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A new permanent BreastScreen NSW clinic has officially opened at East Maitland, providing women in the community with access to free breast screening services all year round.

The new clinic at Stockland Green Hills shopping centre is open five days a week and will deliver vital breast screening services to more than 12,600 women who live and work in the Maitland area.

For women aged 50-74 years, a breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt.

Previously, women in the area relied on the BreastScreen NSW mobile breast screening van, which has visited East Maitland since 1995.

The van will continue to visit the Maitland region and will also expand the service to other communities in the Hunter and New England regions.

BreastScreen NSW services are recommended for women aged 50–74 years. The service is available for women from 40 years.

BreastScreen NSW services are for eligible women with no breast cancer symptoms.

Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their GP without delay.

Any woman with a family history of breast cancer should discuss their specific needs with their GP.

To book a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, call 13 20 50 or visit BreastScreen NSW – Online booking.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park

“This permanent clinic will make a huge difference for thousands of women living in the Maitland community, who can now schedule a mammogram five days a week, year-round.”

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women, with one in seven developing the cancer in their lifetime.”

“Early detection is the key with breast cancer, and a mammogram is one of the most important things women between the ages of 50 – 74 can do for their health.”

Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison

“Having survived breast cancer in 2017, I know first-hand the importance of early detection. Not only can it save your life, it can improve your treatment options and decrease the impact on your life.”

“It takes just 20 minutes of your time, with no doctor’s referral required, and could save your life.”

“Having a permanent clinic at Green Hills will allow women in our community to easily attend a mammogram appointment during the week and continue to raise awareness of the importance of breast health.”

“We encourage all eligible women to make breast screening a priority. Having a clinic located where women shop, work and relax will enable more women to have this life saving screening.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM

“Ensuring women in regional and remote communities have equitable access to free breast screening is a priority and essential to reducing breast cancer’s devastating impact on families and communities.”

“I strongly urge all eligible women to not delay and book in a life-saving breast screen when it’s due.”

BreastScreen NSW Hunter New England Manager, Kairsten Marley

“Detecting breast cancer early increases your chance of survival while reducing the likelihood of invasive treatment, such as mastectomy or chemotherapy.”

“Around 90 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history and this is why breast cancer screening is so important for all eligible women.”

As Rural Road Safety Month kicks off, the Minn’s Labor Government is urging the community to prioritise road safety on country roads.

Now in its seventh year, Rural Road Safety Month is an initiative of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, supported by Transport for NSW. This year’s theme is “Help sow the seeds of change; road safety starts with you.”

Several activities are planned throughout September to promote the important message of road safety. Notably, Transport for NSW will partner with NSW Police at the Henty Machinery Field Days, Australia’s largest agribusiness event, expected to draw over 55,000 visitors from 17 to 19 September. Highlights at the event will include:

• a police highway patrol car and mobile drug testing van; and
• two crashed cars demonstrating impacts at 60km/h and 100km/h.

Additional regional NSW activities include:

• 1-30 September, Grafton: Hats Off road safety initiative, featuring a moving display of hats to represent lives lost on NSW roads in 2023
• 13-15 September, Bathurst: Caravan safety at the Bathurst Lifestyle and Leisure Show
• 14 September, Wagga Wagga: Courtesy breath testing at Wagga Aggies Race Day
• 21 September, Speers Point: Bicycle safety installation at the Lake Macquarie Living Smart Festival
• 28 September – Byron Bay – The Helmet Exchange Program for Aboriginal communities
• 29 September – Ballina – The Helmet Exchange Program for Aboriginal communities
• 30 September – Port Macquarie – The Helmet Exchange Program for Aboriginal communities

Transport for NSW is also supporting NRMA’s Rural Road Safety Month campaign, which highlights the unique challenges of driving on regional roads through the wisdom of respected Elders. The campaign aims to enhance driver awareness and safety.

For more information, view the campaign here.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said:

“Country residents make up about one-third of NSW’s population, however, nearly two-thirds of deaths occurred on rural and regional roads 2023. We’re encouraging locals to do their part to keep their friends and loves ones safe this Rural Road Safety Month.

