Category: NSW News

More than 80 councils across NSW will share in $60 million to boost walking and cycling, with $10 million dedicated to supporting active travel to and from schools, as part of the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active program.

Of the 88 projects, 51 are in regional NSW including 14 around primary schools, which will be funded under this latest round of the grant program to build crucial pathways and cycleways that promote walking and bike riding as an easy, safe, and convenient way for people to get around.

Some highlights from 51 regional projects, worth a total value of $24.9 million, include:

• Warrumbungle Shire Council – $789,000 to construct several walking and shared paths around Coonabarabran Public School and High Schools. It will fill in crucial missing sections that will make it possible for students and their families and carers to complete safe and comfortable journeys to school.
• Brewarrina Shire Council – $800,000 to build infrastructure that will directly connect residents of the predominantly Aboriginal community in the Weilmoringle Village to the local public school. Currently, students and the broader community must access the school and other services via unsealed roads. The project will significantly improve accessibility by providing a continuous sealed path and includes solar lights so the path can be used at all times of day.
• Singleton Council – $5.074 million for construction of a 1.55km long walking and bike riding connection along Combo Lane and Wilkinson Boulevard.  The project will deliver entirely new transport options for people living in Singleton Heights and Hunterview. The construction of a bridge over the Hunter River will provide a quiet route along Combo Lane to connect people directly to the Singleton CBD and make walking and bike riding a safe and attractive choice for day-to-day travel.

For the remaining projects,10 projects valued at $9.9 million will be delivered in Western Sydney and 27 projects in the remaining Greater Sydney area, worth a total value of $25.2 million.

This most recent round of the Get NSW Active program received 345 applications from councils with a total request worth $287.6 million which shows the strong desire for infrastructure that supports people who choose to walk or ride to their destination.

The next step will be to confirm the award of funding to councils so they can begin construction or planning phases of their projects.

Read the full list of Get NSW Active successful applicants and projects

Quotes attributable to Transport Minister Jo Haylen MP:

“It’s exciting to see the wide range of active transport projects that will soon come to life, positively impacting potentially hundreds of thousands of people across the state.

“This year, of the amount shared, $10 million will be dedicated to delivering infrastructure that supports walking and riding to school, which received an overwhelming amount of interest from councils. “

“I want to thank councils across the state for their commitment to making it easier for people to safely walk, cycle and scoot around their communities.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

“I’m thrilled that more than half of the projects successful in this year’s round of funding is going to regional NSW to provide active transport options for local communities to enjoy.

“It’s this type of infrastructure that makes our communities happier and healthier.

“There is a strong movement towards active transport corridors in our regional communities and it’s great to be part of a government which is funding the development and delivery of infrastructure to envisage this.”

The success of Enmore Road as the state’s first ever Special Entertainment Precinct has inspired 18 other councils across NSW to begin the process of establishing their own nightlife neighbourhood, including Burwood, the Northern Beaches, Waverley and the City of Sydney.

An explosion of bars, entertainment venues and restaurants has made Enmore Road one of the Top 20 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, according to Time Out Magazine.

Establishing an entertainment precinct allowed Inner West Council to set later trading hours and more flexible noise levels to support live music and performance

Venues inside the precinct can trade an hour later every night, and two extra hours on nights they stage live music entertainment.

The Enmore SEP has been made permanent after an Inner West Council survey found 83% support among locals and the area is attracting people and business.

A process led by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has led to interest by 18 councils to establish their own entertainment precinct called for expressions of interest from local councils. Four of the councils have passed resolutions to explore or establish at least one SEP.

The Inner West Council is seeking to establish six additional SEPs in Leichardt, Rozelle, Balmain, two in Marrickville, and Dulwich Hill. Last night the council voted for the proposed SEPs to be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for Gateway Determination.

The NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda also includes changes to stop single neighbour noise complaints shutting local venues noise complainants shutting down venues, streamlining noise complaints, extending outdoor dining, supporting live music through Sound NSW, funding street events, supporting businesses to cooperate and market their local night-life precincts.

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“This is another exciting step in rebuilding Sydney’s night-time economy after the era of lockouts and lockdowns.

