Category: NSW News

Families across Western Sydney, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains are a step closer to accessing free specialist mental health support for their children, with a site now selected for the new Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub in Penrith.

The new service will provide free mental health and wellbeing support for children aged 0 to 12 years and their families, with no referral required, and will become the first Medicare Kids Hub in the region.

Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride and NSW Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Youth Rose Jackson today visited the site, which will be located opposite Nepean Hospital and near a range of specialist health services, including the recently opened Nepean Adolescent Mental Health Unit.

Refurbishment works will now begin ahead of the Kids Hub opening in early 2027.

The Penrith Kids Hub is the final of four Kids Hubs being delivered across New South Wales as part of a $50.8 million joint investment by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments, with each government contributing $25.4 million to strengthen support for children’s mental health.

The announcement comes during Mental Health Month as the Albanese and Minns Governments continue expanding access to free mental health care through a growing network of Medicare Mental Health services.

Across New South Wales, 21 Medicare Mental Health Centres are now open and have delivered more than 280,000 free, walk in appointments.

The Penrith Medicare Mental Health Centre alone has delivered almost 40,000 free appointments and support sessions, demonstrating the strong demand for accessible, community-based mental health care in the region.

Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs in NSW have already delivered more than 17,000 appointments and support sessions since opening last year.

Together, these services are helping make sure mental health support is available closer to home, reducing barriers to care and saving families both time and money.

The Penrith Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub will provide free support for children experiencing mild to moderate developmental, emotional, relational or behavioural challenges.

A multidisciplinary team including mental health clinicians, allied health professionals and care navigators will work with children and families to provide tailored support and connect them with additional services where needed.

NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“Free, accessible healthcare is a cornerstone of a strong public health system, and every family deserves access to quality mental health care, regardless of their circumstances.

“We’ve heard the calls to strengthen mental health support for young people and we’re acting on it, building Kids Hubs in key locations for local families.

“This is about making mental health care easy and accessible. No diagnosis or referral needed – when the doors are open, families can just walk in and get the support they need.”

Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention McBride:

“Every child deserves to thrive, and every family deserves access to free mental health support close to home. That’s what we are delivering.

“We know that getting help early can make a lifetime of difference, which is why Labor is investing in free, community-based mental health care for children.

“Already across New South Wales Kids Hubs have delivered nearly 20,000 free, appointments to local families – and soon Western Sydney children and families will have that same support at their doorstep.

Karen McKeown, NSW Member for Penrith:

“It can be really challenging when your child is struggling and knowing where to seek to support is not always straightforward.

“The establishment of this free local hub in Penrith will improve access to quality mental health care, allowing local families to get the support they need in their local community.”

Trish Doyle, NSW Member for the Blue Mountains:

“It’s fantastic to see a site chosen for the new Penrith Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub, which will bring free care closer to home for families across the Blue Mountains.

“This service ensure children and parents can get the support they need, when they need it, without cost being a barrier.

Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman:

*“*This is a life-changing service for our region. As the mother of a child who would have used this service if it had been around decades ago, I know it offers hope where there has been little for both children and their families.”

Construction of the $20 million Batemans Bay Community Health facility is now complete, marking a major milestone in the delivery of modern healthcare for the Eurobodalla region.

The purpose-built community health facility will provide a range of integrated health services in the one location for Batemans Bay and surrounding communities.  

The new Batemans Bay Community Health, delivered by the Minns Labor Government, will provide spaces for:

• Allied health services
• Child, youth and family services
• Women’s health and sexual health services
• Community nursing and wound management
• Palliative care
• Aboriginal health services
• Mental health, alcohol and other drug services
• Specialist outpatient clinics
• Pathology collection services

Located close to the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, the new community health facility will provide coordinated and convenient access to healthcare services in Batemans Bay.

The facility has been designed to complement the new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at Moruya.  

A comprehensive operational commissioning period is under way to ensure a safe and smooth transition into the new centre. This includes testing building systems, installing furniture and equipment, staff orientation and training, and other activities.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $11.9 billion to deliver more beds and expanded services across 32 new or upgraded health facilities in NSW as part of the 2026-27 budget. This includes nearly $3 billion over four years for hospitals across regional NSW.  

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:  

“The Minns Labor Government is improving access to health care for people on the South Coast.  

“The completion of construction for the new Batemans Bay Community Health facility is an important milestone for Batemans Bay and the surrounding community.

