Category: NSW News

The NSW Labor Government has committed to continuing a program that has supported more than 1,000 high school students to secure jobs.

The Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program helps students engage directly with industry to explore different career paths or transition into work, apprenticeships and traineeships or further study.  

During the past three years, more than 3,000 industry partners have participated in RIEP activities with more than 180,000 students from more than 850 NSW schools.

The program has secured 1,000 direct employment outcomes for students since April 2021, including part-time jobs and school-based and full-time apprenticeships and traineeships.

Through the RIEP program, the Department is delivering on its Rural and Remote Education Strategy commitment to build strong industry partnerships to facilitate access to post-school pathways.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan today visited Madura Tea to see the outcomes of a RIEP-funded digital media and marketing workshop, which involved 120 Year 10 students from six northern NSW high schools.

Apex Ad Agency was one of the industry partners that supported the delivery of these workshops. All 28 students that connected with Apex Ad Agency have been offered work experience in Term 3.

Marketing content created by students during the industry project element of the workshop will be used by Madura Tea Estates as upcoming social media content.

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

“The Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program has a strong record of success, and we are pleased to continue its investment in preparing students to support local industry.

“The RIEP program actively builds bridges for students to industry so they can upskill and leverage those networks in their careers.

“Students who connect with employers while still in school have improved employment, education and wellbeing outcomes that also lead to increased future earnings.

“But the benefits of this program extend beyond our students. For businesses, this program offers a unique opportunity to shape the workforce of the future.”

Apex Ads Director + Partnership Developer Azzi Hamiliton said:

“The RIEP program has provided the talented students with a unique opportunity to develop their digital marketing skills and apply these in a real-world context.”

Madura Tea Digital Manager Kirsty Porter said:

“We were absolutely delighted that Apex Ads chose to feature our Madura products in their digital learning initiative with the students. It was a unique opportunity to see our tea become a tool for education and witness firsthand the innovative ways the next generation engages with digital media and product storytelling.”

The NSW Government will today launch an advertising campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of coercive control.

Using the tagline, “It’s not love, it’s coercive control. Know the signs of abuse,” this campaign uses video, audio and static advertisements with the slogan to show coercive control as a pattern of abusive behaviour over time.

Coercive control is insidious and can manifest in many ways. It is a pattern of behaviour which may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements, or isolating them from friends and family to control them.

This campaign was a recommendation of the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control, which highlighted the need to support community awareness of coercive control prior to the commencement of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022.

NSW is the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce a standalone dedicated offence of coercive control.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 will criminalise coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships in NSW starting from 1 July 2024. If found guilty, perpetrators can face up to a maximum of 7 years in prison.

The campaign was developed with over 70 stakeholders from the Coercive Control Implementation and Evaluation Taskforce and ten associated reference groups. This included victim-survivors through the Lived Expertise Reference Group.

This campaign follows the launch of a website in August 2023, designed to ensure the NSW public has access to credible information about coercive control.

NSW Police are also undergoing coercive control training, to ensure they are prepared for the implementation of this reform.

Members of the NSW Government will be joined by other NSW Parliamentary Members, in a signal that a multipartisan approach will be taken on issues of women’s safety and domestic and family violence.

The importance of an awareness campaign on this topic was laid bare by market research which showed that 32 percent of respondents had not heard of the term coercive control, and only 26 percent had both heard the term and understood what it meant.

Coercive control has been strongly linked to intimate partner homicide, with the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team finding that in 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by the perpetrator using emotional and psychological abuse as a form of coercive control towards the victim.

Find out more about coercive control

Prue Car, Deputy Premier of New South Wales, said:

“Coercive control is an insidious and damaging form of domestic violence – it can leave victim survivors feeling isolated, vulnerable, and alone.

“This campaign is vital in ensuring the broader public know what coercive control looks like, and perpetrators know what they are doing is wrong.

“The past few weeks have brought into sharp focus the need for urgent action on women’s safety.

“The NSW Government is committed to taking meaningful action when it comes to domestic and family violence, with a special Cabinet meeting to be held this week to discuss the Government’s response to gendered and domestic violence.

“All options are on the table when it comes to the prevention of family and domestic violence.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“From 1 July, coercive control in current and former intimate partner relationships will be a crime punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.

“The NSW Government is committed to addressing domestic abuse, including coercive control.

