Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has passed legislation addressing the refusal of private insurers to pay their bills in public hospitals.

The refusal of the country’s biggest private health funds to pay the correct single room rate has been robbing public hospitals of $140 million each year.

The bill passed the Legislative Council 21 to 17 with the support of the Greens, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, the Animal Justice Party and the Legalise Cannabis Party.

In the Legislative Assembly it passed 50 to 31 with the backing of six of the eight independents who voted, and the Greens.

The result means the Leader of the Opposition led a vote against the very same legislation he backed a decade ago.

In 2013, Liberal Leader Mark Speakman supported then-Treasurer Mike Baird’s bill to amend the Health Insurance Levy.

This achieved an agreement from the private insurers to pay their fair share.

However in 2019 the major funds began walking away from that agreement, and since then have doubled their profits.

Mr Baird’s 2013 legislation was supported by NSW Labor in a united effort to ensure the big private health insurers paid their bills.

But the Liberal Party’s opposition signals that under Mr Speakman’s leadership, private insurers can walk away from their bills with no recourse.

The Opposition Leader, the Shadow Treasurer and the Member for Vaucluse must explain why they believe wealthy private insurers don’t have to play by the same rules as hard-working families across NSW and pay their bills.

The NSW Government remains open to dialogue with major insurers to resolve the issue.

The Government applauds the majority of non-profit private health funds, including Teachers Health, Nurses and Midwives Health and Emergency Service Health, who continue to pay the correct rate.   

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Mike Baird was right in 2013 when he demanded insurers pay their fair share and a decade later, we are right to reinforce that agreement.

“Premiums didn’t go down when the big insurers stopped paying their bills.  They shouldn’t threaten families with an increase now. The big insurers can still resolve this impasse by simply paying their bills.

“The Government thanks those on the cross benches in both houses who supported this bill.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“All we’re asking is that private health insurers pay their fair share of their use of public hospital beds.

“Every day they don’t, it’s costing the state over $338,000 – every single day.

“It is so emblematic of the current Liberal Opposition that they refuse to support the very same bill they proposed when they were confronted with this very same set of circumstances.

“It is so symptomatic of this Liberal Opposition which no longer knows what it stands for, completely devoid of conviction.”

A new early intervention family program will deliver crucial therapeutic, trauma-informed and culturally safe support to victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and their children to help disrupt the cycle of abuse.

Preventing and eliminating domestic and family violence is a priority for the NSW Government.

Evidence shows that early intervention can improve the lives of children and young people, including those who have experienced family violence, building resilience as they recover.

Funded with $13 million under the National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government, Safe and Strong uses a dual model of early intervention support for both victim-survivors and their children who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, family violence.

Service providers will deliver specialist early supports such as counselling, family capacity building, and supported playgroups.

Case workers will help families to identify early indicators of violence in their homes, and deliver therapeutic, trauma-informed and culturally safe support focusing on the needs and experiences of victim-survivors and their children.

There are 11 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) that will deliver Safe and Strong in 10 priority locations across NSW, and service delivery will commence in the remaining 22 priority locations in early 2025.

ACCOs are best placed to understand community need and deliver services to achieve better results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and their children, and have been prioritised to deliver this service.

Aboriginal-led, trauma-informed and culturally safe strategies recognise the importance of culture, connection to Country and the role of men’s and women’s business in responding to and healing from family violence.

Locations for delivery of Safe and Strong were selected using domestic violence crime and child protection data, to identify areas of the highest need.

Safe and Strong demonstrates the NSW government’s ongoing commitment to addressing family violence within our communities and aligns with the objectives of the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-2027.

The early intervention service complements the range of domestic and family violence supports already in place in NSW, including the Specialist Workers for Children and Young People program, Staying Home Leaving Violence and Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services.

This project is funded for 12 months and will be independently evaluated to measure its impact and effectiveness.

The NSW Government has committed $245.6 million in the 2024-25 Budget to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence, including in early intervention and primary prevention.

Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said:

“To achieve our goal of ending gender-based violence in one generation, we need to provide genuine support for our young men and boys now.

“That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has worked to elevate the voices of children in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.

“We have invested $3.4 billion to deliver the National Plan over the past 3 budgets and a further $4.4 billion to harness opportunities to prevent violence and support legal services as announced at the 6 September National Cabinet meeting on gender-based violence. This includes work that will have a specific focus on supporting First Nations children and young people.

