Category: NSW News

Dozens of students are buzzing with excitement as NSW’s top primary school spellers go to battle hoping to be crowned the winner of the NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee.

Some 60 students have spelled their way into the finals, being held today at Q Theatre in Penrith, with words such as ‘fascinate’, ‘anemometer’, ‘allegory’ and ‘sovereign’.

The 2024 Premier’s Spelling Bee final will be contested by 30 students in Years 3 and 4 (junior) and 30 students in Years 5 and 6 (senior).  Along the way these students have beaten a combined 1,800 students in a series of regional heats to reach the finals.

Finalists include Hunter siblings Anica and Calvin N, from Biddabah Public School, and Anika and Anushka Iyengar, from Maryland Public School.

Anica and Anika, both in Year 3, will go head-to-head in the junior Spelling Bee, and their siblings Calvin, Year 5 and Anushka, Year 6, will compete in the senior Spelling Bee later in the day.

This year’s competition will also see the return of 2023 junior finalists, Year 4 student Bobby (Bogdan) Ivaneza from Annandale Public School and Year 5 Coonabarabran Public School student William Weatherall. Bobby and William will compete in the 2024 senior final.

The 2024 Spelling Bee’s participation has increased by almost 10 per cent on last year, with nearly two-thirds of NSW public primary schools competing.

Regional areas are well-represented with students travelling to Sydney from Temora, Dungowan, Griffith, Yamba and Mullumbimby to compete.

Yamba Public School in northern NSW has had students compete in the finals five times in the past eight years, with this year’s entrant Year 5 student Willow Allen.

More than 1,800 students competed in 60 regional finals over a 10-day period to reach the State finals. Of these, 303 students (200 juniors and 103 seniors) speak a language other than English at home, and 95 students (46 juniors and 49 seniors) identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Reading, writing and spelling are foundational skills for young learners, and this spelling bee gives some of our brightest students a chance to show their spelling skills while having a bit of fun.

“Students who are good spellers are often avid readers, and if we can get our children reading more through initiatives such as the Premier’s Reading Challenge, that’s an excellent outcome.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The Spelling Bee shows just how inclusive our public education system is – any student, regardless of where they live, can compete and be a contender for the top honours.

“As Minister for Western Sydney, I am thrilled this year’s competition is being held at Q Theatre in Penrith for the first time.”

The Minns Labor Government has expanded eligibility for the $200 Far West power outage support payment.

The $200 payment will now be made available to all eligible adults who live in Broken Hill, Central Darling Shire and the Unincorporated LGAs.

This expands on the previously announced details of a payment for each residential electricity account holder. The expanded payment will see every adult in a single household or shelter receive support.

Service NSW is urgently working to establish the system to process applications.

Once available, residents over the age of 18 will be able to apply via their MyService Account on the Service NSW website or mobile app, in person at the Recovery Assistance Point in Broken Hill, the Broken Hill Service NSW centre, or other locations to be advised.

Residents will need to provide proof of identity and residential address such as a recent utilities account, council rates notice, tenancy agreement or registration notice.

The NSW Government is working with financial institutions, which are standing by to support fast turnaround of payments into residents’ bank accounts. In most cases, payments should be available in bank accounts within three days of an approved application.

The Minns Labor Government will also be providing a $400 payment for small-to-medium sized businesses.

Businesses with a principal place of operation in the Broken Hill, Central Darling Shire and the Unincorporated LGAs with an active ABN at the time of the outage and fewer than 200 employees as of October 17 will be eligible to apply.

Business applications will be able to be made via the Service NSW Business App, website or in-person assisted by Business Concierges.

More information about the grants is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au

In addition to the support payments:

• 1300 vouchers for food and fuel, worth almost $100,000, have been provided so far to people experiencing financial hardship.
• 1,000 food hampers are being delivered this week to people experiencing hardship. Another 1,000 have been ordered for next week.
• More than 700 community members have visited the Recovery Assistance Point in Broken Hill and the mobile Recovery Assistance Points visiting smaller remote communities. They provide access to support and referral to services including Service NSW, Insurance Council, Vinnies, Legal Aid, Red Cross and the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.