“This campaign highlights that abuse against a current or former intimate partner is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Coercive control is behaviour designed to exercise domination and control over another, and can be hard to spot because it can be deeply contextual.

“This campaign is vital because it helps build community awareness of coercive control and what it looks like in intimate partner relationships, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

“These ads depict abusive behaviours that are, regrettably, all too familiar to some people in our community. It shines a light on this insidious abuse before it escalates and results in homicide.

“Coercive control laws will have a profound impact on the way that our justice system assesses and manages domestic violence cases, and the government is now making sure people recognise the signs and know what it is.”

Emma Hurst, Member of the Legislative Council, Member of the Animal Justice Party, said:

“As someone who has been the victim of domestic violence, I have also experienced the effects of coercive control. It is hard to explain the experience of coercive control, but someone having to know where you are at all times, and being continuously verbally abusive, has the ability to destroy someone’s life in so many ways.

“Animals are frequently used as tools of coercive control, which can involve threatening violence towards the animal, or to kill or get rid of the animal, if the victim does not comply. We continue to look towards legislative options to tackle this insidious form of coercive control.”

Member of the Alex Greenwich, Independent Member for Sydney said:

“The NSW Parliament came together to pass landmark legislation to criminalise coercive control, and now with the nation’s focus rightly on gendered violence this advertisement campaign seeks to make NSW a safer place by helping people in all types of relationships, including same-sex relationships, recognise and report coercive control.”

Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst said:

“Having seen up close the personal damage coercive control has on a person and those around them, I am proud that NSW Parliament is leading the nation with these reforms. We need the whole country to get on board on now.”

Dr. Joe McGirr, Independent Member for Wagga Wagga said:

“It’s alarming to realise that 97 per cent of domestic violence murder victims had been subject to coercive control prior to their deaths.

“Coercive control is a red flag that can point to horrifying outcomes so it’s very important to raise awareness about this totally unacceptable abuse as part of wider efforts to prevent domestic violence and improve safety for women and children.”

Roy Butler, Independent Member for Barwon said:

“The signs of Domestic Violence are often obvious: physical injury, loud, aggressive interactions – it’s a scourge in our community. Coercive Control can be even more damaging, and when it occurs, it’s often not noticeable to anyone but the victim and perpetrator. Coercive Control can also be a precursor to physical violence and has no place in society. I welcome this new protection against coercive control.”

Judy Hannan, Independent Member for Wollondilly said:

“While we stand here to call out violence against women, we need to remember we have a voice and there are many others that should be here today who have been taken at no fault of their own. It is the victim’s silence that we need to remember and we need to call out for them.”

Support Services:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

The future of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney will be expertly guided by a new Chief Executive following a competitive global search.

Simon Duffy AM will join the Gardens from Taronga Zoo where he spent the last 27 years leading education, tourism, science, conservation, place-making, and fundraising initiatives. Mr Duffy also successfully led Taronga’s transformation from a traditional zoo to a zoo-based conservation organisation.

The appointment is aligned with, and reinforces, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s position as a global leader in biodiversity, sustainability, scientific research and conservation, as well as its significance as a cherished destination for families, nature-lovers, scientists and tourists alike.

Mr Duffy brings to the role exceptional experience and a visionary approach to creating and communicating biodiversity projects on a local, national, and international level.

In 2019, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his work in conservation in both Australia and Africa.

Mr Duffy will commence as Chief Executive of Botanic Gardens of Sydney on Monday, 3 June 2024.

Find out more about the Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The appointment of Simon Duffy AM to the role of Chief Executive of the Botanic Gardens is an important appointment for the future of this much-loved public space.

“Mr Duffy’s passion, leadership and experience position him well to lead the Gardens team and the Gardens themselves into the future, continuing the outstanding work in scientific research, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and nurturing some of Sydney’s most iconic public spaces.”

Chief Executive Botanic Gardens of Sydney Simon Duffy AM said:

“I’m extremely excited to be joining the wonderful team at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

“What an opportunity to work with Australia’s oldest scientific institution and a team that conducts critical research and action for plant and biodiversity conservation.

“As part of the Gardens team, I look forward to championing critical science and education programs and preserving the natural beauty of the Gardens for future generations so we can continue to lead and inspire our community towards a better, brighter, and more sustainable future.”

Experienced commercial barrister Tim Faulkner SC has been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Mr Faulkner has acted for some of the largest law firms in Australia in professional negligence cases and specialises in insurance and reinsurance, both in courts and arbitration.

