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Restoring trust in Corrective Services NSW

The Minns Labor Government is taking another step towards rebuilding trust in the NSW corrective services system.

A $30 million investment will support changes to lift standards, deliver better workplaces for staff and protect inmates.

The investment comes as the NSW Government releases its formal response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Offending of Former Corrections Officer Wayne Astill.

All recommendations of the Inquiry have been accepted in full or in principle. The NSW Government is getting on with the most urgent action while working through the longer-term reforms.

The Inquiry, led by former High Court Justice Peter McClellan and initiated by the Minns Labor Government, found multiple failings in the management and culture at Dillwynia Correctional Centre and across the Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) system.

These failures allowed unconscionable offences to occur inside the justice system and meant staff who tried to speak up were silenced.

The Inquiry followed a decade of reports and reviews that pointed to serious problems but were ignored.

The report and the Government’s response does not remedy what these women have endured.

The crimes and systemic problems outlined by the Special Commission are deplorable and inexcusable.

The NSW Government is committed to undertaking the reform necessary to ensure inmates are properly protected and hardworking staff are safe and supported, including:

Protecting inmates

  • Hundreds of new CCTV cameras and a network wide capacity to store and access footage for at least 90 days, meaning serious matters can be reviewed (Rec 1). These cameras will be in addition to those recently installed in priority areas at Dillwynia.
  • An advocacy service will be established to ensure female inmates can voice concerns (Rec 20).
  • CSNSW will develop a Women’s Strategy that includes mandatory training for all new CSNSW staff working in female correctional centres (Rec 30).

Safer workplaces for staff

  • New staff misconduct processes and procedures, including improved triaging, allowing faster resolutions. This will complement recent announcements designed to clarify the line of accountability between the Minister for Corrections and CSNSW, while keeping investigations at arm’s length within the Department of Communities and Justice (Rec 6, 7, 8 and 9).
  • Better contraband detection with more K9 drug detection dogs to keep prisons safer and reduce the risk of coercion and bribery (Rec 25).
  • The Government will work with staff to put in place policies and procedures to better manage workplace relationships and conflicts between employees, in consultation with staff and their union (Rec 23, 24).

Stronger laws and procedures to prevent misconduct

  • The NSW Government will change the law to reduce barriers to prosecutions of staff engaged in inappropriate relationships with inmates (Rec 4).
  • The NSW Government will amend the regulations to impose a misconduct reporting obligation on all CSNSW staff (Rec 5).
  • Additional staff to improve misconduct management processes.

These changes are in addition to the structural and practical reforms already underway to ensure the NSW prison system is safe for staff and inmates:

  • Provision of sexual assault trauma counselling service for the victims of Astill’s offending.
  • All uniformed staff at Dillwynia Correctional Centre who work with inmates now have body worn cameras.
  • CSNSW will be elevated to a stand-alone agency directly accountable to the Minister and the Government.
  • In addition to existing avenues of support, a Sexual Misconduct Reporting Line has been established to provide a confidential reporting mechanism for inmates.
  • Face to face sexual harassment training has been completed for all employees in leadership, HR, Professional Standards and staff support roles. 
  • A compulsory on-line sexual harassment awareness training module has been launched to be completed by all CSNSW staff.

The NSW Government’s response to the report can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/the-cabinet-office/resources/special-commissions-of-inquiry/astill

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong

“Our thoughts are with the victims of Wayne Astill’s horrific crimes. We again thank the inmates, staff and advocates who spoke up, including to provide the Special Commission with evidence.

“The Astill inquiry found that our prison system had not met the expectations of the community, the NSW Government, or the majority of its 10,000 staff.

“These reforms will help keep inmates safe and they’re also designed to fix the culture that has seen too many good staff let down.

“We should accept nothing less than a corrections system that is built on integrity, transparency, safety and respect for both staff and inmates.

“These are significant changes and we’ll need to work closely with staff, the union and advocates to get them right.”

Walgett community women’s program empowers and connects Aboriginal women and girls to culture

Aboriginal women and girls in Walgett are benefitting from a local community program helping them build their confidence and self-esteem, while connecting them to language and Country.

Funded with $50,000 from the NSW Government, the Walgett Local Aboriginal Land Council has been running weekly face-to-face programs to revitalise and revive local language and cultural practices.

The program extends to communities across Walgett, including Gingie Reserve, Namoi Village, as well as engaging young women at Walgett Community College and students at the local primary school.

