Category: NSW News

A community bus named Wilba will remain on the streets of Bourke after the NSW Labor Government confirmed funding to extend a trial of the popular public transport service.

Wilba, the Empower bus, has carried out more than 2000 trips in its first 12 months of operation and enabled hundreds of local residents to access safe and reliable transport at an affordable price in a town with no other public transport options.

The pre-booked 12-seater bus service offers residents the opportunity to more easily get around Bourke and attend appointments, access health care, maintain employment and purchase essential products or services.

Wilba also provides a vital link to other major regional and metropolitan service centres by giving residents easier access to Bourke Airport and NSW TrainLink coaches.

Demand for Wilba has exceeded expectations since a trial of service started in February 2023, with residents from all age groups embracing the service.

The positive community demand and response to Wilba has led the NSW Government to expand the trial service for another two years, with funding now secured until February 2026.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Bourke residents love the Wilba service; it’s been a real success.

“Wilba has had a huge impact on this town and the stories I’ve heard about the significant difference the service has made demonstrate exactly what public transport should be all about.

“Services like Wilba are critical in isolated communities challenged by a lack of transport options and I am so glad that despite the budget challenges this government inherited, we have been able to keep this service going for residents in the Far West.”

Bourke Shire Council General Manager Leonie Brown said:

“Wilba has provided fantastic opportunities for our community which had been without public and community transport for a long time.

“Wilba has been a wonderful help for many people who hadn’t been able to leave their homes due to a lack of transport and they really appreciate the independence it gives them.

“People who were previously housebound or left to rely on the goodwill of others can now get out and about to the pharmacy, shops, medical and health appointments, and to social and recreational events.”

Bourke resident and Wilba user Carissa Edwards said:

“I use it every day to go to do shopping, sometimes go to the doctor, sometimes the hospital and even to go and see family.

“We have no taxis in Bourke and it can be very hard because my family doesn’t have a car so Wilba gets us from A to B.

“Before Wilba started we had to ring people or ask people to take us to do shopping or give us a lift somewhere so Wilba has made the biggest difference to my life and my family’s lives.

“I’ve heard elderly people on the bus say they used to get people come and do their shopping so they hadn’t left their homes for years before Wilba began.

“One thing I would like to see, though, is some shading at the bus stop where they pick us up. It can be very hot waiting there with all our groceries, especially in 40-degree heat.”

The NSW Government has reached a major milestone on an election commitment, allocating funding for 83 full-time equivalent local and regional Landcare coordinators and support staff through its $59 million NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2023-2027.

Following a competitive grant and assessment process, 16 Landcare groups based across NSW were successful in receiving funding for coordinators and support staff.

The aim of the regional and local Landcare coordinators is to deliver and support on-ground projects specific to the needs of the local natural environmental and agricultural systems.

In addition to the delivery of on-ground projects, the local and regional coordinators will deliver on a number of other priorities, including:

• Strengthening the capacity of Landcarers which will result in effective, efficient support to landcarer volunteers, farmers and the community ensuring effective collaboration and partnerships between Landcare groups, Local Land Services, other government agencies
• Landcare NSW leveraging funding opportunities to maximise socio-economic and environmental outcomes.
• As part of the funding, each local and regional coordinator can also access up to $5000 to undertake professional development over the course of the 4-year program.

Get more information about the current funding opportunity and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

It gives me great pleasure to announce the successful applicants from this major funding opportunity.

There was strong interest in the funding opportunity and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program more broadly, so it’s great to have such engagement from our Landcare community.

I am also very pleased that the Landcare community have worked together on region wide applications in many cases. This will support better outcomes for the Landcare community.

By providing this funding, our coordinators will have more time to focus on improved facilitation and delivery of on-ground projects that care for our environment and boost agricultural productivity.

For the first time, support staff roles were also included and we know that was important to provide additional support with administrative tasks, allowing coordinators to focus on the delivery of on-ground projects.