In 2020, he acted for corporate regulator ASIC in Australian Securities and Investments Commission v MLC Nominees Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1306, which resulted in a civil penalty of $57.5 million – one of the largest civil penalties obtained by ASIC.

Mr Faulkner was admitted as a solicitor in 1990 after studying a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Economics at Australian National University. He also completed a Master of Laws at the University of Sydney in 1995.

He worked for King & Wood Mallesons in Sydney and Herbert Smith in London before he was called to the Bar in 1999. He took silk in 2014 and is currently a member of 12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers.

Mr Faulkner has broadly practised in the areas of commercial law, competition and consumer law, equity, insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, property, consumer protection, corporations law, alternative dispute resolution, and appeals.

When he commences at the Supreme Court, Mr Faulkner will be a judge of the Common Law Division.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Faulkner SC to the Supreme Court bench.

“Mr Faulkner is a highly experienced lawyer, and his knowledge will be invaluable to the Court and everyone who interacts with it.

“I congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment.”

The NSW Government will establish an urgent review of the foster care system following a damning report that details the first-hand experiences of the state’s most vulnerable young people in emergency accommodation.

The review will examine the overreliance on emergency accommodation and investigate how taxpayer money is being spent by non-government providers.

The report by the Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP) is a compilation of confronting first-hand stories from young people placed in hotels and motels and other High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) after being removed from their families.  

The ACYP conducted 19 private hearings across the state in areas including Bathurst, Dubbo, Forbes, Northern Rivers, Central Coast, Wollongong, Western Sydney and the Inner West. Young people described a system where they were left alone in emergency accommodation in extremely unsafe situations.

One young person describes their experience in emergency accommodation as making them feel like a “dog being moved from cage to cage”.

“It was just me on my own around… full-grown adults on drugs, homeless people, people with mental illnesses… it was disgusting,” said one young person.

Another described being in emergency care from the age of 10 or 12, “just in motels, caravan parks, whatever they can find.…it’s pretty bad. I was put in $99 a night rooms, and I’d be in one room and then the workers would be 10 rooms down.”

Another said, “After a little while I started to play with my Lego again but that took about maybe a month and a half before I started to do anything other than just sit there and cry.”

These stories are shocking examples of a system where the use of emergency arrangements has skyrocketed, resulting in a spiralling out-of-home care budget crisis combined with worsening outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

HCEAs can cost upwards of $2 million a year for each child, costing taxpayers more than $38,000 a week. By comparison, a child in foster care costs the state the maximum of $74,000 annually, or just over $1400 a week.

The NSW Government has begun work to tackle the cost of emergency accommodation through a dedicated team that moves children from HCEAs to more suitable arrangements. This has resulted in a 16% decrease in the number of children in HCEAs, from 506 children on 2 November 2023 to 427 on 31 March 2024.

The ACYP’s report, titled Moving Cage to Cage: An interim report of the Special Inquiry into children and young people in alternative care arrangements, will be released today with the Special Inquiry’s final findings expected to be tabled in NSW Parliament mid-2024.

Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington said:

“This report is heartbreaking; these kids’ stories are harrowing.

“As the Minister and as a mum I’m horrified to hear that there are children in the child protection system who feel like they’re animals, being moved from cage to cage.

“But it’s important that we hear the voices of these children, that we listen, and we act.

“Under the former government, the use of hotels and motels for vulnerable children skyrocketed, and the child protection system was left to spiral out of control.

“We have begun the work to repair the system, but we have a long road to travel to make sure we deliver the best outcomes for young people and taxpayers.

“Our urgent review will uncover ways we can give vulnerable kids the future they deserve, starting with a stable, loving home instead of hotels and motels with rotating shift workers.”  

The Advocate for Children and Young People, Zoë Robinson said:

“As the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, I look forward to working with the NSW Government and community, to ensure that all children and young people in care settings are given every opportunity to thrive – in safe, caring environments.

“Today’s response by the NSW Government recognises the power of listening to children and young people and understanding how decisions impact their lives.  

“The children and young people who have shared their stories with the Special Inquiry want stability and care. The evidence received to date highlights that high-cost arrangements and alternative care arrangements are clearly falling well short of that.

“I believe that ongoing work is required to ensure the voices of children and young people in care are included in policy and lifted to government, and I will continue engaging with children and young people until the final report of the Special Inquiry is tabled in NSW Parliament later this year.”

