16 News

Construction of the University of Sydney medical program’s new teaching facilities in Dubbo has begun, with work expected to be completed in October.
The first cohort of 24 Year 1 Sydney Medical students (Dubbo Stream) are expected to commence in early February next year. These students will be able to complete all of their four-year Doctor of Medicine degree in the brand new, world-class facility.
Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton this week visited the site and congratulated the university on the start of construction, after plans were approved last December.
The university will receive $9.27 million from the Australian Government for the medical school, including $7.65 million in capital funding to redevelop the existing School of Rural Health and build an extension. Patterson Building Group is managing the project.
It will include a state-of-the-art anatomy space including two- and three- dimensional visual technologies, virtual and augmented reality and 3D printing, learning studios, simulation space, service rooms and amenities.
“The new medical program in Dubbo will be part of the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network, increasing the capacity for medical students to undertake and complete their studies in regional centres instead of Sydney or Melbourne,” Minister Coulton said.
“More students from rural areas will be able to do medicine and all students will develop rural ties which will encourage them to stay in the country, after graduating.
“Together with the other elements of the Government’s comprehensive plan for stronger rural health, this will improve access to doctors and health outcomes for rural people.”
“The Dubbo program builds on our long-standing history in the region which has seen more than 800 students complete one-year extended placements in Dubbo, Orange and Broken Hill,” said Professor Cheryl Jones, Head of School and Dean of the University of Sydney Medical School.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the first students to complete their entire degree in Dubbo.”

Forbes, Parkes and the surrounding communities will benefit from new primary health care models to improve access to local health care and provide better continuity of care for rural patients.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack said the trial announced today was one of five new primary care models being tested in western and southern New South Wales.
“The Nationals in Government are working hard to address regional workforce shortages through a range of initiatives and programs, and this new model announced today is part of the solution,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“An ageing GP workforce had been identified as a challenge in the region, and this model is testing a potential new solution to ensure people in this region continue to have access to health care.”
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said regional experts – the NSW Rural Doctors Network, the Western NSW Local Health District and the Western NSW Primary Health Network – are working closely with local councils, community and health professionals to design an innovative solution for the area.
“With each new model, the aim is to demonstrate how new and flexible approaches can address workforce shortages in the bush, and find sustainable ways of delivering services across a number of smaller, connected rural communities,” Minister Coulton said.
“The challenge of delivering health services in small communities is well known, and it is clear the existing one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working for every rural community.
These models differ to traditional health workforce solutions that focus on individual towns. Instead the focus is on sub-regions to address healthcare access issues.
“By servicing multiple towns, there is an opportunity to achieve economies of scale, create sustainable practices and provide better access to primary health services for rural and remote Australians,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Nationals in Government are breaking new ground by investing in sub-regional models of primary care to provide local solutions and to test how these new approaches can address perennial rural health challenges across the nation.”
The Lachlan region joins the Canola Fields, 4T’s (Tullamore, Trangie, Tottenham and Trundle), Snowy Valley and Wentworth sites, where innovative solutions to local healthcare problems are being developed under the program. The Australian Government has invested $3.3 million to test these new models.

Australia’s 58,000 registered charities hold a special place in our community because of the vital work they do and in turn receive special status.
The Morrison Government is strengthening laws to ensure activist organisations, masquerading as charities, that promote and engage in unlawful behaviour will no longer be tolerated.
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said the promotion and condoning of illegal activity diminishes Australians’ trust in the charities sector and puts workers jobs at risk.
“The Morrison Government strongly supports the right to peacefully protest and engage in political discourse as key pillars of our democracy,” Minister Sukkar said.
“However, political activists and organisations condoning and participating in criminal activities, while masquerading as charities, undermine Australians’ trust in the sector overall and do not deserve this privilege.”
“There is nothing charitable about assault, late night break ins, threatening behaviour and illegal blockades.”
“Australians subsidise charities through tax concessions, with the expectation that donated money goes to charitable works, not the promotion of and participation in criminal activities.”
Member for Braddon Gavin Pearce said too many North West Tasmanian workers have been affected by illegal activities that threaten their jobs.
“The North West has a proud tradition of many local charities performing outstanding acts of kindness when our community needs it most,” Mr Pearce said.
“However, all too often local workers are impacted by the illegal and threatening behaviour of the minority who seek to hide behind the legitimacy of a charity to push their agenda.”
“Workers in the North West should be allowed to go about their lawful work, free from harassment and acts that threaten their jobs,” Mr Pearce said.
At present the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commissioner has enforcement powers to revoke an organisation’s charity status. Under current rules, charities are prohibited from engaging in conduct that may be dealt with either as an indictable offence under Australian law.
The reforms ensure charities are prohibited from engaging in or promoting theft, vandalism, trespass or assault and threatening behaviour.