“We are now one step closer to opening the doors of this purpose-built facility, providing modern spaces that will ensure the community can access the care they need closer to home, while better supporting healthcare staff in providing high-quality care.”

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland:

“The completion of this new $20 million Batemans Bay Community Health facility is a very important milestone for the Batemans Bay community.

“This purpose-built centre will bring a wide range of health and community services together under one roof, making it easier for people to access the care and support they need closer to home.

“For patients, families and carers, that means modern, welcoming spaces and better connections between different health services.

“Alongside the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and the $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, this is another significant investment in the future of healthcare across our region.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the doors open later this year and the community benefiting from this important new facility.” 

The Minns Labor Government is today unveiling the first look at NSW Police’s Australian-first Armed Response Command (ARC) – a dedicated, highly trained and permanent police unit designed to rapidly respond to serious threats and protect the community.

Training is underway with 24 purpose-built vehicles being delivered as the Command prepares to become operational.

Over the coming weeks, the community can expect to see ARC officers, rifles and specialist vehicles on the streets as training moves from dedicated training facilities into realistic environments across Sydney. This is the next, public phase of training.

ARC will be a high-visibility, intelligence-led unit capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, patrolling high-risk areas, and providing an increased police presence at places of worship, major events and other locations where it is needed.

Backed by a $94.3 million investment, ARC will make permanent and transition Operation Shelter from a reactive surge operation, to a permanent, round-the-clock rapid response unit.

Operation Shelter was first launched in October 2023 in response to heightened community tensions including an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.

At full strength, ARC will have 250 officers and 28 civilian staff, meaning that police will no longer be rotated out of Police Area Commands.

Officers will have access to rifles and a fleet of purpose-built vehicles, including BMW X5s and Toyota LandCruisers. The vehicles contain specially designed gun safes to secure rifles. Officers are currently undergoing advanced driver training.

The NSW Police Force has selected the Australian Combat Assault Rifle (ACAR), manufactured by Lithgow Small Arms in NSW, as the most suitable weapon following extensive field and endurance testing.

A 24/7 specialised Police Operations Centre will support the command including with response, coordination, training, logistics and intelligence.

The Command is informed by global best practice with a senior NSW Police Force delegation travelling to the United Kingdom and Germany in January to study their rapid response models, ultimately informing ARC.

The Armed Response Command builds on a suite of reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to improve community safety and protect social cohesion, including:

• Tough firearms reforms, stricter licence requirements and a gun buyback to remove dangerous weapons from the community
• New offences banning the public display of terrorist organisation symbols and further action to address hateful speech reinforce efforts to reduce division, intimidation and hate in NSW.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The security challenges facing our state have changed, and our policing model needs to change with them.

“Keeping the people of New South Wales safe is our number one priority. That means making sure our police have the people, training and equipment they need to respond to serious threats.

“We hope these officers are never called on to respond to a major incident. But if one happens, NSW Police are ready.

“People will start seeing these officers and their vehicles around Sydney as training gets underway. This is about being prepared for the worst and making sure we can keep the community safe.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“This is about backing police with the right capability to detect, prevent and respond to threats.

“The new Armed Response Command is based on global best practice. Police travelled to Europe to study how other major police forces respond to threats; they’ve taken that on board and will soon be ready to launch an Australian-first rapid response unit.

“These officers are highly trained, with specialist equipment, purpose-built vehicles and a live operation centre. What we’re delivering is a rapid, 24/7 response that the community should have confidence in.”

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said:

“ARC will not only provide a policing rapid response, but it will also be a deterrent for those who wish to commit harm, incite hatred or cause fear.

“No matter where you are located across Sydney, we want all communities to feel reassured that police can be anywhere, at anytime, to keep people safe.

“The environment in NSW has changed, so the way we police the community has changed and what the community expect from us, has changed.”

Construction is progressing on the new NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Murwillumbah Unit, with the $6.2 million purpose-built facility taking shape ahead of its expected completion in early 2027.

The new facility on Old Lismore Road will provide local NSW SES volunteers with a modern base to support communities across the Northern Rivers and Tweed during floods, storms and other emergencies.

The NSW Government is investing $3.85 million towards the new Murwillumbah Unit, alongside a $2.35 million contribution from Tweed Shire Council.

