School holiday fun need not break the bank

It’s the dream of every parent and carer: school holidays packed with fun and learning for the kids without the pay packet-busting price tag.

The state’s Cultural Institutions and national parks are stepping up to help, with a range of free and low-cost activities that help ease the cost-of-living squeeze while providing cultural learning and entertainment during the winter school break starting Monday 8 July.

From circus skills and carnival fun at the State Library of NSW, to a drop-in workshop to create an art installation honouring our Grandmother Tree at the Australian Museum, and becoming a National Parks ranger for a day, there are range of activities on offer.

School holiday activity highlights include:

  • Australian Museum
    • Burra, First Nations Learning Centre – Free guides lead gentle learning activities inspired by First Nations knowledge of our land and fauna.
    • Wansolmoana – join in the fun on 6 July in the AM’s Pasifika Gallery when award winning performers, Tavake, revive traditional dances and music from Tonga. Stay and enjoy the stunning artefacts on display, free, open every day.
    • Honouring Our Grandmother Tree – Running over three special days, join the free drop-in event to help create an art installation honouring our Grandmother Tree – the Sydney red gum. Set up in Hintze Hall, the Grandmother Tree is set to transform as Guringai, Yuin, and Sydney Traditional Owner Amanda Jane Reynolds lead children and families through unique art-making, ancestral teachings, and a daily sacred possum drumming ceremony.
    • Shellwork Art with Aunty Maxine – In this hands-on experience, master the traditional artform of shellwork in this interactive workshop with First Nations artist Aunty Maxine Ryan and spark your creativity to make your own unique piece to take home (child $45).
  • Powerhouse
    • Powerhouse Family Day: First Nations Innovations (Powerhouse Castle Hill)– A free day of demonstrations, workshops, tours, drop-in activities and fun for people of all ages, inspired by the Powerhouse collection (13 July).
    • Alchemy Family Tours (Powerhouse Castle Hill) – Join First Nations assistant curator Madeline Poll for a tour of the Powerhouse exhibition Alchemy that explores bush techniques in Indigenous Australian art.
    • Creative Studio: Digital Illustration (Wagga Wagga) – A free three-day workshop designed for students in years 7-12, to learn about character design and development in this artist-led workshop.
  • Art Gallery of NSW
    • Kids drop-in workshop: Alphonse Mucha paper headpieces – A free workshop inspired by the art of Alphonse Mucha, where you’ll cut paper then fold, crease, tear and scrunch it to make decorative botanical shapes inspired by Mucha’s artworks, many of which incorporate flowers and other plants.
    • Guided tour for kids: Roving art-making tour in Naala Nura – Join volunteer guides for a roving art-making tour of the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection. Find out more about some of the most intriguing artworks on display through friendly and fun activities, and make some art of your own.
    • Kids drop-in workshop: Keep the fires burning! – Create an artwork that represents a place that is special to you. Recalling your memories of this place, use text, images and repeat patterns to make a landscape image make a sign inspired by the art of Wanapati Yunupiŋu.
  • State Library of NSW
    • Carnival Drop-In Centre – Free carnival fun for families in the Learning Centre! Walk down the tunnel to try some sideshow craft and games, dress-up as a tightrope walker or the circus ringmaster then catch a fish for the seals on our interactive floor. It is open every day of the first week of the holidays.
    • Drawing in the Galleries – Arty the Art Cart will be packed to the brim with paper and art materials ready for you to discover things in our paintings you might never have seen before. Suitable for primary school aged children. All materials provided. 
    • Circus Skills Workshop – The circus has come to town! Join the troupe to learn plate twirling, juggling and discover new ways to play with the hula hoop. Circus skills expert, Shiho will be there to train you (child $10).
