An advanced manufacturing precinct at Narromine that will create more than 250 jobs is among the latest projects to benefit from the Perrottet Government’s $130 million Regional Job Creation Fund.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole today announced an additional $55.5 million in funding had been awarded, leveraging $180.3 million in private investment across 69 projects across regional NSW as part of Round One of the Regional Job Creation Fund.
“No matter where you live in our State we are focused on providing the right support to ensure businesses can grow and have the confidence to invest to create and support new jobs,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Regional Job Creation Fund has already funded projects that will create thousands of jobs and the projects now being delivered will help generate thousands more and support work for tradies and suppliers across the State.
“This program will help deliver jobs where they are needed as we recover from the pandemic by helping businesses small and large to get off the ground as well as attracting major international businesses to expand or relocate to regional NSW.”
The Regional Job Creation Fund aims to create more than 6,500 new direct jobs in regional NSW over the next three years.
It provides co-funded grants between $100,000 and $10 million to fast track projects that enable emerging industries, help businesses expand operations or provide incentives for operations to relocate to regional NSW.
Mr Toole said a $4.8 million grant will help engineering company Simmons Global relocate its operations from Western Australia to Narromine, creating up to 253 full time local jobs and providing a major boost to the State’s advanced manufacturing sector.
“This funding will help deliver an advanced manufacturing precinct that produces everything from unmanned aerial drones to solar UV monitors that tell teachers when students should play in the shade, as well as help upskill local indigenous and youth workers through apprenticeships,” Mr Toole said.
“This will drive the creation of hundreds of new jobs right here in the Central West.”
Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the establishment of Simmons Global in Narromine was a great example of what the Regional Job Creation Fund is designed to deliver.
“I’m thrilled to announce we are supporting this global company in expanding its business and creating local jobs for the Central West now and into the future,” Mr Saunders said.
“By setting businesses up for success, we’re helping them attract new customers, which means more people in work and earning a wage that they will spend in local shops, supporting our local economy.”
Simmons Global CEO and Group Technical Director David Simmons said the Regional Job Creation Fund grant is providing the company with the opportunity to get ahead, establish its factory and create jobs in regional NSW.
“Narromine is the ideal location to establish a manufacturing facility for the wide array of advanced technology devices we will produce and I would like to thank the NSW Government for supporting our group and helping us transition our manufacturing back onshore to New South Wales,” Mr Simmons said.
Other companies receiving support in the latest round include storage and production upgrades for a winery in Cudal, an innovative recycling facility in Kurri Kurri and upgrades for a family owned and operated sheet metal manufacturer in Narrabri.
Round One of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed and Round Two will open in early 2022.
More details on the full list of recipients as part of Round One will be announced shortly.
Two new innovative support services bring mental health support closer to home
People experiencing emotional distress will now be able to access support in two novel ways, thanks to a $46 million investment in new suicide prevention initiatives across NSW.
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said that 20 calming non-clinical hubs called Safe Havens and 20 Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOTs) will add to the web of support the NSW Government has already embedded in communities across NSW.
“We know suicide prevention support needs to engage distressed people where they live their lives – if we can be there to provide support before someone needs to be hospitalised, we can help reduce the likelihood of further suicidal behaviours,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Instead of struggling alone or heading to a bustling emergency department, anyone who is experiencing mental health distress can now head to one of these purpose-designed Safe Havens.
“There are no appointments or referrals needed, so whether you need some peace and quiet, a chat with someone who understands what you’re going through, or some calming activities to reduce the intensity of your negative thoughts and feelings, you can walk right in.”
South Western Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Director Dr Claire Jones said the free and confidential service is a place where people can informally chat to trained staff, have a cup of tea or coffee, play board games or puzzles, join an activity or chill out in a quiet spot.
“Our Safe Haven provides a different type of support for people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The Peer Support Team have had their own personal lived experience of suicidal distress and they can help people by linking them to the services and support programs that can assist them.’’
District Chief Executive Amanda Larkin said Campbelltown Safe Haven features a quiet room and sensory items, including a massage chair and weighted blankets to help people relax.
“The Safe Haven is a friendly and compassionate place where everyone is welcome,’’ Ms Larkin said.
