Category: NSW News

The number of people sleeping rough in the City of Sydney continues to decline as the NSW Government ramps up efforts to address homelessness across the state.
 
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said no matter where you live, the priority is to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.
 
“We’ve made tremendous progress in the City of Sydney by almost halving the number of people sleeping rough in only five years which is really encouraging,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“But we now need to redouble efforts to tackle this issue in regional areas to match that progress.
 
“This year I took part in the count to see first hand how it works. I want to thank the many volunteers who give up their time to do this important work as well as the staff from the City of Sydney and from the Department of Communities and Justice.”
 
The City of Sydney street count for 2022 shows 225 people sleeping rough, a 17 per cent reduction since February 2021 and a 48 per cent reduction since February 2017.
 
Across the regions there are increases in the street count with the statewide figures showing there are 1,207 people sleeping rough.
 
The 2022 figures do not include some parts of the state, including Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby, because street counts in those areas were cancelled due to the recent extreme weather events.
 
For the first time we have expanded the count to include Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree Plains, Yass Valley, Bellingen and Wentworth.
 
The NSW Government has committed to reducing street homelessness in NSW by 50 per cent by 2025, as one of the Premier’s Priorities.
 
Since April 2020, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has expanded assertive street outreach services from three initial locations to almost 60 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across NSW, performed over 9,500 street patrols and other outreach activities to engage with people sleeping rough and offer a pathway to long-term housing.
 
“We have supported more than 1,300 people sleeping rough into social housing, and more than 600 people into private accommodation,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“We have invested in new homelessness prevention programs to support people in social housing to maintain their tenancy and avoid returning to homelessness.”
“Having a street count is an extremely valuable measurement tool. It gives us real information tailored to particular areas so that we can direct our resources where they are needed most.”
 
The Department of Communities and Justice partnered with more than 150 local organisations to conduct this year’s statewide street count in 76 LGAs across NSW.
 
In addition to efforts to address housing in flood-affected parts of NSW, the NSW Government has introduced:
 

• A $484.3 million investment to support women and children escaping domestic and family violence into housing and specialist services.
• An additional $183 million dedicated to fast track more social housing properties across NSW.

• The Community Housing Innovation Fund, a $150 million program to deliver social and affordable housing in partnership with Community Housing Providers (CHPs).
• The $1.1 billion Social and Affordable Housing Fund, an initiative to provide access to social and affordable homes together with access to tailored support services.
• Together Home, a $122.1 million program which helps people into long-term stable housing.
• Rent Choice, which supports access to safe and affordable housing in the private rental market.  

 
The 2022 street count figures are available at:
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/about/reforms/homelessness/premiers-priority-to-reduce-street-homelessness/street-count
Anyone who is homeless, or at risk of homelessness, can call Link2home on 1800 152 152.

NSW has posted its lowest unemployment rate since current records began, falling 0.5 percentage points to 3.7 per cent in February as the State economy rebounds following the Omicron outbreak.
 
NSW recorded the lowest unemployment rate among the states and now sits well below the national unemployment rate of 4 per cent, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the Labour Force data highlighted the effectiveness of the NSW Government’s targeted support of the State’s economy throughout the pandemic.
 
“These record-breaking unemployment numbers are a direct result of the NSW Government’s handling of the economy throughout successive COVID-19 waves, and our effective recovery strategy,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The unemployment rate is at a record low, more people are re-entering the workforce and there’s been a boost in hours worked across the State.”
 
ABS data showed NSW’s lowest unemployment figure since monthly records began in February 1978, with employment increasing by around 57,880 jobs and monthly hours worked rising by a strong 14.3 per cent in February.
 
The NSW employment results were driven by a rise in full-time employment (+38,002) and an increase in part-time employment (+19,879).
 
The NSW participation rate also rose by 0.5 percentage points to 65.4 per cent in February. Employment in NSW is now 87,100 above its pre-COVID level.
 
