Category: NSW News

The Albanese and Minns Labor governments continue to progress critical repair works on Brown Mountain, with an additional $1.9 million committed to kickstart the next stage of landslip repairs on the Snowy Mountains Highway.

Jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, Transport for NSW is expected to commence work on the next of nine landslip sites on Monday June 17.

Set to improve safety and travel times when complete, the work will see a damaged section of road fully restored and built back to better withstand the threat of future disasters.

Once work is completed, motorists will be able to use both lanes in each direction as the single lane limit put in place in March 2022 will be removed at this location, which is located about 1.5 kilometres east of the Fred Piper Memorial Lookout.

The work will include:

• installing almost 1100 linear metres of soil nails
• applying 180 square metres of shotcrete
• repairing damaged road surface and reinstating guardrail.

Since 2022, extensive repairs have been carried out at three of the landslip sites along the Snowy Mountains Highway.

Work currently being carried out at the largest of these sites is expected to be completed by mid-August, with a procurement process under way to book in repairs for three of the four remaining sites.

Work is also continuing on a design solution for the ninth landslip site which was damaged during a severe weather event in November last year.

The work will be carried out within the existing temporary barriers for the single lane operations with traffic lights operating 24-hours until work is completed. This means there will be no additional impact on traffic during the work.

This additional $1.9 million in joint funding builds on the $6 million being invested in the repairs to date.

Find out more about the Brown Mountain repairs  

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain said:

“As someone that drives the Brown Mountain every week, I know how frustrating the ongoing closures from landslips and rockfalls are – which is why we’re getting on with this critical repair work.

“An additional $1.9 million towards the next stage of repair works will help prevent further erosion, and improve the safety of this busy route.

“Having a reliable road network makes it easier for locals to get to work and for tourists to uplift Eden-Monaro businesses, which is why I’ll continue to advocate for a longer-term solution for the Brown Mountain section of the Snowy Mountains Highway.”

Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:

“News the next lot of repair work will soon get underway at Brown Mountain will be welcomed by the thousands of people who use the Snowy Mountains Highway every day.

“Together with my colleagues I will continue to advocate for a longer term strategy for the highway.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Natural disasters have had a devastating impact on this section of the Snowy Mountains Highway at Brown Mountain and we understand the inconvenience this has caused motorists.

“The teams at Transport for NSW have been working tirelessly to progress repair plans and I’m pleased to see the next step being taken in restoring access to the road.

“Ministers McBain and Whan and Dr Holland have been tireless advocates for this project.”

NSW Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said:

“It’s fantastic to announce that further work is happening on Brown Mountain.

“We thank the community for their patience while we plan, prepare and carry out this important repair work, that will help get the Snowy Mountains Highway back open to its full capacity.”

Today we honour the service and sacrifice of Australian veterans who took part in the D–Day landings in Normandy, as we mark the 80th anniversary of that event which took place on 6 June 1944.

A special ceremony and public talk will be held at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney today to commemorate the event.

D–Day and the battle of Normandy marked the first step in the liberation of France and western Europe during the Second World War and laid the foundations for the Allied victory on the Western Front.

Australian defence personnel played an important role in the large Allied forces that participated in D–Day. Approximately 3,200 Australians participated in the D–Day landings on 6 June with thousands more serving during the broader Normandy campaign.

Our nation’s main contribution came in the air, where approximately 1,000 Australians flew with Royal Australian Air Force squadrons, and a further 1,800 operated on attachment to the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. Additionally, over 500 members of the Royal Australian Navy also served on attachment with the Royal Navy and a small number of Australian soldiers also served on the ground with the British Army.

These efforts came at a cost, with 13 Australians killed on 6 June and hundreds more killed over the course of the campaign while flying in support of the ground forces in Normandy. In terms of total casualties, June 1944 was the worst month in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Minister for Veterans, David Harris said:

“Today we acknowledge the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Our efforts helped the Allies secure victory in the campaign, and marked a turning point for the Second World War and a victory at the Western Front.