The Morrison Government will today launch the $18.8 million third phase of the national campaign to reduce violence against women and their children to mark International Women’s Day.
The Stop it at the Start campaign encourages adults to “unmute” themselves and empowers them to take actions that will have a positive influence on the attitudes and behaviours of young people.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the campaign was critical in our efforts to prevent family, domestic and sexual violence.
“Each and every one of us has a role to play in ensuring disrespectful attitudes and behaviours towards women are not learned in childhood,” Minister Ruston said.
“We all need to unmute ourselves when we witness disrespect and turn it into an opportunity to set the standard for what is and isn’t acceptable.
“Taking action on this issue may seem overwhelming but if we all take small steps, such as reconsidering our own views or talking to our children about respectful relationships, it can add up to a positive change for Australia.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women and Acting Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said launching the next phase of Stop it at the Start on International Women’s Day sent a powerful message about the role we all must play to ensure all women can fulfil their potential.
“We have made considerable progress towards gender equality in Australia but challenges remain whether that be in the home or the workplace,” Minister Payne said.
“As a Government we see it as our duty to foster a culture in which Australian men grow up respecting the women in their lives.
“Stop it at the Start demonstrates to all adults that responding to disrespect can be a constructive, liberating and an important way to shape future generations.”
The Stop it at the Start campaign began in 2016 as an initiative under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
It is funded under the Morrison Government’s record $340 million investment in the Fourth Action Plan with financial contributions from the governments of South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Evaluation research found the campaign was changing attitudes with 42 per cent of adults taking action, such as having a conversation with a young person about respectful relationships or changing the way they behave towards others as a result of earlier phases of the campaign.
Phase one of the campaign encouraged adults to recognise their own unconscious behaviour and understand the influence such behaviour can have on others, including the next generation. Phase two asked people to take ownership of the issue rather than using arguments to rationalise disrespectful behaviours.
Phase three of the campaign will be rolled out across television, cinema, online, outdoor, digital and social media from Sunday 14 March.
A suite of tools and resources will be available online at www.respect.gov.au to help parents and other adults to model positive behaviours and start a conversation about respect with the young people in their lives.
Ministers Payne and Ruston thanked the Commonwealth Bank for partnering with the Government to deliver the launch event, where a panel discussion would highlight how government, business and the broader community must come together to address the issue of violence against women.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
 

The Morrison Government is supporting female entrepreneurs to build their businesses, take on global markets and create local jobs, with the opening of a new $11.6 million funding round under the Boosting Female Founders Initiative.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said it was fitting that applications for round two of the in-demand initiative are opening on International Women’s Day.
“Female entrepreneurs are underrepresented in our innovation and technology sectors, often because they face greater obstacles in getting early-stage finance,” Minister Andrews said.
“The first round of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative saw more than 50 female-founded and led businesses share in nearly $12 million to scale up, create new jobs and take on new markets.
“In the second round, we are providing a further $11.6 million in funding, while also expanding the program to offer expert mentoring and advice for eligible candidates.
“International Women’s Day challenges us to take action for equality. Through the Boosting Female Founders Initiative, we’re helping Aussie female entrepreneurs overcome barriers to success and launch their great ideas onto the world stage.”
The Boosting Female Founders Initiative provides grants of between $25,000 and $400,000 to Australian start-up businesses that are majority owned and led by women.
The Initiative was announced as part of the 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement, and expanded under the 2020 Women’s Economic Security Statement.
In total, it will provide $52.2 million of competitive grant funding plus $1.8 million in mentoring services from 2020–2021 to 2024–25.
Applications for the current funding round will be open until 22 April 2021, and can be submitted at business.gov.au/bff.