Activities include community Yarn Ups, workshops, Sista Speak programs and Bro Speak programs. It is also a way for women and girls to connect with local service providers such as the Thiyama-Li Family Violence Service, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, Dharriwaa Elders Group and Barwon Cottage.

The NSW Government is working hard to Close the Gap in Aboriginal communities, especially in regional and rural NSW where women and children face additional barriers to accessing opportunities and resources.

The Warrangal Wirringa Women’s Group supports the important pillars of health and wellbeing, and participation and empowerment of the NSW Women’s Strategy by building the confidence and self-esteem for Aboriginal women and girls to actively participate in community.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“We know the best way to close the gap is by Aboriginal people shaping and driving outcomes for Aboriginal people, in partnership with the NSW Government.

“Led by the Walgett Local Aboriginal Land Council, this program is a wonderful example of this.

“The program brings a broad range of Aboriginal service providers together to help Aboriginal women and girls reach their potential, while connecting them to language, culture and Country.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The Warrangal Wirringa Women’s Group is a fantastic initiative created by community for community, and something I’m pleased to support.

“This program has engaged local Aboriginal women and girls through language and culture to develop a stronger sense of self-worth, empowering them to make their own choices, as well as giving them access to opportunities and resources.

“Partnering with the Walgett Local Aboriginal Land Council on this program has allowed us to maximised outcomes for women and girls in Walgett. It has encouraged community participation, led to improved social and emotional wellbeing, increased participation in school, and revived local language and cultural practices.”

Independent member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“This is great news for women and girls in Walgett. Establishing links with services, culture and language is a simple thing, that can make a big difference. Thanks to the Minister for this grant, I know it will be appreciated in the Walgett area.”

Walgett Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Wendy Fernando said:

“The Warrangal Wirringa Women’s Group is a space for women to connect – connect to Country and back into the community.

“We get people from the Thiyama-li Family Violence Service, MacKillop Family Services and the Dharriwaa Elders group – we all work together. It’s a gathering place for our women to come and talk and give support to each other.

“The funding provided has done a lot for our women and our community.”

Inland Rail on track with approval of Illabo to Stockinbingal section

In an important step for regional NSW, the NSW Government has approved the Illabo to Stockinbingal section of the 1,600-kilometre Inland Rail project between Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) project was approved by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, meaning the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is closer to beginning construction in late 2024. As Critical State Significant Infrastructure, the project is deemed to be essential to the State’s economy and society.

ARTC will construct up to 39 kilometres of single-track railway for the double-stacked freight trains which will soon travel through the South Western slopes of the Riverina.

The Illabo to Stockinbingal connection is one of seven sections traversing inland NSW. The Inland Rail line will include a crossing loop at Bethungra and connect with the Stockinbingal to Parkes and Lake Cargelligo lines so that goods can also travel along the Main Southern Railway from Sydney to Albury.

The project is expected to create up to 400 jobs to build the new track, bridges and level crossings along the newly approved section with upgrades to a further 3.5 km of existing train track for necessary integration works to the main rail line at Illabo. The project will also involve the construction of infrastructure for communications, drainage, signage, fencing, and temporary worker’s accommodation.

The heritage-listed Bethungra Spiral on the main rail line will be bypassed as part of the project.

The new section will connect to the Inland Rail’s Albury to Illabo proposal in the south and the Stockinbingal to Parkes proposal in the north.

The proposal is a controlled action and requires approval from the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has assessed the project against the EPBC Act under the Bilateral Agreement between the NSW and Australian Government.

The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will now review the NSW approval assessment and the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water will determine the project under the EPBC Act.

If approved by the Australian Government, work is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2027.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said:

“Inland Rail needs the cooperation of the three states it spans so it is great to see regional NSW leading the charge with this approval.

“Planning approval is a significant step for this transformative project to enhance our freight and supply chain capabilities.

“Each section of Inland Rail is a valuable link in the chain of this important national infrastructure.

“Inland Rail promises to be a game changer for inland communities across rural NSW. Once complete, we will be able to move goods much more efficiently to both Melbourne and Brisbane.”

Regional NSW and Western NSW Minister Tara Moriarty said:

“Inland Rail promises to be a game changer for people across rural NSW.

“Regional communities need big developments to keep workers in the bush and actively contribute to their communities.

“We look forward to Inland Rail continuing its essential journey throughout the state.”

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said:

“This section of Inland Rail will provide a valuable infrastructure link for the South West Slopes as it connects with this vital piece of national infrastructure.