“It is important that we continue to commemorate this momentous event and I would like to thank the Air Force Association of NSW and Anzac Memorial for organising today’s events to honour the service of our veterans who participated in this campaign 80 years ago.”

The community is being invited to have their say on the latest designs for the new Batemans Bay Community Health facility.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the Government is investing $20 million to deliver the new community health service to support communities across the Batemans Bay area.

The new facility will be located on the existing Batemans Bay Hospital site next to the newly established Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

Batemans Bay Community Health Service will provide improved access to a range of services, including:

• allied health services
• child, youth and family services
• women’s health and sexual health services
• community nursing, wound management and palliative care
• Aboriginal health
• community mental health and drug and alcohol services.

The facility’s design has been informed by extensive feedback and consultation with health professionals, staff, patients, Aboriginal community representatives and the wider Batemans Bay community.

The artist impressions provide a more detailed look at the new facility, which includes a new building housing a range of health services, as well as carpark, landscaping, pathways and external seating areas.

The community is invited to view the designs and find out more about Batemans Bay Community Health at drop-in sessions with the project team:

• Monday, 17 June, 12pm to 2pm – Village Centre, Batemans Bay
• Tuesday, 18 June, 12pm to 2pm – Corner of Beach Road and Edward Road, Batehaven

Construction for the new facility will start following planning approvals and the appointment of a building contractor.

The Batemans Bay Hospital will continue to provide health care services for the community while the Batemans Bay Community Health and the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital are being built.

To find out more visit the Health Infrastructure website or contact the project team on 1300 391 949 or at HI-BatemansBayhealth@health.nsw.gov.au

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“The NSW Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for communities across the south coast.

“Batemans Bay Community Health is being planned and designed to work together with the new $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, as part of the Eurobodalla Health Service, to provide the community with greater access to care, closer to home.

“The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will deliver an enhanced level of health services compared to the current services delivered at the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals. New services such as paediatrics, intensive care unit, and an MRI will be included, strengthening health care services for the community.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said:

“The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and the Batemans Bay Community Health Centre will be well equipped to support the health needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire from south of Narooma to north of Batemans Bay, providing the community with access to a broader and higher level of specialist care.

“Feedback from the community has been valuable in shaping Batemans Bay Community Health Service including creating connections to surrounding nature and green spaces, incorporating design elements identified by local Aboriginal community members, and improving accessibility for families, elderly people and people with specialist needs and abilities.”

The NSW Government has today announced the introduction of structural changes to reduce over-reliance on consultants and bring costs under control.

A new unit to be set up within the Premier’s Department to help reduce the use of consultants by redirecting agencies to in-house specialist resources where they are available and building in-house capabilities for services with the highest demand.

A new group will be responsible for identifying skills shortages and workforce gaps and undertaking long-term planning to deliver essential services across the state. This will be an expansion of the Premier’s Department’s existing role in leading industrial relations policy for the public sector.

The Premier’s Department will also be responsible for collecting and reporting data on the public sector workforce, including the People Matters survey.

This function is being transferred from the Public Service Commission to ensure it is better integrated into whole-of-government policy making.

The government will this week introduce legislation to amend the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 to sharpen the focus of the Public Service Commissioner on ethics and integrity, while transferring workforce planning and data collection functions into the Premier’s Department.

The Public Service Commissioner will continue to fulfil her important independent statutory functions to safeguard integrity in public sector recruitment and employment matters.

The Premier’s Department, jointly with The Cabinet Office, will also be tasked with leading the development of a new Core NSW Public Service Work Policy to set clear expectations of the types of work that agencies must be able to perform in-house.

The changes will continue the NSW Government’s ongoing efforts to rebuild essential services and unwind an increasing reliance on external consultants including:

• implementing tight controls and issued clear instructions to agencies around the use of external consultants
• introducing additional probity measures
• legislating ‘betrayal of trust’ fines for disclosing information gained during confidential tax discussions with the government
• redirecting more than half-a-billion dollars by reducing consultants and labour hire.