Jointly-funded assistance for local governments from the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements is also available.

The Commonwealth Government has also opened applications for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, which provide up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders who have experienced loss of income as a result of the storms and outage. More information on the Commonwealth support is available at www.serviceaustralia.gov.au

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We are getting help to more people in Far West NSW impacted by the outage.

“People have been hit hard, and this money goes some way to easing the impact.

“This has been a major disruption to people and businesses, and this is an important boost to NSW Government support.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“The community across the Far West have experienced significant impacts from this power outage and this is one way we can help.

“Service NSW is working as quickly as possible to deliver these grants and we have been able to expand the eligibility so even more people can claim and benefit.

“I encourage all impacted residents and business owners to open their Service NSW app or go to the website and submit an application when the program opens.”

Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“We know that the community of Far West NSW has been struggling with the recent power outages and there has been a lot of uncertainty and hardship.

“The Government understands people are anxious to receive their grant and we are working as quickly as possible to ensure this is a streamlined and simple process.

“We will support the community every step of the way as part of the recovery from this extremely difficult event.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“The communities impacted by the power outage continue to face difficult decisions daily.

“I thank the NSW Government for coming to the Far West, speaking to our communities, and responding by expanding this grant.

“I will continue fighting for small businesses and individuals as the recovery continues.”

Today’s announcement from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has marked the start of a review that could hit families across Greater Sydney with a 50% increase in water bills. The review will assess Sydney Water’s request for a steep rate hike to fund at least $26 billion in essential infrastructure and operational upgrades by 2030.
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said if approved by IPART and the Minns Labor Government, households would see water bills soar by over 50% within five years. This includes an 18% rise next year alone, followed by annual hikes of 6.8%.
 
“With families already struggling under the weight of rising costs for energy, groceries, and other essentials, they shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the additional burden of funding infrastructure driven by the Albanese Labor Government’s failed immigration policies,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“Chris Minns should be on the phone to the Prime Minister, demanding a real solution instead of passing the bill onto Sydney households.”
 
Sydney Water’s submission highlights the need for $16.6 billion in new infrastructure, primarily in Sydney’s west, to support the surge in population growth driven by these very immigration policies.
 
Shadow Water Minister Steph Cooke said the Premier, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and Water Minister Rose Jackson need to devise a solution that doesn’t involve skyrocketing water bills for everyday families.
 
“This is not a small rise—under Sydney Water’s proposal, the average household could see water bills increase by hundreds of dollars each year,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Sydney’s infrastructure needs to keep up, but that’s not a job for struggling households. Chris Minns must ask Canberra to cover these costs, not pass them on to Sydney families.”
 
With the IPART decision expected in March 2025, the clock is ticking. Premier Chris Minns, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and Water Minister Rose Jackson have just five months to secure federal support for families, instead of squeezing more out of Sydney households in an attempt to balance the budget and meet federal housing targets.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy will this morning host a visit to Corowa by NSW Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman. The visit will reaffirm the strong and positive connections that have long existed in the township and discussed the importance of community safety.

The visit marks the first time a NSW or Federal Government leader has toured Corowa following an upsetting October 12 neo-Nazi demonstration.

The Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Corowa embodies the best of New South Wales — where unity triumphs over division, and community strength shines above hate.

“I’m committed to ensuring that every town and every member of the community feels safe and valued in our state,” Mr Speakman said.
Mr Clancy invited Mr Speakman, the former NSW Attorney General, to visit the historic Murray River town, home to 6000 people, in a show of unity with the Corowa community.

“Mark and I will be in Corowa today, standing together with the local community against the recent white supremacist activity. What happened last month is not who we are. The Corowa community we all know and enjoy is jam-packed with genuine, kind, and honest people and it’s a privilege for me to represent this community in my role as the Member for Albury.

“This community sticks together when the going gets tough, they’ve experienced natural disasters, COVID border lockdowns, and the recent resurrection of their beloved Corowa-Rutherglen Football Netball Club in the O&M after a few tough years on the paddock.