The new facility will replace the existing Murwillumbah Unit building, which volunteers have outgrown and no longer meets the operational needs of the unit.

Once complete, the purpose-built facility will include expanded garage bays, improved training areas, dedicated operational rooms, upgraded amenities and remotely accessible delivery bays.

The new building will provide volunteers with more space to train, prepare and respond, while improving the unit’s capacity to support the community during severe weather and flooding.

In the past three years, the Murwillumbah Unit has responded to close to 850 incidents, mainly due to storms and flooding in the local community.

Disaster response and recovery operations have also been bolstered through the delivery of a new specialised High Clearance Vehicle (HCV) based in Murwillumbah.

HCV vehicles have been delivered to flood and storm hotspots across the state and will be deployed across the region during severe weather events.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Our investment in the SES underscores our commitment to ensuring NSW communities have safe, reliable and high-performing equipment and facilities.

“It is fantastic to see construction progressing on this important project and to see firsthand what the new facility will deliver for NSW SES volunteers and the Murwillumbah community.

“Our SES volunteers give so much to their communities, particularly during the floods and severe weather events the Northern Rivers has experienced in recent years, and these facilities will support them to continue to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“This new unit will provide volunteers with the modern training, operational and equipment spaces they need to respond when their community needs them most.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“Communities across the Northern Rivers know just how important our NSW SES volunteers are when severe weather strikes, and this new facility is an important investment in our region’s emergency response capability.

“The new Murwillumbah Unit will give our local volunteers a fit-for-purpose home base, with the space and facilities they need to train, prepare equipment and coordinate operations.

“This is about making sure the people who are there for our community in times of emergency have the infrastructure they need behind them.”

NSW SES acting Commissioner Daniel Austin said:

“Our Murwillumbah volunteers play a critical role in protecting the local community, responding to floods, storms and a range of other emergencies.

“This new facility will make a significant difference to our members, providing expanded vehicle and equipment space, dedicated operational areas and better facilities for training.

“We are grateful for the investment from the NSW Government and Tweed Shire Council and look forward to seeing our volunteers operating from their new home.”

Tweed Shire Council Mayor Reece Byrnes said:

“Having worked with many members of the Murwillumbah SES unit, I fully understand how much this new facility will mean to all the volunteers.

“Their tireless efforts during the course of natural disasters, such as our floods of 2017 and 2022, are deeply appreciated by our community, and this new, modern home base, will ensure their service and dedication is fully recognised.

“I also hope that it may encourage more members of our community to consider volunteering for the SES which does such an amazing job in times of crisis.”

Private investment in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is soaring, tripling over the last 18 months to reach $34.6 billion and surpassing the $29 billion government investment in public infrastructure.  

The investment lift off comes as Western Sydney International Airport starts to connect the region to the world, operating freight flights and preparing to welcome passenger services this month.  

Adding to the growing momentum is the opportunity for businesses to base themselves in Bradfield City’s Second Building which is under construction and scheduled to open in 2028.

Expressions of interest have opened today targeting strategic anchor tenants, start-ups and scale-ups operating in priority scientific, innovative or complex technology sectors.

Tenancy opportunities in Bradfield’s second building include:

• Manufacturing Hall – 380sqm of serviced advanced manufacturing space to support research, prototyping and manufacturing activities at scale.
• Manufacturing Area – 280sqm of serviced manufacturing space providing a purpose-built environment for product development, research translation and advanced manufacturing activities.
• Commercial Office Space – 1,150sqm of flexible workspace for technology companies, researchers, start-ups, scale-ups and industry partners seeking to collaborate within Bradfield City’s innovation ecosystem alongside the AMRF and Semiconductor Advanced Packaging Facility.

This is a great opportunity in one of Australia’s most significant emerging industry hubs for businesses that need a clear pathway from research and development through to advanced manufacturing and commercialisation.

Businesses may apply for one or all three opportunities in the second building, meaning they can establish manufacturing, research and development, and commercial operations within a single building.

Businesses which ultimately set up in Bradfield will join the ranks with major companies including Amazon and ALDI have already chosen to establish operations within the broader Aerotropolis.  

More information on the latest Aerotropolis investments can found here.

More information on Second Building tenancies can be found here.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“For too long, Western Sydney residents have had to travel long distances to access jobs and employment opportunities.

“Bradfield and the Aerotropolis are changing that, with the Minns Labor Government continuing its work to bring industries, skills and careers into the region, closer to home.  