    • Create a Carnival – Make your own circus-scape with boxes, recycled craft materials, glue, scissors and lots of red-and-white striped paper. You can make characters, animals and even a merry-go-round! You will see paintings and photos from our collection that will inspire you (child $5).
  • Museums of History NSW:
    • Story time at the Museum – Coomaditchie Dreaming – A relaxed and fun story time session followed by a craft activity inspired by the Dreaming stories.
    • Art of Place: Poetry workshop for kids with Lucy Norton – Discover the power of words and unleash your creativity in this poetry workshop where you are invited to consider and write about your own interpretation of ‘the art of place’. Led by Lucy Norton, this workshop for kids will explore the nature, uses and practice of poetry through poetic language, forms and conventions (tickets $15).
    • Cast in Cast Out Memory Shield Kids Workshop – Join Dennis Golding for a special creative workshop where participants will be guided in making a memory shield that draws inspiration from the strength of First Nations cultures and connection to Country and the shield as an object of resistance, resilience, and empowerment (tickets $20).
  • Sydney Opera House:
    • Magic Garden – Join award-winning children’s band, The Vegetable Plot, for a journey into the magic garden of human imagination (tickets from $25).
    • The River That Ran Uphill – Sydney premiere of the courageous, brave, and timely production, highlighting climate change and its impacts on South Pacific communities. (tickets from $35).
    • A Forest In The City – An immersive production where children are invited to join two dancers onstage and step inside a magical green city and help to create an exciting new world where insects appear, the seasons change and the city gets bigger, busier and more complex (tickets from $35).
  • NSW National Parks – Sydney-based
    • Junior ranger – Children will be appointed ‘junior rangers’ to observe wildlife through binoculars and learn how to read maps in the Royal National Park (child $15, accompanying adult free + park entry).
    • Bare Island Fort guided tour – Cross a 130-year-old wooden bridge in La Perouse and enter a fort built in the 1880s to protect Botany Bay (adult $15, child $10, family $45).
    • Cycling Lady Carrington Drive – A historic cycling track offers birdwatching, picnic areas and history in the Royal National Park (free with park entry).
    • Barrenjoey Lighthouse tour – Climb the winding stairs inside Barrenjoey Lighthouse and enjoy views of the Pacific from the top (adult $10, child $5).
  • NSW National Parks – Regional NSW
    • Leaping lizards (Blue Mountains) – Join a ranger at Blackheath on a tour to spot lizards, learn where they sleep and what they eat, and how to protect them in your backyard (child $20, accompanying adult free).
    • Dorrigo kids’ nature play (near Coffs Harbour) – A rainforest tour in Dorrigo National Park with nature games and hands-on activities (child $10, accompanying adult free + park entry).
    • Walk on the wild side at the Warrumbungles (Central West) – A guided tour that teaches the skills of birdwatching and where to look for evidence of animal tracks (adult $18, child $10, family $50 + park entry).
    • Trial Bay Gaol (North Coast) – Find out what life behind bars was like and learn about the gaol’s mysterious towers, impenetrable walls and cells (adult $20, child $10, family $50).
    • Mountain Maid gold mine tour (Hunter) – Step back in time and pan for gold on this tour of Mountain Maid gold mine in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area (adult $15, child $10, family $40).
  • Taronga Zoo Sydney
    • Taronga’s Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centre (ARC) – Jump slither and crawl into this brand-new experience where big and little kids alike can eye to eye with 42 species of reptiles and amphibians all whilst learning about how to become climate heroes. This indoor experience is free with your Zoo Entry or with your Zoo Friends Membership.
    • Crawly Critters Alive Live Show – Crawl into the wild world of amazing critters at Taronga Zoo’s electrifying new show: Crawly Critters ALIVE! Discover the secrets of the spiders, marvel at the camouflaging prowess of phasmids, and shudder (in a good way!) at the armoured defence of scorpions. Running twice daily at 11.45 am and 2.30 pm throughout the school holidays (free with entry or Zoo Friends Membership).