Campbelltown Hospital is today marking an historic milestone with Deputy Premier Prue Car and Health Minister Ryan Park officially opening the new northern entrance, the last of the major works in the $632 million Stage 2 redevelopment.

The new northern entrance links directly into the main hospital concourse, Hospital Street, providing easy access to amenities and healthcare services for patients, visitors and staff.

Since construction began in 2018, the redevelopment has delivered a stunning 12-storey clinical services building, the centrepiece of the project, as well as extensive refurbishments across the hospital campus.

The new state-of-the-art building is enabling contemporary world-class care for the Macarthur region with 158,044 emergency department presentations, 9,619 surgical procedures performed, and 6,300 babies born since it opened in June 2022.

Key features of the building include:

• Significantly expanded Emergency Department, which includes a satellite imaging area, two dedicated children’s resuscitation bays, and a special end-of-life room for families to farewell and grieve the passing of loved ones
• New Intensive Care Unit with capacity to increase the number of beds in the future
• Expanded surgical services including interventional radiology
• New digital operating theatres and procedure rooms
• New children’s unit, children’s ambulatory care and children’s allied health clinic, including specialised equipment for assessment and observation of young patients
• Expanded maternity and women’s services including additional birthing suites with baths and dedicated ultrasound and interview rooms, and
• Centrally located mental health services, including a specialised older persons unit, civil secure rehabilitation unit for adults and mental health intensive care.

Services and buildings across the Campbelltown Hospital campus also received major refurbishments, including the expansion of the hospital’s pathology laboratory, renal dialysis unit, pharmacy, clinical information department and cancer therapy centre and a new dental centre – a first for the hospital.

The beautiful artworks throughout the new building place country, culture and creativity at the heart of the redevelopment and have received international recognition, winning major European Healthcare Design Awards.

With more than 133,000 new residents expected to call the Macarthur region home during the next 12 years, the redevelopment is ensuring the community has access to a broader range of healthcare services close to home.

The project follows the completion of the $134 million Stage 1 redevelopment of the hospital in 2016, and the completion of the $34.1 million car park in 2020.

The Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building, which is currently under construction, is a partnership between South Western Sydney Local Health District, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Western Sydney University and UNSW Sydney, with dedicated funding from Walker Corporation.

The new build adjoins the Western Sydney University’s Macarthur Clinical School on the hospital campus and will complement the newly redeveloped hospital and the broader Campbelltown Health and Education Precinct. The new Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building will locate medical research expertise alongside health care services.

Deputy Premier Prue Car said:

“Campbelltown is at the centre of one of the fastest growing regions in NSW with more than 133,000 people to call this district home with the next 12 years.

“This redevelopment has transformed healthcare services to meet the Macarthur community’s healthcare needs well into the future.’’

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Everyone involved in helping shape Campbelltown Hospital’s transformation should be immensely proud of their efforts knowing how much this means for the growing south west Sydney community.

“I want to particularly thank the staff at Campbelltown Hospital for their continued care of the community during the construction of this massive project, which occurred as we faced the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:

“Like many local residents, I have watched the redevelopment emerge from the ground up into the building that is now dominating the skyline of our city.

“I could not be more impressed with our new hospital. I congratulate the countless number of staff, patients and the community who have worked together to develop this incredibly modern health facility that we are all so proud of.

Member for Camden Sally Quinnell said:

“This redevelopment supports world-class health care for our community close to home, reducing the need to travel outside our region for care.

Grant Isedale, General Manager, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals said:

“The completion of the Stage 2 redevelopment is an historic milestone for Campbelltown Hospital.

“It has given our staff, patients and community an incredible new clinical services building, which is at the cutting-edge of healthcare with new technology and innovation.

“This is a special and proud day for our staff and patients.

“The new hospital building and the many refurbishments across the campus will serve as a wonderful legacy to the Macarthur community.’’

Councils will soon have the opportunity to trial AI in their local planning systems following a $5.6 million investment from the NSW Government.

In the midst of a housing crisis and a shortage of planners, the NSW Government has been looking for new and innovative ways to support councils and speed up development assessment times.

The AI in NSW Planning project was tasked with identifying areas of the development application assessment that were causing unnecessary delays and would benefit from the implementation of AI.

