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An innovative, 10-week trial starting today will see paramedics working alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to improve access to care in regional healthcare settings.

Mudgee Hospital’s emergency department (ED) will be the first in the state to participate in the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot, which will see paramedics integrate into the multidiscplinary team within the ED and support existing staff to provide care.

The trial will see up to three NSW Ambulance paramedics rostered on in the ED, in addition to the regular, full suite of ED staff at Mudgee.

During the trial, triage will continue to be performed by a Registered Nurse in the ED, and hospital staff will inform patients if a paramedic is involved in their care.

How a paramedic works with existing ED staff as part of the multidisciplinary team in treatment areas will depend on each patient’s individual needs.

The trial, which was open to NSW Ambulance paramedics across the state, will demonstrate how paramedics may be able to complement existing workforces in healthcare settings, with a second rural health service participating in the pilot in the coming weeks.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Integrating paramedics into emergency departments is something which has been done effectively overseas, and this trial will give us insight into how it could be done in NSW to complement our regional health workforce.

“Our EDs across NSW are grappling with unprecedented pressure, which is why the NSW Government is investing in a range of measures including creating alternative pathways to care, all with the goal of relieving our busy and stretched emergency departments.

“Paramedics will provide additional support by working alongside our dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health teams to provide treatment, and improve access to care.

“Attracting and retaining healthcare workers in regional settings is a longstanding challenge faced by every state and territory in Australia, and the NSW Government is committed to building a more supported regional health workforce through innovative initiatives like the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot.”

Labor Spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence:

“We know that regional and rural health services face unique pressures, and this trial is all about exploring innovative solutions.

“This collaborative effort is an important step to see how we can improve access to care for patients in our regional communities.”

WNSWLHD Chief Executive Mark Spittal:

“As a large rural centre, the wide range of presentations we see at Mudgee Hospital will see paramedics utilise their extensive skillsets in the ED setting, within their scope of practice.

“Clinical procedures have been rigorously reviewed and adjusted for the pilot. We have worked together with NSW Ambulance to investigate how and when paramedics will provide support, to ensure all patients receive appropriate care from appropriate staff.

“Patients will know if a paramedic is involved with their care. Hospital staff will let patients know, but NSW Ambulance paramedics involved in the trial will also be in different uniforms to ED staff, making paramedics identifiable.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for our award-winning ED team at Mudgee Hospital, and for our Local Health District as a whole. To be selected for this trial reflects our willingness and capability to support innovation which could help regional healthcare settings across NSW in the future.”

Maitland Hospital has welcomed an influx of new team members including nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health professionals, as part of a major boost to workforce capacity in the region.

Between July 2023 and September 2024, the hospital increased its number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff by 10 per cent, growing by 121 FTE and bringing the total to 1,095 FTE.

The staffing increase reflects Maitland’s growing appeal as a place to live and work, supported by the region’s expanding healthcare sector and the $470 million Hospital on Metford Road, which opened in March 2022.

Maitland Hospital has worked hard to improve staff retention, build a supportive work environment, and focus on growth and development opportunities – including through training and education, upskilling into specialty positions, pathway programs and leadership development.

The Minns Labor Government has introduced a broad suite of initiatives to further strengthen the state’s regional health workforce, including:

• Implementing the Safe Staffing Levels initiative in our emergency departments
• Providing permanent funding for 1,112 FTE nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis
• Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers
• Doubling the Rural Health Workforce Incentives Scheme – from $10,000 to $20,000 to fill to attract, train and retain health workers in some of the hardest to fill critically vacant positions in rural and regional NSW.
• Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.
• An investment of an additional $200.1 million to deliver more health worker accommodation in regional, rural and remote communities.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park

“I’d like to warmly welcome Maitland’s newest team members and thank them for choosing a fulfilling career with NSW Health.

“Attracting and retaining healthcare workers in regional settings is a longstanding challenge faced by every state and territory in Australia. and the Minns Labor Government is committed to building a more supported regional health workforce.

“Hunter New England Local Health District’s success in growing its staff is a positive indication that we’re addressing this issue directly and that our workforce initiatives are making a difference.”

Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison

“Maitland’s reputation as a great place to live, work, and raise a family is clear.