For more information on specific school holiday programs, visit each institution’s website.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“The NSW Government’s top priority is helping people with cost-of-living pressures and it’s no secret that parents of school children have some of the biggest challenges – especially during the holidays.

“There is a range of free and low-cost programs available ready to be explored and we hope this can be of assistance to parents.”

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“We know that children who participate in creative and cultural activities are more likely to do well at school, make strong connections and thrive later in life, and it is critical that these opportunities are affordable and accessible to all.”

“These free and low-cost activities and events will make a welcome difference in providing entertainment, learning and fun, and there really is something for everyone.”

Anthony Wing reappointed NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner

Anthony Wing has been reappointed as Point to Point Transport Commissioner for another five years following a successful first term in the role.

Commissioner Wing has held the role since 1 July 2019 and is now contracted to continue in the position until 30 June 2029.

He reports directly to the Minister for Transport and oversees one of the largest passenger transport modes in NSW, with more than 100,000 workers across taxis, hire vehicles and rideshare serving two million customers every year.

The Point to Point Transport Commissioner administers and enforces point to point transport law to improve safety and encourage a more adaptive, innovative and competitive market for the whole industry.

As the industry grows, Commissioner Wing has overseen more Authorised Officers conducting on-street operations and more sophisticated safety audits of global, national and local service providers.

Commissioner Wing’s compliance team of Authorised Officers continue to be out in force conducting plain clothes and highly visible operations with more than 690 fines issued to drivers since November 2022 for fare-related offences.

A key component of this is the Taxi Fare Hotline, which allows passengers to make a fare-related complaint and have it directed to the right taxi company.

The Hotline ensures service providers are responding to complaints with refunds or driver sanctions and has referred more than 4000 complaints to service providers since November 2022 with more than 90 per cent of these resolved.

Commissioner Wing has an extensive background in regulation with roles at the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Prior to leading the Point to Point Transport Commission, he was Executive Director of Policy at Transport for NSW where he played a leading role in the establishment of the current regulatory framework for the industry that came into effect on 1 November 2017.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“The point to point transport industry in NSW has seen some big changes over the past decade. Commissioner Wing has played a big part in regulating the industry during a challenging period.

“I congratulate the Commissioner on his reappointment and look forward to working with him to continue to advocate on behalf all taxi and rideshare passengers and for the best interests of the point to point industry.”

Historic investment to make preschool cheaper for families

The Minns Labor Government is working to ensure every child in New South Wales has access to an affordable, quality preschool education, with up to 200,000 families across the state to benefit from the largest ever investment in early education fee relief.

$430 million has been allocated to provide fee relief for families of three, four and five-year-olds across NSW, an investment to ease the cost-of-living pressures facing families.

This funding has already benefited hundreds of thousands of families across the state, including:

  • Up to $4,220 a year for three- to five-year-olds attending eligible community and mobile preschools
  • Up to $2,110 a year for children aged four and above attending eligible preschool programs in long day care services. This can be received on top of Australian Government Child Care Subsidy payment
  • Up to $500 a year for three-year-olds attending eligible preschool programs in long day care services, on top of their Child Care Subsidy payment

Since the Minns Labor Government introduced up to $500 a year fee relief for three-year-olds, more than 62,000 families, or up to 88 per cent of eligible children, have accessed the initiative.

Early education is vital for a child’s development, supporting the improvement of their language, social and emotional skills, and future transition into kindergarten. Research also shows that access to early education for children supports women’s economic participation.

To meet increasing demand for fee relief in a cost-of-living crisis, the Minns Labor Government has increased the funding to existing programs, and expanded eligibility to three-year-olds, to ensure every child has the opportunity to access quality early education.

To streamline families’ access to fee relief and other important supports for children’s health and development in the first 5 years of life, the NSW Labor Government launched the Brighter Beginnings Parent and Carer information Hub in February. Over 200,000 families have already accessed this resource.

The Liberals and Nationals did not plan for growing demand in the early childhood space, failing to build a single new public preschool over 12 years, and presiding over a sector that saw the number of preschools shrink during their time in government.

The Minns Labor Government is prioritising quality education in the early years of a child’s life, with $1.82 billion invested in early education and care as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget.

On top of fee relief, this funding will support the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to build 100 new public preschools by 2027, the largest expansion of public preschools in the state’s history.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Attending preschool is vital for the educational outcomes of our children, setting in place the building blocks for success later in life.

“It is critically important, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis, that we ensure all parents are able to access high-quality affordable preschool for their children.”

New Parkes roundabout to be biggest in the Central West

The biggest roundabout in central west New South Wales will be built on Condobolin road as a key feature of the Parkes Bypass.

The Newell Highway bypass of Parkes has been in planning for decades to alleviate the constant flow of heavy freight vehicles and visitor traffic passing through the town.

The Australian Government is contributing $229.7 million to the $287.2 million project, with the remaining contribution being made by the NSW Government.

The project is part of the $1.5 billion investment from the Australian and NSW governments into the Newell Highway Corridor, with the Australian Government committing $1.1 billion.