“Our Government is proud to invest in supports that will lead to long-term change and provide meaningful support to young men and boys to help them break the cycle of violence, as well as support victim-survivors.”

NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“Domestic and family violence can tear families apart; and the impact on children and young people can be lifelong.

“Many children who enter the child protection system have come from houses of violence and carry that trauma with them.

“The Safe and Strong program is designed to stop the cycle of abuse by identifying families at risk and offering timely support so more Aboriginal children can stay safely with their families.”

NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“It is critical that we respond to the impacts of domestic and family violence on Aboriginal people.

“Early intervention is an important strategy and the services to help Aboriginal people and communities, including children, will be developed and delivered by and with Aboriginal people.

“We know the best way to close the gap is by Aboriginal people shaping and driving outcomes for Aboriginal people, in partnership with the NSW Government.”

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

“The NSW Government is committed to keeping families safe from the harm and horror of domestic and family violence.

“To make sure our action in this space is meaningful and sustainable, we must address domestic and family violence from every angle – this includes genuine preventative and early intervention action.

“It’s important to treat children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right and ensure that child-focused early support is provided.

“Through Safe and Strong, we are making sure that victim survivors of domestic and family violence and their children have the support they need to recover, heal and rebuild their lives.

Dhungutti woman Ashlee Donohue CEO of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women’s Centres said:

“Mudgin-Gal means ‘Women’s Place’, which reflects our mission to provide a safe space for Aboriginal women and families.

“We are committed to preventing domestic and family violence in our communities through the Safe and Strong program.

“Using a family approach through early intervention, we will continue to deliver culturally safe and trauma-informed support services to families.

“By identifying early indicators of violence, we can support families who are at risk of family violence and stop the violence before it starts.”

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 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN on 13 92 76.

This Sunday 27 October is NSW Grandparents Day – a day for families to come together to celebrate grandparents and those who play grandparent roles in our lives.

NSW Grandparents Day has been an initiative under the NSW Ageing Strategy since 2011 and is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

Whether they’re nan and pop, grandad and grandma, nonna and nonno or mama and papa or simply a grand-friend, NSW Grandparents Day is an occasion to enjoy family fun, whether that’s a picnic, a trip to the park or simply reading a book together.

The NSW Government provides over $50,000 in funding to local libraries to deliver activities to help the community celebrate Grandparents Day this Friday through the weekend. Events include special storytime, digital programs and even musical performances. This year, 105 libraries across NSW will be running events for the whole family.

For more information and ways to celebrate, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/grandparents-day/story-time-library-resources

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“NSW Grandparents Day recognises the diversity of grandparent relationships and the roles of older people in our community.

“It’s important to celebrate the contributions grandparents make to their families and communities.

“The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is special and should be celebrated year-round, but having a special day to recognise that connection and do an activity together is a great way of acknowledging their special and meaningful contributions to family and the community.

“If you can’t make it to a library for storytime, there are still plenty of other ways to thank grandparents such as having a morning tea together, sending them a hand-drawn card, or by calling them on the phone.”

The Opposition has today called for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the illegal tobacco (“chop chop”) trade in NSW. 

This inquiry would cover, but not be limited to, organised crime links to the illegal tobacco trade in NSW, departmental responsibility for enforcement, licensing schemes for tobacconists, landlord responsibilities, increasing penalties, money laundering schemes operating via tobacconists, improved education and public awareness.

Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane says we are seeing an alarming increase in the supply of illegal tobacco in NSW, which has been linked to organised crime syndicates.

“Profits from illegal tobacco sales are lining the pockets of criminals, with the growing trade estimated to be worth billions in Australia. This inquiry will give parliament the opportunity to hear from experts, small businesses, health professionals and law enforcement to ensure we have the right legislation in NSW to crack down on this illegal trade,” said Ms Sloane.

“We know that users of illegal tobacco report significantly worse health outcomes than smokers of legal tobacco^[1], and given the lower cost and easy access to illegal tobacco, NSW is at risk of going backwards on fifty years of public health progress in reducing nicotine and smoking rates.” 

Shadow Minister for Regional Health Gurmesh Singh says the illegal tobacco trade is putting pressure on small businesses across New South Wales, especially in the regions.

“The regulation of the tobacco industry has been a cornerstone of our health response to smoking for decades. It’s important to our communities to have an open inquiry into the illegal aspects of this industry.”