Full list of grant recipients:

• Central West Lachlan Landcare Inc.
• North West Regional Landcarers Inc.            
• South East Landcare Inc.                                     
• Greater Sydney Landcare Network Incorporated.  
• West Hume Landcare Inc.                    
• Holbrook Landcare Group Ltd.           
• Western Landcare NSW Inc.               
• Western Murray Land Improvement Group.               
• New England Landcare Network, Inc.                           
• Corowa District Landcare Inc.                            
• Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection Inc.              
• Hunter Region Landcare Network Inc.          
• Ricegrowers’ Association Of Australia Inc.                
• North Coast Regional Landcare Network (NSW).
• Watershed Landcare Group Incorporated.                 
• Murrumbidgee Landcare Association Incorporated.

The failure to plan and deliver school infrastructure in the state’s fastest-growing communities has been laid bare in an audit of enrolment growth in NSW that will inform better school infrastructure planning into the future.

Delivery of the Enrolment Growth Audit, released today by the NSW Department of Education, is a key election commitment of the NSW Government and part of its Growth Areas Schools Plan to ensure families in fast-growing areas have timely access to high quality public schools.

The audit found that the top 10 student growth areas between 2018 and 2023, all located in Sydney’s North-West and South-West corridors, collectively accounted for close to 40 per cent of all student enrolment growth in NSW.

These areas have been identified as priority growth precincts by successive NSW Governments since the mid-2000s; however, planning has failed to accurately predict the growth and deliver the schools needed.

These growth corridors not only exceeded the population projections made in 2016, but have done so at lightning pace: the growth of student populations in these areas has skyrocketed by more than 240 per cent in the past five years.

In the areas of Schofields (east), Marsden Park-Shanes Park, Denham Court-Bardia, Gledswood Hills-Gregory Hills, and Jordan Springs-Llandilo, enrolments in 2023 more than doubled the 2016 projection for 2023 and have already surpassed the 2016 enrolment projections for 2041.

Edmondson Park, Denham Court, Marsden Park and Ryde/Denistone were identified as examples of areas where a failure to factor in the speed of development left families without the local public schools they need.

The audit also identified the regional communities of Gillieston and Lennox Head as areas with booming populations where planning for school infrastructure had not kept up with development.

As part of the NSW Government’s plan to address the school infrastructure backlog and rebuild essential services, the 2023-24 Budget is delivering a record $3.5 billion for new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney and another $1.4 billion for regional schools.

This includes 15 new schools and 17 upgrades in the state’s top 10 student growth areas identified in the Enrolment Growth Audit. All top 10 student growth areas have funded capital works projects in the 2023-24 Budget.

For future planning, the audit identified an improved population projection methodology to more accurately monitor growth and demographic changes, improving enrolment and population projections.

It also lists actions for School Infrastructure NSW to adopt to ensure effective and timely responses to enrolment growth.

These include developing localised school population projections using an enhanced range of data sources, developing a strategic property provision pipeline in priority growth areas, and active monitoring of the top 10 growth areas.th areas 2018-2023:

• Schofields – East
• Marsden Park – Shanes Park
• Oran Park
• Denham Court – Bardia
• North Kellyville
• Box Hill – Nelson
• Gledswood Hills – Gregory Hills
• Jordan Springs – Llandilo
• Leppington – Catherine Field
• Epping (East) – North Epping

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to building new and upgraded facilities to ensure every student has access to high quality learning environments at their local public school.

“We have delivered on our commitment to conduct this Enrolment Growth Audit as a matter of priority, to fix the school planning failures of the former Liberal National government.

“We delivered a record budget for new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney to fix the former Liberal National Government’s school infrastructure backlog. 

“Communities in growing suburbs like Schofields, Gregory Hills, Leppington and Sydney Olympic Park have been fighting for years for much-needed new schools, and elected Labor to deliver the schools the former Liberal National government did not build.