Construction work to build the new 98-metre-diameter roundabout will start during the July school holidays.

The large roundabout – which will allow motorists to travel at 80 km/h – will also feature a large sculpture in its centre, which has been designed in collaboration with Parkes Shire Council.

Motorists will be detoured around the site during work.

For further information on the Parkes Bypass visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/parkes-bypass.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government, is pleased to have committed significant funding to this first exciting part of the project to safely bypass the Parkes CBD from the busy Newell Highway.

“Our Government is working for all Australians to deliver significant infrastructure that connects communities, stimulates jobs and builds the future of our nation.”

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:

“The Parkes Bypass will take more than 1,200 heavy vehicles and other traffic away from the town centre every day, improving travel times for thousands of motorists and making the CBD of Parkes more accessible.

“I’m thrilled to see work get underway on the giant Condo Road roundabout; it represents significant progress on a project that has been decades in the making.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to build a better Parkes and a better Newell Highway for all Australians.”

Senator for NSW Deb O’Neill:

“The new roundabout will provide safer and more efficient passage for motorists and heavy vehicle operators.

“Not only that, it will become a local tourist landmark as part of the travelling experience through the central west of New South Wales.”

State Member for Orange Phil Donato:

“It’s fantastic to see this once in a generation Parkes Bypass project progressing.

“Also importantly, this project is not only delivering road and transport benefits — it’s also supporting 350 jobs and injecting vital funds into small businesses in Parkes and the broader Central West region, which is bouncing back stronger than ever after unprecedented floods.”

NSW Labor’s Duty MLC for Orange Stephen Lawrence:

“The Parkes Bypass is a project that will provide improve road safety, reduce travel times and increase efficiencies for the freight industry. 

“Not only will Parkes benefit from its progression, but the entire Central West will too and the thousands of motorists from across Australia that use the Newell Highway every day.”

Artificial Intelligence trial to speed up local planning systems

Content Sixteen councils will trial technologies to speed up development assessment timeframes, as part of the NSW Government’s $5.6 million investment into introduce artificial intelligence into the planning system.

The successful councils applied for grants under the State’s Early Adopter Grant Program to trial technologies that will improve the quality and accuracy of information when a development application is lodged.

Councils assess approximately 85 per cent of all residential development applications and this process is often strained by administrative delays, duplications and mistakes, or site-specific requirements that are not met prior to submitting a development application.

These are all issues that could be identified and resolved before a development application even arrives on a planner’s desk, leaving our skilled planners to approve homes more efficiently.

Improving the quality of the original application reduces the number of requests for more information which saves significant time.

For example, of nearly 500 applications accepted into the Regional Housing Flying Squad Program in the past year additional information was required for around 30 per cent of development proposals with applicants taking, on average, an additional 42 days to respond with the information.

The combined saving of not having to request additional information on this relatively small group alone would be around 6300 days – or the equivalent of 17 years. If that is applied across the nearly 60,000 applications that are submitted in NSW each year, it means a saving of hundreds of thousands of days.

Unless we support the delivery of more homes, we will continue to lock young people out of housing or lose them to other states.

Each Council grant recipient will be supported to trial their nominated new technology for a year.

The Early Adopter Grant Program recipients include:

  • Bayside Council
  • Blacktown City Council
  • Burwood Council
  • Cessnock City Council
  • City of Canterbury Bankstown
  • City of Newcastle (with co-applicants: Central Coast Council and Muswellbrook Shire Council)
  • Cumberland City Council
  • Eurobodalla Shire Council
  • Hawkesbury City Council
  • Inner West Council
  • Lake Macquarie City Council
  • Randwick City Council
  • Wagga Wagga City Council
  • Wingecarribee Shire Council

The grant funding forms part of the NSW Government’s wider AI in NSW Planning package.

The AI project seeks to identify how the planning system can benefit from the implementation of AI.

The next phase of the project will examine technologies that can work with the NSW Planning Portal to make the benefits of artificial intelligence available to all applicants.

For more information on successful councils and their grant projects, visit the AI in NSW Planning website.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Using technology to assist in the assessment of development applications is a critical way the government can support councils to speed up development assessment times to better address the housing crisis.