Key Facts: 

• NSW Health data shows there has been an increase in the number of tobacconists opening, rising from 14,500 four years ago to 19,500 today. 
• Tobacco smoke accounts for around half of the estimated preventable cancers deaths in Australia.
• Some batches of illegal tobacco contain bulking agents such as twigs, raw cotton and grass clippings. Fungal (mould) spores have also been detected.^[2]
• The ATO has estimated that 1,234 tonnes of illegal tobacco went undetected in the Australian market in 2020–21, worth approximately $1.89 billion, and that approximately 10 % of Australia’s tobacco market were illicit. ^[3]
• Since 2018, authorities have seized nearly 480,000 kilos of illegal tobacco, which equates to nearly 22 million cigarettes and $731 million in lost excise. ^[4]

^[1] https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-27-health-effects-of-smoking-tobacco-in-other-fo

² https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-27-health-effects-of-smoking-tobacco-in-other-fo

³https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395924001099#:~:text=The%20ATO%20estimated%20that%201234,%E2%80%9316%20(Australian%20Taxation%20Office%2C

⁴ https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/tax-avoidance/the-fight-against-tax-crime/our-focus/illicit-tobacco

The hypocrisy of Labor has been laid bare today with NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education admitting in Parliament that TAFE NSW will shed 80 jobs in a restructure.

In response to a question from Shadow Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Justin Clancy in Question Time, the Minister admitted, “there will be some offered the opportunity for transfer or made redundant.” “Out of this new operating model I expect the net change will be that 80 employees will lose their positions”.

The admission comes at a time when NSW continues to face an acute skills crisis, with the most recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) showing that under the NSW Labor government, apprentice and traineeship commencements have fallen to their lowest level since 2020. Program enrolments for VET in Schools have dropped to figures not seen since 2019, while the number of government-funded students and courses are also at a four-year low.

Mr Clancy said it is vital the NSW Labor Government comes clean and reveal the location of these 80 job losses, including if any are in regional parts of NSW. The Minister must also confirm impacted departments, following previous reports administration, IT facilities management, and accounting job would be slashed.

“The need for strong, well-supported NSW TAFE institutions has never been greater, the last thing we need is to be taking a knife to our vocational education and training sector.

“NSW Labor has talked a big game, continuously claiming to be “Rebuilding TAFE”, but this announcement demonstrates yet again that the Minns Labor government will say one thing but do another.

Merchant fee surcharges were levied on tens of millions of customer card transactions, despite repeated legal advice during the term of the former Liberal-National government that the government agency surcharges were unlawful.

The issue was identified by the NSW Auditor-General during settlement of the Department of Customer Service (DCS) financial statements for 2023-24 and brought to the attention of the current Government.

The current Secretary of DCS, Graeme Head, sought further information from his Department which revealed that Service NSW’s practice of charging merchant fees had been flagged as unlawful in legal advice received from the Crown Solicitor’s Office between February 2016 and December 2022. Despite this, merchant fees continued to be passed onto customers.

Merchant fee surcharges are levied to recoup transaction fees charged by payment providers including banks. Recouping the cost of merchant fees was directed by NSW Treasury in 2012.

Typical surcharges on Service NSW transactions include 30 cents for a 1-year licence renewal, 29 cents for a marriage certificate and $1.92 to renew registration for a small car (like a Toyota Corolla). The average surcharge on a Revenue NSW payment in 2023-24 was $0.92.

It’s currently estimated that 92 million transactions unlawfully incurred about $144 million in merchant fees from 2016 across Service NSW and Revenue NSW.

The Minns Labor Government has established an incident management taskforce and is progressing urgent work to shut down the unlawful charging of merchant fees.

People who have been charged fees are encouraged to register for updates on the Government’s response at service.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-services/merchant-fees or by calling Service NSW on 13 77 88.

The Treasurer, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, and Minister for Finance have written to the NSW Ombudsman requesting an investigation into possible serious maladministration.

The Secretary of DCS has also referred the matter to the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, noting the apparent failure to act on the 2016 Crown Solicitor’s advice.

The taskforce led by DCS has switched off fees being charged directly by Revenue NSW and the Rental Bond Board, and stopped fees on more than 80 per cent of Service NSW transactions.

Merchant fee surcharges have been switched off for more than 90 per cent of online payments, including the top 12 Service NSW transactions such as renewing a driver licence or vehicle registration or paying a fine.