“All of the staff members understand first-hand how hard it can be to experience suicidal thoughts. They come from all ages, cultures and backgrounds including people who identify as LGBTIQA+.”
In addition to the new Safe Havens, 20 new mobile SPOT teams will provide rapid outreach to people in suicidal distress in the community, with 14 teams already up and running.
“The new teams combine clinical expertise and lived experience of suicide, and care for people at or near their homes – ensuring they stay connected with their family, friends and other valuable support networks,” Mrs Taylor said.
“We know thoughts of suicide can be triggered by a painful experience – such as a divorce, unemployment, retirement or death of a loved one – and these mobile teams will support individuals in the places where they live their day to day lives.”
The NSW Government has invested $25.1 million in the Safe Haven initiative and $21.35 million in the Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams, which both contribute to the Towards Zero Suicides – a Premier’s Priority.
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately by calling 000 or one of these services:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
Upgrade for inner west preschool students
Preschool students in Sydney’s Inner West will soon be learning in a new purpose built preschool at Wilkins Public School.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new preschool facility would continue to be co-located at the primary school.
“Wilkins Public School is part of a vibrant and growing community who love having their preschool and primary school all in the same place,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The location makes it easy for parents and carers with young children on the school drop off and pick up.
“Early education is key to a student’s success later in life and this government is focused on lifting the quality of services across the State and helping families access them via our ongoing $150 million free preschool program.
“Globe Wilkins preschool has previously been recognised by the Australian Childcare Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) for their strong commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It’s fantastic to see that quality early childhood education continues to be easily accessible for the community.”
The Inner West Council, which will continue to operate the preschool in its new facilities, will soon begin internal fit out works before preschool students move into their new facilities.
The NSW Government is investing $7.9 billion over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 215 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
NSW schools to receive permanent improvements to indoor air quality
The Perrottet Government is continuing the rollout of its ventilation program with thousands of classrooms set to benefit from automatic fresh air ventilation systems.
The $100 million investment in an air quality assurance program for NSW public schools has already delivered permanent air quality improvements to schools across NSW and forms part of the economic recovery to COVID-19.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the comprehensive audit of all NSW public school learning spaces have helped make schools COVID safe and identified opportunities for permanent improvements to enhance natural ventilation.
“Schools have received a mix of temporary and permanent remediation works, and in some cases have adapted the way they use spaces as part of their COVID-19 Safety plan,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our focus now is on leveraging the insights from the audit of all our public schools to deliver permanent improvements to air quality through this investment.”
“The advice from experts is that maximising natural ventilation is the most effective method of minimising the spread of COVID-19 and we will continue to implement measures that support this.”
Almost 2,000 learning spaces, identified by the audit, are set to receive permanent automatic fresh air ventilation systems to complement natural ventilation and airflow. The ventilation systems are currently being procured and will be progressively installed.
Temporary measures, including the use of air purifiers, have been put in place in these learning spaces to supplement natural ventilation and to ensure that they are safe for use.
Ventilation is only one COVID safe measure in NSW public schools. Vaccinations, cohorting, restricted access and mask wearing all play an important role in keeping students safe.
New RFS helicopters and aviation centre of excellence for regional NSW
Labor Announces Candidate for Reid
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has today announced the ALP’s candidate for Reid, Sally Sitou.
Sally and her husband are Homebush locals, where they live with their young son Max. Sally is the daughter of hardworking Chinese parents who fled Laos after the Vietnam war.
She believes passionately in the education and work opportunities that allowed her family to thrive and prosper in Australia.
Sally is a doctoral researcher at the University of Sydney Business School where her focus is the finance industry and how to strengthen leadership in this sector by empowering more women and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Before commencing her PhD, Sally worked in the international education and international development sectors, including stints with AusAID in Samoa and with a not-for-profit advocating for the elderly in China as an Australian Government Youth Ambassador for Development.
Anthony Albanese said:
“Sally is an exceptional candidate. She joined the Labor Party because she believes that with hard work, a good education, strong community support and secure employment, everyone can build the life they want for themselves and their children – regardless of their background or where they come from.