“Introducing AI into the planning system is about reducing the administrative workload of planners so that they can get on with their main job of planning. It also helps applicants as it reduces delays by making sure all the required information is provided without repeated requests. This will free up their time and help build more homes faster.

“There is no denying that after a decade of confusing planning reforms and a challenging macroeconomic environment, that approvals have slowed down. As a government we are examining every way we can to speed up our planning system and build homes for our young people, our families and our workers.”

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“Councils are responsible for determining approximately 85 per cent of all new dwellings in NSW and I know firsthand the amount of work they do to assess development applications.

“I believe that utilising AI will accelerate the planning process and will help councils to get on with delivering for their communities.”

New Goulburn Aboriginal Health Centre opens to support reconciliation and wellbeing

The Goulburn community has a new Aboriginal Health Centre to support reconciliation, healing, health, and wellbeing.

The Centre is part of the final phase of works for the $165 million Goulburn Hospital and Health Service Redevelopment which has delivered a fit-for-purpose facility to support high-quality healthcare for the region.

The Centre provides a culturally safe space for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and includes a waiting area, accessible bathroom, kitchen with breakfast bar for cooking demonstrations, consultation rooms, and a flexible activity space.

It also features a new outdoor area landscaped with native plants, comprising a yarning circle for community members to gather, along with a play area for child and family programs.

Additional works were made possible through a successful $225,000 grant from NSW Health as part of the Aboriginal Health Minor Capital Works Program.

The Centre was officially opened on Monday 1 July where Local Ngunnawal Elder Jennie Gordon gave a Welcome to Country and conducted a flag-raising ceremony alongside Inland Network Aboriginal Health Manager Marion Knight and Goulburn Base Hospital Site Managern Kylie Strong.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“This new Centre is a fantastic, purpose-built space for the Goulburn Aboriginal Health team to provide a range of free services for the community, including community liaison, health promotion and disease prevention.

“This is part of the NSW Government commitment to closing the gap and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people in a culturally safe and appropriate way.”

Senate denies Free Speech inquiry

An historic motion for a Senate enquiry into enshrining the right to free speech in the Australian Constitution was narrowly defeated this week thanks to Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers.

Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts moved the enquiry on Monday and while there was little surprise that Labor and the Greens voted it down, there was disappointment that independent senators David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, Lydia Thrope and David Van didn’t even turn up to vote.

One Nation proposed an enquiry that shouldn’t be controversial by any reasonable measure. But here we are in 2024, when the duly elected government of Australia is perfectly comfortable being seen voting against the protection of freedom of speech.

This enquiry—and a wider debate in the Australian community—on freedom of speech is urgently needed. The Albanese Labor government is determined to suppress our freedom of speech with its ‘misinformation and disinformation’ legislation.

Australians are afraid to express their views, beliefs and opinions in public settings or at work, yet this right is absolutely essential to a functioning democracy.

In some respects, Australians cannot be blamed for being afraid. After everything that happened to Senator Hanson for speaking her mind, they have every reason to be cautious. This situation is only going to get worse unless we can somehow enshrine the right to free speech in the Constitution and protect it against government attempts to suppress it.

Free speech is a right that’s foundational, inalienable and essential. It deserves the protection that only our Constitution can provide. The inquiry sought by One Nation would have looked at the implications, the necessary resources and funding, and the timing of a referendum, preferably held at the same time as an election to save on costs.

But here we are in 2024, where the woke left go to the most extraordinary extremes to silence, censor, de-platform and gag any view that does not meet their approval. Those senators who did not support the enquiry are condemned as opponents of freedom of speech in Australia.

Boosting Australia’s housing supply

The Albanese Government is getting on with the job of building homes for Australia, with successful recipients announced under Stream 1 of the $1.5 billion Housing Support Program.

A total of 80 projects across Australia will receive funding, including 73 local government projects and seven under the states and territories.

This funding will support master planning and development projects to accelerate housing supply and ensure residential growth in local communities is accessible, affordable and sustainable.

This will help unlock the construction of new homes across Australia.