“Western Sydney residents deserve to see the benefits of this growth in their own backyard through more well-paid jobs, stronger industries and greater economic opportunity for generations to come.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“When first elected, the Minns Labor Government committed to getting the Aerotropolis moving and delivering jobs for Western Sydney.

“Today it is attracting tens of billions of dollars in investment, as major businesses choose Western Sydney as their next home base and creating thousands of jobs.

“Too often great ideas are developed in Australia but commercialised and manufactured elsewhere. Bradfield is changing that developing into a new global hub for innovative industries and advanced manufacturing.”  

Minister for Finance, Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“Australia’s economic future depends on our ability to develop, make and commercialise more products here at home. We are focused on creating the conditions for manufacturers to invest with confidence, expand their operations and employ more people.”

“The nationally significant semiconductor and advanced manufacturing capability being delivered in Bradfield City will help strengthen domestic manufacturing, support sovereign capability and position New South Wales at the forefront of emerging industries.” 

The Minns Labor Government is investing $6.95 million into 17 community-led projects across New England and the Northern Tablelands region helping make towns more liveable, connected and vibrant places to live.

The grants are part of the Minns Government’s $50 million Active Regional Communities Package, designed to support local and practical projects that make towns more liveable, connected and attractive places to work and call home.  

A connected community retains its workers and families, plus attracts essential workers such as teachers, police, nurses and vets that are critical to maintaining the vitality of regional towns.

The successful New England and Northern Tablelands projects include:

• $1,502,087 for Angry Bull Trails Limited to deliver a covered stage and event pavilion in Tenterfield, supporting live music, festivals, markets, youth and cycling events, increasing use of the Angry Bull Trails precinct and strengthening local liveability and economic activity.
• $999,968 for Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council to expand the Fresh Footprints operations hub, supporting earlier intervention, mentoring, practical skills training and transport for at-risk young people while delivering community infrastructure and amenity improvements across Tamworth.
• $364,810 for North Star Sporting Club in Gwydir for making safe amenities for all participants in sports at the venue.
• $100,000 for Nowendoc Recreation Reserve Land Manager in Walcha to upgrade the kitchen and water infrastructure.
• $71,745 for Armidale Rams Junior RLFC to upgrade and make repairs of the Clubhouse.

Projects are receiving funding for events, sporting and community infrastructure, local activities, cultural programs, youth and employment support, and neighbourhood initiatives.

The package is part of more than $223 million that has been invested by the Minns Government’s Regional Development Trust Fund, into providing strategic and sustainable projects that grow regional and rural industries, businesses, communities and local facilities.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“This tranche of 17 New England and Northern Tablelands projects is part of the Minns Government’s plan to invest in local projects that make a practical, positive difference in towns right across the region.

“The people of New England and Northern Tablelands know what will make the biggest difference locally, and these projects show the depth of ideas, leadership and ambition in towns across the region.

“From events and sporting facilities to cultural programs, shared spaces and practical local services, this package will help more people participate locally and give communities assets and activities they can build on.

“Strong communities are the foundation of strong regional economies, and this investment will help deliver a more cohesive, active and connected region.” 

The Minns Labor Government is launching new training to build the knowledge, confidence, skills and capacity of strata committee members who have the power to make significant decisions that affect people’s homes, finances and daily lives in strata schemes like apartment blocks.

From today, new and returning strata committee members will be required to complete free online training delivered by NSW Fair Trading within three months of their appointment.  

Strata committee members are unpaid volunteers and the new training rules are designed to make sure they understand, and can confidently navigate, their responsibilities such as hiring repairers and arranging insurance, approving applications for renovations or managing disputes between owners regarding breaches of by-laws.  

The self-paced online course, Introduction to Strata Committee Rights and Responsibilities, takes around one hour to complete and covers key topics including committee member duties, repairs and maintenance, financial management, meetings, record keeping and dispute resolution.  

This course is the first in a planned series of free training modules to be delivered through Strata Hub, the Government’s digital platform centralising key information for people who live, own, build or work in strata schemes in NSW.

Additional courses will begin rolling out from 2027 to help strata committee members and owners continue building their knowledge, capability and confidence.

The training was developed by NSW Fair Trading in consultation with strata owners and key strata stakeholders, including the Owners Corporation Network (OCN) and Strata Community Association NSW (SCA NSW), helping ensure the content is practical, accessible and relevant to the day-to-day challenges faced by strata committees and owners.  

