Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is today announcing it will hold its vaping roundtable on 16 November as the next step in its commitment to curbing the growing issue of vaping in NSW schools.

This week, invitations were extended to key stakeholders to take part in the NSW Government’s first Vaping Roundtable.

The roundtable will hear from principals, students, health experts, and other key stakeholders about the community-wide issue of vaping.

The Vaping Roundtable will:

• hear evidence on how vaping is affecting young people and schools
• discuss effective school-based vaping interventions.

Those invited to the roundtable include:

• NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr. Kerry Chant.
• Manager of the Cancer Council NSW’s Tobacco Control Unit, Alecia Brooks.
• University of Sydney School of Public Health Associate Professor, Becky Freeman.
• Leaders from the:
  • NSW Department of Education.
  • NSW Teachers Federation.
  • NSW P & C Federation.
  • NSW Advocate for Children and Young People.

A number of NSW public, independent and Catholic primary and secondary school principals have also been invited to the roundtable to discuss their experiences of dealing with vaping and vape-related incidents in their schools.

Information and findings gathered at the roundtable will be used to inform future NSW Government policies and interventions into combatting the issue of vaping in schools.

This work comes in addition to $6.8 million invested by the Minns Labor Government in cracking down on the sale of illegal vapes, to support young people addicted to vaping.

This work will also complement measures implemented by the Australian Government, including its commitment to restrict the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We’re committed to addressing the prevalence of vaping in NSW schools.”

“The evidence suggests that vaping is now becoming a gateway for an increase in smoking rates in young people.

“This is a way to hear directly from schools, health experts and other key stakeholders on how we can begin to address this serious health issue in our schools.”

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

“Many principals, teachers, parents and schools are struggling with the growing issue of vaping, and how best to deal with it.

“Vaping is a community-wide issue, and the Minns Labor Government is committed to addressing it with an evidenced-based approached.

“It is important we take on board what we are hearing form health experts, and we listen to what our teachers and principals are telling us.”

Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to doing all we can to protect our students from the dangers posed by vaping.

“We know the number of young people vaping is growing, and it’s important we move ahead with an evidenced-based measures to tackle this concerning issue.

“It’s important we take the time to consult with experts as we formulate the best step forward as we look to curb the issue of vaping within our schools.”

The NSW Government is raising the stakes in the war on pest animals, with the state’s first feral pig coordinator ready to roll out a boosted $13 million control program to support farmers.

Highlights of the NSW Government’s program include: 

• NSW’s first dedicated feral pig coordinator appointed to lead the program
• Establishing 3 priority landscape control zones to knock down numbers and reduce impacts in feral pig hotspots across Riverina, northwest, and western NSW
• Boosting regional control programs, including 46 of the highly effective aerial shooting campaigns, and further support existing landholder driven programs
• Equipping farmers with 99 capacity building events to inform them on the latest tools and advice needed to actively manage pest animals
• Fully subsidising the cost of treating grain to bait feral pigs for farmers participating in the Feral Fighters program.

The state’s first feral pig coordinator, Bec Gray, brings to the role 12 years of experience working directly with landholders to manage feral pigs and other pest animals.

Over the next 8 months, she will drive the program to cull at least 87,000 feral pigs across NSW with high focus on the 3 priority hotspots.

These hotspots are known as ‘landscape control zones’ are based on known feral pig populations, impacts on agricultural and environmental assets, plus known landholder control efforts.

This model has proven to be a leading approach to pest animal management, with biosecurity officers and landholders working side by side, across private and public land.

NSW Local Land Services will adapt programs based on feral pig behaviours and movements.

With predicted dry conditions and warm weather over summer, control programs will focus around water resources as feral pigs will concentrate in these areas as other water sources deplete. 

Contact your nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299launch or visit lls.nsw.gov.aulaunch for more information on how to get involved in the Feral Pig Control Program 2023-24. 

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“We have listened to farmers’ concerns since we were elected to government, and we have now delivered a practical plan that will tackle the feral pig population in NSW, getting results in the paddocks and for communities.

“Feral pigs are destructive animals that have huge impacts to farming operations, our economy and our biodiversity.

“I welcome Bec Gray to the pig coordinator role and look forward to her leading the way in managing the feral pigs program.