The machinery-of-government changes will place a greater focus at the heart of government on ensuring the public sector has the necessary capability and expertise in-house to deliver against the government’s key priorities.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Today we announce commonsense changes that will ensure the public sector is delivering for NSW.

“I want to thank Commissioner Kathrina Lo and everyone at the Public Service Commission for your work to date.

“This announcement is all about leveraging your expertise to better help us solve some of the most pressing challenges that we face as a state.

“We are focused on ensuring that we rebuild in-house capability and only use external consultants when it’s actually needed.

“This overreliance on consultants has directly contributed to the budget mess we inherited.

“We were elected with a clear mandate to rebuild our essential services and repair the budget.”

Special Minister of State John Graham said:

“The Liberals’ obsession with private consultants damaged our state’s capacity to deliver essential services.

“The Liberals engaged one consultant every hour – including when it could have been done in-house for half the price.

“We are changing this approach to bring costs under control and re-build capacity in the public sector.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“The Liberals wasted taxpayers’ money, including engaging consultants more than 10,000 times.

“This waste and mismanagement characterised the Liberals’ and Nationals’ approach to finances.

“We have begun the important work of repairing the budget, including cleaning up the waste we inherited with extravagant spending on consultants.

“This will be a budget that continues to responsibly reduce the debt left to us by the former Liberal-National government, while continuing to rebuild our essential public services.”

The NSW Government will introduce a bill in this sitting of parliament to create the offence of industrial manslaughter which allows for a maximum penalty of 25 years jail for an individual or $20 million in fines for a body corporate.

The government is delivering on its promise to introduce these tough new measures in the first half of this year.

NSW is the last mainland state without an industrial manslaughter offence.

The government has consulted widely across the community including work health and safety experts, business groups, unions, legal stakeholders, and families of people who have been killed at work and has incorporated that feedback into the creation of the new offence and penalties.

Industrial manslaughter laws will allow for a business or individual to be held responsible for the death of a person due to gross negligence in the workplace.

The current maximum penalty for the highest form of offence under the WHS Act – Category 1 is 5 years imprisonment for an individual or a $3.8 million fine for a body corporate.

A unit will be established in the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that will be responsible for the prosecution of industrial manslaughter offences against individuals and, where appropriate, related bodies corporate.

Worker safety is a priority for the NSW Government and this bill underscores the importance of its continuing WHS reforms.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Every worker deserves to go home to their loved ones at the end of the day.

“No government should ever want to have to use these laws.

“Any workplace death is a tragedy and in cases where a person with a work health and safety duty has been careless or irresponsible, they must be held accountable.

“The offence of industrial manslaughter will apply to the worst of the worst cases where gross negligence has caused the death of a person in a workplace.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“We plan to strengthen existing laws with a new industrial manslaughter offence, to act as a further deterrent to unsafe work practices and to send a clear message that people who place workers’ lives at risk will be held to account.

“The maximum penalties under the legislation will be 25 years jail for an individual and $20 million for a body corporate.

“The significant maximum penalties that will apply for this offence make it clear how important it is to take a proactive approach to meeting work health and safety obligations to provide a safe workplace.”

The NSW Government has announced that 19 war memorials across the state are to receive NSW Government funding from Round 2 of the 2023/24 Community War Memorials Fund.

Funding of $150,000 has been made available through the program for this round, with grants being awarded to the successful applicants for projects that will support war memorials in NSW communities.

The successful recipients came from 16 Local Government Areas (LGA’s) with 13 electorates represented. The war memorials are located across the state, from Bombala in the far south, to Lake Cargelligo in the state’s west and McKees Hill in the far north.

Bombala RSL sub-Branch was awarded $10,000 for a condition assessment for the Bombala War Memorial to identify conservation works, and the Blackheath War Memorial Arch will also benefit from conservation work.

Twenty-eight applications from 23 LGA’s were received for assessment during this round, which closed on 11 February. 

