Category: NSW News

The NSW Government’s pharmacy trial has this month surpassed 12,000 total consultations, relieving pressure on GPs and making it easier for people to access basic medications.

The trial allows trained community pharmacists to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) and provide treatment medicines if needed, as well as resupply the oral contraceptive pill (the pill).

Since May last year, when the UTI stage of the trial began, to 15 February 2024, 11,296 consultations occurred across 937 pharmacies around the state..

Since September last year, when the pill stage of the trial began, 854 consultations have occurred across 342 pharmacies.

The trial first began in May last year with almost 100 pharmacies participating. It has now expanded to around 1,200 consented pharmacies across the state, surpassing the 1,000 pharmacies originally projected to participate.

The NSW Government will soon announce the expansion of the trial to include medications for the treatment of minor skin conditions.

The trial continues to undergo evaluation for efficacy, safety and ethical soundness.

Find your closest participating pharmacist

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“We know that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an appointment with a GP.

“Empowering pharmacists to safely prescribe and dispense basic everyday medications will save people time as well as relieve pressure on our GPs.

“It’s encouraging to see this trial is progressing well and the take up is better than expected.

“We want to ensure this is done safely, and we are determined to get it right.

“We are constantly assessing how we can deliver health care more efficiently as well as safely, and I am excited about the opportunities to expand this initiative elsewhere.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) ‘scholarships’ are now on offer to one million Australians, in a bid to increase the nation’s literacy of the technology estimated to be worth $4 trillion to the economy by the early 2030s.

The free ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’ microskill course is provided by the Institute of Applied Technology Digital, a technology-focused institute at TAFE NSW, and the National AI Centre (NAIC), coordinated by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

The course will provide a non-technical introduction to AI fundamentals and is designed for people at the beginning of their AI literacy journey.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan today welcomed the announcement which is an ideal opportunity for workers seeking to upskill, those starting their career in AI, and small to medium business owners.

The microskill is available now through the TAFE NSW Institute of Applied Technology – Digital. Working in collaboration with TAFE NSW, Microsoft, Macquarie University, and the University of Technology Sydney, the Institute of Applied Technology Digital designs and delivers market-leading training that rapidly adapts to industry needs.

The two-and-a-half-hour course will cover:

• what AI is
• common AI terminologies
• the challenges and risks of using AI
• common misconceptions
• real-world applications of AI
• Australian AI case studies
• advice from industry experts to start your career in AI

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

“Artificial Intelligence is already transforming our economy, workplace, education system, and community. This is an exciting opportunity for people nation-wide to advance their AI understanding.

“It’s great to see TAFE NSW collaborating with the National AI Centre to provide students from all backgrounds with a start to develop their AI literacy, so they can access the jobs of tomorrow.”

Director, National AI Centre, Stela Solar said:

“SMEs make up over 98 per cent of Australia’s economy, and ‘Introduction to AI’ is their opportunity to learn how they can use this revolutionary technology to enhance their operations, services, and market competitiveness.”

CEO, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), Luke Achterstraat, said:
“Small businesses are a main source of innovation in Australia – they are entrepreneurs who try new ideas, test new products, and usually back themselves with their own capital.

“This microskill course will help build confidence and competency for small businesses as they navigate the AI landscape.”

The NSW Government will deliver a new co-educational high school in Liverpool by bringing together the two existing single-sex high schools into a brand new school build, following extensive consultation with the community.

Liverpool Boys and Girls High Schools, which are currently co-located on adjoining sites, will come together within the area’s new health and education precinct, as part of the NSW Government’s $3.5 billion commitment to new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney.  

The brand new school will cater for up to 2000 students, with facilities including new teaching spaces and specialist facilities, a new library.

Community consultation, undertaken in 2022, found support for co-educational schooling in the area, particularly among future high school parents.

Among future parents surveyed, 56 per cent stated a preference for a co-educational high school, contrasted with 18 per cent who said they would prefer a single-sex school.  

The new co-educational school will offer an expanded range of subjects for students, with purpose-built facilities to deliver specialised pathways into health and higher education. 

In recognition of the preferences of some students and families, the co-educational schools will also provide opportunities for single-sex-focused classes and activities.

The new school will form part of the Liverpool Health and Education Sub Precinct, in collaboration with NSW Health, TAFE NSW and the Liverpool City Council.  