Some of the successful projects receiving funding include:

  • $1.5 million for Blacktown City Council for housing capacity studies and planning strategies around 9 train station precincts, with the potential to deliver 50,000 dwellings
  • $1.2 million for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for a Planning Cadet Program to boost planning capability within regional councils
  • $160,000 for Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council for a Future Housing Supply Strategy expected to enable 66 well-located homes in remote Queensland
  • $355,000 for the South Australian Department for Trade and Investment to establish a Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning at Flinders University, to commence in 2025
  • $150,000 for Bundaberg Regional Council to undertake precinct planning for 1,300 dwellings (including medium-density, affordable housing) around the Bundaberg Hospital, primarily for hospital workers

 The Housing Support Program is one of a range of measures designed to help achieve the ambitious national target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next 5 years.

It also forms part of the $32 billion in new housing initiatives we are delivering through our Homes for Australia plan.

States, territory and local governments are encouraged to apply for Stream 2 of the Program which also opens today (9am AEST 5 July 2024).

This $450 million stream will provide funding for enabling infrastructure that supports housing, such as roads and utility connections, and community amenities like parks, footpaths and public spaces.

Applications for Stream 2 of the Housing Support Program will be open until 5.00pm AEST 16 August 2024.

For more information on the Program, including a full list of successful Stream 1 projects, visit Housing Support Program.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Housing Support Program is an important part of our Government’s $32 billion Homes for Australia plan which is building more homes across Australia.

“A place to call home is not a luxury or a nice-to-have, but a fundamental need, and our Homes for Australia plan is making this a reality for more Australians.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Albanese Government’s Housing Support Program is helping to turbocharge infrastructure planning so we can deliver more homes, more quickly, for more Australians.

“It’s a critical part of our plan to work with states and territories to help them meet the ambitious national target to build 1.2 million well-located new homes.”

Minister for Housing Julie Collins:

“I urge all councils and state and territory governments to submit their projects for the second stream of the Housing Support Program so we can work together to get more homes on the ground, faster.

“Our Homes for Australia plan is working across the board – more help for renters, more help for homebuyers and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.”

Half a million visits as new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic delivered in Queanbeyan

The Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare to deliver a better, fairer and stronger health system and responsible cost of living relief.

In just over 12 months, the network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics has achieved an historic milestone with more than 500,000 free visits across the country.

Half a million presentations since the Albanese Government established the first clinics in June 2023, with Australians receiving treatment for a range of conditions and injuries that are urgent, but not life-threatening.

The milestone coincides with the announcement of the latest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which will be established in the New South Wales area of Queanbeyan, near to the Australian Capital Territory border.

The Brindabella Family Practice, on Morisset Street, was selected to be the Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic through a process led by the New South Wales Government.

The Clinic will open later this month, offering free walk-in care, seven days a week, over extended hours, providing urgent medical care to locals on both sides of the border.

It will reduce pressure on the Queanbeyan District Hospital where, in 2022-23, over 70 per cent of presentations were for semi-urgent or non-urgent matters. 

The Queanbeyan clinic is one of the 29 additional clinics to be established through a $227 million national expansion announced as part of the 2024-25 Budget, adding to the 58 clinics already operating.

There are 16 Medicare UCCs now operating in New South Wales, located in: Albury, Batemans Bay, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Lake Haven, Lismore, Liverpool, Maroubra, Peninsula (Gosford), Penrith, Rooty Hill, Ryde, Tamworth, Westmead, and Wollongong.

There have been more than 87,000 visits in New South Wales, with:

  • Almost 1 in 4 by children under 15;
  • More than 1 in 4 taking place at the weekend; and
  • 1 in 5 weekday visits taking place after 5pm.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are providing the urgent care people need, and all they need it their Medicare card, not their credit card.

“Every day they’re taking the pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a key way we’re making Medicare stronger, ensuring Australians have access to affordable care, when and where they need it.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:

“Half a million visits proves what an impact our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are having right around the country.

“In the Budget, we invested $227 million to open an additional 29 Clinics, to ensure that more Australians can get medical care when their need is urgent, but not life threatening.

“The Queanbeyan Urgent Care Clinic will help ensure locals on both sides of the border can get free, urgent care, when they need it and fully bulk billed, taking pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.”

Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain:

“The Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is going to make a big difference to residents in Queanbeyan, but also in the surrounding communities of Googong, Jerrabomberra and beyond.

“Instead of waiting for a non-life threatening issue at the emergency department, locals can receive treatment at this walk-in clinic, with no out of pocket costs.

“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the local emergency department and be much more convenient for our communities – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.”