“I also want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Federation Council and the Corowa Chamber of Commerce in promoting harmony, along with the unity and resilience shown by residents, local businesses, sporting, and community groups. You are all remarkable.

Mr Clancy and Mr Speakman pledged continued support for the Corowa community, reaffirming the NSW Opposition’s commitment to upholding the important values that underpin NSW communities, including trust, respect, collaboration, and inclusivity.

More children will get free health and development checks with the Minns Labor Government today announcing $7.2 million for 881 early childhood education and care services across NSW.

The NSW Government opt-in Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood and Care program supports health professionals to visit early childhood education and care services to conduct the checks for four-year-olds to help identify additional support the children may need before school.

More than 7,000 children have received a free health and development check in their early childhood education and care service since the program began in 2023.

The checks assess various aspects of the child development, including problem solving skills, listening, talking and, social skills. Physical growth and dental health will also be monitored.

The program aims to make it easier for more services to offer the checks.

Eligible services received up to $7,500 to support:  

1.  Staffing to support services to deliver the health and development checks

2. Provision of private space to conduct the checks.

3. Support to address health and development needs identified through the checks.

The checks offered through early childhood education and care services provide families with a free alternative to visiting a doctor or Child and Family Health service.

Nearly half (44 per cent) of NSW children are not developmentally on track when they start school, according to the most recent Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data.

All preschools and long day care services can participate in the Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood Education and Care program by contacting their local health district.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to give kids across NSW the best start in life.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Health and development checks provide families with valuable information about their child’s growth and development.

“Offering the free checks at early childhood education and care services makes it easier for working families to participate and ensures there is early intervention for students who need it.

“The Minns Labor Government is supporting long term health and development outcomes for all children across NSW, regardless of their family’s postcode, income or circumstances.”

Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“Starting school is an exciting time, but with two in five children starting school developmentally off track we need to do more to support young children and their families.

“Providing health and development checks for four-year-olds in preschools or long day care centres makes it far more convenient for busy families to help their children have the best start to school.

“These checks especially in the first 2,000 days help families get the information they need to support their child’s development and to seek help, if needed.”

New high-tech traffic signals to test the latest lifesaving vehicle systems have been switched on in the NSW Central West, as the Minns Labor Government continues to focus on making our roads safer into the future.

While Cudal is a small town that doesn’t have any traffic lights itself, it is home to the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre (FMTRC), a NSW Government facility focused on global innovation in road safety.

The signals, installed at two intersections within the research centre, are a crucial part of Transport for NSW’s new advanced safety testing of connected vehicles.

The eight traffic signals equipped with the latest Cooperative Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) systems will enable safe scenario testing of wireless alerts that notify drivers if they are likely to run a red light, if there is a cyclist or pedestrian on the road, or of upcoming road work.

The signals can also receive transmissions to notify them of an approaching emergency vehicle that should get priority passing through the intersection.

The Minns Labor Government has invested $600,000 in the new traffic lights infrastructure to broaden connected technology tests at the Cudal facility, including new fibre optic wiring and site-wide 5G capabilities.

The improvements follow an announcement in August that the facility would quadruple in size to 100 hectares to expand the current track to a four-kilometre loop circuit able to test heavy vehicle safety systems at highway speeds.

Plans for the expansion are expected to go on public exhibition in coming months with work due to start in 2025.

Upgrading the research centre improves Transport’s capacity to become a global leader in innovation by exploring cutting-edge technologies to improve road safety and efficiency.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“These are the first traffic lights for the facility at Cudal but, as we strive to drive down the road toll in NSW, they definitely won’t be the last safety initiative the teams will help to develop, test and refine here.

“Adding this connected infrastructure to Transport’s world-class testing site gives local and international researchers and developers a place to run real-world scenarios without risk. The other cars, pedestrians and cyclists using the intersection at our Cudal site are soft targets, not real people, cars or bicycles.

“There is a wonderful community curiosity and pride in this facility and the groundbreaking work happening in here the Central West. It’s fantastic to be sharing the site with the community at an open day today.”

Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

“This month marks 91 years since Australia’s first automated traffic lights were installed in Sydney.

“At the time it was a massive leap into the future and it’s exciting to see this research into the new frontier of smart traffic signals and phasing happening right here in the NSW Central West.”

NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Orange Stephen Lawrence said:

“We want our roads to be as safe as possible. There are already vehicles coming off production lines with the ability to receive and send information to traffic signals and by developing and improving our own smart traffic systems in NSW it puts us in the front seat to bring the safety outcomes to our streets.

“This work complements and expands on the real-world trials of connected traffic systems underway in Sydney, and helps us work with our partners in other states and local industry to align advancements for safer outcomes on Australian roads.”

Independent Member for Calare Andrew Gee said:

“It’s amazing to see the Central West play a leading role in research that will help determine the path ahead for connected vehicles and intelligent transport systems in this country, and advance international research in this field.

“At a national level, work is underway to develop a safe, consistent and harmonised approach to coordinated and connected systems on our roads. The Transport team here at Cudal have been making key contributions towards this, that will be enhanced and advanced by the new CITS system at the testing centre”

TfNSW Director Future Mobility Evan Walker said:

“This site and our in-house team are a pillar of integrity in the global vehicle testing landscape.

“Our work bridges the gap between research advancements and seeing how this technology practically performs on our roads to make sure new vehicles and transport technologies meet the highest performance and safety standards, and deliver what they promise.

“We are NSW Government owned and operated and everything we do, design and deliver at the site is geared towards safety and sustainability improvements across the board. This includes testing emerging software and hardware solutions from across the globe, including the ongoing advancement of systems like Transport’s world-leading SCATS system to deliver those outcomes.”

The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.

Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.

ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club, and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.

The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.

Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027). Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.

Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.

Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.

The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven.

The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.

For more information about ILGA, visit: https://www.ilga.nsw.gov.au/

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“I would like to thank Sarah Dinning for her contribution to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, including during her service as deputy chairperson.

“ILGA has an important role to play as the administrative decision-making authority for liquor, registered club and gaming machine licensing decisions in NSW.

“An exhaustive selection process was undertaken for these new appointments in accordance with legislative requirements and including the engagement of an independent probity advisor.

“Chris Honey has brought significant expertise to the board since his appointment and Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles will bring their substantial experience, expertise and leadership to ILGA.”

ILGA chairperson Caroline Lamb said:

“Mr Honey joined the ILGA board earlier this year and has proven himself to be an invaluable board member with his energy and considerable skills and experience in the advisory and restructuring field.

“The ILGA board also welcomes A/Prof Thorpe and Mr Nichles to the board.

“People appointed to the ILGA board must be of the highest integrity and promote fair, transparent and efficient decision-making.”

Motorists in the Western Sydney suburbs of Blacktown and Baulkham Hills have collectively claimed more than $1 million in toll relief for each suburb under the Minns Labor Government’s $60 weekly toll cap.

Blacktown last week became the first suburb to pass $1 million in total toll relief claimed, followed by Baulkham Hills this week.

Other car-reliant suburbs like Auburn, Merrylands and Marsden Park are now closing in on the same milestone for toll relief.

More than 3,000 motorists in both Blacktown and Baulkham Hills have claimed toll relief so far – evidence that Labor’s $60 weekly toll cap is getting relief to where it is needed in the most heavily-tolled areas of Sydney.

More than 224,000 claims have been made, with $60.5 million already returned to motorists. The average rebate is $284.

More than 11,000 motorists have received quarterly toll relief rebates of more than $1,000 since the program started.

Tolling data shows it is the motorways that get people in and out of Western Sydney that are most commonly used by those claiming toll relief. They are:

• WestConnex
• M2 Hills Motorway
• Westlink M7

Data shows motorists claiming toll relief are generally hitting the $60 toll cap by midweek, with journeys on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the most common days on which toll journeys are refunded.

There is $60 million in relief available to be claimed for trips made in the third quarter of the year between 1 July 2024 – 29 September 2024.

