16 News

Major works are due to begin next week on the $19.5 million Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, marking a significant milestone for the unique facility.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Manly James Griffin MP visited the site to inspect progress ahead of the first major concrete pour.
“This incredible project is Australia’s first dedicated hospice caring for young people with life-limiting illness and will provide support to families from all over NSW,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The facility will give young people and their families a tranquil, supportive environment at the most difficult of times by providing respite care, counselling, symptom management and end-of-life care.”
Member for Manly James Griffin said the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice will work closely with dedicated children’s hospice, Bear Cottage, to assist families to continue to care for young people as they become adults.
“Each year, about a quarter of admissions to Bear Cottage are over the age of 16 and there has been no appropriate place for them to move to,” Mr Griffin said.
“No matter where someone is from in NSW, this beautiful state-of-the-art facility in Manly will be a welcoming place for young adults who are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions.”
More than $6.5 million has been raised for this project through generous community donations, which has been boosted by an $8 million investment from the NSW Government and $5 million from the Commonwealth Government.
Health Infrastructure is working closely with the Northern Sydney Local Health District and expert clinicians to deliver the hospice, which will be located at the former Manly Hospital site on the North Head headland.
Construction is due for completion late next year.
For further information and to support the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, visit www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Manly.

Major works are due to begin next week on the $19.5 million Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, marking a significant milestone for the unique facility.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Manly James Griffin MP visited the site to inspect progress ahead of the first major concrete pour.
“This incredible project is Australia’s first dedicated hospice caring for young people with life-limiting illness and will provide support to families from all over NSW,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The facility will give young people and their families a tranquil, supportive environment at the most difficult of times by providing respite care, counselling, symptom management and end-of-life care.”
Member for Manly James Griffin said the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice will work closely with dedicated children’s hospice, Bear Cottage, to assist families to continue to care for young people as they become adults.
“Each year, about a quarter of admissions to Bear Cottage are over the age of 16 and there has been no appropriate place for them to move to,” Mr Griffin said.
“No matter where someone is from in NSW, this beautiful state-of-the-art facility in Manly will be a welcoming place for young adults who are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions.”
More than $6.5 million has been raised for this project through generous community donations, which has been boosted by an $8 million investment from the NSW Government and $5 million from the Commonwealth Government.
Health Infrastructure is working closely with the Northern Sydney Local Health District and expert clinicians to deliver the hospice, which will be located at the former Manly Hospital site on the North Head headland.
Construction is due for completion late next year.
For further information and to support the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, visit www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Manly.

Local residents will benefit from an $80 million investment in Temora Hospital under the NSW Government’s $500 million health boost for rural and regional NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today announced the investment, which will greatly improve access to health services for Riverina locals.
Mr Toole said this record spend on health infrastructure built on the enhanced health services and initiatives rolling out to help ensure regional communities like Temora have access to the quality of care they deserve.
“This will be one of the biggest ever infrastructure projects in the town’s history – an investment that will be a game changer in the delivery of health services for locals,” Mr Toole said.
“We will never stop looking for opportunities to invest in regional and rural healthcare, and while the existing Temora hospital has served the needs of locals for generations, it’s now time for a new modern, well-equipped hospital.”
Mr Hazzard said experts from the Local Health District will work with staff to develop a Clinical Services Plan for the new hospital. Ongoing engagement with the community will ensure that the right services are provided.
“This $500 million boost in regional and rural health infrastructure is a huge win for local communities across NSW,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It will create thousands of local construction jobs, deliver modern facilities closer to home and make regional communities an appealing place to live, work and invest.”
Ms Cooke said this investment would ensure Temora has a hospital that would serve the region for years to come.
“I want our patients and their families and friends to have a fantastic local hospital that will not only deliver the best health outcomes, but also attract clinicians to work here in what would be a big win for the whole community,” Ms Cooke said.
“The new Temora Hospital will continue to provide Emergency Department services, as well as modern inpatient accommodation with beds available for rehabilitation, palliative care and maternity patients.
“A state-of-the-art delivery suite and enhanced community health services, including hospital avoidance services, radiology and pathology, will make this hospital a game changer for locals.”
Health Infrastructure will oversee and manage the $80 million redevelopment of the new Temora Hospital following input from the local community and hospital staff.