“The significant increase in staffing at Maitland Hospital reflects the confidence that healthcare professionals have in Maitland’s future and the exceptional quality of life our region provides.

“We know there have been significant improvements needed at Maitland Hospital for years, it’s great that the Minister and the entire Minns Labor government are listening and acting to improve this fantastic facility for patients, nurses, doctors, ancillary staff and the broader community.”

Acting General Manager Maitland Hospital, Jenny Martin

“The Maitland region is a fantastic place to live and work, and we look forward to welcoming more colleagues and their families into our vibrant community.

“The growth in staff numbers, including a nine per cent increase in nurses and midwives, 17 per cent in doctors, and five per cent in allied health professionals, reflects our commitment to both excellent patient care and supporting our colleagues in their professional careers.”

Maitland Hospital Senior Resident Medical Officer Oncology, Sharmila K C

“I moved to Maitland from Bendigo, Victoria, in February and was drawn to Hunter New England Local Health District’s strong reputation for mentorship, training, and commitment to education.

“Maitland Hospital offers an incredibly supportive environment for both patients and staff, with a close-knit collaborative team culture that focuses on empathy and communication.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of this community and contribute to the growth of health services in the Maitland region.”

Planning reforms to fast-track minor works in cemeteries across the state, come into effect from today, scrapping more planning red tape.

The amendment to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) removes the need for a Development Application (DA) on low impact minor works and maintenance activities in cemeteries.

The streamlined pathway will mean cemetery operators and crematoria will not need to submit a Development Application (DA) for minor works like monuments, demolition activities, internal roads and maintenance sheds.

A DA will still be required for development beyond the boundary of an existing cemetery, or development that cannot comply with the proposed controls. It also does not include changes to the number of burial plots or operational hours.

These changes will reduce development assessment timeframes and will also help free up resources in councils, making sure our planners are doing the work they need to do to help speed up the planning system.

The NSW Government has prioritised cutting unnecessary red tape in the state’s planning system after inheriting a system that was as confused as it was confusing.

Many areas of the planning system still have thresholds and triggers that are based on outdated priorities and are not servicing communities in the most effective way. These reforms are just one of the many changes the Government is introducing to make sure the planning system is fit-for-purpose.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has worked closely with Crown Lands and Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW to ensure the reforms align across all of government.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Cemeteries play a crucial role in our community and are a place that each of us will interact with throughout our lives to honour our loved ones.

The amendment to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) removes the need for a Development Application (DA) on low impact minor works and maintenance activities in cemeteries.

The streamlined pathway will mean cemetery operators and crematoria will not need to submit a Development Application (DA) for minor works like monuments, demolition activities, internal roads and maintenance sheds.

A DA will still be required for development beyond the boundary of an existing cemetery, or development that cannot comply with the proposed controls. It also does not include changes to the number of burial plots or operational hours.

These changes will reduce development assessment timeframes and will also help free up resources in councils, making sure our planners are doing the work they need to do to help speed up the planning system.

The NSW Government has prioritised cutting unnecessary red tape in the state’s planning system after inheriting a system that was as confused as it was confusing.

Many areas of the planning system still have thresholds and triggers that are based on outdated priorities and are not servicing communities in the most effective way. These reforms are just one of the many changes the Government is introducing to make sure the planning system is fit-for-purpose.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has worked closely with Crown Lands and Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW to ensure the reforms align across all of government.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Cemeteries play a crucial role in our community and are a place that each of us will interact with throughout our lives to honour our loved ones.

“It is imperative that cemeteries can continue to operate effectively now and into the future. Operators should not be spending their time on simple DAs in existing cemeteries.

“These new tailored pathways recognise the unique role cemeteries play and provide simple operational and functional requirements for them to operate effectively.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government has been taking action to address the crisis in our cemeteries since day one.

“Once again, we are taking the necessary action to ensure we can meet the future needs in our cemeteries sector through responsible planning, finding more space for burials, and ensuring they are maintained, accessible, and respectful spaces to serve our communities.

“We want all people of all cultures and faiths to have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services, and we will continue to clean up the mess the Coalition left behind.”

“These new tailored pathways recognise the unique role cemeteries play and provide simple operational and functional requirements for them to operate effectively.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government has been taking action to address the crisis in our cemeteries since day one.