Round 1 of the 2024/25 grant program is currently open and closes on 24 July 2024.

Get more information on the Community War Memorials Fund. 

Minister for Veterans, David Harris said:

“It is wonderful to announce this funding, which will be used for important projects around the state. Our communities are proud of their military history, and local war memorials are a vital part of our culture enabling us to reflect on over 100 years of our veterans’ service and sacrifice.

“A total of $150,496.65 was awarded to councils, RSL sub-Branches and community groups, with grants ranging from $2000 to $15,000 to fund conservation projects in 13 state electorates in both metropolitan and regional areas.”

“I encourage all communities to review the status of their local war memorials and to apply for funding for any restoration work that is needed.”

Mr Vern Carmody, Honorary Secretary Bombala RSL sub-Branch, said:

“Thank you to the NSW Government for this grant for the heritage assessment of our wonderful war memorial at Bombala. This will assist us to attain an assessment of the repairs and conservation required for this historical cenotaph that was erected for the citizens of Bombala in 1922.

“The memorial is a centrepiece of the Dawn Service and Veterans’ March every Anzac Day, and also used for Remembrance Day activities. Bombala RSL sub-Branch would also like to thank the staff of the Snowy-Monaro Regional Council who assisted us in the preparation of the grant application.”

Dr Rosemary Dillon, CEO Blue Mountains City Council, said:

“Local war memorials are central features of our towns and villages, and they are precious to us all. They pay respect to those who put their country and their fellow service men and women before them. They are an ode to those who fought so we can have the freedoms we take for granted today.

“Erected around 1929, the Blackheath War Memorial contains 76 names of local men who served overseas in the First World War, including six who died on active service. This funding will go towards restoration works at Blackheath War Memorial, which will help with the protection and conservation of the memorial for years to come.”

The NSW Government is today announcing a $111.8 million package of initiatives to support community mental health and wellbeing by increasing the essential help available to the people of NSW when they need it.

Over 2 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 are estimated to have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their life.

People living with mental illness, particularly those with severe mental illness, are more at risk of experiencing a range of adverse health outcomes and have a lower average life expectancy than the general population, with men’s life expectancies being reduced by 15.9 years, and for women by 12 years.

The initiatives announced today are designed to enhance and support the wellbeing of the people of NSW.

$30.4 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS

The NSW Government will invest $30.4 million over 4 years to expand Community Mental Health Teams across targeted areas, including in regional NSW.

These teams work within Local Health Districts and specialty health networks caring for those who experience persistent and complex mental illness.

This funding will provide a workforce boost of approximately 35 additional mental health positions, which will support community outreach, allow for extended hours of service and enable more comprehensive case management.

It will also strengthen coordination of care, enhance access to specialist psychological services and improve family involvement in care.

The 35 additional mental health professionals will include five out-reach mental health housing liaison positions who will work with the Department of Communities and Justice to link people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, who are accessing mental health services to housing and help them sustain tenancies.

The St Vincent’s Health network will also be allocated 5 workers to establish a new assertive adult community mental health team.

This will allow them to increase their support for those facing complex needs, including those experiencing homelessness, substance misuse issues and those at risk of engagement with the criminal justice system.

$40 MILLION FOR THE PATHWAYS TO COMMUNITY LIVING INITATIVE

The NSW Government will invest $40 million over four years for the Pathways to Community Living Initiative, which is focused on supporting alternatives to long term hospital care for people with complex needs, who have persistent mental illness.

This funding will fund a complex care clinical workforce of over 25 professionals who will support patients through this program.

$39 MILLION FOR A MENTAL HEALTH SINGLE FRONT DOOR

The NSW Government will invest an additional $39 million over four years to strengthen mental health services by establishing a new Mental Health Single Front Door.

The NSW Single Front Door, delivered through Healthdirect currently provides virtual GP, virtual KIDS and Urgent Care Services.

This funding will allow this service to be expanded to allow those in need of mental health support to call Healthdirect and receive assessment advice from specialist clinicians and be connected with the appropriate services.