The Government currently has its fourth tranche of legislation before NSW Parliament to make apartment living fairer. This mandatory training is part of a broader legislative agenda that has:

• Increased penalties for strata managing agents who don’t disclose perceived or potential conflicts of interest,
• Enabled payment plans to be offered to owners in financial hardship,
• Protected owners from bill shock by requiring developers to have initial levy estimates in new strata buildings independently certified,
• Banned strata managing agents from taking a commission on insurance products when they don’t play a role in finding the best deal for owners,
• Made it easier to do minor renovations,
• Removed barriers to the uptake of sustainability measures such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging by prohibiting by-laws that block the infrastructure due to external appearance.

This new training requirement is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to give people the confidence to live and invest in apartment buildings.

Acting Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Paul Scully said:

“More than 1.2 million people across NSW live in apartments.

“This training will support better decision-making in apartment communities and give residents greater confidence that the people managing their buildings understand their responsibilities.

“This is exactly the kind of work the Minns Labor Government envisioned when we established the Strata and Property Taskforce with an $8.4 million investment – delivering stronger protections, better governance and improved outcomes for residents.”

Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd’s Managing Director Operations David Glover said:

“Most strata committee members are volunteers who give their time to support their communities. This training will provide practical guidance and build confidence, helping committee members better understand their responsibilities and make informed decisions on behalf of owners and residents.  

“Well-informed committees are essential to creating stronger, more harmonious and better-managed strata communities.” 

Illegal e-bike owners will get a graphic demonstration that the Minns Labor Government is taking a tough approach on safety, with the first batch of illegal e-bikes seized under new laws getting crushed today.

23 illegal e-bikes are being turned into scrap metal today at a wrecking yard in Blacktown, after NSW Police and Transport for NSW exercised new seizure powers in a joint operation on the Northern Beaches in mid-September.  

Of the 36 illegal e-bikes seized in the operation, applications for the return of 13 bikes are still being assessed by NSW Police.  

The e-bikes crushed include an e-bike capable of speeds of more than 90km/h seized from a 14-year-old, well-known brands that had been ‘tampered with’ to override speed restriction settings and a food delivery bike.  

The seizures follow new laws introduced by the NSW Government (Road Transport Amendment Non-registrable Motor Vehicles Act 2026) to give Police and Transport the powers to confiscate and dispose of illegal e-bikes.  

E-bike batteries are being removed for safe disposal and recycling ahead of crushing.  

To be compliant and avoid the NSW Government’s crusher, e-bikes should have:

• Max speed of 6 km/h while not pedalling
• Power assistance that cuts out when the bike reaches 25 km/h
• Maximum continuous power of 250 watts (500 watt will be tolerated until March 1 2029).

If purchasing an e-bike, check that it meets the EN 15194 e-bike standard. These bikes are legal to use on-road now and into the future.  

Click here for further information on e-bikes.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:  

“This is a graphic warning to anyone riding or buying an e-bike: if you don’t want it turned into shrapnel, make sure it’s legal.  

“We’ve all seen the videos of hordes of teenagers riding illegal e-bikes on the Harbour Bridge and on golf courses. We want that to stop, and the crusher is here to help.  

“Make sure your e-bike is compliant and you follow the road rules otherwise it could suffer the same fate as these bikes.  

“E-bikes are a great transport option, but we can’t let the risk outweigh the rewards.”  

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:  

“We made a commitment to crack down on dangerous and illegal e-bike activity, and today shows how we’re delivering on that commitment.  

“With the first batch of illegal e-bikes getting crushed following legislation introduced by the Minns Labor Government, the message could not be any clearer. If you’re riding an illegal e-bike on NSW roads, you can expect to have it confiscated and destroyed.  

“As we’ve seen, illegal e-bikes pose a serious risk to riders, pedestrians and everyone else using our roads and shared paths, so we’re taking firm action to get them out of our communities.  

“If an illegal e-bike is located and confiscated, it won’t be going back onto our streets.”  

The icare Lung Health Mobile Clinic has rolled into Liverpool ahead of National SafeWork month screening workers across Sydney’s south-west.

Workers across a range of industries including construction, manufacturing and waste management are being screened over a 12-day period to ensure the early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.  