“The NSW government is working with Inland Rail to deliver this project and strengthen its commitment to the regions.

“Consumers right across regional NSW stand to benefit with valuable cost savings once the Inland Rail project is complete as our state will have a more efficient and sustainable freight transport.”

Duty MLC for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence said:

“The nearby Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes sections of the Inland Rail project have injected more than $4.2 million into the local economy with many businesses receiving a timely economic boost during a cost-of-living crisis.

“I’m encouraged by this next significant project milestone for communities across the South West Slopes.

“Once finished, Inland Rail will provide faster, more reliable freight and safer, less congested roads.”

Easy Read Hub to improve access to key government services

The Minns Labor Government is making essential information more accessible for communities across the state with a new ‘Easy Read’ format for a wide range of topics from how to prepare for an emergency to applying for a Photo Card.

The Easy Read format presents information in a straightforward and easy to understand way, with simplified language, large font sizes and images to support text.

This new format is particularly useful for people with an intellectual disability. In NSW, there are approximately 1.34 million residents living with disability, and one in 20 who require assistance in their daily lives, according to the Judicial Commission of New South Wales. 

The Easy Read format is also useful for people with low literacy levels and those whose first language is not English.

The newly launched Easy Read Hub delivers on Labor’s election commitment to make all NSW Government documents relevant to people with an intellectual disability available in Easy Read format by 2025.

So far, 36 topics have been translated into Easy Read including guides on applying for social housing, paying debts, and accessing TAFE courses. Another 10 guides are in progress covering everything from emergency preparedness to topping up your Opal card and staying safe from scams, which will be available in the coming months.

In partnership with the Council for Intellectual Disability and other key stakeholders, an Easy Read Style Guide is also being released to ensure all NSW Government departments can prepare online content using Easy Read.

The Style Guide is part of the NSW Government’s Accessibility and Inclusivity Toolkit which provides the guidance and tools for NSW Government agencies to make their content accessible.

Find out more about Easy Read at www.nsw.gov.au/easy-read or find the style guide at https://www.digital.nsw.gov.au/delivery/accessibility-and-inclusivity-toolkit/communication/easy-read.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Inclusion is a key priority for me, including making sure every resident can access the information they need online and in person. I am grateful for the key role played by the Council for Intellectual Disability in partnering with my department to develop a guide for the NSW public sector on how to produce more information in Easy Read format.

“Lived experience provides an incredibly important insight, and we continue to work closely with people with intellectual disabilities and other stakeholders to ensure that our services are truly inclusive and accessible to all.

“The launch of the Easy Read project is an important step as we continue to make NSW a more inclusive state for everyone.”

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“Coming into Government, we made a commitment to the disability community to make our important information available in Easy Read.

“Working in partnership with the Council for Intellectual Disability, we’re delivering on our commitment so everyone can access the information they need.

“The Easy Read format ensures we are clearly communicating important information about essential services to everyone, especially people with disability and those with low literacy levels.”

Fiona McKenzie AM, Vice-Chair of the Council for Intellectual Disability said:

“Easy Read is our ticket to inclusion! It helps us find the government services we need and how to live a full life in the community. Thanks to the Government for its commitment to Easy Read and listening to us about what makes good Easy Read.”

Support for more knock down rebuilds with new online tool

The Minns Labor Government is making it easier for residents to build their dream home, with new features of the myHome Planner online tool taking the guess work out of knocking down and rebuilding a home.

The new guides now provide support for infill housing (knocking down and rebuilding a home) or home and land packages – all types of homes that will help us confront the housing crisis.

With checklist guides on the building process, as well as potential costs and approvals required for a build, homeowners now have a single online resource they can use.

Current or prospective homeowners can enter the property address and gain access to relevant council information, zoning, ratings, easement information, developer guidelines such as building heights and minimum block size, and relevant planning controls such as bushfire and flood risk.

NSW has a target of 377,000 homes over the next five years to meet the National Housing Accord target and to meet this demand the Minns Labor Government has implemented extensive planning reforms to increase the supply and affordability of housing.

The expansion of the tool complements the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing reforms, which commenced on 1 July this year.

The changes allow development applications for dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings to be submitted in more R2 residential zones, such as duplexes and semis.

Enabling dual occupancies in these locations allows homeowners with suitable blocks two replace one existing home with two dwellings.