Planning for the new school build is underway, with concept designs to be shared in coming months.

As the schools come together, they will work with local primary schools to ensure a strong transition process from primary to high school for local students.

The NSW Department of Education will update the community as the project progresses. 

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

“This is a huge investment in a rapidly growing community, ensuring working families have access to a world class public education. 

“The majority of families in this area expressed a preference for co-education, with the increase in student population at the school to expand the range of subjects and extra-curricular activities available for students.

“For the new high school to be part of the new health and education precinct is exciting, offering more learning and career opportunities for students in the area.” 

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said:

“One of my goals as the local member has been to create pathways for our young people’s futures right here in Liverpool. Today’s announcement is a significant step in realising that vision.

“The consolidation of Liverpool Boys and Girls into a single, brand-new co-educational campus is an essential milestone in creating a ‘cradle-to-PhD’ education precinct in the Liverpool CBD.

“Liverpool’s population surge has caused us to assess the suitability of our existing local schools. This redevelopment is about creating state-of-the-art secondary schooling for our modern city.”

The NSW Government has partnered with Wagga Wagga-based company Zetifi to trial new wi-fi technology at Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool, providing visitors to the popular destination with free internet access.

Powered by solar energy, the wi-fi system uses satellite and cellular internet technology to keep people visiting the the Kosciuszko National Park site connected and able to call for help in an emergency.

In the past, mobile coverage at the site has been inhibited by natural features such as the steep Yarrangobilly River Valley and the towering Eucalyptus trees that surround the thermal pool.

The technology being trialled has been installed in an elevated location to leverage both satellite and cellular internet connections, transmitting internet via wi-fi to the thermal pool area. The wi-fi can easily be accessed by the public by scanning a QR code on the walk in.

The project was coordinated by the NSW Telco Authority and the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) as part of the NSW Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) program’s Connectivity Challenge.

The program aims to strengthen communication networks in regional and remote areas by supporting businesses to find solutions to connectivity challenges.

Find out more about the NSW SBIR program

Find out more about visiting the Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walk

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This is a terrific example of a technological solution improving safety and visitor experience in a remote area of Kosciuszko National Park which is popular in both summer and winter.

“It will benefit not only visitors to the spring-fed natural pool, but also rangers and emergency services personnel when they’re working in the area.

“The NSW Government is committed to improving infrastructure in our national parks to ensure a wonderful experience for people getting out and about in nature.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“This wi-fi trial helps visitors to the Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool stay connected, which is important over the busy summer period when more people will be making the most of this picturesque destination.

“This technology could make all the difference in an emergency when a call for help needs to be made.

“As well as assisting thousands of visitors to the people expected to visit the Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool over summer, the trial is boosting a regional business by enabling it to test and showcase its product.”

Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool wi-fi key data:

• Approximately 2,100 unique connections have been made since the free wi-fi trial began in December, an average of just over 40 connections per day.
• Peak usage has been during weekends seeing between 90-120 connections per day, compared to only 20-40 on weekdays.
• Since the trial began 400GB of data has been used, equating to almost 8GB of usage per day.

The latest round of the Investing in Women Funding Program opens today, with up to $1 million available to organisations to fund projects that advance the role, status and contribution of women and girls in NSW.

Eligible organisations can apply for grants of between $25,000 and $100,000 for annual projects, or up to $250,000 for multi-year projects. Funding is open to registered not-for-profits, local councils and private sector industry bodies working in partnership with communities and government.

Projects should aim to have lasting impacts on communities of women and girls in the areas of health and wellbeing, and participation and empowerment. 

House to Grow, a not-for-profit, was 1 of 22 organisations that received funding under the program in 2023. It used its $50,000 grant to provide a space for women to ignite their business ideas and kickstart their projects into market opportunities. Female entrepreneurs were also supported with business education.

Additionally, Surfing NSW received almost $100,000 to work with 53 affiliated Surf Schools across NSW to identify and provide a nationally accredited coaching certification, on-the-job training, mentorship and employment to 150 women. This boosted the number of women in the coaching network in regional areas and increased the opportunities for part-time and flexible work options to match the growing demand of those wishing to engage with surfing.

The Investing in Women Funding Program grant applications open 5 March 2024 and close 8 April 2024. Find out more information on the grant program and details on how to apply. 