Service NSW is urgently continuing work to switch off fees on all remaining transactions, including thousands of credit card terminals in Service NSW Service Centres. These transactions span several technology platforms and are conducted on behalf of multiple agencies.

While this work is being completed, alternate payment methods are available which do not incur a surcharge, such as paying in a Service Centre by cash or online with over-the-counter support from Service NSW staff.

The majority of Government transactions take place through Service NSW, but as a result of this information being uncovered, all departments have been instructed to report to NSW Treasury by 30 November on whether they charge merchant fees for services and to confirm they have the legal authority to do so. 

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib: 

“Our most immediate priority has been to stop these charges as quickly as possible.”

“It is deeply concerning that this practice has been ongoing, despite legal concerns being raised.”

“While the individual amounts typically charged may appear to be small, they have been charged unlawfully.”

“The community rightfully deserves an explanation about how this was allowed to continue for so long under the previous government.” 

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“We have acted swiftly to establish a taskforce to deal with this issue. Our immediate efforts are focused on switching off the payment methods that charge these merchant fees as quickly as possible.

“We will get to the bottom of what happened and why millions of people were unlawfully charged merchant fees.

“Families, households and businesses expect governments to conduct themselves lawfully. That’s why all agencies have been instructed to examine their own processes.”

The Singleton Local Government Area has received $7 million in funding from the Albanese and Minns Governments to help improve the resilience of Kilfoyles Bridge and Stanhope Road ahead of future flood events.

The funds, provided through the Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package, will go towards:

• Raising Stanhope Road at Elderslie; and
• The betterment of Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road with a two-lane concrete structure.

Work to raise the road level along a one kilometer section of Stanhope Road is already underway and will involve major culvert upgrades to better manage drainage and improve access to the route during future rainfalls.

The funding also covers raising Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road by at least 2.2 metres, and upgrading the bridge to a two-lane concrete structure with a higher bridge deck and scour protection. This work is expected to start in November 2024.

The improvements will help reduce the likelihood of road and bridge closures during severe weather and reduce costs for ongoing repairs and maintenance.

These upgrades are jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“We are working with the Minns Government and regional councils to ensure communities have resilient infrastructure they can rely on every day, but particularly in times of crisis.”

“Upgraded roads and bridges will help residents stay connected during flooding and improve access to emergency services.

“By raising the road and increasing the capacity of culverts, these projects will also reduce turbulence and help flood water escape quickly.”

Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi:

“We’ve seen over the last few years the devastation that constant rain and flooding has had on our communities and on our vital infrastructure.

“Keeping our roads and bridges open during flood events is vital to stop communities being isolated.

“It’s all about building back better and it’s about the Albanese Labor Government working with the states and the local government so that we can build back better and give people the future they need.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This key investment by the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments will improve Singleton’s resilience to floods.

“Workers, students, tourists, freight operators and other residents will be able to continue to go about their business, get to education and medical appointments with less inconvenience and disruption during disasters.

“This will reduce their reliance on Surf Life Saving and the State Emergency Service (SES), particularly for residents of smaller communities like Lambs Valley and Stanhope.

NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal:

“These flood resilience projects will keep communities better connected during disasters while importantly protecting lives and livelihoods across the Upper Hunter.

“It’s great to see all three levels of government working together to deliver projects that make such a big difference to our regional communities.”

Singleton Council Mayor Sue Moore:

“I’m very pleased to have State and Federal Governments working together to improve access in times of flooding for Singleton rural communities.”

Singleton Council General Manager Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr:

“Stanhope Road and Kilfoyles Bridge form an important transport route for the community and agricultural businesses but in times of flooding, they become inundated and unpassable for days at a time.

“By upgrading and raising the level of this road and bridge, we’ll keep our community connected during future flooding disasters.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Australian and NSW governments for their support to deliver these integral infrastructure projects for Singleton.”

The Minns Labor Government is calling on the best and brightest in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology tools to improve the NSW Planning Portal and speed up assessment timeframes to deliver more homes, jobs and infrastructure.

The NSW Planning Portal processes all the state’s Development Applications (DA) as well as Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and Concurrence and Referrals (C&R) for DAs that require state agency advice.