Three technologies have now been identified and will be available to councils for trial through the AI Solutions Panel and Early Adopter Grant Program. They are:

• Adaptovate Pty Ltd ‘Development Assessment Intelligence System (DAISY)’
• Archistar Platform
• Propcode CDC

In a significant opportunity, councils collaborating on joint grant applications could receive up to $500,000, while single council applications could be eligible for up to $200,000 to trial the identified technologies.

Council staff determine development applications for approximately 85 percent of all new homes in NSW. This funding will allow councils to trial recommended AI technologies and encourage innovative ways to accelerate DA assessments.

The recommended AI products will help councils reduce average DA assessment times by quickly identifying administration and data input errors.

All councils can apply for grants through the Early Adopter Grant Program.

Grant applications are open for three weeks and close on 22 May 2024.

Successful grant recipients will be notified by June.

For more information, visit the NSW Planning website.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This grant program will encourage councils to trial AI and identify products which can help meet their needs.

“This is about modernising the NSW planning system by making it more efficient.

“We can achieve this by giving our talented planners the best tools possible.

“The delivery of new homes will only happen if the planning system is working at full capacity.

“I am confident AI can help accelerate DA assessments and reduce the administrative burden on planners.”

The upcoming conversion of the T3 Bankstown Line into a modern Metro line will be supported by an extensive transport plan, including Southwest Link, a high-frequency bus service between Sydenham and Bankstown stations.

Converting the existing T3 Line, which is more than a century old, will be a difficult process for the community and take up to 12 months.

When the conversion is complete in 2025, passengers will have access to a 21st century high-tech metro line with a train every 4 minutes during the peak, along with fully accessible stations and services.

Southwest Link will form part of an integrated transport plan for Southwest Sydney, which brings together around 100 dedicated and existing local bus services, rail services, light rail, active transport and the new City Metro service from Sydenham station.

Key features of Southwest Link include:

• Three dedicated bus routes known as SW1, SW2 and SW3 to provide thousands of services along the T3 line;
• Frequent services from early morning until late night seven days a week, with a bus every two to four minutes in peak periods;
• A mix of all stops and limited stops services to ensure commuters and local passengers have reliable public transport options;
• Easily recognisable services, with plenty of signage and ground staff to support.

Other features of the transport plan include:

• Sydney’s new rail network, with changes to the Sydney Trains timetable between Sydenham and Bankstown to support the conversion now and into the future
• Amended T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line – providing a direct rail service to the Sydney CBD from Liverpool via Lidcombe Station, including Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood and Carramar Stations
• New T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown service – providing dedicated train services between Bankstown and Lidcombe, including Yagoona, Birrong, Regents Park and Berala, with connections T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line at Regents Park
• Changes to rail services at Erskineville and St Peters Stations, where passengers will be serviced by the T8 Airport and South line 
• Working with councils to provide better walking and cycling links to support passengers, particularly for shorter local journeys that offer connections to public transport hubs.

Southwest Link bus routes:

• SW1 – Sydenham to Bankstown (All Stops)
  • Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba,Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown, and return.
• SW2 – Sydenham to Bankstown (Limited Stops)
  • Sydenham, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown, and return
• SW3 – Sydenham to Campsie (Limited Stops)
  • Sydenham, Canterbury and Campsie, and return

Transit Systems will provide the bulk of the Southwest Link rail replacement bus services after being awarded the contract earlier this year.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“This is going to be a disruptive 12 months for the people of Canterbury Bankstown and for the Inner West but there is light at the end of the tunnel. When this section of the metro is complete, they will get a train every four minutes. That’s a massive increase in train services, because right now there are stations on the T3 Line that only receive four trains an hour in the peak.

“Communities that rely on the T3 line are going to have a tough time, that’s why we’ve worked to deliver as many alternative public transport services as possible, including high frequency Southwest Link bus services with multiple routes.

“We’re also looking out for passengers in the West to help them through this tough 12-month conversion. Bankstown will get a new T6 Train service to Lidcombe and there will be a direct train service from Liverpool to the City via Lidcombe, Berala and Regent’s Park.”

Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said:

“Southwest Link is about making sure passengers can get to where they need to go during the final Metro conversion of the T3 Bankstown Line. We are making sure that there is a variety of bus services that deliver for the communities that rely on the T3 line. This is not an ordinary rail replacement service.

“Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro have spent months planning an integrated transport plan for the southwest, so passengers will be able to decide which mode, route and service works best for them.