This initiative has been developed in consultation with carers, mental health professionals, a range of service providers, and those who may use the service.

Last year, 124,467 Emergency Department visits were made for mental health. It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent of these would have been suitable to receive support through other primary care settings.

By providing callers with information on alternative care pathways, the establishment of a Mental Health Single Front Door will reduce avoidable Emergency Department presentations and improve patient flow across hospitals.

$2.4 MILLION FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL

The Mental Health Review Tribunal will receive an additional $2.4 million over four years to enable a long overdue digitisation of records, an upgrade to IT systems and an investment in a new case management system.

These system improvements will support the Tribunal to meet the continued growth in patients and hearings.

Since being elected the Minns Labor Government has been working on a comprehensive plan to strengthen our mental health system.

We know it faces significant challenges, but we are making the responsible decisions to ensure the people of NSW have the care and services they deserve and need.

We want a fully staffed mental health care system that is responsive and well resourced.

Chris Minns, Premier of NSW said:

“We know that people across the state are doing it tough right now, and for many in our community, mental health services are a vital lifeline when they need it most.

“Mental health is an important and ongoing conversation, and this funding is an important step in directly intervening to provide care for the people of NSW.”

Daniel Mookhey, NSW Treasurer said:

“This community mental health package is a must-have for people who need more help across NSW.

“We can afford to do this because we are paying less in interest. Lower debt means we can reinvest these savings into helping provide care for thousands of people in need.”

Minister for Health, Ryan Park said:

“We have seen first hand the success of the NSW Single Front Door model delivered via Healthdirect. The development of a Mental Health Single Front Door is a common sense decision to ensure expert mental health support is available to those who need it.”

Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson said:

“Our government is committed to taking meaningful action to support the mental health of the people of NSW – regardless of the complexity or duration of a patient’s experience, this package has been designed to offer help when it is needed.

“This is an important step in the NSW Government’s approach to mental health support, but it is not the final one.

“I am committed to continuing to work with experts in the field on long term interventions.”

Struggling families are missing out on vital payments during the cost of living crisis, with new figures revealing Services Australia is sitting on more than 232,000 claims that are yet to be processed after more than 90 days.

The following table lists the number of social security and welfare claims and health work on hand at Services Australia as at 25 March 2024 that are older than 90 days.

	90-129 days	130-199 days	200+ days
Social security and welfare	27,022	15,552	7,013
Health	62,502	63,622	57,126

The agency’s own timeliness standard requires that the majority of social security and welfare claims are processed within 30 days, while the majority of claims submitted digitally under the Medicare Benefit Schedule are required to be processed within 7 days of lodgement. 

The Opposition obtained the data following a series of parliamentary Questions in Writing.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said the figures are a stark reminder of the Albanese Labor Government’s shocking mismanagement of this crucial agency.

“Vital Centrelink and Medicare claims are gathering dust under the Albanese Labor Government because there is zero focus on delivering great customer service,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Families are doing it tough and need claims processed quickly and efficiently. Instead, they are being subjected to an unacceptably slow system that makes life harder for them.

“What’s the point of having a timeliness standard if you’re not going to get anywhere near achieving it?

“Bill Shorten is doing a terrible job as Minister and needs to demonstrate leadership. Simply boosting Canberra’s bureaucracy and pleasing the unions isn’t good enough.”

Live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes an economic output of $5.5 billion to the NSW economy, first-of-its-kind research has found.

The first State of the Scene report, to be released this week, confirms NSW is Australia’s music powerhouse. With 55 dedicated live music venues, 453 regular and ongoing venues, 56 large-scale multipurpose venues and 231 venues that offer live music as an ancillary function, the report confirms there are now 795 live venues areas across NSW.

This report provides an important baseline for the sector and for the NSW Government to continue to build upon.

The State of the Scene report acted as the first-ever census of live music in NSW, using feedback from 750 industry participants and 550 members of the public who attend live music gigs.