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Government is committed to improving the lives of women and girls across the state. Through the Investing in Women Funding Program, we are working in partnership with organisations to deliver on the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026 to boost women’s economic opportunities and advancement, promote their health and wellbeing and support participation.

“This program is for women of all backgrounds and really sets the foundation for success for generations to come.

“Over the years, more than 100 organisations have received grants under the Investing in Women funding program and have used that funding to help women overcome barriers and empower them to take charge and achieve their aspirations.

“I urge eligible organisations to get their grant applications in and play a part in contributing to these important goals.

CEO at House to Grow Pilar Lopez said:

“We have enrolled over 200 women from different backgrounds so far in our Watering Women’s Tree Program, including participants with original ideas and other start-ups ready to grow.

“Our holistic accelerator program has played a significant role in the creation and development of more than 100 businesses in NSW, with some now operating on an international scale.

“The flexibility of this project has enabled women with family commitments, those with casual jobs or studying to pursue their projects, contributing to strengthening the female entrepreneurial fabric but is also fostering women’s leadership development and creating more sustainable women-led businesses and families.

“Our project aims to empower women entrepreneurs, enhancing their independence and security but also reducing risks such as exploitation and vulnerability to violence, thereby building a sustainable future for themselves and their families.”

Surfing NSW spokesperson Kathy Walton said:

“Through Surfing NSW’s coaching certification program, we’re proud to significantly enhance gender equality in surfing. By accrediting and mentoring women, we’re not just increasing female representation; we’re inspiring a new generation of women and girls to embrace surfing, both recreationally and professionally.

“Our initiative opens new doors for women in the surfing industry, offering them both training and employment opportunities to develop their life-saving and ocean education skills, and our programs have particularly been focused on the growth of regional surfing communities.

“Sadly 86 people have drowned in Australia since December 2023. Empowering 150 women with Surfers Rescue 24/7 techniques, CPR, First Aid and trauma response is at the heart of our organisation and programs. This not only upskills them as coaches but also equips them to save lives in and out of the ocean, enhancing safety within the surfing community.”

With the 2024 school year in full swing, the NSW Government has launched a new phase of its campaign to remind parents and carers of the critical importance of good school attendance as figures from 2023 show a promising lift above the improvement rates of other states.

Student attendance increased from 85.2% in 2022 to 88.1% in 2023, a nation-leading improvement of 2.9%, but schools are continuing to work hard to make further progress.

The Department of Education’s latest ‘Every Day Matters’ campaign aims to raise parent, carer and community awareness of the importance of attending school daily, showing how just 1 day off school can lead to students missing out and falling behind, academically and socially.

Research shows positive school attendance benefits students’ academic achievement, engagement and wellbeing, while students who attend school regularly are also more likely to experience positive health, social and economic outcomes after leaving school.

While school attendance rates have increased across the state, there’s more work to be done, and the NSW Department of Education is supporting schools with strategies to lift attendance across the state.

Parents and carers are encouraged to reach out to their child’s school if they have attendance concerns, so they can access support.

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

“A day or 2 away from school may not seem like a big deal, but missing just 1 day per fortnight adds up to an entire year of missed learning over a student’s school career.

“We have made good progress on lifting attendance in NSW since coming to government, but there is more to do.

“Unless your child is unwell, please send them to school. It’s the best thing you can do to ensure your child receives the best education possible.”

The state’s newest beach will remain open to the public for another month as the warm days continue across Western Sydney.

Penrith Beach has been a massive hit with local residents, with almost 200,000 people visiting the temporary activation to cool off since its opening in December 2023, and an average of 5,000 people continuing to visit the beach each week.

The fresh water oasis provided significant relief to local families, without the need to pack the car and drive over an hour East. Temperatures regularly soared above 30 degrees, reaching 39.7 on Thursday this week.

The NSW Government has now extended the activation of the site beyond the original 3 March 2024 closing date given this strong support from the Western Sydney community.

Lifeguards from Royal Life Saving Society NSW will continue patrolling the beach under new operating hours. The public will be able to visit on weekends and public holidays from 9 March between the hours of:

10am and 6pm; and,
10am and 4:30pm from 7 April 2024, at the end of daylight savings.
Facilities at the beach will remain open during these times with visitors able to access toilets and change rooms and enjoy the 130-metre-long beach. Free car park passes are also available online.

For more information, visit Penrith Beach.

Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“In just a few short months we have seen almost 200,000 Western Sydney residents vote with their feet, visiting Penrith Beach for a day out by the water.

“At the opening I said this move is about fairness. For too long Western Sydney locals were neglected as the Liberals and Nationals focused all their energy on investment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“After watching the site sit behind a locked gate for decades, locals have embraced Western Sydney’s first ever beach, and are loving having somewhere to cool off right on their doorstop.

“I am delighted to see the season extended at Penrith Beach for Western Sydney to enjoy.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Penrith Beach has shown how critical new swim sites are for communities living away from our coastline.

“The beach has been a big drawcard with local residents and has provided relief for the people of Western Sydney.”

Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said:

“Seeing thousands of Penrith families enjoy this beach has been the highlight of summer for the Penrith community.

“I encourage everyone in Western Sydney to come and experience the tranquillity of this location.

“Having our own beach is an absolute delight and I am thrilled to see Penrith Beach will remain open through to Anzac Day.”

Sydney Metro West has kicked off a huge year of tunnelling with the relaunch of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Beatrice and Daphne at the Five Dock Metro Station site.

The TBMs continue to build the new metro tunnels towards Sydney Olympic Park, with their next stop two kilometres away at the future Burwood North Metro Station site.

The relaunch of TBM Beatrice and Daphne is a major milestone in a significant program of work that will see the 24-kilometre metro line between Westmead and Hunter Street in Sydney’s CBD start to take shape over the next 12 months, further progressing the Sydney Metro West project that will also help drive housing supply.

The 1,300-tonne machines will tunnel an average of 200 metres a week to complete the second leg in their journey and are expected to break through at Burwood North in April.

In December 2023, the TBMs made tunnelling history when they arrived at Five Dock station site minutes apart to achieve the first double TBM breakthrough in the southern hemisphere.

Upon arrival at Five Dock, the TBMs have undergone necessary maintenance to ensure they continue safe operations for the next leg of their journeys.

Now that TBMs Beatrice and Daphne have departed Five Dock, work will continue to prepare the 200-metre-long, by 22-metre-wide and up to 30-metre-deep excavated cavern for station construction.

Autonomous TBMs Betty and Dorothy are making significant progress in building the tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead and are more than 1.3 kilometres and 930 metres into their journey, respectively.

A further two TBMs to construct the metro tunnels below Sydney Harbour will arrive at The Bays in the coming months ahead of commencing tunnelling mid-year.

Sydney Metro West is expected to be complete by 2032. When it opens, these fast and reliable metro services will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.

This reaffirms the NSW Government’s commitment to building more housing in the right places, where people want to live – to improve affordability, reduce building and infrastructure costs and create thriving communities.

This includes a proposal, which was brought to the NSW Government by the Australian Turf Club, centring around the potential to build more than 25,000 new homes on the Rosehill Racecourse site. This would allow the government to explore the feasibility of a new Metro West Station at Rosehill.

Find out more about the Sydney Metro West project

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Sydney Metro West has kicked off a huge year in tunnelling and over the next 12 months we will really see this transformational project take shape.

“These mighty machines are really doing the heavy lifting as we move closer towards our goal of delivering even more public transport connections for the people in Sydney’s west.

“This once in a generation investment into transport infrastructure will also act as a catalyst for the delivery of much-needed housing.

“As Sydney grows, fully-accessible and reliable rail services are crucial to keep our city moving.

“By the end of the year, six enormous tunnel boring machines will be crushing through rock to deliver 24 kilometres of brand new metro tunnels beneath Sydney.”

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) fast facts:

• Beatrice and Daphne have departed Five Dock to continue the 11-kilometre tunnel digging journey.
• Beatrice and Daphne are expected to arrive at Burwood North in April.
• Beatrice and Daphne will each move up to 200 metres per week.
• 15 workers will operate each TBM in rotating shifts.
• Each TBM is 165 metres long, weighs 1,300 tonnes and has 34 rock-cutting disks in its 7m diameter cutterhead.
• The TBMs move around the clock, with tunnelling approved to occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Their departure comes two months after Beatrice and Daphne achieved a historic double breakthrough at Five Dock within minutes of each other on 30 November 2023.

The NSW Government is delivering on its promise to support additional McGrath Breast Care Nurses across the state.

A $18.6 million investment over 4 years will see 29 new McGrath Breast Care Nurses providing free support to breast cancer patients in metro, regional and remote communities.