The NSW Government has launched two Requests for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative technology and AI solutions to integrate into the Planning Portal as a feature of the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem. The first RFP asks for:

• Products to improve DA quality and assessment times that can be integrated into the existing Portal
• Products or services that use AI to provide data analytics and spatial insights
• Products to strengthen cybersecurity and improve user privacy including document security and certificate forgery

A second tender seeking a range of technology enhancements to upgrade the core platform functionality of the NSW Planning Portal which include:

• Making this legacy platform more efficient through upgrades to assessment and implementation planning
• Seeking products that improve security through data processing and document migration and validation
• Enhancements to the core platform, making it more reliable and improving the user experience

These two RFPs follow the NSW Government’s $5.6 million investment to introduce AI into the planning system with 16 councils currently trialling AI solutions through the AI Early Adopter Grant.

To provide a Request for Proposal for the NSW Planning Portal, applicants should respond by 3pm on Friday 1 November: NSW Planning Portal – Pega Upgrade – SR00252 | buy.nsw

To provide a Request for Proposal for the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal ecosystem applicants should respond by 3pm on Monday 4 November: Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem – SR00132 | buy.nsw

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The NSW Planning Portal services millions of people, it should be utilising the best technological platforms available to us.

“AI can assist planners to determine DAs much faster and that means faster assessments for housing across NSW.

“We are also looking for solutions to improve the core technology of the Planning Portal to improve user experience.

“The Minns Labor Government is bringing the planning system into the 21^st century.

“Our Early Adopter AI grant Program has already seen 16 councils commence technology trials to help their planners free up valuable time and energy to improve assessment times. This next round of technology enhancements will bring us even closer to the future of digital assessment in the planning system.”

The Liverpool community is a step closer to having a new purpose-built ambulance station at Prestons following the purchase of a site on Enterprise Circuit.

The new Prestons Ambulance Station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance carried out a thorough evaluation of the site to ensure the location best meets the needs of our emergency ambulance operations and paramedic staff.

New ambulance stations are located at places which optimise ambulance response performance and meet the needs of local community. NSW Ambulance identified Prestons as a high priority location following a comprehensive service planning process using best practice modelling software to map Triple Zero (000) calls.

The next steps for the project include design development and seeking planning approval for the new ambulance station. Construction and operational timeframes will be determined as the project progresses.

The NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program will deliver 30 additional ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong over the coming years, boosting frontline emergency ambulance care.

Health Infrastructure is working with NSW Ambulance and other Government stakeholders to identify potential sites for new ambulance stations.

Sites are confirmed for North Sydney, South Windsor, Oran Park, Berowra and now Prestons.

New stations across south-western Sydney are also planned to service the communities of Raby, Prairiewood, Doonside, Glenmore Park, the Aerotropolis and Bargo.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“I’m delighted our paramedics will have a purpose-built ambulance station to support them while they deliver world-class emergency mobile medical care to our communities well into the future.

“The purchase of the site marks a significant milestone in delivering a vital health service for the local community and surrounding areas.

“The new ambulance station at Prestons will bolster the ambulance station network across the growing communities of south-western Sydney and support existing ambulance stations including at Liverpool and Macquarie Fields.”

Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong:

“I welcome this investment in urgent medical care services for our rapidly-growing region.

“An ambulance service at Prestons means more local jobs for south-west Sydney, and better response times in emergencies. It’s a win-win for our fast-growing communities.”   

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda:

“As Liverpool grows, it is important that we invest in health infrastructure to meet the needs of the community.

“The new station is a testament to the NSW Government’s dedication to providing first-class emergency services in the fast growing communities of south west Sydney.

“We know health services like Liverpool Hospital are under a lot of pressure, and this announcement demonstrates that the NSW Government is actively working to ensure Liverpool has what we need to meet the demand, now and into the future.”

Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:

“This new ambulance station in Prestons will provide better care for families across the region.

“South-western Sydney is growing rapidly, and it’s crucial that our frontline services grow with us.

“This new station will strengthen the entire network and ensure our local paramedics have the resources and facilities they need to respond quickly and effectively in emergencies.”

Essential workers will receive significantly more support to move and settle into the Northern Rivers thanks to a successful Minns Labor Government initiative, The Welcome Experience, being extended into the region making it easier for local organisations to attract workers to making the move.

Originally piloted during 2023 in Broken Hill, Muswellbrook, Bega, Walgett, Coffs Harbour, Corowa, Griffith and Goulburn, The Welcome Experience has been such a success it is now being rolled out to additional locations since September this year and is now operating in 55 Local Government Areas.

The Welcome Experience will now provide workforce support to the additional town locations of Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley thanks to a successful tender application from new host agency, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers.