Other low and mid-rise housing reforms will commence later in 2024. These will include townhouses, terraces and two storey apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R2 low density residential zones across Greater Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra regions and mid-rise apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R3 medium density and R4 high density residential zones across these regions.

This update builds on the original myHome Planner, which only provided guidance to those building project homes.

The myHome Planner was developed in collaboration with the Department of Customer Service and is available at the NSW Planning Portal at www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/myhome-planner.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Housing is the biggest cost of living pressure on household budgets. It makes sense to help people have information about what they’re spending their money on.

“With the NSW Planning Portal receiving more than 12 million page views each year, we know people are actively seeking information on building homes.

“By providing myHome Planner, the NSW Government can support people actively seeking information from the NSW Planning Portal by placing it under one single source of truth.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“While it can be exciting, building a new home can also be stressful, confusing and time-consuming, which is why these new features of the NSW Government’s myHome Planner tool are so helpful.

“This website takes a holistic approach, covering all the steps needed to build a home and is one example of how digital tools can support the delivery of housing targets.

“This is an easy-to-use digital platform that takes away some of the guess work when doing a new build, providing reliable information on things like key steps, obligations, and approvals, in a single place.

“It is important that more homes are built in NSW, and for those wanting to build their own home, this expanded resource makes it that little bit easier.”

National Access to Justice Partnership

Today National Cabinet signed a Heads of Agreement for a new National Access to Justice Partnership that will provide a critical increase of nearly $800 million in funding over five years from 2025-26 to the legal assistance sector, with a focus on uplifting legal services responding to gender-based violence.

The Commonwealth Government will invest a total of $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal assistance services to be delivered through a new partnership agreement with the states and territories.

The former Coalition Government did not provide ongoing funding for this agreement, leaving a funding cliff from 30 June 2025. The Albanese Government will provide ongoing funding for the agreement, alongside other major agreements in skills, schools and health – this will provide funding certainty for the sector

This is the largest injection of funding to the legal assistance sector in 20 years, and provides much needed funding certainty for hundreds of services nationwide, including many who provide holistic support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

The funding was announced today at National Cabinet as part of a $4.7 billion package to respond to the national crisis of family, domestic and sexual violence and support legal assistance.

The National Access to Justice Partnership will commence on expiry of the current National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) on 30 June 2025. The Government’s commitment of funding for the Partnership, well before the expiry of the NLAP, will give the sector the certainty it needs to continue vital services

Today’s commitment will deliver vital support to all parts of the legal assistance sector, including Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, Women’s Legal Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services. It will also allow for salaries in community sector legal assistance providers to better align with the rest of the sector, ensuring these services can recruit and retain staff.

The full National Access to Justice Partnership will be agreed through the Standing Council of Attorneys-General by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Gender-based violence is a national crisis – and we cannot solve it overnight.

“We recognise that the legal assistance sector plays a vital role in that response. Legal assistance helps victims safely leave and recover from violent relationships, through access to finances, secure housing and safe arrangements for children.

“Today’s announcement builds on our Government’s efforts to provide better access to services for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus

“I have spent decades fighting for a better deal for the legal assistance sector. Legal assistance is essential to ensuring access to justice and equality before the law for all Australians, and safety for victims and survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence.

“I thank the many workers on the frontline who have been tireless advocates for the sector and for the rights of the thousands of Australians who rely on them every year.

“This funding is critical – it will mean that essential frontline services can continue to operate and help the most vulnerable in our community.”

HUNTER VALLEY FAMILIES BUCKLE UNDER COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES: NEW RESEARCH

More than half (55%) of Hunter Valley low-income households are going without prescribed medication or healthcare due to cost-of-living pressures according to a new report by peak social services body NCOSS.

The report, Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make, was commissioned by NCOSS and undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney this year. It surveyed a representative sample of more than 1,080 residents living on low incomes and below the poverty line in NSW.

The research revealed the following across the Hunter Valley region:

69% are in housing stress (i.e. they spend more than 30% of income on housing)
65% had no money set aside for emergencies
55% went without prescribed medication or healthcare
52% could not afford to travel for essential reasons
45% went without meals
NCOSS CEO Cara Varian said the research had demonstrated the extreme impacts being felt by households in Hunter Valley on low incomes and below the poverty line.

“Hunter Valley families should not be forced to choose between paying for food or medication,” Ms Varian said.

“The basics of life should not be considered a luxury that most low-income families cannot afford.

“These impossible choices make every day a challenge and, most disturbingly, we are setting up intergenerational disadvantage. We must do better.”