“The success in Enmore proves Sydney can have both a safe and a vibrant nightlife, catering for a wide range of ages, tastes and budgets.

“This is part of the government’s wider vibrancy agenda which is about rebuilding the night-time economy block-by-block, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood. The success in Enmore shows that we’re well and truly on the way.

In a milestone for digital identification in NSW, the NSW Government is trialling the first verifiable credential to be added to the state’s new Digital Wallet.

As part of a trial run in partnership with St John Ambulance, a group of first responders, employees and members will have access to a Digital First Aid Certificate as a verifiable credential through the Service NSW app.

When launched, the Digital First Aid Certificate will help people easily access and share the important credential with employers and other organisations.

It marks another major step towards implementing the NSW Digital ID and Wallet, set to transform the way people transact digitally by offering a convenient and more secure way of sharing information.

The roll out of the NSW Digital ID and Wallet is being supported with a $21.4 million investment in the 2024-25 NSW Budget.

In the trial, participants who complete a first aid or CPR course with St John Ambulance NSW will have their qualifications sent to the new Digital Wallet on the Service NSW mobile app.

The Digital First Aid Certificate is the first verifiable credential to be trialled by an Australian government, and it follows the successful launch of the digital renewal option for the Working with Children Check (WWCC) late last year.

More than 21,200 people have now renewed their WWCC digitally and have saved about an hour by doing so online rather than in person.

Verifiable credentials are digital versions of physical credentials that allow users to share the minimum data required for a transaction, increasing the security of their personal information.

For example, a nurse with a digital first aid qualification could securely share it with an employer or other organisation while choosing to withhold other personal information which may have been included on a physical credential.

Feedback received during the trial will also be used to improve the user experience and design of the Digital Wallet for future verifiable credential roll outs.

Find out more about the NSW Digital ID and Wallet

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“In an increasingly digital world, we’re working to help people safeguard their personal information and make everyday transactions more convenient and secure by building a new Digital ID and Wallet for the people of NSW.”

“The NSW Digital ID and Wallet are a game-changer, providing a safe and accessible home for people’s important identification documents and putting time back in their busy lives.”

“The new Digital First Aid Certificate is an important milestone in our program, which the Minns Labor Government is supporting with a $21.4 million investment in the coming financial year.”

“We’re simplifying the processes needed to store and share digital identification documents, and the new Digital First Aid Certificate is going to help people across the state, including our hardworking medical professionals.”

“By securing someone’s identity and documents digitally, forms of identification or qualifications will also be safe when disasters strike and destroy physical copies.”

“Reducing the oversharing of identity documents and credentials will also reduce the risks associated with data breaches, because organisations will hold less information about individuals.”

St Johns Ambulance NSW CEO, Dominic Teakle:

“Just as we’ve been at the forefront of first aid training innovation for over 140 years, St John Ambulance is excited to lead the way with the NSW Government to improve how people will receive and manage their first aid certifications.”

“A digital first aid certificate will mean an improved experience for students and employers, but also helps the Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry to progress in the digital space.”

“We’re proud to be the first non-government organisation to participate in this initiative.”

The Minns Labor Government has purchased the site of the planned purpose-built Oran Park ambulance station on Porter Street.

The vital new health service will serve communities across south western Sydney including Oran Park, Camden and Narellan.

The station will support local paramedics to provide the best emergency and mobile medical care, when and where it’s needed, now and into the future for this growing region.

Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance carried out a thorough evaluation of the site to ensure the location best meets the needs of the local community as well as emergency ambulance operations and paramedic staff.

The site was identified following a comprehensive service planning process using best practice modelling software which maps Triple Zero calls.

With good access to the major road network, the site is ideally situated to form part of the ambulance station network and will optimise emergency ambulance responses across south western Sydney, while meeting the future health needs of the community.

It will also improve network coverage supporting existing stations including the ambulance stations at Camden and Campbelltown.

Construction and operational timeframes will be determined as the project progresses.

The next steps for the project include design development and seeking planning approval for the new station.

The new station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million investment into the NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program. 