“This new $13 million program is modelled on extremely successful pig control programs and is targeting areas across the state with high density feral pig populations to get the greatest impact on pig numbers.

“A strong focus of the program is supporting landholders through practical training to help control feral pigs on their properties and subsided feral pig bait.

“Tackling a rising feral pig population requires government and farmers to work side by side, and this program will do exactly that.” 

Local Land Services Feral Pig Coordinator Bec Gray said:

“I am excited to get started and work with a fantastic team as part of this new role.

“We are here to provide support to farmers and to help coordinate large-scale feral pig control programs. Land managers need to play their role and participate in these programs. 

“I have seen firsthand the damage feral pigs cause to agricultural production and the environment, and I am pleased to see a dedicated feral pig program to assist landowners to manage this issue. 

“One of the focuses of this program is capacity-building, to ensure landholders can continue to manage feral pigs on their property into the future to protect their farming operations.

“The more landholders taking part in control programs, the more successful they will be at reducing feral pig numbers and protecting farming operations.

“I encourage farmers and land managers to get in contact with their nearest Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer and work closely with their neighbours in coordinated programs as this gets the best results.”

People across NSW can receive free, personalised business support on 26 and 27 October with more than 50 Service NSW Centres hosting pop-up booths during Small Business Month. 

The specialised Business Booths will be available from 10am to 4pm and provide face-to-face support for business owners.

Each Business Booth will host a Service NSW Business Concierge who can identify unique business needs and strengths and connect customers to government services or advice to create a tailored plan. 

This includes help with applying for licences and permits and accessing mental health support for business owners and employees.

The Business Concierge team has supported businesses across NSW more than 460,000 times and respond to more than 150 requests for support from businesses every day.

Business Concierges can also connect business owners with an independent Business Connect or Aboriginal business advisor for help with essential business management topics such as business planning, marketing and cash flow, alongside access to events and online resources with practical insights and business skills development.

There are more than 840,000 small businesses in NSW, which make up 98% of all NSW businesses. NSW small businesses employ 1.8 million people in the private sector, which is around 45% of the state’s private sector workforce.

NSW Small Business Month is a month-long program created for small businesses across the state to attend events aligned to their individual business interests. The theme for October 2023 is My Small Business and is focused on providing assistance and tips on how small businesses can strengthen their business.

To book a Business Booth appointment, call Service NSW on 13 77 88launch. 
 
For more information about business support available through Service NSWlaunch.

NSW Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said: 

“The NSW Government is focused on removing barriers for small business owners at every stage of their business journey, so to celebrate we are providing Business Booths in Service NSW Centres across the state during Small Business Month.” 

“The Business Booths are a wonderful way to connect with the business community while providing free, face-to-face support for people looking to start, run or grow a business in NSW.”

“A strong business idea is the same in any language, in every community and Service NSW can coordinate translating services in any language to be available for an advisory session.” 

The NSW Government is continuing to invest in grassroots sporting organisations and championing women’s participation is sport with the opening of the Level the Playing Field Program and Organisation Sport Program.

From today, up to $30 million is available to providers of grassroots sport through the Level the Playing Field Program to support the continued growth of women’s and girls’ sport and recreation off the back of the Matildas’ success in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. 

The program will fund new and upgraded facilities as well as deliver fit-for-purpose amenities, such as change rooms and improved lighting, to foster a safe and inclusive environment for women and girls.

The NSW Government has also doubled the funding available to state sporting organisations, with $5 million aimed at supporting organisations to increase participation of in sport and recreation, with greater incentives for increasing female participation in sport both on and off the field.

Both grant programs are now open for applications.

Level the Playing Field Program applications will close at 1pm on Thursday 30 November 2023.

Organisation Support Program applications will close at 2pm on Friday 11 November 2023.

To apply, visit:

• Level the Playing Fieldlaunch
• Organisation Support Programlaunch.

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The Matildas have changed the landscape of women’s sport forever and this funding will ensure the momentum continues across all codes.

“Research shows that girls start to lose interest in sport and physical activity during their teens. Factors that can influence their decision to withdraw from sport include the quality of facilities and whether the environment is inclusive.