“Sally knows what matters to the working families of Reid and she will work hard every day to elect a Labor Government focused on affordable housing and childcare, a stronger Medicare, quality aged care and cheaper power bills.’’
Free hospitality training caters for skills gap
Whether it’s a first job or a career change, the NSW Government is out to attract job seekers with free training opportunities designed to help fill skill shortages in the hospitality sector.
The NSW Government today announced around 3000 free training places across 29 different courses are now available to study at TAFE NSW and other registered training providers, including barista training, safe food handling, responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and introduction to cooking courses.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the free training would help attract more workers to hospitality venues, at a critical time in the sector’s recovery from the pandemic.
“People from all over the State are lining up to get into pubs and clubs and we want to support those businesses with enthusiastic and skilled staff,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We know businesses are struggling without the international workforce they depended on pre-lockdown. That’s why opportunities like this are so valuable, filling labour gaps and giving jobseekers the opportunity of a bright future in hospitality.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the sector had been calling out for help to staff venues, and the NSW Government is responding.
“We’ve opened the doors to the State, and now we want to equip the sector with the confidence to thrive with the rest of the economy,” Mr Lee said.
“This training not only helps businesses staff venues, but it also opens up career opportunities for people looking to make their start in the once again booming hospitality industry.”
“There are great career pathways in hospitality; today’s bartender or wait staff can become tomorrow’s pub, bar or restaurant owner.”
Australian Hotels Association Chief Executive John Whelan said the training had come at the right time as pubs and resturaunts dial up business.
“The NSW government is to be congratulated. This comprehensive program provides the skills to build a new era of hospitality – both school leavers and those looking for a career change,” Mr Whelan said.
Today’s announcement complements the free training already being funded under the joint State and Federal JobTrainer program.
To enrol in a free TAFE hospitality course, visit: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/skills-served-up
To explore other free hospitality courses available to study, visit: https://bit.ly/3GpNEKW
Morgue gives rise to ambulance superstation
A sod turn ceremony at the city site of the former NSW Coroners Court and Morgue has signalled the start of construction on Sydney’s newest ambulance superstation.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Central Sydney Ambulance Station is the final superstation in a $184 million infrastructure program.
“We are continuing to invest record amounts in our health system across the State to ensure we have the doctors, nurses, paramedics and facilities we need to keep people safe and provide them with care when they need it most,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This state-of-the-art ambulance facility will be home to around 65 paramedics and managers helping bolster our first-class network of ambulance centres ensuring our paramedics are best placed to respond to emergencies and save lives.”
The NSW Government’s Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy program is the biggest investment in infrastructure across Sydney in ambulance’s 126-year history.
As a result, new stations are operational at Caringbah, Kogarah, Blacktown, Liverpool, Bankstown, Penrith, Artarmon, Northmead, Randwick, Haberfield and Mona Vale.
Mr Hazzard said the Glebe project is on time and on budget and will be completed in 2023, helping to enhance ambulance operations in metropolitan Sydney into the future.
“This once familiar site of coronial and forensic excellence is on the CBD doorstop and was carefully chosen for its proximity to major roads and hospitals,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It will ensure paramedics are best placed to respond to medical emergencies to the local community but also to the many visitors to central Sydney for work and leisure.”
The facility will boast 30 ambulance bays; administration, office areas and amenities; on site undercover parking for staff, an internal wash bay, logistic and storage areas.
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dominic Morgan said the new Central Sydney Station will be supported by the Eveleigh ambulance centre and other response points.
“With all the new superstations and Paramedic Response Points, there will now be 55 operational facilities across metro Sydney to respond to emergencies,” Dr Morgan said.
The NSW Government has invested more than $9 billion in NSW Ambulance since 2011 which has seen a boost of 1160 paramedics. In the 2021-22 Budget, $1.4 billion will be invested in ambulance services including $214 million for a new State Operations Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
More people in prison despite less crime, Productivity Commission report finds
Today, the Productivity Commission released their research paper: Australia’s Prison Dilemma. The paper reports that imprisonment rates have increased by more than 35% despite crime rates dropping.
“Our legal system fails too many people. It fails First Nations people regularly, and the consequences can be a matter of life or death.” Said the Greens spokesperson for Justice, Senator Lidia Thorpe.
