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A total of 13 new fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist anyone across the State who wants to upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic, following an overwhelming response to the initial suite of courses announced earlier this month.
The NSW Government will use these new courses to replace those which have reached enrolment capacity to ensure there are still 21 accredited courses available for people to study through TAFE NSW.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said around 85,000 people had enrolled in the fee-free courses since they were announced three weeks ago to assist job seekers and workers.
“The incredible uptake to the initial 21 fee-free short courses shows that while many businesses across NSW are in hibernation there is a strong desire to upskill and gain new qualifications during this challenging time,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Some courses have reached their capacity for now so they have been replaced with new courses so that we can continue to provide opportunities for people to upskill during this time.”
The 13 new short courses include:

• Leading Teams;
• Digital Security Basics;
• Build your Digital Literacy with Coding;
• Create a Brand Presentation; and
• Undertaking Projects and Managing Risk.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said more than 33,000 people who enrolled in the fee-free courses were studying at TAFE NSW for the very first time.
“The NSW Government is committed to providing opportunities for people to upskill so that they can get the promotion or job they want once this pandemic ends. I encourage everyone to use this time to increase their skills,” Mr Lee said.
Please click here for more information about studying fee-free courses at TAFE NSW.

More than 550 new and redeployed cleaners are boosting the State’s first line of defence against COVID-19 under the NSW Government’s $250 million cleaners’ package.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the fresh wave of cleaners had resulted in enhanced cleaning of vital public infrastructure including schools, TAFE and transport facilities.
“While these cleaners are improving hygiene across the State, this package will provide a much-needed social and economic boost across the State,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Not only will this package support jobs and businesses, importantly it will also give the public the peace of mind that the Government is ensuring our public transport and education facilities remain as clean as possible at all times.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was on track to see the equivalent of 3,000 full-time cleaners on board by the end of June.
“The thousands of jobs being generated from our stimulus package is also keeping people in jobs, and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We’re hiring new cleaners, increasing the hours of existing cleaners and redeploying cleaners who would otherwise have lost jobs due to the temporary closure of some public facilities.”
The funding has helped Western Sydney company VDG Services, who are sanitising more than 550 State Transit buses daily in the eastern suburbs, keep a dozen workers in jobs after some clients cut back on cleaning.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said this was one example of the Government’s package making a meaningful difference in Transport, where cleaning efforts across the network have increased by over 83,000 hours since March.
“We’ve introduced a number of new measures to ensure our transport network is as clean as possible with crews working through the night to disinfect trains, buses, metro, light rail, ferries, depots and facilities ready for the morning commute,” Mr Constance said.
“People catching a train might see one of our flying squads get on at one station and wipe down the train before getting off at another station to get on another train to do the job again. Or those catching a ferry, might see one of our teams wiping down the Opal readers or cleaning the terminal, making sure people are protected.”
Transport for NSW has distributed approximately 185,500 litres of hand sanitiser to staff, while 300 hand sanitiser stations across all 165 stations on the Sydney Trains network are available for customers, with the expansion to ferry wharves underway.
Thousands of personal hand sanitisers and packets of disinfectant wipes have also been distributed to staff at all train stations, bus depots, work sites and offices, including our frontline workers.
Mr Perrottet said small and medium-sized cleaning businesses could apply for supplementary Government cleaning contracts to help fight the spread of COVID-19 through a new business portal.
“We’re recruiting small and medium-sized cleaning businesses to help existing contractors with the cleaning task, with more than 50 businesses pre-qualified and able to get to work as ready-to-go teams,” Mr Perrottet said.
A compliant application takes around three days to be processed, with businesses placed on a pre-qualified list for Government agencies to engage with.
Supplementary contracts available include;

• General cleaning in low risk areas,
• Enhanced cleaning for COVID-19 risk reduction,
• Environment cleaning of facilities after a suspected COVID-19 diagnosis, and cleaning auditing services.

Registrations for supplementary cleaning contracts can be made here. More information about the NSW Government economic stimulus packages is available at nsw.gov.au.