“Once again, we are taking the necessary action to ensure we can meet the future needs in our cemeteries sector through responsible planning, finding more space for burials, and ensuring they are maintained, accessible, and respectful spaces to serve our communities.

“We want all people of all cultures and faiths to have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services, and we will continue to clean up the mess the Coalition left behind.”

Museums of History NSW, the primary custodian and advocate of the state’s cultural history, has a new CEO.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said the successful candidate, Ms Annette Pitman, brings a breadth of experience in heritage preservation, activation and storytelling across public, private and not-for-profit sectors to the role. 

As Chief Executive of Create NSW for the last two and a half years, Ms Pitman led the revitalisation of Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, The Gunnery and many other significant cultural spaces and oversaw the development of the state’s first Arts, Culture and Creative Industries policy, Creative Communities.

With a proven track record in arts, heritage and cultural leadership, Ms Pitman is well equipped to elevate Museums of History NSW in its mission to preserve and share the stories of our state through places, collections and archives.

Ms Pitman will commence in the role on 14 October, 2024.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“The Museums of History NSW has an important role to play in collecting and celebrating our state’s cultural history across the vast archives and records, historic houses, museums and collections previously in the care of the Sydney Living Museums.

“I would like to congratulate Annette on her appointment to the role. I look forward to working together to deliver on the Government’s priorities for the sector and people of NSW.

“I am excited about the next chapter of this important organisation under Annette’s leadership, leveraging the successes and partnerships she has built across the NSW creative sector to further the mission of Museums of History.”

“I would also like to thank Mary Darwell for acting in the role for the past sixteen months, and commend her for the excellent contribution she made during her interim tenure. Mary led with care and integrity during Museums of History NSW’s important establishment phase, placing the community at the heart of its work. She leaves a substantial legacy.”

About Museums of History NSW:

• Established in December 2022, Museums of History NSW is a state cultural institution.
• The Museum brings together the historic houses, museums and collections previously in the care of Sydney Living Museums with the vast archives and records in the NSW State Archives Collection.

The largest-ever cohort of students completing their Higher School Certificate conclude their formal schooling today as Term 3 draws to a close and the countdown begins to the HSC written exam period.

The 2024 HSC enrolment snapshot released today shows a record 80,166 NSW students are completing at least one HSC course this year, with 76,221 of those students set to sit at least one HSC exam.

The snapshot, released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), provides a breakdown of enrolments by course, gender, and location. It offers insights into which areas of study students are interested in and how enrolments have changed, or remained stable, over time.

Continuing an 11-year trend, Mathematics (61,963 students), Business Studies (20,008) and Biology (19,444) again see the highest enrolments after English – with Ancient History moving into 13th place for candidature size, its highest place in recent years.

Six per cent of students are enrolled in language courses this year, consistent with 2023, with Japanese, French and Chinese continuing to see the highest candidature in a trend unchanged over the past decade.

In Vocational Education and Training (VET), Hospitality (7,587 students), Construction (3,529 students), Business Services (2,401 students), Retail Services (1,615 students) and Entertainment Industry (1,243 students) have the highest enrolment numbers, with Primary Industries (1,054 students) continuing to grow and attracting more female students than in previous years. 

The HSC is a family affair for some students, with around 1,647 siblings sitting exams this year, including 798 sets of twins and 17 sets of triplets enrolled in an HSC course.

As they near the end of their 13-year schooling careers, the HSC Class of 2024 are now set to finish classes and finalise preparations for their upcoming written exams in October.

HSC written exams are scheduled to commence on 15 October with English Paper 1 and conclude on 8 November with Geography.  

View the 2024 HSC enrolment snapshot on the NESA website.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said: 

“This point is a major milestone for HSC students, as they head out of the school gates and prepare to take on exams next month. 

“I wish students all the best as they get ready to do their very best in exams. You have done the hard work – now is the time to stay focused, take care of yourself and follow a healthy study schedule. 

“Thank you to the teachers of NSW who have prepared HSC students for this moment and to all teachers who have guided students through their 13 years of education.”  

CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority Paul Martin said:   

“Congratulations to the 76,221 students who are now finishing up their high school careers and preparing to sit exams in October.