“Our aim is to nurture the lifelong participation of girls in sport by delivering fit-for-purpose facilities and amenities so that women and girls of all ages feel comfortable, safe and welcome.”

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:

“Watching the Matildas during the recent Women’s World Cup really galvanised the nation and put a fire in the belly of women and girls to get involved in sport.

“But we know women face different barriers to men when participating in sport. This is an important announcement which demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to levelling the playing field and backing female participation in sport.”

Chairman Sports NSW Chris Hall said:

“The increased funding through the Organisation Support Program is vital to ensuring our sporting codes can swiftly respond to emerging trends and challenges as well as increase participation across the state.

“It is particularly important that state sporting organisations are supported to build capacity so they can increase diversity and grow participation in NSW.

“Community sport builds connected, healthy and active communities – which would not be possible without the support of the NSW Government.”

Applications are now open for $16 million in NSW Government funding to maintain and improve Crown land reserves for the use of communities across the state, with $14 million in grants and $2 million in loans on offer.

Applications for the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) are open from 16 October to 17 November 2023 through Crown Lands in the Department of Planning and Environment. 

Eligible applicants include all Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations, and user groups that are licensed to use Crown reserves across NSW, as well as commons and also showgrounds on freehold land.

CRIF grants and loans support projects that can deliver social, cultural, environmental or economic benefits to local communities. They help maintain and upgrade reserves and facilities on them so residents can use and enjoy them, and also protect areas of important environmental land.

Grants also support weed and pest management projects to ensure we have healthy public reserves that help protect native plants and animals from invasive species.

The 2023-24 CRIF round will focus on projects that have positive community impacts by:

• Maintaining or increasing public access, amenity and use of a reserve.
• Supporting social cohesion and participation in community life.
• Enabling people with accessibility requirements or living with a disability to be included.
• Delivering a service or infrastructure to enable Aboriginal people to access, care for or protect and manage land.
• Conserving heritage values and/or natural values of a reserve.
• Creating employment or business opportunities.

For more information and to apply visit Crown Reserves Improvement Fundlaunch. 

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Crown reserves support communities by protecting the environment and providing open spaces and facilities for parks, ovals, walking, cycling, camping and other sports and recreation activities, to keep communities healthy and happy.

“They also provide land for community organisations and assets like showgrounds, public halls, scouts and girl guide groups, surf life saving clubs, racecourses and more.

“These grants will help ensure local community land continues to prosper into the future.”

Terraces and 1 to 2 storey unit blocks are permitted in low density residential (R2) zoning in only 2 of 32 Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) – that’s just 6% of the LEPs across Sydney. This is despite 77% of land being zoned for low density residential (R2).

This has meant that over the last 12 years, low rise density has been ignored in the face of a growing housing crisis.

Suburbs like Glebe, Surry Hills, Redfern, Waverton and many more were built using this type of density, they are still standing more than 100 years later, supporting vibrant communities.

Greater density is better for the environment and ultimately cost the taxpayer less.

Terraces, townhouses and low-rise apartments have a significant role to play in creating diverse housing options as we confront the housing crisis.

If we were able to put a terrace on 5% of lots of land zoned low density, we would get 67,500 new homes, which is more than 20% of what we need to deliver by 2029.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, will be writing to councils to encourage them to permit this type of housing within their local government areas.

We are not using our land well and it is costing us.

The NSW Productivity Commission released a report this year that found a double to quadruple cost to keep going out compared to infill development.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“It’s surprising and disappointing that housing types synonymous with Sydney’s housing past are not permitted to be part of Sydney’s housing future, because of local planning rules.

“I will be writing to councils whose LEPs presently do not permit terraces and small apartment blocks in these residential zones, to make it clear that these types of houses are critical to address the housing crisis.

“We want to make infill housing a priority. It’s cheaper to deliver and better for the environment.

“More housing in existing suburbs gives young people, especially, a choice to live near their parents – not be forced to live with their parents.

“It also saves essential workers from having to travel long distances to get to centrally locates places of work, like hospitals and schools.

The Minns Labor Government is exceeding its commitment to convert more than 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff to permanent positions, delivering on one of its signature election promises.