The research revealed the following across the state of NSW:

Single parents were the hardest hit cohort, with nine out of ten single parents going without essentials over the past 12 months.
NSW children are also bearing the brunt of the growing cost of living pressures, with parents cutting back spending on meals, essential healthcare, and education resources.
Three in four households (74 per cent) sacrificed spending on their children.
Half of households (52 per cent) sacrificed spending on health and wellbeing essentials.
One in five delayed early childhood education.
“The ripple effects of these sacrifices are profound, causing increased stress and tension within households, affecting relationships, mental health and wellbeing, and child development outcomes,” Ms Varian said.

“Most people on low incomes in this survey were working, many taking on additional jobs and hours but still going backwards. Even those who received a pay rise could not match the increase to their costs of living.”

Ms Varian said the peak body had a set of recommendations for the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, developed in consultation with NCOSS members.

“These are complex issues, but governments have the power to change it,” she said.

“Implementing our recommendations would significantly ease the crushing pressure that is pushing people to breaking point.”

The recommendations include:

Lifting Commonwealth income support for Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payments.
Increasing the rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Providing universal early childcare.
Ensuring 10 per cent of all NSW housing is social and affordable.Making NSW rental increases fair and reasonable; urgently implement no grounds evictions for all lease types; and legislate rental bidding.
Implementing a universal school food program in NSW.
Providing adequate funding for NSW emergency food relief services.
Expanding public transport concessions to better support people on low incomes.
Improving bus networks in regional, rural and remote communities.
For more information, and to read the full report, visit ncoss.org.au

Definitions:

Below the poverty line: defined as households living on less than 50 per cent of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs (below $560 per week).
Low-income households: defined as households living on 50 – 80 per cent of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs ($560 – $896 per week).
About the survey: the research, undertaken by the University of Technology’s Institute of Public Policy and Governance, involved stratified random sampling to engage a statistically representative sample of 1,086 NSW residents, living on low incomes and below the poverty line, through an online survey. 23 people also participated in focus groups and interviews.

AFP warning over rise of sadistic sextortion online

The AFP is warning parents and guardians over a concerning online trend emerging in Australia involving young victims who are being coerced into producing extreme sexual and violent content over the internet.

Sadistic sextortion is a rising online crime type that involves extreme online groups targeting children as young as twelve years old on social media and messaging platforms to coerce them to self-produce explicit material to gain acceptance into extreme online communities.

These online communities use different names and monikers to operate on social media or messaging platforms, and consist of members from all around the world. To gain access to a majority of these groups, prospective members are coerced by group members to produce or live-stream explicit content online.

In some cases, the offenders are the same age as the victims being targeted.

AFP intelligence has identified that sadistic sextortion offenders will initiate an online relationship with a victim on social media or messaging platform before encouraging them to produce an image or video performing an explicit sexual or violent act.

The offender will then share the content with other members in the online group, who will attempt to extort the victim by threatening to share the material with their family or friends, unless the victim produces more videos and extreme content.

The offender will relentlessly demand more content from victims that often continues to escalate in its seriousness including specific live sex acts, animal cruelty, serious self-harm, and live online suicide.

The Western Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) commenced an investigation into reports of an alleged serious sadistic sextortion offender in WA, 14, accused of targeting victims around the world in 2022.

Police seized the offender’s phone and later identified child abuse material (CAM) and videos of animal cruelty.

The offender was charged and received a juvenile caution in relation to the matter.

AFP Commander of Human Exploitation and the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) Helen Schneider said intelligence received by the ACCCE suggested most offenders in extreme online groups were not motivated by money, but were instead focused on obtaining status or notoriety within the group.

“Unlike sextortion, these offenders are not motivated by financial gain. Instead, they are driven by exploiting vulnerable victims into producing abhorrent content for their deranged amusement,” Commander Schneider said.

“Unfortunately, some victims in these groups, do not see themselves as victims. They do not believe they are being coerced into performing these extremely horrific acts and therefore are unlikely to report it to the authorities.

“Without information or assistance from victims and members of the public, it can be extremely difficult for police to identify offenders and shutdown these dangerous groups.”

Commander Schneider said the AFP urged parents and guardians to be aware of the warning signs of young people being groomed by coercive groups online.

‘If parents believe their child is engaging in harmful activity online, it’s important to have a conversation with them to understand the situation and provide appropriate support,” Commander Schneider said.