“Aboriginal people are also twice as likely to be killed on NSW roads as non-Aboriginal people and are four times more likely to be involved in crashes on regional roads, so I welcome the NRMA campaign featuring respected Elders with a strong message for regional communities.

“The long distances often travelled on rural roads mean there really is no room for complacency when you get behind the wheel.

“Take regular breaks, don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, obey speed limits, follow the advisory signs, be alert to wildlife and drive to the conditions, and always wear a seatbelt.

“And, whether you’re a local or a visitor, please take extra care while driving through rural or regional areas. By making safer choices, we can help everyone get home safe.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Too many people have lost their lives on our roads this year, forever changing the lives of the loved ones and communities they leave behind.

“We all want everyone to arrive home safely – that’s why police enforce the road rules, but there’s only so much our officers can do. Everyone has a responsibility every time they get behind the wheel – a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other road users.

“Let’s make sure that we all watch our own and each other’s behaviour, follow the speed limit, drive to the conditions, wear a seatbelt and don’t drive distracted or while impaired by drugs and alcohol.”

NRMA Chief Membership Officer, Victoria Doidge said:

“For over 100 years the NRMA has been a trusted voice on road safety, and we continue to look for innovative and engaging ways to advocate for greater road safety outcomes for motorists, particularly those who are living in rural and regional areas. 

“Our rural and regional communities are the backbone of our country and deserve to have the same road safety conditions of those who live in metropolitan areas. We want to ensure that people continue to travel to the regions and can get to their destination safely.”

The NSW Government is unveiling new tools to combat data breaches this Scams Awareness Week, with a new resource to help students spot scams and an online portal to check the legitimacy of a breach notification.

According to the National Anti-Scam Centre, there was an almost 20 per cent increase in scams reported in 2023, with a total of 601,000 scams causing $2.7 billion in losses.

Young people between 18 and 24 are more likely than any other age group to become victims of fraud and scams, and the number of scams reported by people under 18 has nearly quadrupled since last year, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology.

A new online teacher’s toolkit designed by ID Support NSW provides students with the tools and guidance to spot scams and protect their personal information, with interactive activities, quizzes, videos and case studies designed to help students from years 9 to 12 develop skills to navigate the online world.

The resource includes tips such as treating a password like a toothbrush – change them often and never share them with anyone – as well as what should and shouldn’t be shared online. It also provides tips on how to identify a scam, including checking for unusual domain names, an unusual email format and a misleading hyperlink.

ID Support NSW has also developed a Data Breach Portal to help people who think they might be the victim of a data breach check whether an email they received from ID Support NSW is authentic.

ID Support NSW notified almost 200,000 people that their personal information had been compromised in a data breach in 2023 and found that when customers receive a notification, the most common question they ask is whether the correspondence is legitimate.

Anyone concerned about the security of personal information they store can also use ID Support NSW’s new Personal Information Risk Assessment Tool (PIRAT) to understand the potential risks in holding customer data.

The tool can be used both proactively and in the wake of a data breach to assess risk from low to extreme based on the information’s usage and its appeal to cybercriminals.

Customers who want to access the Data Breach Portal can visit www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/get-support.

To undertake a risk assessment via the PIRAT, go to www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/be-prepared/pirat/pirat-assessment.

ID Support NSW also has several resources, tips, tools and webinars available to help people remain safe online. These can be accessed at www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/be-prepared.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“This Scams Awareness Week, we have an opportunity to highlight how people can stay safe online, and the NSW Government is investing in tools and resources that make it easier for people to identify a scam and check if they have been impacted by a data breach.”

“It’s never too early to build awareness around scams and fraud, and the Teacher’s Toolkit is a resource teachers can use to help students understand risk online and measures they can take to protect their identity.” 

“Scam emails, text messages and phone calls are unfortunately something we all encounter, and ID Support NSW is there to help people navigate this new normal.” 

Revenue NSW’s sophisticated compliance team is protecting the integrity of the Minns Labor Government’s first-home buyers program, to protect taxpayer funds and ensure support goes where it is needed.

Revenue NSW’s first-home buyers compliance team has recovered $9.44 million following highly targeted investigations to stop the small minority of applicants who unsuccessfully attempted to do the wrong thing.