“Our country needs a smarter, more ambitious approach to fixing our criminal legal system. First Nations people in particular are being disproportionately targeted by the system, often with devastating effects on people and their communities.
“The Australia’s Prison Dilemma report shows us that 42% of imprisoned people are serving non-violent offences, 15% are considered low risk. It’s astonishing that a third of all imprisoned people are on remand.
“The report echoes what First Nations people have been saying for decades, that we need to prioritise our self-determination and properly resource our community-run services like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, health and social support services. Our people are the most effective at prevention and building strong and healthy communities.”
“Ultimately, the best way to reduce crime is to prevent it. We must reform the criminal legal system by preventing people getting caught up in it in the first place. Prioritising strong communities over prisons and other punitive measures is also known as justice reinvestment.”
“If we want justice in our communities, we need to look at alternatives to prison. The report recommends culturally safe, community-based programs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sentencing courts, diversion and trauma-informed wrap-around services.” Said Thorpe
Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout delivers high vaccination rates among people with disability
The Morrison Government has welcomed the formal submission of the final report from the Disability Royal Commission on Public Hearing 12, which examined the experiences of people with disability through the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.
The Disability Royal Commission held a public hearing focusing on the vaccine program in May 2021. Since then, vaccination rates among Australians with disability have significantly increased with an ongoing focus on supporting access to ensure maximum protection from severe outcomes of COVID-19.
More than 77 per cent of NDIS participants in shared residential accommodation are fully vaccinated, and more than 217,000 (77 percent) NDIS participants 16 years and over have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 66 percent fully vaccinated. This is an increase of more than 186,000 NDIS participants since late May.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Government has accepted six of the seven recommendations and noted the seventh, emphasising that significant progress in the vaccination rollout for people with disability has already been made.
Recommendation 4 concerns the easing of restrictions in line with vaccination thresholds being reached, which the Minster noted is the responsibility of state and territory governments.
“Many of the recommendations from this report go to measures which have already been put in place – the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has always demanded quick assessment, response and action,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our Government will approach these recommendations as important pointers to supporting Australians with disability to access and rely on the protection of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The health response to COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout have both demanded quick action and continue to be shaped by expert advice and direct feedback to deliver the greatest possible protection and support to all Australians.”
The Morrison Government has led significant consultation with people across the disability community, including active and regular engagement with people with disability, their families, carers, NDIS providers and unions. This work has helped drive vaccination rates and deliver support for people with disability and workers within the disability sector to access vaccines.
The Morrison Government refutes many findings in the report, including criticism of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Strategy. As a high-level document, the strategy provided an overview and pathway forward which has been adapted and updated following consultation and expert advice throughout the vaccination program.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said Australians with disability have been a priority throughout the rollout.
“Since commencing as the Minister for the NDIS I have very actively engaged with disability representative organisations, NDIS providers, sector peaks, states and territories and other disability stakeholders in relation to the vaccine rollout, “ Minister Reynolds said.
“This engagement with the disability sector has directly informed portfolio actions to support people with disability to have the opportunity to access COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible,” Minister Reynolds said.
“Since the commencement of the vaccine program, people with disability in residential accommodation settings of 2 or more people, and the workers supporting them, have been prioritised in Phase 1A, with access to vaccines from February 2021 which now sees more than 77 percent of NDIS participants over 16 years of age living in shared residential accommodation now fully vaccinated.
“Many other people with a disability joined the priority list from March 2021 under Phase 1B, which specifically focused vaccine access on people with underlying medical conditions. This prioritisation is reflected in the high vaccination numbers amongst all NDIS participants, with 77 percent of NDIS participants over 16 years having received at least one dose, and impressively nearly 60 per cent of NDIS participants aged 12-15 years having received at least one dose, since becoming eligible in late-August.
“In addition, from 8 November 2021 people in high priority groups, including residents of disability facilities, will be the first eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. The booster program will roll out directly to people living in disability facilities through an in-reach program.”
Resources about the vaccine strategy and how it relates to people with disability are readily available. Disability peak bodies and providers have also provided support to the Government’s communication efforts, disseminating accurate and accessible COVID-19 disease and vaccine information.