“Today’s results paint a picture of a resilient economy roaring back to life, with our high vaccination rates and agile businesses enabling us to bounce back better into a strong recovery phase,” Mr Kean said.
 
“In the coming months I’ll be outlining the further work we’ll be doing to keep the economy strong through initiatives such as the Women’s Economic Opportunities Review, our record infrastructure spending, our science and technology investment agenda, and keeping energy prices low through the Energy Infrastructure Roadmap.”

South-western Sydney communities can look forward to accessing more first class health services close to home, with construction beginning on a six-storey hospital tower as part of the $790 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new hospital would deliver enhanced health facilities and will include an integrated cancer centre, a larger emergency department, intensive care unit and more theatres. 
 
“The $790 million health and academic precinct the NSW Government is building here at Liverpool is one of the largest hospital redevelopments across the state – and will transform healthcare services in this rapidly growing part of Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“We have the best health system in the nation and we are ensuring that no matter where you live in our State you have access to the best healthcare facilities.”
 
The new hospital will also include a larger neonatal intensive care unit and six new in-patient units including paediatric, maternity and women’s health services – all designed to cater to the area’s growing population. A new multi-storey car park, which is nearing completion, will also provide an additional 500 spaces across the campus.
 
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons today turned the sod on the site of the new hospital tower and toured the project’s ‘Buraga Gul’ skilling and employment hub which will help drive education and jobs throughout construction and beyond.
 
Mr Hazzard said the new precinct in the heart of Liverpool would be an attractive drawcard for clinicians, specialists, researchers and educators locally and worldwide, which would boost the community and deliver better long term health outcomes.
 
“The NSW Government is investing an unprecedented $790 million into south-western Sydney to meet the community’s healthcare needs and also provide employment opportunities for our future generations of nurses, doctors, researchers and educators,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
Project builder Lendlease has opened a new skilling and employment hub next to the hospital construction site to create more education and employment opportunities for south-western Sydney communities and boost the local workforce.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the establishment of the skills and employment hub is one of the key components of the project.
 
“Working in partnership with NSW Health, TAFE NSW and Liverpool City Council, the hub will offer construction pre-employment programs and Aboriginal employment initiatives to support people of all ages to acquire new skills for construction and health-related roles,” Mr Henskens said.
 
Ms Gibbons said the NSW Government is catering to the needs of the local community now and into the future, with close to 1.3 million people expected to call south-western Sydney home by 2031.
 
“This significant redevelopment will ensure both the long-term health and economic wellbeing of local communities here in south-western Sydney,” Ms Gibbons said.
 
“With around 850 construction jobs to be supported throughout the redevelopment and the potential for thousands more jobs over the project’s life, the on-site skills and employment hub will help attract, retain and upskill local workers in yet another fantastic win for our community.”
                                                   
The new precinct forms part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2024-2025.
 
Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 170 hospitals and health facilities across the state, with more than 110 currently underway.
 
Learn more about the $790 million redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital at www.lhap.health.nsw.gov.au

Three additional Recovery Centres have opened their doors to the community, helping flood-affected locals transition from response into clean-up and recovery.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the new Recovery Centres are located at Chinderah, Evans Head and Londonderry.
 
“We now have two Recovery Centres in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, two on the Central Coast and 10 in Northern NSW providing individuals, families and business owners easy access to a range of Government support, services and advice,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services and Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said Recovery Centres bring together NSW Government agencies, community organisations and service providers under one roof.
 
“We are working around the clock to provide as many services as possible to those in need in the dozens of towns across Northern NSW, who are now beginning the long and difficult task of cleaning up and rebuilding,” Mr Provest said.
 
Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the road to recovery would be long, but the focus is on delivering as much practical support as possible.
 
“Residents in the lower Richmond, particularly those in Broadwater and Woodburn, have been decimated by the unprecedented flooding. Lost documents can be replaced, clean-up services can be accessed and emergency accommodation can be arranged through Recovery Centres,” Mr Gulaptis said.
 