Small businesses doing it tough due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to sign up for free-of-charge webinars funded by the NSW Government.
The webinars are being run by small business advisory program Business Connect, and address key subjects to help deal with COVID-19, including how to create a ghost kitchen and how to maximise cashflow.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said there were more than 60 Business Connect webinars and they will provide invaluable information for businesses that are facing unprecedented conditions.
“We know small businesses are struggling at the moment and the impacts of drought, bushfires and now coronavirus have been significant,” he said.
“These webinars are run by small business expert presenters and they will give business owners insights into how they can make it through the current situation.
“A number of businesses have successfully managed to pivot their operation and some of these webinars will provide advice on how to do that.”
The webinar topics include:

• Turn your restaurant into a profitable ghost kitchen
• Maximising cashflow
• Business disruption – innovation
• Diversify your creative income
• Reinvent your business in troubled times
• Marketing to pivot your business

Some of the webinars are targeted at businesses in regional areas and some are in foreign languages to cater for multicultural businesses.
Business Connect advisors have assisted more than 28,000 businesses over the past three years, providing advice and skills training for small businesses.
As a result, business owners have reported increased confidence and stronger finances. Those businesses have also created and supported more than 15,000 new jobs since 2017.
The NSW Government announced on April 19 it was injecting more than $14 million into Business Connect to help small and medium businesses navigate this challenging time.
As part of the funding boost, $4.6 million was allocated to engage an additional 30 advisors to support businesses on top of $9.8 million to ensure the program continues for another 12 months.
To register: https://business-connect-register.industry.nsw.gov.au/Pages/SearchEvent.html

A woman and a teenage girl will appear in court today over separate alleged spitting incidents in Sydney’s south west and Lower North Shore.
About 8.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 29 April 2020), officers from Campbelltown City Police Area Command were called to a fast food restaurant at a shopping centre on Gould Road, Eagle Vale, after a woman allegedly spat at an employee and shattered a glass door at the store.
Police were told a 51-year-old woman became aggressive and spat at the 18-year-old staff member when her card failed while attempting to pay for her order.
Following inquiries, the woman was arrested in the shopping centre and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
While in custody, it’s alleged the woman claimed she was positive for COVID-19 and coughed in the face of a male senior constable.
The woman was charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19, common assault and destroy or damage property.
She was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court today (Thursday 30 April 2020).
In a separate incident, about 3.20pm last Thursday (23 April 2020), a group of three girls got on a bus on Military Road at Cremorne Junction, and sat together at the back of the bus.
Police have been told the bus driver, a 52-year-old woman, approached the girls and spoke to them.
As the driver returned to the front of the bus, the girls followed and it’s alleged one of them, aged 13, spat at the driver as they exited.
Officers from North Shore Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, police arrested a 13-year-old girl at a home in East Killara about 1.30pm yesterday.
She was taken to Chatswood Police Station and charged with common assault and breach of bail.
The girl was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today.

Police have issued 23 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) and laid no charges under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s PINs include:

• About 1pm yesterday (Tuesday 28 April 2020), officers from Riverina Police District were called to Willow Street, Kooringal, following reports of a suspected break and enter. Upon arrival, police stopped a 33-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman riding bicycles. During a search of the pair, torches and other tools were located. Checks revealed they had both been given a previous warning for breaching Ministerial Directions and were subsequently issued with $1000 PINs. The man was also issued infringement notices for trespass and rider not wear bicycle helmet.

• About 2.40am yesterday, police stopped and spoke with a 30-year-old man who was walking through Muswellbrook. The man could not provide a reasonable excuse for being away from his home and checks revealed he had been given three previous warnings for beaching Ministerial Directions. The man was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• Just after 12.30am yesterday, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command attended a home on Park Street, Erskineville, following a noise complaint. Upon arrival, a 34-year-old Burwood man spoke to police from a window of the home. He allegedly told police he was at the home for a party with friends. Checks revealed the man had been given a previous warning on Saturday 18 April 2020 and he was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• About 8.20pm yesterday, officers from Police Transport Command were patrolling Parramatta Railway Station when they spoke to three youths. They group allegedly told police they were waiting for a friend. One of the youths, a 16-year-old girl from Macquarie Fields, also told police she had stayed with friends at a hotel in Parramatta on Monday (27 April 2020). Checks revealed she had previously been issued a warning on Wednesday 8 April 2020 and was issued with a $1000 PIN. The other youths were issued warnings.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