The Program will deliver 30 additional ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across NSW over the coming years, including in south west Sydney.

Health Infrastructure is working with NSW Ambulance and other Government stakeholders to identify potential sites for new ambulance stations under the Ambulance Infrastructure Program with sites also already confirmed at North Sydney and South Windsor.

The program follows the success of the $202 million Sydney Ambulance Infrastructure Strategy (SAMIS), which delivered 12 new Ambulance Stations across the Sydney Metropolitan area, and the $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program that is delivering 54 new and upgraded ambulance stations across regional NSW.

The NSW Government is working to improve access to care and reduce wait times, through our budget emergency department relief package which will invest:

• $171.4 million to introduce three additional virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED
• $100 million to back in our urgent care services to become a mainstay and key instrument of the health system in providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients
• $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours
• $15.1 million to for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times
• $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed
• $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identified  patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Our top priority is to ensure that our growing communities can access the care they need, where they need it, when they need it.

“The purchase of the site marks a significant milestone bringing the south west Sydney community one step closer to a new Oran Park ambulance station.”

Member for Camden Sally Quinnell:

“The new Oran Park Ambulance Station will bolster emergency care for south western Sydney and provide a first-class workplace for local paramedics.”

The Minns Labor Government will impose greater disclosure obligations and stamp out bad behaviour in the strata sector, with new laws set to be introduced to Parliament.

Strata laws put owners corporations in charge of making key decisions on the buildings and common property of townhouses and apartments. Owners Corporations usually appoint a strata managing agent to provide advice on meeting legal obligations and managing the delivery of services to the strata scheme.

Recently the behaviour of a small number of managing agents has put a dent in public confidence around apartment living.

NSW Fair Trading had more than 965 complaints about strata agents in the five years to 2023 with more than half of those complaints about rules of conduct or budgets, levies or finances.  

We have a housing crisis in NSW and solving it means we need to build more high quality, higher density housing. More than 1.2 million people already live in strata communities in NSW and that number is set to grow under the Government’s comprehensive plan to build a better NSW.  

New laws will help build confidence in the sector so apartment owners and residents can feel safe they aren’t being ripped off by unscrupulous agents.

Key changes proposed include:  

• increasing the maximum penalties and penalty infringement notice amounts for existing agent obligations to disclose information about commissions.
• strengthening the conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements.
• banning agents from receiving a commission on insurance products when they don’t play a role in finding the best deal for residents.
• strengthening NSW Fair Trading’s enforcement and compliance powers.

Higher penalties, greater transparency and new enforcement powers follow an $8.4 million investment in more resources for the Strata and Property Services Commissioner in this year’s budget.

The Government will consult with key stakeholders such as the Owners Corporation Network and Strata Community Association on the draft laws in the coming weeks. The Parliament will consider the new laws later this year.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“These reforms are critical to supporting confidence in investing and living in strata schemes. 

“We want to change the perception that strata managing agents easily, and readily, take advantage of owners by significantly increasing the consequences for those who do the wrong thing.

“The new laws are designed to take immediate action to help restore confidence in living and investing in strata schemes, ensuring more people consider apartment living as a housing option.”  

Sydney’s Blackwattle Bay has taken a major step forward with an Expressions of Interest process opened today, seeking a development partner to renew a 3.6 hectare parcel of government-owned land currently home to the Sydney Fish Market.

The NSW Government will also seek to increase the residential housing on the site to help address the states housing crisis. Previously the land-use controls were to have roughly 50% commercial and 50% residential, the new controls will aim to change this to about 30% commercial and 70% residential, adding approximately 300 additional homes.

Partnering with the private sector will enable the NSW Government to deliver high quality public places, including a foreshore promenade, and more than 3 hectares of public open space. Revenue generated from securing a development partner will go directly to NSW Treasury to fund the delivery of the state’s housing initiatives.

Importantly, the 30,000 square metres of public domain will be prioritised for delivery, with a planning determination for the new 1.1 hectare Bank Street Park expected shortly.