Toll relief is supporting motorists as the NSW Labor Government works on tolling reform to fix the damage wrought by the toll road privatisation of the former government.

The Liberal Party legacy left a total toll bill of $195 billion in nominal terms that must be paid by motorists out to 2060, on top of the billions they have already paid.

The NSW Government is currently preparing its response to the independent Toll Review of Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins, which described Sydney’s toll road network as an unfair and poorly-functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures, with those in Western Sydney financially impacted the most.

Eligible drivers who have spent more than $60 a week on toll trips since 1 January can claim the toll relief via the Service NSW website with the rebate calculated and claimed each quarter.

Once your toll account details are linked to your MyServiceNSW Account, claims can easily be lodged.

Motorists can claim up to a maximum of $340 per week for each tag or licence plate number, as part of a “fair use” provision in place to ensure the program’s integrity.

People can claim their 2024 toll spend until 30 June 2025.  

To claim, visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/claim-the-toll-relief-cap and follow the step-by-step instructions including linking your toll account to your MyServiceNSW Account.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said:

“The $60 toll cap is one of the most important cost-of-living measures the NSW Government is providing, and it is heartening to see that the relief is getting to where it is needed most – Western Sydney.

“We know people are doing it tough, and our toll cap is making it fairer for drivers that heavily rely on toll roads.

“Suburbs like Blacktown, like Baulkham Hills, are the places where paying tolls is really not a choice, it’s a fact of life.

“Motorists have so far claimed more than $1 million in toll refunds in each of these suburbs and we know every dollar is important in stretched family budgets.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The data tells us that it is the people whose journeys start and end in Western Sydney that are claiming the lion’s share of toll relief, and this is where it is needed most. These suburbs have fewer public transport alternatives.

“Toll relief is rolling out as we progress with toll reform. The current system is a poorly-functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures that has created complexity, inefficiency, inequities and unfairness, with those in Western Sydney financially impacted the most.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“It’s good to see eligible motorists saving an average of $284 per quarter which is a massive boost for household budgets and could make the Christmas bills that little bit more manageable.

“We encourage motorists to apply, the online claims process is easy to use and support is available in Service NSW Centres or by calling 13 77 88.

“I encourage everyone to check their eligibility via the Service NSW website and to make a claim.”

Western Riverina communities will soon benefit from new and expanded healthcare facilities with the new Clinical Services Building a key component of the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment nearing completion.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park and the Member for Murray Helen Dalton today toured the new hospital’s state-of-the-art Clinical Services Building, which will provide contemporary, high-quality healthcare under the one roof.

The new Clinical Services Building is on track for completion in the coming months. This will be followed by an operational commissioning period before health services are safely transferred from the current hospital to the new facility. It is expected to open in early 2025.

The new hospital will include:

• An expanded Emergency Department
• Two operating theatres, and an additional procedure room in the perioperative suite
• A new and expanded ICU
• Expanded medical imaging services and pharmacy services
• Maternity and birthing and paediatric services
• Surgical and medical wards with four new mental health inpatient beds to care for people over 16 years of age with low complexity mental health conditions who require a short stay admission
• New aged care and rehabilitation beds
• Three palliative care rooms, a family lounge and an outdoor terrace within the medical inpatient unit to provide end of life care for patients
• An expansion of ambulatory care space for the community to access more specialist clinics including renal, oncology, hospital in the home, and expanded outpatient services.

The new three storey Clinical Services Building is located behind the existing hospital and when it opens, it will be accessible through the existing main entry until the new main entry is completed. Health services are continuing to operate during construction.

Once the new hospital opens, work will focus on carpark construction, refurbishment of the Ambulatory Care Hub and landscaping of the health campus.

For more information about the Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment visit: https://gbhredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

“When complete, the purpose-built Clinical Services Building will house all major health services under the one roof, significantly transforming patient, carer and staff experience.

“Griffith and surrounding communities will benefit from a bigger Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and an additional procedure room in the operating suite at the new Hospital.