“Warning signs children may be engaging in harmful activity online may include increased screen-time on computers or phones, isolating themselves from friends and family or being secretive about who they are interacting with online.

“Whether a child is or has been a victim of sextortion online, please reassure them it’s not their fault and report it to the ACCCE.”

If you think you are a victim or know of someone who is a victim of sadistic sextortion
DO stop the chat
DO take screen shots of the text and profile
DO block the account and report it to the platform
DO get support from a trusted friend or family member, or professional support services and seek mental health support if required. Kids Helpline offers free and confidential sessions with counsellors.
DO report the crime to the ACCCE
DON’T send more images or pay as this will lead to more demands
DON’T respond to demands
DON’T enter into further communication
DON’T think you are alone
If you’re concerned about your or someone else’s safety, dial Triple Zero (000) or contact your local police station.

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found on the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.

Officer charged – Western Region

A police officer has been charged over the alleged assault of two boys in the state’s west.

On Saturday 22 June 2024, the off-duty officer – an inspector attached to Western Region – is alleged to have assaulted two 11-year-old boys on a bus between Coolah and Walgett.

Following an investigation, the officer was today (Friday 6 September 2024) issued a future court attendance notice for two counts of common assault.

He is due to appear at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 23 October 2024.

The officer is currently suspended with pay.

NEWCASTLE AND LAKE MACQUARIE FAMILIES BUCKLE UNDER COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES: NEW RESEARCH

Four in five (81%) Newcastle and Lake Macquarie low-income households are in housing stress due to cost-of-living pressures according to a new report by peak social services body NCOSS.

The report, Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make, was commissioned by NCOSS and undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney this year. It surveyed a representative sample of more than 1,080 residents living on low incomes and below the poverty line in NSW.

The research revealed the following across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie:

81% are in housing stress (i.e. they spend more than 30% of income on housing)
53% went without prescribed medication or healthcare
60% could not afford to travel for essential reasons (e.g. work, to attend education)
55% went without meals because they were short of money
62% had no money set aside for emergencies
47% used Buy Now Pay Later to pay for essential goods (e.g. food, transport)
NCOSS CEO Cara Varian said the research had demonstrated the extreme impacts being felt by households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie on low incomes and below the poverty line.

“Newcastle and Lake Macquarie families should not be forced to choose between paying for food or medication,” Ms Varian said.

“The basics of life should not be considered a luxury that most low-income families cannot afford.

“These impossible choices make every day a challenge and, most disturbingly, we are setting up intergenerational disadvantage. We must do better.”

The research revealed the following across the state of NSW:

Single parents were the hardest hit cohort, with nine out of ten single parents going without essentials over the past 12 months.
NSW children are also bearing the brunt of the growing cost of living pressures, with parents cutting back spending on meals, essential healthcare, and education resources.
Three in four households (74%) sacrificed spending on their children.
Half of households (52%) sacrificed spending on health and wellbeing essentials.
One in five delayed early childhood education.
“The ripple effects of these sacrifices are profound, causing increased stress and tension within households, affecting relationships, mental health and wellbeing, and child development outcomes,” Ms Varian said.

“Most people on low incomes in this survey were working, many taking on additional jobs and hours but still going backwards. Even those who received a pay rise could not match the increase to their costs of living.”

Ms Varian said the peak body had a set of recommendations for the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, developed in consultation with NCOSS members.

“These are complex issues, but governments have the power to change it,” she said.

“Implementing our recommendations would significantly ease the crushing pressure that is pushing people to breaking point.”

The recommendations include:

Lifting Commonwealth income support for Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payments.
Increasing the rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Providing universal early childcare.
Ensuring 10% of all NSW housing is social and affordable. Making NSW rental increases fair and reasonable; urgently implement no grounds evictions for all lease types; and legislate rental bidding.
Implementing a universal school food program in NSW.
Providing adequate funding for NSW emergency food relief services.
Expanding public transport concessions to better support people on low incomes.
Improving bus networks in regional, rural and remote communities.
For more information, and to read the full report, visit ncoss.org.au

Definitions:

Below the poverty line: defined as households living on less than 50% of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs (below $560 per week).
Low-income households: defined as households living on 50 – 80% of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs ($560 – $896 per week).
About the survey: the research, undertaken by the University of Technology’s Institute of Public Policy and Governance, involved stratified random sampling to engage a statistically representative sample of 1,086 NSW residents, living on low incomes and below the poverty line, through an online survey. 23 people also participated in focus groups and interviews.