This project is the last piece of the Blackwattle Bay puzzle, a 10-hectare precinct bookended by the new Sydney Fish Market and the new Bank Street Park under the Anzac Bridge.

Showcasing the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to building better communities for NSW. As part of the renewal, access to and from the area will be improved with the future Pyrmont Metro Station nearby, while new parks, walkways, cycleways, and a generous 20-30 metre wide foreshore promenade will complete a 15-kilometre continuous harbourside walk between Woolloomooloo and Rozelle Bay.

Expressions of Interest are now open for qualified and experienced developers to help deliver this world-class precinct, with submissions closing on 19 August 2024. Find out more information about the Blackwattle Bay Precinct.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper:

“We are starting work on the last piece of the Blackwattle Bay puzzle. The NSW Government is focused on delivering housing and building communities.”

“Blackwattle Bay will provide much-needed housing supply, while unlocking the economic and social potential of the area and creating thousands of jobs.”

“Once complete, the precinct will be connected to a range of local public transport options, public open space and the iconic new Sydney Fish Market which is expected to welcome over 6 million visitors per year.”

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Blackwattle Bay into a lively world-class waterfront precinct alongside Sydney’s harbour, for all to enjoy.”

A missing link on the popular new Alfred Street walking and cycling path will be filled, thanks to a $5.3 million investment from the Minns Labor Government.

It comes as testing on Parramatta Light Rail officially passes the halfway mark, which, combined with the new Alfred Street walking and cycling link, will secure smoother and more connected journeys in the growing CBD than ever before.

Once complete, the safe separated cycleway will connect students from Rosehill Public and Maronite College of the Holy Family to the new Alfred Street Bridge, a $19 million connection across the Parramatta River.

The project includes new trees, to keep people walking and cycling cool in summer, and lighting upgrades to ensure crossing points and the path remain safe at night.

The investment is part of a $60 million Get NSW Active grants round, launched today by the NSW Government.

It features two key construction projects in Parramatta and design funding for a third. A total of 37 projects across Greater Sydney have received $35.1 million in funding. An additional $24.9 million has been allocated to design and build new projects in regional NSW.

Passengers in Western Sydney are a step closer to using their new active transport links to pedal over the Parramatta River and wheel their bike onto a 45-metre-long light rail vehicle, which come equipped with 4 bike spots.

The Parramatta Light Rail testing milestone means the project is on track to welcome passengers in the coming months.

Up to eight trams are being tested at a time, seven days a week, with the performance of each vehicle being monitored closely while drivers get familiar with the alignment, including when crowds are heading to major events at CommBank Stadium.

The trams are travelling along the full alignment from Carlingford to Westmead, stopping at all 16 stops and crossing 23 intersections. Load testing is now complete, which saw more than 1500 sandbags placed on board to represent the weight of a full load of 400 passengers.

The extensive testing and commissioning program started in December 2023 to ensure the vehicles and network are functioning safely and reliably.

The community is reminded to stop, listen and look around when walking, riding or driving near the light rail.

When the light rail is fully operational, passengers will have access to services approximately every 7.5 minutes in peak periods.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we’re creating and building on well-connected, well-serviced neighbourhoods.

A plan to build a better NSW.

For more information, visit the Parramatta Light Rail webpage.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen MP:

“It’s all happening in Parramatta.

“Tram testing has passed 50% mark and will add to the growing number of ways people can travel around the Parramatta CBD.

“While Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 gets closer to completion, other projects are now underway. Our investment in the Alfred Street walking and cycling link will make it safer and easier for kids and families to ride their bikes.

“The bicycle spots in the new trams will make it easier for people to mix up the way they travel, so you can pedal from home to the nearest light rail stop, then roll straight onto the tram.

“It’s exciting seeing all of this work becoming a reality, I can’t wait to test ride the Alfred Street cycle link when all the work is complete.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP:

“As our city grows, it’s great to see government investment in public and active transport is keeping pace.

“In the coming months, Parramatta will be transformed by the new light rail, plus the investment announced today means it’ll be easier for more people to walk and cycle across our city too.

“Our new walking and cycling paths are already so popular, I can’t wait to see how many people put on their walking shoes or start pushing pedals when they all finally link together.”

Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber:

“We are a step closer to seeing the first passengers travelling on trams in the heart of our City and we’re very excited that Parramatta Light Rail will soon be operational.

“This is a huge win for our community – it means more people can connect to the heart of Greater Sydney with these new transport connections – so people can hop on a bike to get to work, school or for leisure.

“I thank Transport for NSW and their support through the Get NSW Active Program to help create more active transport routes across our City.”

The NSW Labor Government is committed to delivering a permanent high school close to home for the people of Bungendore, with the amended State Significant Development (SSD) application now lodged and on public exhibition for community feedback.

The proposal, which the Department of Education (the Department) submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) on June 13, 2024, identifies the Majara / Gibraltar Streets Precinct as the preferred location, the same site put forward in the original SSD application lodged in September 2021.

In parallel, the Department is also considering alternative site locations as part of due diligence work to ensure a new high school for the Bungendore community can be delivered as quickly as possible.

While the Majara / Gibraltar Streets Precinct remains the preferred site for the new school, the Department will undertake a due diligence review on alternative locations to validate that the Majara / Gibraltar Streets Precinct remains the fastest and most viable location.

In addition, the Department is continuing to review its analysis of projected demand to ensure community needs can be met.

The Department continues to work alongside the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) to consider how the features of the project that are on Crown Land, and excluded from the amended SSD, can be delivered for the Bungendore community.

The amended SSD application includes plans to deliver modern facilities to accommodate approximately 450 students, with options for future expansion to accommodate enrolment growth.

The community is encouraged to have their say on the amended SSD application from Tuesday 25 June until Monday 22 July 2024.

Find out more about the SSD application and make a formal submission 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to delivering a permanent public high school in Bungendore to provide world-class learning facilities close to home.

“After the Liberals and Nationals’ poor planning let this community down, we are looking at everything we can do to deliver the permanent high school as quickly as possible.

“This will ensure the best possible outcomes for students, staff, families, and the broader Bungendore community.”

Member for Monaro, Steve Whan said:

“Families in the Bungendore community deserve to have a permanent high school to send their kids to, but legal battles around this project have caused too much uncertainty around when this school will be built.

“I recognise the huge frustration this gives to many people who want to see the school built and I recognise the division this project has caused in the community.

“I have urged the Department to look at alternative sites to validate that the current site remains the fastest and most viable location, and I am pleased that this process is underway.

“Given the time lost, it is imperative that further analysis on enrolment projections is underway to ensure the school is the right size for the community now and into the future.

“We will continue to work to deliver a permanent Bungendore High School for our local families as soon as possible.”

The NSW Government is investing more than $2.6 million to deliver seven women’s health, wellbeing and empowerment projects from 2024-2027 as part of the statewide Investing In Women Funding Program. 

Through this program, the NSW Government is working in partnership with community organisations to improve women’s economic opportunity and advancement, health and wellbeing and participation – the three priority areas of the NSW Women’s Strategy.

The innovative projects that received a share of the 2023-2024 funding include:

• Contact – The ‘Empowering Far Western NSW Women: Building a Brighter Future Together’ project will allow women and girls who are isolated in remote or rural NSW, to feel a greater sense of connection through a series of co-designed in-person and virtual workshops, training sessions, community renewal days and practical supports.
• Dress for Success Sydney – With the development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis driving increased demand for employees, the new Dress for Success (DFS) hub will be a place for local women to attend in person to access DFS services. DFS will support local women and girls with finding new work opportunities and training in softer skills.
• Generation Australia – Women from western and south-western Sydney from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will be provided a pathway into care work through holistic pre-employment programs. Mentorship and employment support will help participants to upskill, build confidence, and improve career outcomes.
• Girls on Fire – ‘The Fire UP – Girls Fire and Resilience’ project is an experiential learning program for teenage girls in regional and remote areas providing qualifications, confidence, and clear pathways to join the emergency services sector.
• Her Futures Foundation – The ‘Her Futures Wellbeing’ project is designed to reduce the major health concerns among Aboriginal women in Kempsey through a tailored health and wellbeing group program.
• NSW Council for Intellectual Disability – The ‘My Relationships Matter’ project focuses on enhancing the health literacy of women and girls with intellectual disability and empowering them to make informed decisions, leading to changes in health, relationships, and communities.
• Western Sydney University – The ‘WARDA-NSW: Women’s Awareness in Reproductive “Aafiya”’ project is a co-designed, peer-mentored, empowering reproductive health promotion program for Muslim women to generate a community wide conversation on reproductive health.