Feedback from industry in the development of the inaugural State of the Scene report also revealed several barriers to growth for the sector, including:

• a high-cost environment impacting financial viability of live music venues, including cost-of-living pressure for audiences
• regulatory red tape reducing operating capacity of venues
• expensive pricing and security environments for venue operators
• changing audience behaviours and fragmented media landscape
• complex government policy and grant schemes
• lack of mid-career growth opportunities and reduction in youth live music spaces and all ages events
• access and inclusivity
• public transportation.

The 2024 to 2025 Budget will build on the NSW Government’s commitment to building better, more vibrant communities, with more than $45.4 million in funding for strategic support for artists and live venues through funding to Sound NSW and the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner.

The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will receive $26.9 million to empower the night-time economy industry and local councils through regulatory reform, grants programs, precinct-based initiatives, digital tools and other support to help create diverse, safe, and vibrant communities across NSW.

This will enable the Office to support communities and businesses across the state – those that make our cities lively and exciting, employ people and contribute to a culturally rich, diverse, inclusive, and innovative nightlife.

Sound NSW will continue to build and support the role that the contemporary music industry plays in the night-time economy, with $18.5 million to deliver programs that drive audience and international market development, strengthen the live music ecosystem and champion NSW artists and stories.

Combined, these investments will make it fairer and easier for businesses, artists, and communities to develop and support their music cultures and night-time precincts.

That means less red tape, reduced risk of getting shut down by unfair complaints and removing hidden costs to give certainty and to encourage communities and businesses to innovate.

This is part of the NSW Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we have vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods.

A plan to build a better NSW.

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham said:

“We have never known the full number of venues or had a clear picture of their economic impact of live music in NSW. Now we want to grow that number.

“What this shows is not only the number of venues that offer live music across the state, but the different types of venues and the important roles they play in their community, as well as the enormous social, economic impacts and jobs the industry provides.

“Without knowing this detail, it’s impossible to grow. This data will allow Government to better respond to industry and audience needs, and target bringing more venues online which may currently have the capacity to offer live music but aren’t doing so.

“Contemporary music and the night time economy are pivotal threads in the creative and economic fabric of our society. That is why we’re investing over $45 million into both music and the night-time economy in the 2024 to 2025 Budget.”

About the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner

• In November 2023, the NSW Parliament passed the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Act 2023, making the role a permanent, statutory appointment.
• The Act specifically outlines the remit of the Commissioner as statewide, placing a renewed focus on how the Office can adapt and expand its programs and initiatives to key urban centres across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast, Newcastle and regional NSW.
• The Office will deliver a refreshed 24-Hour Economy Strategy and support councils and businesses through capacity-building workshops, mentoring and grant opportunities to enhance and manage their unique nightlife precincts.

About Sound NSW

• Established in 2023, Sound NSW is a dedicated office within the NSW Government committed to the growth, development and promotion of contemporary music in NSW.
• In 2023 to 2024, Sound NSW has delivered direct support to the industry through target initiatives to help soundproof venues, support NSW touring artists with touring, recording and promotion, as well as supporting artist managers and critical support bodies.
• The data and stakeholder feedback will be used to inform the NSW Government’s work to support industry and artists, including the development and implementation of the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy, due for release later this year.

About Liquor & Gaming reforms

• The NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms have increased the incentives for extended trading hours to host live music and will prevent single noise complainants from shutting down venues.
• Under the former government, NSW lost more than half its music venues, with just 133 venues registered to participate in incentives with Liquor & Gaming NSW as live music and performance venues across the state in March 2023. Since then, 157 pubs, clubs and other live venues have joined the list, more than doubling the number of establishments that qualify for the extended trading incentives in return for staging live music and backing local musicians.
• The Liquor & Gaming NSW list will continue to be an important source of information for the NSW Government, but this census provides a comprehensive view of the music ecosystem, including capturing live music venues that do not hold a liquor licence,  that assists in our ultimate goal – to grow music in NSW. 