As state and national borders reopen, the NSW Government is helping the tourism sector address critical skills shortages with thousands of free training places on offer ahead of a bumper holiday season.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee today announced more than 2,700 fee-free training places initially available across 35 short courses at TAFE NSW and other registered training providers with scope to increase with demand. This includes training in specialist outdoor recreation and accommodation and customer services for businesses large and small.
Mr Lee said the training is available now to attract more workers to tourism businesses at a vital time in the sector’s recovery, as well as open the door to a new career for thousands of people.
“People from around the country are lining up to book holidays all over our great state and the NSW Government wants to help support those businesses attract enthusiastic and skilled staff,” Mr Lee said.
“Industry estimates around 600,000 staff across the country left the sector during the pandemic, which is why training opportunities like these free courses are so valuable, filling labour gaps and giving jobseekers the opportunity of a bright future in tourism.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said access to skilled workers is one of the greatest challenges facing tourism and hospitality businesses in NSW right now.
“Our tourism operators, event owners and local tourism organisations are the backbone of this industry and they need more skilled staff to rebuild. Offering fee-free training means we can support both businesses and workers, which will help grow NSW’s visitor economy,” Mr Ayres said.
A recent Tourism and Transport Forum Australia survey of more than 500 businesses reveals a third of tourism businesses who took had to let staff go during COVID-19, compared to less than ten percent in other sectors.
Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said the tourism, hospitality and accommodation sector was crying out for more skilled staff.
“This initiative is a great way to give school leavers and employees displaced over the last 18 months the skills they need to join our great industry,” Mr Johnson said.
Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Chief Executive Margy Osmond said the free training would help to provide valuable entry opportunities for people keen to join the vibrant NSW tourism sector.
“Tourism & Transport Forum Australia is fully behind the NSW Government’s efforts to rebuild skills capacity and address gaps across the state’s tourism labour market,” Ms Osmond said.
“As the NSW visitor economy recovers, the tourism industry that can take its employees all around the state from the coast to the far west, as well as much further afield and it can also reward them with pathways to senior leadership roles over time.”
Free courses available under the program include:

• Outdoor Leadership (Basic Water Rescues, Snorkel, Lead Snorkeling, Paddle and Lead Stand Up Board on Inland Flatwater)
• Tourism Product Design and Promotion
• Hospitality (Interact with Customers, Safe Work Practices and Visitor Information, Housekeeping, Responsible Service of Alcohol, Social/Cultural Sensitivity)
• Outdoor Recreation (Vertical Rescues, Abseil, Establish Ropes and Lead Single Pitch Abseiling on Natural Surfaces)
• Bicycle Servicing
• Swimming and Water Safety Teacher
• Infection control

Today’s announcement complements the nearly 250,000 free training places being funded under the joint State and Federal JobTrainer program, and adds to the NSW Government investment in free training recently announced for the Retail and Hospitality sectors.
To explore other fee-free courses available to study, visit: https://bit.ly/32n97Vf

More inclusive playspaces will be rolled out across the state, with $4 million to be shared between 29 councils in the fourth and final round of the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play program.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the funding will support the delivery of 33 new or upgraded playspaces across NSW.
“All communities should have access to great public spaces, and the Everyone Can Play program is providing people of all ages and abilities with places to come together and have fun,” Mr Stokes said.
“Since 2018 we’ve invested $15 million into 108 new or improved playspaces in Greater Sydney and regional NSW. We’re thrilled to announce funding for another 33 projects, providing more and better public play facilities everyone can enjoy.
“This award-winning program asks three simple questions to inform best practice inclusive design – Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay?”
Some of the 33 projects funded in the final round of the Everyone Can Play program include:

• Wollongong City Council: $200,000 for an inclusive playspace in Stuart Park;
• City of Canada Bay Council: $200,000 for an inclusive nature playspace in Queen Elizabeth Park;
• Goulburn Mulwaree Council: $200,000 for a new inclusive nature playspace in Marulan Village;
• Georges River Council: $200,000 for a new inclusive playspace in Oleander Reserve;
• Cumberland City Council: $75,000 for an upgrade to the Ruth Street Park playspace; and
• Upper Hunter Shire Council: $74,000 for an upgrade to the Amaroo Park playspace.

The Everyone Can Play program was established in 2018 as part of the NSW Government’s $290 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney package. It supports the Government’s target of increasing public access to quality, walkable, green and open public space.
An additional $4 million is also up for grabs for councils across Greater Sydney as part of the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Greenspace Program.
Mr Stokes said the NSW Government will match councils dollar-for-dollar for new and improved parks, cycleways and greenspaces.
“Last year, we awarded almost $4 million to support 12 councils to deliver 13 projects and it’s now time for councils to nominate again for more projects.”
Applications for the Metropolitan Greenspace Program are open until 4 March 2022.
For further details, visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/metropolitan-greenspace-program
A full list of Everyone Can Play grant recipients is available at: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/EveryoneCanPlay

Clearer and simpler processes will support quality providers to operate Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) services, following a Department of Education review and streamlining of OSHC licence agreements.
The changes allow the Department to more transparently select high quality providers that best meet the needs of schools and most benefit students, while supporting existing providers of OSHC services to make a smooth transition to new arrangements.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the Department’s review of licence agreements identified areas of improvement were needed, including simplification of the licence categories and associated tender processes.
“We are committed to providing before and after school care services for families who need it in NSW, and we want these services to be as high quality and affordable as possible,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Changes to the licensing approach are needed to ensure the Department is following best-practice administrative law and direct negotiations guidelines, and to ensure that students and families have access to the best possible OSHC services.”
The Department is simplifying the licensing process by making Category A licences available only to P&C Associations.
Parent-run providers in this category who are not currently run by the P&C Association will be supported to transition to be incorporated under their P&C. Alternatively, providers can change to the not-for-profit Category B. Affected providers will have until at least December 2022 to finalise their transition process.
“We know how important parent-run services are to our school communities. That is why we want to work with and support them through this transition process,” Ms Mitchell said.
Government tendering guidelines require Category B and C providers to go to tender once their current licence expires.
The Department of Education will work with affected services to provide support and ensure a smooth transition into their new category.
To ensure more access to before and after school care in NSW, the NSW Government has committed $120 million to deliver a range of funded innovative solutions for the sector.