“Our targeted investment in growing communities, supported by this audit, will ensure working families get access to a world class public education on their doorstep into the future.”

Residents living in the northern Illawarra region who require care for minor injuries or illness will have access to Bulli Urgent Care Centre (UCC) seven days a week, with the service extending opening hours to include Sundays from this weekend.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the extended coverage will ensure the community can receive care quickly for conditions which can be safely and appropriately treated outside the emergency department.

“I am delighted to announce we’re delivering on our election commitment by expanding access to the Bulli UCC to seven days, which will continue to help ease pressure on busy emergency departments, and of course, reduce wait times for those with less urgent conditions,” Mr Park said.

“This model of care remains a real success story. The number of presentations being managed now has more than doubled to an average of 36 people a day, compared with around 15 to 20 in June 2022.

“We know many people who visit our emergency departments could receive timelier and better tailored care in a community setting.

“Services providing urgent care like this one bridge that gap, providing a better option for patients who receive care faster and closer to home.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said having the centre open on Saturdays and Sundays will make a real difference to the community.

“This is an important enhancement to health services for our community – it gives people a genuine alternative outside of a busy ED, when they have difficulty getting a GP appointment, or when their GP is closed, such as on a weekend,” Ms Stuart said.

“Bulli UCC is an important part of the local healthcare network, especially for people living in the Illawarra’s northern suburbs. The Bulli UCC has seen a significant increase in presentations since it re-opened after COVID, and again when we extended operations to six days a week in June last year.

“The Bulli UCC is well-supported to treat a range of illnesses and injuries which are deemed urgent, but not life-threatening, such as wounds, minor burns, infections, sprains, minor breaks, gastroenteritis, rashes and conjunctivitis.”

With the extension of the Bulli UCC on 11 February, it will be open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Patients who attend on the weekend will be able to access the usual weekday services, including radiology.

The Bulli UCC is staffed by a combination of nursing and medical teams, supported by GP Visiting Medical Officers and Nurse Practitioners. 

People are reminded that if they are experiencing an emergency such as a life-threatening illness or injury, they should go straight to Wollongong Hospital ED which provides a higher level of care, or phone Triple Zero (000).

NSW Health has partnered with Primary Health Networks to deliver additional Urgent Care Services right across the state, in an effort to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW receive the most appropriate care.

The NSW Government has committed $124 million over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025.

Bulli Hospital has also made it easier for locals to visit loved ones in hospital by expanding its free shuttle service.

From Monday 12 February, the Bulli Hospital Shuttle Bus will be available to visitors and carers as well as staff. The hours of operation will be extended and include an on-demand option from locations within the Bulli area.  

Parking is available at Bulli Showground, where the shuttle service will run every 15 minutes. The bus will drop off at the front entrance doors of Bulli Hospital, and return. The service will be in operation Monday to Friday 6.45am to 4.45pm. 

“We know parking around the hospital can be a challenge, and while longer-term options are being investigated, it’s terrific to see the free shuttle service expanded to provide a great alternative to driving and parking at the hospital,” Mr Park said.  

The NSW Government has continued to take a hardline approach to the threat of imported red fire ants, as the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty announced the successful results of Operation Victa over the past weekend.

Over the first weekend in February, Operation Victa activated another wave of security checks on heavy vehicles at the border between New South Wales and Queensland, turning back any non-compliant vehicles.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and NSW Police, supported by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, stopped 100 high-risk vehicles at Chinderah to check loads and ensure biosecurity requirements were met.

Of the 100 vehicles stopped, 55 vehicles originated from the Red Imported Fire Ant infested zone in southeast Queensland.

Four vehicles did not comply with the requirement to hold relevant biosecurity documentation and were not permitted to enter the state. 

These vehicles also failed to have a clean truck and clean equipment to ensure all fire ant carrier materials had been removed.