In its first year, 33,365 first-home buyers in the expanded program have paid no stamp duty, or discounted stamp duty, when buying their first home.

The program’s expanded thresholds mean that first-home buyers purchasing for under $1 million pay either no, or discounted, stamp duty.

Under the program’s rules, a first-home buyer must move into the property within a year and live there continuously for a full year.

In 2023/24, 718 targeted investigations were launched, resulting in 422 individuals paying back some or all of their stamp duty discount. This represents fewer than 1.3% of all successful applications to the program.

Investigations into non-compliance are not randomly selected and only occur where Revenue NSW’s sophisticated data matching program makes an initial flag.

Data is absorbed from a diverse range of sources, including the NSW Government Rental Bonds Board, along with Commonwealth Government agencies, such as the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Taxation Office.

Some investigations also begin after a referral from tenants in properties. For example, this could happen after a tenant is asked to keep a utility bill in the owner’s name, raising their suspicions.

Those in Revenue NSW’s compliance team have decades of collective experience and come from a range of backgrounds from the public and private sector, specialising in support and investigations.

This demonstrates the program is effectively targeted to those who need cost-of-living relief, is well understood by buyers and has strong compliance measures in place.

The Minns Labor Government’s first-home buyers program replaced the previous Liberal-National Government’s ‘forever tax’ on first-home buyers.

The higher thresholds implemented under the program allowed for more than 18,000 first home buyers across NSW to receive greater support than they would have under the previous government.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“At a time of a cost-of-living crisis, the Minns Labor Government is committed to providing real relief to first-home buyers. This program is clearly working, helping more than 30,000 people into their first homes.

“Revenue NSW’s compliance team is working hard to make sure that only those eligible for the scheme are able to use it.

“We want as many people as possible to access the scheme – but they have to stick to the rules. It keeps the program fair and accessible for everyone.”

Chief Commissioner of State Revenue Scott Johnston:

“We’re very proud of our compliance team and the excellent work they do.

“Revenue NSW’s compliance programs are essential to maintaining the integrity of our programs.

“Our team works tirelessly to make sure the first-home buyers program is accessible to everyone who needs it, and that people who aren’t eligible don’t try to game the system.”

Recruitment is now underway for six positions on the Disability Council NSW, the official advisory group to the NSW Government on all matters related to disability.

People with lived experience of disability, particularly those from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Council is seeking applications from people with the skills to support the group’s executive, especially in undertaking research, collaborating with stakeholders, and drafting position papers.

The Council meets four times a year in Sydney, but members can attend meetings online. There is some work outside of the meetings, including reading papers and preparing reports, as well as representing the council at events and other committees.​

The Council’s responsibilities under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014 include:

• Monitoring the implementation of Government policy
• Advising the Minister for Disability Inclusion on emerging issues relating to people with disability
• Promoting the inclusion of people with disability in the community
• Consulting with similar councils and bodies, and people with disability.

Being on the Disability Council NSW is not a ‘job’, but members are paid sitting fees to attend meetings and for travel, accommodation, and other reasonable requests as part of the role.​

For more information about the Disability Council NSW and to apply, visit the Disability Council NSW website. Applications close on 29 September 2024.​

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“The Disability Council NSW plays a vital role in helping make our state more inclusive and accessible.

“This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in shaping disability inclusion policy in NSW and I encourage people to apply.

“If you’re passionate about disability rights or policy and want to live in a more inclusive community, this is your chance to be at the heart of change for people with disability in NSW.”

Disability Council NSW member and elite para-athlete Julie Charlton said:

“Living with a disability, you constantly have to advocate for yourself because the world’s not made for you. So, you have to make the world realise that, and then change it.

“Being on the council has given me the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other members and their professional expertise. It’s also been a chance to learn about sectors I’ve never advocated for or worked in, such as transport and housing, and how to interact with people in decision-making positions.

“It’s so nice to have a group of people with a common interest all working together for the greater good of our community. I highly recommend that anybody with a lived experience of disability, has interactions with people with disability or cares about community, apply for the Disability Council NSW.”

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