“An expanded medical imaging department will also deliver improved radiology services with a new CT and nuclear medicine service in purpose build and designed spaces.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving healthcare in rural and regional communities.”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton:

“The Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment will support contemporary models of care and improve healthcare experiences for our community.

“I’m glad this new hospital has been designed in close collaboration with staff and clinicians and includes inpatient rooms with ensuites, a new café and landscaped community courtyards and gardens.

“Projects like this one not only support the health and wellbeing of our community, but also deliver direct and indirect jobs in health, construction and related industries.”

The NSW Government has released results from its annual Women in Construction survey, highlighting the need for stronger efforts to promote gender diversity across the sector.

With over 1000 responses from NSW construction workers and businesses, the survey revealed a positive trend: the number of women entering the industry has risen by 12.5% in the past year, and of the businesses surveyed women now make-up 20% of the construction workforce.

Key challenges identified by both men and women, include a lack of work-life balance (62%), lack of flexible working hours (51%), and insufficient mentoring and leadership training (47%).

The survey also showed that achieving work-life balance and flexible work options are critical for staff retention, with 40% of workers considering leaving jobs due to difficulties balancing their work and personal responsibilities.

Some concerning statistics were highlighted, with 69% of women reporting some form of gender-based discrimination in the past year, and 33% experiencing workplace sexual harassment.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to creating safer and more respectful workplaces, and the SafeWork NSW Respect at Work strategy continues to drive efforts to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace through education and enforcement.

To address these issues, the NSW Government is leveraging its procurement power to ensure contractors introduce flexible workplace policies and encourage development of mentoring programs to support women’s long-term success in the industry.

Through the Culture in Construction Taskforce, several major infrastructure projects including Transport for NSW, Mulgoa Road Upgrade Stage 1 and Health Infrastructure NSW, Randwick Children’s Hospital Redevelopment are piloting the Culture Standard which includes capped working hours and a five-day week. Initial findings of the piloted projects suggest improvements to recruitment and retention of women in construction.

In addition, the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program works with industry and contractors to implement flexible workplace and supportive policies, making construction a more appealing career choice for women.

Earlier this year, the government announced $2.2 million in funding to support initiatives to attract and retain women in construction and build more inclusive cultures.

The survey findings will guide the future direction of the government’s Women in Construction program, addressing entrenched issues and ensuring continued progress toward increasing women’s participation in the industry.

To find out more, and see the full survey results, see the Women in Construction program.

Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen said:

“The NSW Government is currently building some of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia, and we want women’s participation in these projects to be a standard in the industry and not the exception.”

“This is an important step in helping all our workers feel respected and valued, listening to what women are calling out for, and showing our commitment to equitable workplaces.

“Government can and should leverage its procurement power to increase women’s participation, and Transport for NSW is implementing this across its projects.

“The workforce delivering Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 enabling works will be supported by wellbeing initiatives from the Culture in Construction Taskforce’s Culture Standard, which include a target for 40% female staff participation during project enabling works, flexible working hours and on-site mental health first aiders.

“It also includes a move to a five-day working week on the construction site, a reduction from the six-day working week that’s a frequent barrier to women entering the industry.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“We are committed to increasing women’s participation in the construction industry – this is essential for building a workforce that reflects our diverse communities.

“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but this report shows that targeted programs, like Women in Construction, can produce positive results.  This report and the feedback I hear generally tells me that we still have a long way to go, across industry, in providing a workplace culture that encourages women to participate.  Government is doing good work with industry, particularly large employers, but the change needs to happen in every workplace.

“Let’s continue working together for a stronger, more inclusive construction industry—one where gender equity and progressing women’s careers is at the forefront of progress.”

Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison said:

“The future of our trades industry lies in embracing the diversity and capabilities of all workers. It’s important that we’re creating a safe, inclusive and dynamic workforce that welcomes and supports women in all trade roles.

“The insights gathered from the annual Women in Construction Industry Survey will guide the future direction of our programs, ensuring our actions are informed by the experiences of women in the sector.

“We know there is more work to be done, and the NSW Government is working with industry to ensure we drive change by removing barriers and creating supportive pathways for women to thrive.”