Additional investigations will determine if additional enforcement actions are required.

Breaching the emergency biosecurity order carries penalties of up to $1.1 million for an individual and up to $2.2 million for a corporation.

All vehicle operators stopped at the border were questioned on their knowledge of the Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 1) 2024 during the inspection process. Importantly, the vast majority demonstrated their awareness and responsibility.  

Operation Victa is ongoing and will continue to target commercial movements of fire ant carrier material and specific heavy vehicle types to improve biosecurity compliance.

The first wave of Operation Victa in September 2023 stopped 99 vehicles and directed 7 to return to Queensland, as they failed to comply with biosecurity requirements.

In December 2023, the second wave operation resulted in 75 vehicles stopped with all vehicles found to be compliant.

The government is working closely with the National Fire Ant Eradication Program to undertake tracing and surveillance activities, after fire ant nests were discovered and destroyed at South Murwillumbah and at Wardell, south of Ballina.

NSW Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW, Minister for Western NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government takes the threat of red fire ants seriously and is committed to continuing to take a hardline approach to protect NSW and our agricultural industry from their impacts.

“I thank the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the NSW Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for their coordinated response over the weekend.

“We require businesses supplying and transporting potential fire ant materials to understand the rules and we are providing information through many channels.

“The NSW contribution to the National Fire Ant Eradication program was increased from $15 million under the former National Liberal NSW Government to $95 million under our government because we take biosecurity seriously.

“This increase in resourcing and funding has meant the NSW Government’s fire ant response teams are well equipped to respond to fire ant nest sightings with the necessary urgency.”

A new purpose-built generative artificial intelligence (AI) app designed by the NSW Department of Education will begin to be trialled this term in 16 NSW public schools.

The app, called NSWEduChat, is built for use in education and suitable for school-aged children, unlike many commercially available AI apps.

Designed to be safe and ethical for use in schools, NSWEduChat is also directly relevant and appropriate for NSW classrooms, in line with key principles outlined in the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools, which all Education Ministers agreed to in October.  

Staff and students from 16 NSW public schools – 10 high schools, four primary schools, one School for Specific Purposes and one Environmental Education Centre – will participate in the trial of NSWEduChat over the first two terms of 2024.

Teachers will decide how they use the tool in their classrooms and students will also have access to the app via the department’s student portal.

Trial participants will receive assistance and support from subject matter experts, professional learning and technical resources and a virtual staffroom. 

The trial will be monitored and reviewed with the results to help inform the future direction of AI in NSW public schools. 

Key safety and security features of the app include: 

Data security

• The app is privately secured which ensures data is controlled by, and only visible to, the department. This safeguards against potential breaches of data security and privacy issues associated with the use of publicly available generative AI apps.
• Department control of NSWEduChat app means that the responses generated are aligned with NSW and Australian curriculums and the department’s values and policies.

Embedded safeguards

• The app only responds to students’ questions that relate to school activities and education-related topics and uses content filtering and topic restriction. It has embedded safeguards to monitor and remove inappropriate content.
• It does not reveal full answers to students. NSWEduChat encourages critical thinking by asking guided questions and inviting students to reason on the outcome of their questions, instead of providing direct answers.
• It also provides higher-quality, more accurate support for free that is currently only available through premium-paid AI tools. 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Generative AI is rapidly evolving and offers both challenges and opportunities – and, like many sectors, education is already seeing the impact of new AI tools and practices. 

“As one of the world’s largest providers of public education, I’m proud that NSW has developed NSWEduChat, a safe and secure tool with great potential to enhance learning and give students valuable hands-on experience with this game-changing technology.

“This trial is an important first step in safely navigating generative AI for use in schools, while upholding safety, security and best practice for our students and teachers.”

The NSW Government continues to engage with GPs and stakeholders as it finds a solution to payroll tax issues.

The NSW Government has not imposed additional payroll tax obligations on GPs and GP practices.

