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A new Numeracy course for Year 11 and 12 students will be available to all NSW schools to support students to build functional and practical numeracy and mathematics skills for life and work in the 21^st century.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell joined Maths Ambassadors Michael O’Loughlin, Professor Nalini Joshi and Dr Matt Agnew to announce the new course and launch the 2021 Maths Trains Brains campaign.
Ms Mitchell said the new course was one element of the NSW Mathematics Strategy aimed at ensuring all students have the necessary support to develop core numeracy and mathematics skills and apply them to everyday life.
“Students who have been a part of the pilot course are more engaged in maths by up to 11 percentage points, which is a huge success and will help set them up for the future,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We’ve seen increased engagement particularly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students in rural and remote areas and students studying vocational education and training courses.
“Those are the results we want to see from the NSW Mathematics Strategy because every child in NSW deserves the opportunity to develop the mathematics skills and understanding necessary to succeed in life and expand their options for post-school pathways.”
The release of new course coincides with the launch of the 2021 Maths Trains Brains campaign, which aims to drive interest and engagement with mathematics.
“Mathematics is so important, and this campaign encourages everyone from students to parents and carers to engage with mathematics,” Ms Mitchell said.
AFL legend and GO Foundation cofounder Michael O’Loughlin said education and a strong mathematics understanding is crucial for young people.
“I’m a parent and advocate for empowering young Indigenous students through education. Mathematics opens doorways to success for students,” Mr O’Loughlin said.
Esteemed mathematician and the University of Sydney’s first female Professor of Mathematics, Professor Nalini Joshi said mathematics was essential for students’ understanding of new ideas and judging whether they are based on evidence.
“In the same way that learning to read as a child shapes how we communicate in our adult lives, learning how to do mathematics leads to rhythms in the way we think,” Professor Joshi said.
“I am extremely pleased to be involved in this program, by helping to communicate and show to students, parents and carers that mathematics is an essential skill we need to thrive in our fast changing, technologically sophisticated society.”
Astrophysicist, engineer and author Dr Matt Agnew has been involved in teaching students mathematics for several years, and is passionate about helping to reverse the falling interest in mathematics by students.
“Mathematical understanding and confidence is critically important to one’s confidence in and understanding of the world around us,” Dr Agnew said.
“Mathematics is everywhere and mastering it will help our students succeed in anything they choose to do.”
Parents and carers can visit the Everyday Maths Hub  curated by NSW mathematics teachers, to engage with their children on mathematics in everyday life.
Visit the NESA website for more information about the Numeracy course.

A striking, new nearly $15 million police station has officially opened in the heart of Inverell, the 37^th police station built or significantly upgraded since 2011 and the fourth this year.
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott, joined the Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall and NSW Police Force Commissioner Michael Fuller APM, at a formal ceremony, including the NSW Police Band, to officially open the new Inverell Police Station.
Mr Elliott said the impressive new two-storey facility houses general duties, specialist and tactical officers, including a dog handler and highway patrol officers.
“The Inverell Police Station is yet another boost to the public safety of NSW and is part of the $108 million Multipurpose Police Station Program, that is committed to upgrading smaller regional and metropolitan police station.”
“This station will house the growing number of police officers in the New England Police District, which has already added eight extra permanent positions since the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver an extra 1500 police officers over four years,” Mr Elliott said.
Mr Marshall said the station includes dedicated spaces for crime prevention and investigative units, as well as the unique inclusion of a dedicated police forensic facility within the complex.
“This station is a testament to this government’s election commitment to invest in a police station infrastructure program to support the vital work of our policemen and women,” Mr Marshall said.
“Designed to enhance connectivity with the neighbouring court complex, the facility also provides extra space and resources to support the growing number of police allocated to the region.”
Commissioner Michael Fuller welcomed the impressive new police station.
“This is a major investment in the crime fighting capabilities in the New England Police District. Fitted with state-of-the-art technology and fixtures, Inverell Police Station will give police the support they need to continue to drive down crime and keep the community safe,” Commissioner Fuller said.
The new Inverell Police Station will be staffed and operate 24 hours, seven days a week.