Since its $2.5M upgrade in February 2025, the Lung Bus has screened 4,069 workers across NSW with new icare data highlighting that the Lung Bus is critical in helping with the early detection of deadly dust diseases.  

The data shows 96% of workers were screened for the first time with one in 10 returning an abnormal or incidental finding.  

Whilst only 2% of those were silica related findings, 8% represented incidental findings which could include respiratory conditions or cardiovascular findings which may not have been picked up if workers had not been screened.  

The Lung Bus provides workers with free screening checks across regional, rural and metropolitan NSW and aims to remove barriers including cost and travel time.  

On board the Lung Bus is an x-ray room, advanced lung function testing equipment and specialists in lung and respiratory health who travel the length and breadth of the country ensuring workers across the state have access to world class screening.  

With National Safe Work Month kicking off on 1 October, businesses are encouraged to register their workers on the mandatory SafeWork Silica Worker Register and to book workers in for a screening.  

19,507 workers across more than 860 businesses have been registered since the Silica Worker Register was launched on 1 October 2025.  

The Lung Bus and the Silica Worker Register are important steps in promoting regular screening and early detection of potentially life-changing hazards in the workplace.  

The Register is an online portal for businesses to enter details for workers that process high-risk crystalline silica substances (CSS).  

SafeWork NSW uses the data to monitor compliance with work health and safety obligations. It is mandatory for businesses who have workers at risk of respirable crystalline silica exposures to have access to health monitoring.  

Eliminating the risks associated with silica is a high priority for the Minns Labor Government and the Lung Bus is one of several measures which have been introduced to reduce the risks of working with CSS in NSW.  

These include:

• Strengthening workplace safety through a Silica Worker Register (SWR) which monitors and tracks the health of at-risk workers.
• Leading the ban on engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs.
• Establishing the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects.
• Establishing a dedicated silica unit within SafeWork NSW which includes a Silica Compliance Team to enforce strengthened regulations, including proactive visits to sites conducting high risk CSS processing.
• Allocating $5 million in critical funding to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI) for action against silicosis to support individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust.
• Introducing a binding WHS code of practice for working with crystalline silica.

Minister for Workplace Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:  

“This new data tells us that Lung Bus is critical in the early detection of these deadly dust diseases and that a screening check could save your life.  

“The Lung Bus removes barriers like cost and travel time ensuring workers across NSW have access to screenings that could save their life.  

“We know that removing barriers like time and cost and providing the opportunity for workers to be screened with their workmates results in more workers being screened which leads to earlier detection.  

“National SafeWork Month is a timely reminder for businesses with workforces exposed to hazardous dusts like Respirable Crystalline Silica, to book their workers in for a screening. Every worker deserves to come home safe at the end of the day.”  

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said:  

“Southwest Sydney has a high number of workers across trades including construction and manufacturing so it’s great to have the Lung Bus in Liverpool for almost two weeks providing free screenings for workers.  

“Although workers can be screened in Sydney CBD, having the Lung Bus here in Liverpool removes the time and cost to travel to the city, ensuring as many workers as possible across southwest Sydney can be screened in an environment where they can encourage each other to undertake vital health checks.”

icare Group Executive of General Insurance and Care,  Sarah Johnson said:  

“It’s easy for many to deprioritise their health, especially when work, family and travel commitments can get in the way.  

“The Mobile Clinic is helping remove these barriers by bringing lung health checks closer to where people live and work. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear and book your appointment today.”

“Since its upgrade in February 2025, icare’s Mobile Clinic has completed 408 screening days across NSW, supported by innovations including digital chest X-ray technology for precise and reliable first instance imaging and enhanced spirometry (lung function) testing equipment to evaluate breathing capacity and respiratory performance.  

Remaining 2026 Mobile Clinic stops  

Bookings are still open for the remaining Mobile Clinic stops for the year for the following destinations:

• October: Greater Sydney, Newcastle
• November: Central Coast
• December: Central Coast

What to expect during a Mobile Clinic lung screening: 

• Lung health checks are painless and take approximately 30 minutes. The process includes:
• Chest X-ray by thoracic radiologists to obtain baseline images or detect abnormalities.
• Lung function testing to assess respiratory performance.
• Consultation with experienced medical professional, who gathers key information about dust exposure and provides tailored advice.
• Referral for CT scan, if required, to get a better image of the chest and lungs.
• All results reviewed by experienced specialists.