Eight of the 29 nurses have already commenced their new positions at Concord, St George, Taree, Blacktown, Gosford, Fairfield and Wollongong Hospitals.

The specially trained McGrath Breast Care Nurses provide free care, support and are a key point of contact for patients during their treatment. They become a trusted, consistent, and knowledgeable point of contact, and explain complicated aspects of treatment to patients, during what can be an incredibly stressful period.

This NSW Government investment will see 29 additional McGrath nurses in:

• Sydney Local Health District (LHD)
• South Eastern Sydney LHD
• Hunter New England LHD
• Western NSW LHD
• Central Coast LHD
• Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• South Western Sydney LHD.

The NSW Labor Government is committed to improving access for people with breast cancer to critical support services.

The 2023-2024 NSW Budget also committed an additional $34.3 million over 4 years to Women’s Health Centres to improve access to healthcare for women.

The service of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse is free and available without a doctor’s referral.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Too many of us know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer.

“It is a scary and a stressful time, and every bit of support counts.

“McGrath Breast Care Nurses give priceless support to patients and their families when they need it most.

“These specially trained nurses can make a big difference, and we’re pleased to be delivering on this commitment to support more people across NSW.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“One in 7 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and this investment will ensure more people across our state have access to this incredibly important service.

“Breast care nurses are an incredible source of continuous support for patients, and they do wonders to minimise the stress and trauma which comes with a breast cancer diagnosis.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“I am really proud we’re improving access to breast cancer support for women across the state.

“The breast care nurses make an incredible difference in the lives of patients and their loved ones, providing patients and their families with support from diagnosis all the way through treatment. I would like to share my appreciation for their commitment to this important role.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“A breast cancer diagnosis can be extremely distressing, not just for the person diagnosed but also the entire family.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I welcome this investment.”

CEO McGrath Foundation Holly Masters said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the expanded support of the NSW Government who will help us towards our goal of ensuring no one with breast cancer in NSW misses out on the free care and support of a breast care nurse.”

There are now 71 fewer foster children in NSW living in emergency accommodation – like hotels and motels – following the creation of a specialist team within the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

The Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington, labelled the initial results an early indication of the NSW Government’s resolve to address the spiralling child protection system.

Following a request from Minister Washington, DCJ established a dedicated team in November 2023 to shift children from High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEA) to more suitable arrangements.

HCEA’s place children in hotels, motels, serviced apartments or rental accommodation, where they are cared for by a rotating roster of shift workers. These arrangements can cost up to $2 million a year for each child.

The work of the HCEA Team, alongside local DCJ casework teams, has resulted in the number of children in HCEA’s dropping by 71 in 3 months, from 506 (in early November last year) to 435 on 22 February.

The least desirable form of HCEA is an Alternative Care Arrangement (ACA), where for-profit labour hire firms often provide unqualified staff who can change at short notice, giving children a lack of stability. The use of ACAs has dropped 42% from 139 children in November, to 80 on February 22.

Some of the work being done by the HCEA Team and caseworkers includes:

• intensive family finding, where caseworkers search out possible family connections who might be able to care for the child under kinship care arrangements
• matching children to newly recruited emergency foster carers
• working with NGO partners to fill vacancies in their contracts with government
• eenegotiating the amount paid to HCEA providers.

Since the team began, $49 million in avoided costs has been saved to the NSW taxpayer.

More foster carers are urgently needed in NSW to ensure children who cannot live safely with family have a loving and secure home, with recruitment efforts ongoing to establish a pipeline of suitable foster carers.

To learn more about becoming an authorised carer with a non-government organisation, visit My Forever Family NSW. 

To learn more about becoming an emergency foster carer with DCJ, email fosteringwithdcj@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“When I was sworn in as minister, I was shocked by the number of children and young people in these high-cost emergency arrangements. We want to see children in safe and loving homes with people who care about them, not in a hotel or motel with rotating shift workers who might never see the child again.

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

“I’ve made it very clear to the department and to the sector – these arrangements are not appropriate, and the NSW Government will be doing everything it can to find stable, loving homes for these children.

“A 42% reduction in alternative care arrangements in just 3 months demonstrates how seriously the government is taking this issue.

“The work done by the HCEA Team is an important step towards rebuilding the child protection system, which has been neglected for so long.”