In August 2023, following uncertainty in the sector and engagement with practices, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), the NSW Labor Government legislated a 12-month pause to payroll tax audits on GPs.

It also brought in a 12-month pause on tax penalties and interest accrued on outstanding payroll tax debts.

In 2018, the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue issued a payroll tax assessment to a clinic concerning payroll tax. That assessment was the subject of legal challenges through to 2022.

The 12-month pause also gave time to see the impact of the increase in funding to Medicare rebates by the Federal Labor Government.

Recent Medicare data shows an uptick in bulk-billing rates in NSW, bringing optimism about the relief of cost pressures to the sector.

When the 12-month pause was legislated, the RACGP welcomed the time it gave to find an outcome. RACGP NSW/ACT Chair Professor Charlotte Hespe called it “a positive step in the right direction for the future of GP care in NSW.”

The NSW Labor Government continues to actively engage with GPs, practices and industry stakeholders while the 12-month pause is in effect to find an outcome.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said:

“We understand that families, households and businesses across NSW are feeling the pinch of a once-in-a-generation cost-of-living crisis.

“This is yet another legacy issue from the former NSW Liberal-National government. Their inaction on this issue dates back to 2018 and we have been left to clean up their mess.

“In August 2023, the NSW Government instituted a 12-month pause on payroll tax audits for GPs and GP practices, and a 12-month pause on tax penalties and interest accrued on outstanding payroll tax debts.

“Since August, I have met with a number of GPs and their representatives to understand what challenges they’re facing.

“The true cause of the pressure on GPs is the disastrous decision by the former federal Liberal-National government to freeze the indexation of bulk-billing rates.

“The Federal Labor government’s increase to bulk-billing came into effect in November.

“When we announced the pause in August 2023, we said we wanted to see the impact of the federal Government’s changes to the bulk-billing incentive. It’s clear those effects are starting to flow through to practices to ease cost pressures on GP practices and patients.

“I will continue to consult with GPs, practice owners and stakeholders over the coming months.”

Four NSW Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadets at Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) have completed their training and taken up ongoing positions across the District.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park welcomed the four new staff as an important boost to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce in NSW.

“I’m really pleased the NSW Health Aboriginal Nursing Cadetship Program continues to see more and more graduates, ultimately leading to improved health services for Aboriginal communities,” Mr Park said.

“As Regional Health Minister, two of my key focus areas is building up our regional workforce and improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This program delivers on both.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said initiatives like the cadetship program are an important part of closing the gap.

“The cadetship program shows the NSW Government’s commitment to closing the gap in health outcomes,” Mr Harris said.   

“We know for health outcomes to improve, Aboriginal people need Aboriginal nurses working in hospitals, community and senior management positions and this group of graduates will play a vital role in caring for our communities.”

Jackie Corliss, WNSWLHD Graduate Programs and Traineeship Manager, said the NSW Health Aboriginal Nursing Cadetship Program aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses across the state, and improve health services for Aboriginal communities.

“We currently have nine Aboriginal cadets across our District and four cadets are graduating from the program,” Ms Corliss said

“The program is designed to financially assist Aboriginal Nursing Cadets during their study, while also providing academic assistance and supporting their transition into the workplace.

“We’re delighted to have offered these cadets ongoing employment within the District as graduates.”

Tony Martin, WNSWLHD Executive Director Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, said the initiative aligns with the District’s Reconciliation Action Plan, launched last year with a commitment to increase the Aboriginal workforce.

“Providing career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the field of nursing can make a significant positive impact on the health of our Aboriginal communities,” Mr Martin said.

The benefits of the cadetship program include 12 weeks paid employment in the clinical setting in addition to the clinical experience and knowledge gained as undergraduate nursing students, enhanced job readiness and support from the District’s staff including an Aboriginal mentor.

The four graduates will be taking up positions in Bathurst, Cobar, Mudgee and Dubbo this year, while the remaining five cadets are expected to complete their training over the next couple of years.

