Sutherland Public School.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman, Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell and Shadow Minister for Finance Eleni Petinos visited the school this morning.
“This Minns Labor Government told Sutherland Public School it would be given a hall big enough to accommodate the entire student population, but now Prue Car is refusing to guarantee whether the allocated funding will be enough,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“Labor stood before this community and made this promise, yet parents and students can’t even get a straight answer a year after the election.”
 
The concerns come after $148 million was ripped from school budgets across the state on the eve of the school holidays.
 
“All this Government has shown us is that it is never upfront when it comes to school spending, and teachers, parents and families deserve better,” Mrs Mitchell said.
 
“Labor wasn’t transparent about the true cost of its union pay deal and now it isn’t being transparent about this program and it’s always our kids that pay the price.”
 
Despite calls to Labor’s Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart, parents are still in the dark and unable to get a guarantee that the promised multi-purpose hall will be delivered.
 
“As the neighbouring Member of Parliament, I have been receiving calls from concerned parents asking legitimate questions about the delivery of this election promise,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“If it’s good enough for Maryanne Stuart and Prue Car to stand here and make promises before the election, then it’s good enough for them to front up and explain the true impact of their cuts to school funding.”

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on the level of services cuts across Sydney’s bus and rail network in the lead up to the Metro City line opening this year.
 
With media reports outlining potential cuts to bus services, it is critical for commuters be provided with certainty on what level of service they can expect in the coming months.
 
The cuts to bus services follow the Labor Government receiving the Bus Industry Taskforce final report in February 2024 which requested over $1 billion over the next three years to service the network.
 
To date, the Government has not provided any new funding to meet this recommendation or any of the recommendations for bus services in Greater Sydney. 
 
The Taskforce did not recommend any specific service cuts in the final report.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said “This is Labor 101, promise the world then start cutting services.”
 
“This Government’s cycle of reviews has now proven to be farce, the bus industry requested funding to support commuters and instead the Government is beginning to cut services.”
 
“The number one transport issue in Sydney at the moment is getting a reliable bus service. I don’t understand why the Government would be cutting services.”
 
“There has been no consultation and this is only the beginning, the next cuts will be to your local bus route.”

As National Road Safety Week enters its final day with the theme ‘Take care on regional roads’, the NSW Government is reminding regional road users of the simple ways they can help make their trips safer.

Rural residents comprise only a third of the population yet over two-thirds of road fatalities happen on regional roads.

National Road Safety Week has been an important week to help raise awareness and promote safer driving practices.

The NSW Government continues to remind regional road users to make safer choices by not speeding, not driving when tired, and not driving after consuming alcohol or drugs all year round.

The impact of road trauma on regional communities is immeasurable, with close-knit ties in small regional towns felt deeply when tragedy strikes and the NSW Government is committed to lowering the impact of road trauma on regional roads.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. As Regional Roads Minister, I see the risks people take on the road every day. As we approach the end of National Road Safety Week it’s essential for all motorists to understand that we all have a part to play in making safe choices on our roads and to act responsibly.

“We drive such long distances in the bush and in the regions and feel the pressure to get to our destination as quickly as possible, when we really should be focusing on getting there safely. One small error can end in absolute tragedy.

“As a community we need to take deliberate actions to ensure a safe journey – such as designating a driver who won’t drink on a night out, getting a good night’s sleep before a long journey and planning to use a rest stop where needed, and of course never ever driving if affected by drugs or alcohol.

“The NSW Government is committed to lowering the trauma on NSW’s regional roads, which is why we are investing $41 million in the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program this year to deliver 38 projects.”

Following the Road Safety Forum earlier this year, Transport for NSW has been tasked with:

• Revitalising its road safety communication strategy for young drivers by drawing on the latest insights on reaching young people.
• Partnering with 10 regional local councils to fast-track safer speed limits in local places such as 40km/h high pedestrian activity areas, as well as on higher risk routes. It will accelerate speed reviews and supporting road infrastructure like traffic calming, safer crossings, and smarter line-marking to help drivers slow down in lower speed places.
• Increasing safety engagement and supporting safer speeds in local places that have, or are introducing, permanent 40km/h and 30km/h speed zones. Treatments could include asphalt art, murals, crossing lighting, and other streetscape enhancements that support pedestrian and cyclist safety and amenity, with an initial grant opportunity for local councils totalling up to $2 million.
• Reviewing up to 35 schools and school precincts across the state in collaboration with school communities to examine opportunities to make our approach to routes used by children to travel around school safer.

Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the government calls on all road users to prioritise safety every time they drive, ride or walk.

Today the community will get its first look at the $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital, the first major adult hospital built in Western Sydney in over 40 years.

The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering the 300 bed hospital set to deliver much-needed contemporary healthcare facilities for the growing North West community.

Thousands of families are moving into the North-West growth area, with the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA) population expected to grow to almost 500,000 by 2041.

The new hospital will bring healthcare closer to communities around Rouse Hill, Tallawong, Schofields, The Ponds, North Kellyville, Riverstone and Marsden Park.