Spontaneous volunteers who turn up to help in times of crisis will be better trained, equipped and coordinated through a new $5 million grants program funding councils, non-government-organisations and community groups to prepare for future natural disasters.

From Resilient Lismore supporting the local community in the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, to the countless volunteers assisting in the Black Summer bushfires, NSW communities step up in times of crisis.

The Spontaneous Volunteer Support (SVS) Program is designed to ensure that in situations where people decide to spontaneously or informally help during emergencies, organisations are better placed to coordinate this support to complement trained volunteers and emergency service efforts.

The SVS Program is one of the outcomes of a NSW Government review to help develop a longer-term vision for emergency volunteering in NSW to ensure its continued sustainability into the future.

Recent prolonged and catastrophic disasters, and subsequent inquiries into preparation, response and recovery efforts, have highlighted the importance of volunteers to the state’s emergency management capability.

A review coordinated by the Premier’s Department on behalf of the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) found that while emergency volunteers and the organisations that support them provide a strong foundation for the state’s future emergency capability, an enhanced approach to planning for the future of volunteering is required.

The review involved consultation with more than 4,000 emergency volunteers and collaboration with SEMC member agencies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities in emergency volunteering. Emergency volunteering in NSW has strong foundations, with many highly committed individuals and volunteer organisations.

Formal volunteering in association with emergency services organisations is at the core of NSW’s emergency management framework. While the number of formal volunteers has remained relatively stable in recent years, some communities (particularly in some remote and rural areas) are experiencing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention.

In the face of increased demands resulting from population growth and the escalating impacts of disaster events, NSW emergency volunteers have continued to play a key role in keeping communities safe, helping them to recover and working to build community resilience.

The review underscores the need for a coordinated whole-of-sector approach to planning for the future of volunteering.

Key recommendations include:

• A dedicated Action Plan to grow and strengthen the emergency services volunteer workforce, focus on improving volunteer recruitment and addressing barriers to volunteering.
• Integration of informal volunteers as part of NSW’s emergency management arrangements: updating the NSW State Emergency Management Plan to recognise the significant contribution of informal volunteers and strategies developed to include them in the emergency management framework.
• Improved engagement with volunteers: The NSW Government is launching a new online hub to promote and connect community members with the wide range of emergency volunteering opportunities across the state, including training programs.
• Improved recognition of emergency volunteers: including the establishment by the Minister for Emergency Services of a new state-based award for volunteers.
• Community capability building: a strengthened approach to building community capability and resilience to respond to disaster events including a more coordinated approach to informal volunteering through the new SVS Program to support community organisations.

These outcomes have been developed in alignment to the findings and recommendations of the 2022 Flood Inquiries, with their implementation to be overseen by the SEMC.

The competitive SVS grant program opens next week.

View the review outcomes.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Whether on the frontline or behind the scenes, our emergency service volunteers’ unwavering commitment in the face of unprecedented challenges has been demonstrated time and time again.”

“This important review underscores our commitment to support and strengthen the emergency volunteering sector and provides a roadmap for the future for our volunteers and the communities they serve.”

“As we face increasing frequency and severity of disasters, it has never been more important for us to support volunteers in their work and make it easier for the next generation to take up the mantle.”

“We know that people who want to volunteer can sometimes find it difficult to commit time consistently, by supporting informal volunteering we are providing another way to help ensure more volunteers are ready when the call comes.”

“I encourage people who care about their community and want to make a contribution, no matter how big or small, to visit our new emergency volunteering hub and have a look at some of the exciting and meaningful opportunities that are available.”

Minister with responsibility for Volunteering Jodie Harrison said:

“Volunteering enriches the lives of people, strengthening local communities across NSW to be resilient and inclusive.”

“Communities across NSW have shown throughout many natural disasters that they have a breadth of abilities and compassion in their approach to disaster response and recovery.”

“This program will go a long way to supporting that important engagement and co-ordination by volunteers.”