WSNWLHD is also in the process of recruiting a further four cadets to start later this year.

Apply for the NSW Health Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship Program – Nursing and midwifery scholarships

Sydney’s three Second Generation Emerald Class vessels will be fitted with new, heavier duty engines ensuring safer, smoother and more frequent journeys along the city’s most popular ferry route.

Balmoral was removed from passenger service on 4 February for about 10 weeks for the new engine to be fitted. Once the Balmoral is back in service the Clontarf will be taken out of service, with the Fairlight planned to undergo an engine change in late August.

Transdev Sydney Ferries is starting the re-fitting program after the busy summer holidays. Each vessel will be dry-docked one at a time, to reduce timetable disruption.

The F1 Manly service will continue operating the extended summer timetable with two Freshwater class vessels and two Emerald Class.

The re-engine program will be carried out at the Balmain Shipyard by Transdev Sydney Ferries, with around 30 people working on the project. The cost of the re-fitting program will be paid for by Transdev Sydney Ferries.

Once the engines are installed, Transdev will conduct extensive sea trials with Health and Safety Representatives and industry regulators.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“These overseas-built ferries had a challenging start to their time on the harbour, but these new engines will mean the ferries will spend less time out of service and more time serving passengers.

“By re-fitting the vessels with hydrogen fuel capable equipment, we are also moving forward on future proofing the Sydney ferry fleet.

“Passengers can still enjoy a trip on the Harbour between Manly and Circular Quay on the iconic Freshwater Class vessels which are now running twice as often, offering more choice and increasing capacity on the popular F1 route.”

The NSW Government is continuing to deliver on its election commitment to ensure every family in NSW has the option of choosing a co-ed public high school, with thousands of families across Sydney set to benefit from next year. 

Committed to during the election, the NSW Government has completed a review of intake areas in Sydney suburbs where students previously only had a single-sex public high school.

As a result, the intake boundaries of 20 co-educational high schools have been adjusted.

This review included extensive consultation with the community, staff and students from more than 120 schools and more than 300 parents and carers of students.

In adjusting intake areas, the Department of Education considered: 

• enrolment trends
• public transport access, holding discussions with Transport for NSW
• capacity of the co-educational high schools
• student numbers across catchment areas

As demand for co-education continues to grow the NSW Government has also commenced work to ensure children in all intake areas outside of Sydney have a guaranteed option to attend a co-educational public high school by 2027.

The final intake areas and a summary of the community feedback can be found on the Department of Education website.

A full list of the single sex school intake areas which will have a guaranteed co-educational high school option by 2025 can be found below.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The NSW Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to provide guaranteed access to co-educational high schools.

“There is growing interest in co-education, and no family should have to face leaving their local area to access a co-educational high school.

“These changes have been made in consultation with local communities to provide guaranteed access to coeducational high school education for the first time.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“For years, kids in Ashfield and Canterbury High School catchments have had no co-educational high school options.

“Life is co-ed, and parents and students should have access to a co-ed school option.

“Under our Government’s new boundaries, families across my electorate of Summer Hill will now have access to two brilliant co-educational high schools, Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design and Marrickville High School.

“Inner West families have been campaigning for this change for years, and today our Government is delivering on this important election commitment.”

Single sex school intake areas which will have a co-educational option by 2025:

• Ashfield Boys High School 
• Auburn Girls High School 
• Bankstown Girls High School 
• Belmore Boys High School 
• Beverly Hills Girls High School 
• Burwood Girls High School 
• Birrong Boys High School 
• Birrong Girls High School 
• Canterbury Boys High School 
• Canterbury Girls High School 
• Granville Boys High School 
• Homebush Boys High School
• James Cook Boys High School 
• Moorefield Girls High School 
• Punchbowl Boys High School 
• Strathfield Girls High School 
• Wiley Park Girls High School