Across NSW, there are now 14 Recovery Centres operating at:

• Ballina: Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina;
• Casino: Casino Community and Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street, Casino;
• Chinderah: Kingscliff Seventh Day Adventist Church, 85 Phillip Street, Chinderah;
• Evans Head: Evans Head Recreation Hall, 7 Kirkland Court, Evans Head;
• Grafton: Old St George Bank, 32 Prince Street, Grafton;
• Kyogle: Kyogle Memorial Institute, 131 Summerland Way, Kyogle;
• Lismore: V Block, Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore;
• Londonderry: Londonderry Community Hall, 360 Carrington Road, Londonderry;
• Maclean: Maclean Community Centre, 50A River Street, Maclean;
• Mullumbimby: 55 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby;
• Murwillumbah: Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10-14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah;
• South Windsor: South Windsor Family Centre, 6 Greenhills Way, South Windsor;
• Spencer: Spencer Community Hall, 4776 Wisemans Ferry Road, Spencer; and
• The Entrance: Diggers at The Entrance, 315 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty.

 
To view the opening hours of each Recovery Centre, visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery-centres.
 
For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating as an online one-stop shop, with Customer Care specialists also available on the phone via 13 77 88.

More teachers are on their way to public school classrooms across NSW, particularly in the regions, with the next round of applications for two popular NSW Government teaching programs opening today.
 
The FASTstream program received more than four times the number of applications than there were places, and the Mid-Career Transition to Teaching program three times the number, in 2021 when they were first offered.
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is offering significant incentives under the Mid-Career Transition to Teaching program, including a $30,000 training allowance and a $30,000 bonus on completion of study.
 
“This second round of the program is focusing on getting 25 career changers to make the move to teach in our regional, rural and remote communities,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
The Mid-Career Transition to Teaching program attracts mid-career professionals into a Masters of Teaching to become a high school  Mathematics, Science or Technology or Applied Studies teacher, working part-time in a school after six months, with intensive wraparound support to make the shift to teaching.
 
“We are also fast tracking our best and brightest teachers into principal roles, providing them with targeted support, mentoring and professional development so they are ready to succeed as a principal within 10 years.”
 
FASTstream targets teaching graduates and experienced teachers with leadership ambition and talent to accelerate their career journey.
 
The first 50 successful FASTstream applicants have now been placed in schools across NSW, with almost half in rural and remote areas.
 
“Having met last year’s participants, I’m really excited that another 50 places are now available and I really encourage teachers and teaching graduates with a strong drive to become a school leader to apply for the FASTstream program,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Every participant in FASTstream will spend time in a regional school, helping to bring great teaching and leadership to the bush.
 
“FASTstream is part of our commitment to identifying and supporting our school leaders at every stage of their career, as we know school leadership is crucial to lifting student and school outcomes.”
 
FASTstream supports 30 teachers and 20 teaching graduates each year to develop their careers as school leaders, through the Department of Education School Leadership Institute (SLI). 49 schools across NSW are taking part in the 2022 FASTstream program.
 
Applications for both programs open today and close on 1 May. For more information visit Teach NSW: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw

The NSW Government has extended the length of time people can stay in emergency accommodation before they have to reapply, giving certainty to residents who have  been displaced from their homes in the flood emergency.
 
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Government is committed to reducing the stress on those impacted by the floods.
 
“We are already assisting thousands of people with accommodation as these communities recover from the devastating impact of the floods,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“We have extended the length of time people can stay in emergency accommodation without re-applying, from seven days to 28 days, and are linking those people with the medium-term accommodation which best suits their situation.”
 
The NSW Government’s $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package has the capacity to assist around 25,000 households.
 
People displaced by the floods will soon have access to up to 16 weeks’ rental support, temporary ‘pod’ dwellings, mobile motor homes, accommodation in recreation camps, plus a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb and Stayz, to link people with accommodation.
 