Rouse Hill Hospital is expected to include:   

• an emergency and urgent care department
• in-patient beds and a day surgery unit
• short stay medical assessment services
• pathology, pharmacy, and medical imaging services
• outpatient and ambulatory care services including paediatrics, renal, maternity services and women’s health
• a health hub for virtual care and hospital in the home services
• prehabilitation, rehabilitation and lifestyle medicine. 

Artist’s impressions of the new Rouse Hill Hospital unveiled today show wards with views to the mountains and a multi-storey car park, all in close proximity to public transport. 

The new hospital will be one of the first sites to adopt the NSW Labor Government’s full campus model which incorporates health worker accommodation and childcare services.

Planning and design is underway with community feedback being considered ahead of further consultation with health professionals and the community planned for this year.

Construction of the hospital will support an estimated 1200 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs throughout the life of the project.

The new Rouse Hill Hospital is part of the NSW Government’s $3 billion investment for new and upgraded hospitals and health services across greater western Sydney, one of the largest investments in the region’s health infrastructure in recent years.   

Other investments include:   

• $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site, the first major investment since the 2 hospitals merged in 1997
• $550 million for Fairfield Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since it opened in 1989
• $350 million in the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment
• $120 million investment to expand bed capacity at Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Twelve years of inaction and chronic underinvestment has left communities outgrowing existing healthcare facilities.

“In our first year of government, we have delivered the largest pay increase in more than a decade for NSW health workers and one of the largest investments in Western Sydney health infrastructure in recent memory.

“Everyone deserves world class healthcare no matter where you live and we are committed to delivering that.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“There is a long history of undelivered commitments from the Liberal-National government with this project dating back to 2015. We won’t make the same empty promises and we’re getting on with the job of delivering this $700 million hospital for the community in North Western Sydney.

“We are committed to providing an additional 600 hospital beds for Western Sydney, and the new Rouse Hill Hospital will account for about half of this.

“It’s vitally important this new facility is staffed with the right number of doctors, nurses, allied health staff from the beginning, we’ll be intergrating key worker accommodation and child care to support our highly skilled workforce in the years to come.”

Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said:

“Rouse Hill and northwest Sydney is home to a growing number of young families and the new Rouse Hill Hospital will provide world-class care and great job opportunities right on their doorstep.

“The new Rouse Hill Hospital will provide a significant boost to the economy during and after construction.” 

WSLHD Chief Executive Graeme Loy said:

“The new Rouse Hill Hospital will demonstrate new ways of integrating hospital services with urgent care and preventative services to keep people well and preferably out of hospital, thereby reducing  the amount of time patients need to spend in hospital when they require care.

“We’re so proud to be developing this new project, and to be involving our nurses, doctors, allied health and support staff in the planning for the new facilities.

“Meeting with members of the western Sydney community for feedback has shown the great interest in this new facility and we look forward to ongoing collaboration as we build this hospital of the future.”

Eight new Varroa Development Officer (VDO) roles in NSW will assist beekeepers to understand how to manage the Varroa mite pest under the National Varroa Management program.

These new roles follow national agreement to move to a Varroa mite Transition to Management Plan (T2M), adopted by the National Management Group (NMG) in February 2024.

The plan places a strong emphasis on building industry resilience and preparedness and increasing beekeeper and industry knowledge.

The Varroa Development Officers (VDOs) will play a key role in supporting beekeepers with information and practical assistance as they learn to manage Varroa in their apiaries, building skills, resilience and understanding as the nation continues to transition to ongoing management of Varroa.

Further roles will soon begin in other states and territories, but NSW needed to move quickly to get beekeepers skilled up, and proactively manage this pest which is present in many parts of the state.

On 19 September 2023, the National Management Group (NMG) determined it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate Varroa mite, and the response is now working on a national transition to management plan.

The mite is expected to spread over time, and beekeeper reporting of monitoring results is key to understanding where the mite is currently active.

These results are available on the Varroa heat map at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa

The VDOs are also working closely with the training and education program, which is currently underway in NSW, covering a variety of Varroa mite related topics including monitoring and reporting actions, Integrated Pest Management, record keeping requirements and different treatment methods including mechanical, chemical and organic treatments.

Beekeepers can learn more and register for an upcoming workshop by visiting the Varroa Management Training tab located on the dedicated NSW DPI Varroa Mite website and can contact the VDO network by calling 1800 084 811.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The Varroa Development Officers will work with individual beekeepers as well as beekeeping clubs to provide practical, hands-on assistance to build skills, resilience and understanding as Australia transitions to managing this pest.

“These roles will eventually roll out across the rest of Australia, but NSW, where Varroa mite is present, needed to move quickly and decisively to meet the needs of this very important industry.

“The VDOs will work hand in hand with the extensive training program which has also commenced in NSW, with locations and dates for training being released regularly.

“These skills will be key to ensuring a robust and resilient beekeeping and honey industry, worth $147 million across Australia, ensuring it can continue to support our nations pollination-reliant industries worth over $16 billion annually.”