Commencing in 2024, the Her Futures Foundation’s health and wellbeing project will have a total funding of $550,000 to help tackle major health concerns among women in Kempsey. The foundation will deliver a 12-week group program of facilitated fitness and healthy lifestyle sessions to improve fitness, self-care, guided access to services and social participation for local women.

Since its inception, the successful Investing in Women grant has funded 131 projects to advance the role, status and contribution of women and girls in NSW communities. Between 2013 to 2023, over $3.8 million was invested in programs enhanced women’s economic opportunities, health, and leadership in NSW.  

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The Investing in Women Funding Program has supported more than 100 organisations since its inception to improve the lives of women and girls, and deliver on the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026.

“This program will enable women to not only take tangible steps towards achieving their personal aspirations but also pave a permanent pathway for future generations of women.

“The NSW Government is pleased to be partnering with these 7 organisations which are best placed to address targeted communities where improvement is needed to uplift and preserve women’s presence and participation in society.”

CEO of Real Futures (partner of Her Futures Foundation) Christianna Cartwright said:

“Our project has the potential to make the entire community stronger as they see Aboriginal Women become confident, healthy leaders in their respective families and communities. These women will become strong role models for their children and set a benchmark for adolescent Aboriginal girls in our community.

“Aboriginal women will be provided an opportunity to work on themselves in all aspects of their lives in a safe, supported environment, and build strength in knowing they are not alone with their day-to-day life and health challenges. Women will have the opportunity to grow stronger, fitter and healthier, learning better eating and exercise habits and being connected to culture.”

Find out more about the projects and the Investing in Women Funding Program

See the NSW Women’s Strategy

Business owners across NSW can access a range of free, in-language support to help navigate government services and boost their business.

The Service NSW Business Bureau connects eligible small businesses with independent advisors who speak a second language, such as Mandarin, Vietnamese and Arabic, and understand the local economy.

Advisors have experience running their own business and can offer tailored advice on essential topics such as business planning, marketing and cash flow.

When a business needs guidance on how to start a business, navigating government, or help understanding licences and permits, they can speak to a Business Concierge over the phone or in person.

For in-language assistance business owners can call the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 and ask them to call a Service NSW Business Concierge on 13 77 88.

The service provides immediate phone interpreting. The interpreter will transfer the call to a Service NSW Business Concierge who has been specially trained to work with translator services.

Get more information about the Service NSW Business Bureau or call 13 77 88.

Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper:

“The Service NSW Business Bureau is proud to be doing what we can to support business owners in our multicultural communities to survive and thrive.”

“We understand how valuable our multicultural communities are to both the local economy and in enriching our culture.”

“To ensure as many business owners as possible can benefit from the Service NSW Business Bureau, the website can be translated into 70 different languages so everyone can take advantage of the services available to them.”

Quotes attributable Service NSW Business Bureau Multicultural Business Relationship Specialist, Halimeh Tobbie:

“Many new business owners and newly arrived refugees embarking on an entrepreneurial journey feel a sense of relief knowing there is free support and guidance available through the Service NSW Business Bureau.”

“I am proud of the work I have been doing with business owners and aspiring business owners to help refer them to our Business Concierge and business advisory services.”

New business owner Basema Odisho said:

“I moved from my hometown in Syria to Australia about a year ago with a dream of starting my own alcohol distillery business and the Service NSW Business Bureau has been incredibly helpful and supportive in getting my feet off the ground.”

“Halimeh from the Service NSW Business Bureau was very helpful in directing me to the right people as she speaks in language and can translate. This helped me to set up an ABN and register my business.”