“Over the next few months, next steps include continuing to engage with the community and impacted hospitals, schools and universities, distributing information brochures in multiple languages and updating our systems for personalised trip planning tools and third-party apps.”

Shoalhaven’s vibrant multicultural communities will benefit from a $100,000 funding boost from the NSW Government. The new funds will contribute to a Multicultural Hub, the first full time multicultural service provider in the region.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper today said the Multicultural NSW Grant will support diverse South Coast communities by providing service equity, as well as showcasing, preserving and sharing the region’s rich diversity of cultures, languages and faiths.

At an event attended by Mr Kamper in the Illawarra today, Chris Lacey, CEO and Company Secretary of the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) said the funding package will meet a significant need for creating an ecosystem of networks and connections with community and government service providers in the Shoalhaven.

For more than four decades, MCCI has delivered services to and represented the interests of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the Illawarra, ACT and Queanbeyan.

As a regional peak body, the MCCI implements a range of community engagement activities and programs to support Shoalhaven’s diverse communities.

From empowering youth to providing vital aged care services, community capacity building, volunteering, and training, MCCI is a long-term member of the NSW Government’s Leaders in Cultural Diversity program.

The Hub will also see increased local engagement with Multicultural NSWs Regional Community Network.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“We are proud to support the region’s leading voice for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, representing the ever-changing needs of the Shoalhaven community.

“The NSW government remains steadfast in its commitment to empower communities, ensuring bespoke, culturally relevant services that foster social cohesion.

“Hubs like the Shoal Haven serve as a vital way to build the holistic well-being of diverse communities in our regions.”

NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“We’re really pleased that members of our culturally and linguistically diverse community in the Shoalhaven will now have access to this fantastic new Hub.

“MCCI have been successfully delivering programs in the Illawarra region for many years, and it is really heartening to see this valuable service extended to the South Coast community.”

NSW Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“The South Coast has a growing multicultural community, and I am thrilled that our vision for a more inclusive Shoalhaven is coming to fruition with the establishment of this new Hub. It’s a testament to our commitment to embracing and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make our region so unique.

“This funding marks a significant commitment from the NSW Government to the Shoalhaven community, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to nurturing a multicultural society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

“By establishing the Multicultural Hub in Shoalhaven, we’re not just funding a facility—we’re investing in the heart and soul of our diverse community, ensuring everyone has access to the services they need in their own backyard.”

Chris Lacey, CEO and Company Secretary of the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) said:

“For more than 40 years MCCI has worked to improve supports and services for diverse communities across the region.

“We have identified gaps in what was offered along the South Coast and this welcome funding will help us reach many more people and help them reach their aspirations as the settle into their new homes in this beautiful part of NSW.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan today announced the start of construction of a new building at TAFE NSW Kingscliff, as part of the $33.7 million investment in upgrades at the campus, aimed at strengthening vocational education and training in the Tweed region.

Minister Whan turned the first sod on the site of a new multi-purpose building at TAFE NSW Kingscliff, that will enable the delivery of a variety of courses, including animal studies, aviation, creative services and electrotechnology.

Construction can now begin on the $25 million new multi-purpose building, providing students with the skills needed to support local industries like construction, healthcare, wildlife conservation, and aviation.

Phase one of the TAFE NSW Kingscliff investment will be complete in June this year. The $8.8 million investment will deliver a refurbishment of several buildings, including health and community services. This will allow health students to complete hands-on training in a simulated hospital environment.

The TAFE NSW Kingscliff investment will help support the skills needs of the local community and accommodate enrolment growth and workforce demand in the Tweed region.

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

“We know that the demand for skilled nurses, builders, and electricians in Northern NSW will continue to grow over the next decade.

“This new facility will support the skills needs in these industries, accommodating the enrolment growth we are seeing in the Tweed region.

“TAFE NSW Kingscliff plays a vital role in supporting the Tweed’s economy by equipping learners with the industry-aligned skills employers need.

“With the growth we are expected to see in this region, as more people choose to relocate to this wonderful part of the world, we need to ensure our workforce is ready for this expansion.

“Students and teachers need to have functional classrooms and access to equipment to learn the skills they need to be industry-ready. This investment ensures TAFE NSW is well-placed to meet the educational and employment needs of communities.

“The continued investment in TAFE NSW’s infrastructure will create a welcoming learning environment, improve educational outcomes, and support the state’s critical skills needs.”