“Be proud of what you have already achieved to get here, and go in to this study period with a clear mind, feeling confident in all that you know and have learned.

“The NSW education system, delivered by the country’s top teachers, has prepared our latest set of high schoolers for success now and into the future.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in the mental health of regional communities with the new $335,000 12-month pilot program to support the mental wellbeing of farmers on the north coast.

The program will enable the non-government, Northern Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS), which is jointly funded by the Federal and NSW governments, to offer mental health coaching to a community that has endured an onslaught of drought, bushfires, floods, and biosecurity threats, as well as fluctuating commodity prices.

The pilot, which will run until September 2025, is part of an initiative designed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.

It aims to provide integrated support to NSW primary producers in the Northern Rivers region, which has weathered the cumulative impact of multiple natural disasters since 2017.

RFCS’s mental health coaches will complement the service’s financial counselling and will work directly with farmers to provide free, confidential and one-on-one support.

As part of the pilot the RFCS will employ at least one mental health counsellor in addition to financial counsellors currently working to support local farmers.

The RFCS is well placed to deliver this initiative, having helped farmers, fishers, forestry growers and harvesters, and small rural businesses vulnerable to financial hardship for more than 30 years.

With national surveys showing that the mental health of farmers is at an historic low, this investment in the mental wellbeing will support farmers on the north coast as they continue to adapt to a changing climate, manage risks, recover and re-build their businesses.

More than 40 percent of NSW is in drought or drought affected as at 11 May 2024. At the same time the mental wellbeing of farmers has not had a chance to recover from the previous drought, due to compounding issues of COVID19, fires, floods and biosecurity disease risks and outbreaks.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report 2023, found that 30 per cent of farmers have attempted self-harm or suicide, and found that natural disasters, including drought, were the main trigger for the decline in mental health, followed by financial stress, inflation, and cost pressures.

In recent years the North Coast of NSW has experienced cumulative, and consecutive natural disasters and adverse events including biosecurity risks of Red Imported Fire Ant, Varroa Mite, Oyster QX and Prawn White Spot in addition to current drought conditions.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“What the last drought taught us is that farmers don’t necessarily want a handout – they are capable and resilient decision makers – however they do want support.

“This pilot demonstrates a new approach to providing mental health welling support alongside financial counselling advice.

“This additional investment in the Rural Financial Counselling Service will ensure producers in the RFCS’s northern service area are supported with the best possible mental health advice.

“A financial challenge doesn’t occur in isolation and is often intrinsically linked to a variety of factors including emotional and mental wellbeing impacts.

Minister for Mental Health and the North Coast Rose Jackson said:

“An unpredictable and difficult climate can place a significant burden on our farmers, which is why it’s crucial to deliver the support they need.

“Our priority is to ensure people in regional communities know where to go, who to turn to, and what help is available.

“This new pilot leverages the local expertise of our dedicated RAMHP coordinators to ensure the program is tailor made to meet people in regional communities where they are at.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said:

“I am very pleased to see that this initiative will be placed with the Rural Financial Counselling Service as they provide wholistic services and care to our famers and rural people.

“They fully understand the stresses and strains and since 2017 there have been compounding disasters and challenges that they “get”.

“The RFCS are trusted and will do a great job with this.

“I also thank Minister Moriarty for listening and responding well to the RFCS about the best way to give a wraparound service to our rural communities and applaud the Northern NSW Region RFCS CEO Gary Goldberg and his team for their outstanding work.”

Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer Rural Financial Counselling Services NSW, Northern Region, said:

“Since 2017, the Northern Rivers region has faced one disaster after another – cyclones, drought, bushfire, floods, Covid-19.

“Hardly a week goes by without one of our financial counsellors coming to me for advice because a client is showing signs of serious distress, feeling overwhelmed and/or experiencing severe depression.

“Our financial counsellors work hard to build a mutual trust and rapport with our clients to help them through times of financial stress.

Katrina McDougall, RFCS financial counsellor, said:

“We like to go out to meet our clients face to face whenever possible to make a connection and build trust.

“I am so pleased that Rural Financial Counselling Services NSW Northern Region will be able to offer a mental health service to support this community in a meaningful way.”