Camplify will also work with the Australian Red Cross to match disaster affected people with free caravans and campervans that owners have offered to flood victims through the Camplify site.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the NSW Government will continue to provide co-ordinated support to individuals, households, primary producers and small businesses impacted by the flood disaster.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring flood-impacted residents and businesses have access to the support they need,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“The flood recovery is stressful enough without having to reapply for emergency accommodation every seven days, and it is crucial we give flood victims certainty around where they will be able to stay in the weeks ahead.”
 
For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/floods.

The NSW Government will fast-track access to essential trauma and recovery services to communities hardest hit by the recent flooding in NSW as part of a $25 million investment.
 
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said this package will provide mental health support to people in flood-affected communities across the State to help them get through the recovery as they begin to rebuild.
 
“Providing immediate mental health and well-being support in recovery centres to people devastated by the floods to help them get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This commitment will ensure we put people in touch with the right support so they can get the help they need now and into the future.”
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the investment will have an initial focus on communities across the Northern Rivers, with other areas likely to be included as the full impact of the floods becomes clearer.
 
“The task before us is complex and extensive. People’s mental health will not only be affected by the floods but by the enormity of the clean-up effort and the uncertainty it brings,” Mr Toole said.
 
“To ensure the mental health recovery effort is as coordinated, responsive and targeted as possible, we’ll work with Headspace and Lifeline to manage the response, with local input sourced from the community and local health networks.”
 
NSW Health will support the immediate mental health needs of the Northern NSW community by deploying mental health clinicians from Northern NSW, Mid North Coast and Northern Sydney Local Health Districts.
 
Teams from Hunter New England and Western NSW Local Health Districts are also being prepared to travel to northern NSW to assist.
 
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said $5 million in grants will be allocated to non-government organisations to deliver local trauma and recovery programs so support is available long after the clean-up has finished.
 
“It is locals who know their community best, and that is why we want them to play an active role in developing initiatives and programs that will help their communities in their road to recovery,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“We are also funding ten full-time Local Recovery Coordinators to be our eyes and ears on the ground to monitor the local mental health impacts, as well as help services better connect with people most in need.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the devastating floods will have a lasting impact on affected communities, and the emergency services personnel who responded.
 
“Please take care of yourselves and look out for each other because the impacts of this devastating flood and the ongoing cleanup efforts will be felt by those affected for weeks, months and in the years ahead,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Key highlights of the Wellbeing Package include:

• $7 million over three years to fund Primary Health Networks to engage both clinical and non-clinical workforce, including staff for the Safe Havens, to boost local access to psychological and clinical support;
• $5 million over three years to establish grants program for NGOs to fund trauma-based programs. Key focus on supporting young people, older residents and Aboriginal communities;
• $5 million for state-wide needs based resourcing and support;
• $3.5 million over three years to appoint Headspace and Lifeline work with affected communities to identify what each community needs;
• $3.5 million over three years to recruit 10 Local Recovery Coordinators to:
  • Coordinate mental health service delivery within their designated LGA, ensuring service providers are working with each other to plug gaps but also avoid duplication;
  • Identify and respond to emerging issues, such as increases in mental health hospital activity, self-harm or suicidal ideation;
  • Work closely with primary health initiatives, community and welfare agencies and mental health services to provide direct care and respond to local community needs and issues on the ground.
• $1 million to set up four pop-up Safe Havens in the areas hardest hit. Safe Havens are a place for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or in distress to seek refuge and support from people with lived experience. The space is welcoming and has a range of activities to help people divert their suicidal thinking. No referral is required to access a Safe Haven.

The NSW Government’s initial $25 million in mental health support will also be complimented by the Commonwealth Government’s mental health support packaged announced earlier this week.
Further mental health and well-being support will be provided to flood-affected communities across NSW as part the recovery process.

If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately by calling 000 or one of these services:

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
• NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511