As part of The Welcome Experience, host agencies help essential workers make the regions their home, forge social connections, access childcare and schooling options, join sporting clubs and even assist with finding job opportunities for partners.

Launched in June last year, The Welcome Experience has helped 665 essential workers and their families to move to regional New South Wales, including 346 health workers, 110 educators and 42 police staff. 

The Northern Rivers can look forward to similar type success stories that have emerged after the program was rolled out to other regions over the last few months.

Host Agencies in new delivery locations such as Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Kiama and Inverell are now onboarding Local Connectors, plus engaging their local communities and gathering feedback to assist them to tailor the delivery of The Welcome Experience to meet specific needs of communities.

Among the new host agencies is RDA Murray, which has reported a positive stream of enquiries since September from essential workers considering the move to the Albury area.

RDA Program Manager for Albury Karin Willcox is already assisting two registered nurses and their children move to the region from New Zealand.

Karin has organised arrangements for the family ahead of their arrival, including airport pickup, car rental, childcare, schooling options, and even securing furniture for their new home.

Find out more The Welcome Experience

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“Our Government is focusing on ensuring regional NSW receives the services it needs and attracting essential workers is critical to making that happen.

“If people get to hear first-hand info about schools or childcare, and that there is a good bunch of people in the local netball team, plus insights on cafes and places to fish, you are making them feel welcome.

“Recognising the area’s needs, the Government is pleased the procurement process has been completed to engage RDA Northern Rivers to set up services in five towns that will boost the attraction of essential workers.

“The Welcome Experience has a strong track record of warmly welcoming workers to regional NSW and encouraging them to build lasting connections in their new communities, and I look forward to seeing RDA continue this valuable work in the Northern Rivers region.”

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“I congratulate Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers on successfully tendering to be host agency for The Welcome Experience in towns across our region as this organisation has a track record of building capacity through strengthening networks.

“We need to attract and retain more essential workers as our population grows, and providing workforce support with relocations and settling into a new community for workers and their families is a no-brainer.

“Some councils provide new residents with a welcome pack to help them navigate their new surroundings, and this Minns Labor Government initiative is that concept writ large, offering a wraparound set of services specific to our region.

“The Welcome Experience’s pilot sites have been successful in helping hundreds of health workers, educators and police move to the regions, and I look forward to more success in Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley.”

RDA Northern Rivers Director of Regional Development Anthony Schreenan said:

“The Welcome Experience will support new essential workers through every step of the relocation process, from when they first consider the move, to when they decide to make their home in the Northern Rivers and build connections in the community,” Mr Schreenan said.

“We are so happy to be able to benefit from The Welcome Experience, the pilot showed that the key to retaining workers is welcoming them into the community, and that’s more than finding a house to live in and school for the kids.

“It’s becoming part of the local sports club, getting to know fellow parents, connecting with the people at your local and building networks of friendship.

“Our Local Connector will provide a concierge service, connecting with essential workers who are considering relocating to our region and providing information about the region, finding a place to live, access to schools and amenities, and services available.

Locations delivering The Welcome Experience:

Region	Location Government Areas	Successful Host Agency
Northern NSW	Glen Innes Severn and Inverell	Attract Connect Stay Glenn Innes
North Coast & Rivers	Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley	RDA Northern Rivers
Mid North Coast	Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie Hastings	RDA Mid North Coast
Mid North Coast	Coffs Harbour and Bellingen	Boambee East Community Centre
Hunter	Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter	Muswellbrook Shire Council
New England	Armidale, Tamworth and Uralla	RDA Northern Inland
Moree Plains	Moree Plains	Moree Plains Shire Council
Orana region	Bourke, Dubbo (incl Wellington) and Walgett	RDA Orana
Central West	Bathurst, Cowra, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin	Skillset
Western NSW	Balranald, Broken Hill, Central Darling,	Regional Solutions Community Development
Far West NSW	Unincorporated Far West and Wentworth	Regional Solutions Community Development
Murray	Albury, Federation and Greater Hume	RDA Murray
Eastern Riverina	Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga	RDA Riverina
Western Riverina	Griffith, Leeton,	RDA Riverina
Southern NSW	Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy-Monaro, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee and Yass Valley	RDA Southern NSW
Bega Valley	Bega Valley	Bega Chamber of Commerce
Illawarra	Kiama, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven	Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
South Coast	Eurobodalla	Bega Chamber of Commerce