The commitment aims to turn around the workforce crisis in NSW public schools, which last year saw a record 1,854 teachers resign.

Some teachers who were considering leaving the profession are now staying thanks to the initiative, according to feedback given to the NSW Department of Education.

In just six months, more than 16,700 temporary teachers and support staff accepted a permanent position at their current school, exceeding the Government’s expectations and moving ahead with the goal of improving education outcomes for students in the state’s public schools.

Under the first tranche of offers, some 10,000 teachers were offered permanent roles, with almost 9,000 accepting a permanent position so far.

Some 7,700 temporary school support staff have also accepted a permanent role, which goes above the Minns Labor Government’s election commitment to deliver 6,000 of these roles.

Work is now underway on preparing for the next tranche of offers.

This work reverses the decade of systemic casualisation of the teaching workforce by the former Government, where the number of temporary teachers exploded from 11,700 in 2011 to more than 24,000 in 2023.

When the Minns Labor Government came to office, only about 60 per cent of the teaching workforce had permanent and stable employment.

The OECD recently released a damning report into the former Government’s record in education, stating that “the high proportion of temporary contracts” caused “adverse effects for schools, teachers and students”.

In its report, the OECD also found casualisation was “a barrier to retaining graduate teachers”, negatively affecting their motivation, and was one of the reasons behind the “growing number of newly qualified teachers leaving the profession”.

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

“After just over six months in office not only are we delivering on our commitment to make thousands of temporary teachers and support staff permanent – we are going even further.

“We have exceeded our expectations on where we thought we would be in our efforts to provide job security to temporary teachers and staff.

“I am so pleased that an overwhelming majority of 10,000 offers we have made to teachers so far have been accepted.

“Bringing job security back to teaching is just one way we are restoring pride in the profession and keeping our best teachers in front of classrooms.

“As we continue to provide more permanent roles in schools, I look forward to providing more teachers and support staff the certainty they need to make teaching their life’s work and make long-term plans like applying for a mortgage or putting down roots”.

The NSW Government is acting to take pressure off of some of the state’s busy emergency departments by diverting drug and alcohol presentations to specialised units.

Safe assessment units are designed to better support people presenting to emergency departments with behavioural disturbances associated with alcohol and drugs.

Two of these units will be rolled out at the Prince of Wales and Nepean hospitals.

People presenting with behavioural disturbances are often vulnerable and become overwhelmed by the environment in the ED.

These units will provide a safe, low stimulus environment in which patients can be admitted, assessed, and treated.

They will allow patients to be treated by a multidisciplinary team of clinicans working across mental health, clinical pharmacology and alcohol and drug teams.

Similar models of care have resulted in improved patient outcomes, reduced need for sedation and restraint, as well as a reduction in the length of stay and time to be seen in EDs.

Both Units are expected to be ready to start seeing patients early next year, and will complement the existing Psychiatry and Non-Prescription Drug and Alcohol (PANDA) Unit within St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

The PANDA Unit, established in 2020, is co-located with the St Vincent’s ED and was the first service of this kind in Australia.

To ensure patients receive ongoing support after discharge, care will be provided through collaboration with the community alcohol and other drug sector, the community mental health sector and other health and community services.

The units will be co-located within each ED.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“We are acting to reduce pressure on our busy emergency departments by providing more appropriate care and treatment to drug and alcohol presentations.

“These units create a safe environment, not only for patients presenting with disturbances associated with alcohol and drugs, but also our frontline health workers and other patients presenting to our emergency departments.

“As Health Minister, I am embracing new and innovative initiatives to relieve pressure on our emergency departments by ensuring people receive the appropriate care when and where they need it.”

With heart disease being the leading cause of death in Australia, NSW residents aged 45 and over, or 30 and over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, are reminded to book in for their regular heart health check.

Health Minister Ryan Park joined fellow Members of Parliament at an event hosted by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in NSW Parliament to promote 10-minute Heart Health Checks.

“Heart disease, as we well know, is the leading cause of death in Australia. Simple initiatives like this one by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute are an ideal opportunity for early intervention – and they are literally saving lives,” Mr Park said.

“The Heart Health Check is really easy and it takes just 10 minutes and included tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

“Picking up on problems early means you and your doctor can better manage and prevent other health issues from occurring further down the line.