More than 550 new and redeployed cleaners are boosting the State’s first line of defence against COVID-19 under the NSW Government’s $250 million cleaners’ package.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the fresh wave of cleaners had resulted in enhanced cleaning of vital public infrastructure including schools, TAFE and transport facilities.
“While these cleaners are improving hygiene across the State, this package will provide a much-needed social and economic boost across the State,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Not only will this package support jobs and businesses, importantly it will also give the public the peace of mind that the Government is ensuring our public transport and education facilities remain as clean as possible at all times.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was on track to see the equivalent of 3,000 full-time cleaners on board by the end of June.
“The thousands of jobs being generated from our stimulus package is also keeping people in jobs, and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We’re hiring new cleaners, increasing the hours of existing cleaners and redeploying cleaners who would otherwise have lost jobs due to the temporary closure of some public facilities.”
The funding has helped Western Sydney company VDG Services, who are sanitising more than 550 State Transit buses daily in the eastern suburbs, keep a dozen workers in jobs after some clients cut back on cleaning.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said this was one example of the Government’s package making a meaningful difference in Transport, where cleaning efforts across the network have increased by over 83,000 hours since March.
“We’ve introduced a number of new measures to ensure our transport network is as clean as possible with crews working through the night to disinfect trains, buses, metro, light rail, ferries, depots and facilities ready for the morning commute,” Mr Constance said.
“People catching a train might see one of our flying squads get on at one station and wipe down the train before getting off at another station to get on another train to do the job again. Or those catching a ferry, might see one of our teams wiping down the Opal readers or cleaning the terminal, making sure people are protected.”
Transport for NSW has distributed approximately 185,500 litres of hand sanitiser to staff, while 300 hand sanitiser stations across all 165 stations on the Sydney Trains network are available for customers, with the expansion to ferry wharves underway.
Thousands of personal hand sanitisers and packets of disinfectant wipes have also been distributed to staff at all train stations, bus depots, work sites and offices, including our frontline workers.
Mr Perrottet said small and medium-sized cleaning businesses could apply for supplementary Government cleaning contracts to help fight the spread of COVID-19 through a new business portal.
“We’re recruiting small and medium-sized cleaning businesses to help existing contractors with the cleaning task, with more than 50 businesses pre-qualified and able to get to work as ready-to-go teams,” Mr Perrottet said.
A compliant application takes around three days to be processed, with businesses placed on a pre-qualified list for Government agencies to engage with.
Supplementary contracts available include;

• General cleaning in low risk areas,
• Enhanced cleaning for COVID-19 risk reduction,
• Environment cleaning of facilities after a suspected COVID-19 diagnosis, and cleaning auditing services.

Registrations for supplementary cleaning contracts can be made here. More information about the NSW Government economic stimulus packages is available at nsw.gov.au.

Thousands of new homes, new industrial complexes and six schools are among the first wave of projects that will have their assessments fast-tracked to boost the State’s economy and create opportunities for thousands of new jobs in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet have today announced the first 24 projects to undergo a fast-tracked assessment process as part of the NSW Government’s new Planning System Acceleration Program.
“By fast-tracking assessments, we will keep people in jobs and keep the construction industry moving as we ride out the COVID-19 pandemic and set our sights on economic recovery,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The 24 projects identified in the first tranche of fast-tracked assessments have the potential to: – Create almost 9,500 new jobs during construction and once complete; – Inject $7.54 billion into the State’s economy; – Deliver more than 325,000 square metres of new public open space, parks and environmental conservation lands; and – Allow more than 4,400 new homes to be built, including more than 1,000 social and affordable homes.
Mr Stokes said decisions will be made on the first tranche of projects within the next four weeks.
“This will mean shovel-ready projects can get underway and the construction pipeline can continue to grow,” Mr Stokes said.
“If approved, these projects will be a win-win for NSW: delivering jobs for today, and local community and business benefits tomorrow.”
“It’s important to note that this is not a greenlighting exercise, the same stringent checks, balances and community consultation that ensures transparency, public benefit and merit-based assessment of projects remain.”
The criteria to identify and progress projects through a fast-tracked assessment
process has also been released.
To be considered for a fast-tracked assessment, the development application (DA) or rezoning must already be in the system, deliver a public benefit, demonstrate an ability to create jobs during construction and once complete, be able to commence construction within six months (for a State Significant Development application or State Significant Infrastructure application) or allow a DA to be lodged within six months (for a rezoning).
The criteria has been formulated by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in consultation with government agencies and key industry groups. A probity advisor will continue to oversee and report on the fast-tracked process to ensure it is transparent and robust.
Mr Perrottet said additional projects that fit the new criteria would go through the fasttracked process, with further tranches to be announced.
“We know our planning system will be a key lever in driving investment in NSW as we come out of this crisis,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW already has the country’s biggest infrastructure program and we need to do what we can now to make sure that continues.”
Fast-tracking project assessments is one of the key pillars of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that will create opportunities for more than 30,000 jobs by the end of September 2020.
Other elements of the Program include a new one-stop shop for industry, clearing the backlog of cases stuck in the Land & Environment Court and investing $70 million to co-fund vital new community infrastructure in North West Sydney.
To view the fast-tracked assessment criteria and list of projects visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/fast-tracked-assessments.