Drivers across Sydney can save money when parking, thanks to a new ‘park now, pay later’ feature rolling out across the NSW Government’s Park’nPay app.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the technology lets drivers pay for the exact amount of time they use a parking spot through the app.
“We’ve listened to drivers who were frustrated at having to pay upfront for two hours of parking when they only ended up needing 30 minutes,” Mr Dominello said.
“This smart tech means they only pay for the time used, and they won’t have to worry about having to pay until they leave the spot.
“So far users of the app have given it 93 per cent thumbs up, and this new feature is another way we are making life easier for customers.”
According to analysis by the NSW Government, drivers could collectively save millions of dollars because a customer will typically buy 20 per cent more time than they need in a spot.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said while it’s already possible for a customer to extend their parking by topping up their payment using the app, they previously couldn’t reduce their payment if they decided to leave early.
“The great thing about this new feature is it allows customers to pay for the exact amount of time they use. They simply have to select the ‘pay later’ option and they can go about their business, indicating in the app when they’ve left the spot,” Mr Constance said.
“Using the enhanced app could provide drivers with hip pocket relief – an average session time via the meter in Liverpool Council is 118 minutes while on Park’nPay it’s 98 minutes.”
The app exists in the following councils: Liverpool, The Rocks, Burwood, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Central Coast, Port Stephens, Willoughby, Cumberland, Northern Beaches and with Park&Ride. For more information visit www.parknpay.nsw.gov.au
The first NSW Government Parking Summit will be held on Monday 17 May aimed at improving customers’ parking experiences in Greater Sydney

Work on Parramatta’s ‘Eat Street’ has hit a major milestone, with 50 per cent of the light rail tracks installed along the dining strip.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the team has been working hard to get the tracks laid along Church Street, between Market and George Streets, as quickly as possible, while minimising the impact to the local community.
“More than three kilometres of track have been laid along the 12-kilometre route, with track laying on ‘Eat Street’ on schedule to be completed during the middle of this year,” Mr Constance said.
“The Parramatta Light Rail team has worked more than three million hours on the project so far, with about one million hours spent on ‘Eat Street’ to get us to this significant milestone.”
Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said crews took advantage of the quieter roads during the April school holidays to accelerate track installation, avoiding up to 26 consecutive weekends of night works.
“Innovative technology has been used during construction to identify and move 300 utilities, including a micro-tunnelling machine to build drainage and stormwater capacity while reducing noise, dust and vibration impacts above the ground,” Dr Lee said.
“We want to thank the local businesses and residents for their patience during what has been a tough period for many. We look forward to celebrating the completion of major works along ‘Eat Street’ with a range of activities during the ‘Eat Street Uncovered’ event.”
The Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to commence services in 2023.
For more information, visit www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au.

Drivers in the Northern Beaches will be able to pay for and top up their parking online, thanks to the NSW Government’s popular Park’nPay app going live in the region.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the app makes life easier for drivers by putting more power in their hands.
“This is a game changer for drivers saving them precious time and allowing them to manage their parking from anywhere via the app,” Mr Dominello said. “No one should be rushing back to put money in a parking meter in 2021.
“Smart city thinking should be about making life easier for the customer and so far the 56,000 drivers using the app have given it a 93 per cent thumbs up.
“I commend Northern Beaches Council for coming on board and putting their customers first. This is a big win for the community, and a region boasting world famous beaches and popular restaurants and shops which people want to get to.”
The technology will apply to many machines and Pay and Display carparks across the peninsula’s beaches and reserves.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said: “Council has been keen to support the roll out of this initiative as it will benefit not just our community and visitors but also our local businesses.”
“It will promote parking turn over, reduce parking fines and ultimately provide us with information that will inform the ongoing management of parking across the Northern Beaches.”
The app also helps drivers avoid parking fines, by sending a notification when their meter is running low or their park is about to turn into a no stopping zone.
Drivers simply create an account on the app with their licence plate and payment details. Users have the option of paying with Visa, AMEX, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Parking inspectors can search for licence plate details using an app on their phone to see if a meter has been paid. Parking meters will continue to accept coins and credit cards.
The app already exists in the following councils – Liverpool, The Rocks, Burwood, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Central Coast, Port Stephens, Willoughby, Cumberland and with Park&Ride.
For more information visit www.parknpay.nsw.gov.au