“Nearly 40 per cent of the disease burden in Australia is due to risk factors such as the ones being measured in Heart Health Checks.”

“Anyone looking for check-up on their heart health can book in with their GP for a Heart Health Check, who will help you better understand your risk of a heart attack or stroke and support you to lower this risk.”  

CEO and Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Professor Jason Kovacic, said the good news is that all three of these early indicators of possible heart disease can be changed by making improvements to your lifestyle.

“Making even small positive changes to your lifestyle, including your diet and activity levels can make a big difference to these risk factors and a person’s overall heart health,” Professor Kovacic said.

“The results of the test are presented to the person and if any measure is outside the normal range, they are recommended to make an appointment to see their GP.”

Along with keeping physically active, the World Health Organisation recommends:

• Quitting smoking or not smoking at all
• Eating a healthy diet
• Drinking alcohol in moderation
• Looking after your weight

The NSW Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy 2022-2032launch outlines steps for achieving better health outcomes for all. The Strategy sets the foundation for collaboration between NSW Health, partner organisations and agencies to support keeping people healthy and well over the next decade.

The strategy includes a range of initiatives that support healthy living, including the Get Healthy Service, a free phone and online health coaching service, staffed by qualified health coaches.

It provides personalised support to anyone 16 years and over to maintain healthy eating habits, get active, reduce alcohol, and reach a healthy weight.

The Albanese and Minns governments have signed a landmark agreement that will deliver billions of dollars to build the skills and prosperity of NSW.

The landmark 5-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) – which will take effect from January next year – was developed under principles agreed by National Cabinet and will embed national cooperation and strategic investment in the NSW vocational education and training sector.

NSW is set to benefit from over $3.81 billion of investment from the Albanese Government, supporting investment by the Minns Government to expand and transform access to the VET sector.

The 5-year agreement places TAFE at the heart of the VET sector, providing the funding certainty required to support quality training and implement reforms to address critical skills needs. 

The NSA will provide for $1.055 billion of additional funding to NSW, enabling NSW to complete significant reform to the skills and training sector. This will support the Minns Government’s commitments to investing and rebuilding TAFE NSW and the broader skills sector. 

This includes investing in TAFE Centres of Excellence, boosting foundation skills in language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy and Closing the Gap in educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In an historic first, a new national stewardship model will coordinate strategic investment in skills across the economy and support delivery of skills needed in national priority areas, as well as providing states and territories with flexibility to meet local industry skills needs.

Nationally, the $12.6 billion investment by the Commonwealth includes an extra $2.4 billion in flexible funding to support state and territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries. Priorities include:

• clean energy and Net Zero transformation of the economy.
• Australia’s sovereign capability, including advanced manufacturing skills, national security, food security and construction.
• care and support services.
• ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability

This new investment is on top of $414 million already committed nationally for the delivery of 300,000 fee-free TAFE places from 2024.

Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor said:

“This landmark agreement will kickstart real change”

“I’d like to thank my counterpart Skills Ministers for their genuine cooperation in looking to rebuild national vocational education and training, with TAFE at its heart.”

“The TAFE sector has endured periods of underfunding, impacts of deregulation, loose rules of VET market entry, a lack of national cohesion and an obsession for competition at the expense of collaboration.”

“By providing genuine national leadership in partnership with states and territories, we are building a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

“A high performing and world class VET sector is crucial for achieving a fairer society and a stronger economy.” 

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

“The National Skills Agreement marks a united commitment from the Commonwealth and NSW Government to train key workers in priority industries and build a robust and scalable skills-force.”

“Over the next 5 years, we will have the tools to rebuild TAFE, proactively manage skills shortages and support some of our state’s most disadvantaged students.”

“TAFE has experienced years of uncertainty. This agreement will ensure its long-term stability. Through TAFE, we will be able to upskill in-demand workers and maximise opportunities in the skills system.”

“It is particularly pleasing to see the close alignment in priorities between the NSW and Federal governments, with support provided for Minns Government commitments such as TAFE Centres of Excellence, Closing the Gap initiatives, ensuring access to literacy and numeracy training, and improving course completions.”