Category: NSW News

Female sporting teams across regional NSW will benefit from new and improved facilities and regional towns will soon see even more investment in community infrastructure and programs that will make a big difference to everyday life in the bush, thanks to the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said applications are now open for Round Four and communities are encouraged to apply.
“Up to $50 million is dedicated to the delivery of female sports facilities and programs, to encourage greater female participation in all levels and codes across regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This NSW Government funding will make a big difference in the bush by delivering new and improved facilities as well as programs for female sports teams and is another step towards levelling the playing field for girls and women in remote, rural and regional communities.”
Ms Mitchell visited the Upper Hunter today to officially open the newly refurbished Scone netball courts at Bill Rose Sporting Complex and announced that applications for Round Four of the Stronger Country Communities fund are now open.
“A lack of adequate amenities, especially for females, can often be a barrier to participation. By improving and building purpose-fit facilities and developing programs, girls and women will feel more welcome, safe and encouraged to regularly participate in sports and active recreation,” Ms Mitchell said.
Mrs Taylor said getting facilities up to date, particularly women’s change rooms, will ensure all female athletes are supported to take part in a wide range of sports, including once male dominated codes.
“Facilities designed exclusively for women should be standard and this funding will help women all over rural and regional NSW overcome a major hurdle and feel empowered to play the sports they love with comfort and confidence,” Mrs Taylor said.
“We’re supporting female athletes of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport, from grassroots to elite level and the Stronger Country Communities Fund is all about building a safer, stronger NSW for everyone.”
The Stronger Country Communities fund is part of the NSW Government’s $2 billion Regional Growth Fund. Applications for Round Four open 1 May 2021 and close on 25 June 2021. For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/SCCF

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has welcomed 208 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony this morning at the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the new permanent and on-call firefighters and wished them well as they commence their service to the community.
“Becoming a firefighter is no easy feat. FRNSW attracts up to 8000 applications each year, yet of these thousands, only a small number are chosen,” Mr Elliott said.
“These recruits will not only face fires. They are trained to respond to various incidents including medical emergencies, natural disasters, flood rescues and car accidents, environmental and hazardous material emergencies and counter terrorism.
“The recruits will be joining an elite organisation that prides itself on continued training and learning and I am sure that many in the community will feel much safer with these highly-trained recruits now on duty across NSW.”
Fire and Rescue NSW received a record investment of $900 million this financial year to support frontline firefighters in protecting lives, property and to continue being prepared for anything.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter congratulated the new recruits at today’s ceremony.
“There were 208 dedicated new firefighters standing before us today, each of them from diverse backgrounds but sharing one common goal – to protect the irreplaceable,” he said.
“These recruits have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work that our firefighters do – from educating the community about fire safety and providing emergency medical care to responding to fires, natural disasters and hazmat incidents.
“They’ve been trained to be prepared for anything and I know they will uphold the high standards of integrity, courage and professionalism expected of a FRNSW firefighter.”
The new recruits come from all over NSW and a range of backgrounds, including a former Nepalese firefighter, a former school teacher and an accomplished television production editor.

Poor spectator behaviour at junior sport is set to be addressed, with the Shoosh for Kids Winter Awareness Month kicking off this weekend.
Following a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19, the campaign is making a strong comeback, with a record 21 sector partners and more than 600 sporting clubs and associations already signed up to take part in the initiaitive.
Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said with larger groups back at community sport it’s essential to keep sideline comments and behaviour positive.
“With a full season to look forward to this winter, the Shoosh for Kids message is more important than ever,” Mr Lee said.
“It’s great to see larger crowds and families back at community sport, and we all have a responsibility to ensure it is a fun, safe environment for children. One of the best ways we can do this is to keep comments positive so that kids want to keep playing and enjoying the benefits that sport offers.”
Founding partner of Shoosh for Kids and NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) CEO David Trodden said the campaign is vital in ensuring kids keep returning to junior sport.
“The NSWRL is proud to have helped launch this campaign six years ago and we’re thrilled the campaign has now broadened across the sport sector,” Mr Trodden said.
“We are very passionate about creating an enjoyable and positive environment to ensure kids want to come back each week, and most of all, have fun playing!”
In addition to new state sporting organisation partners, the network of 65 PCYC clubs across NSW have joined Shoosh for Kids for the first time, expanding the reach of the campaign to more than 70,000 youth that attend clubs and programs.
PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle said the organisation was proud to join forces with the Office of Sport to help address negative spectator behaviour.
“The campaign aligns with one of our fundamental values – Respect – so we’re excited to be on board with this fantastic initiative led by the NSW Government,” Mr Teakle said.
“We know that young people thrive with positive adult role models and the Shoosh for Kids initiative reinforces positive, supportive behaviours in sport”.
Shoosh for Kids Winter Awareness Month will run from 1 to 31 May 2021, with free resources available to clubs and associations that sign up throughout the campaign.
For more information or to sign up, visit: sport.nsw.gov.au/shooshforkids

The next round of changes to NSW liquor laws comes into effect today to further support Sydney’s nightlife and encourage a vibrant and safe 24-hour economy.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the changes would boost jobs, provide the community with more entertainment options, and build on efforts to help revitalise the night-time economy.
“We’ve listened to industry and removed outdated and unnecessary regulations. The new rules give businesses confidence and certainty that we are serious about boosting the 24-hour economy,” Mr Dominello said.
“The economy doesn’t go to sleep at night and neither should our laws. This is about making life easier for businesses, while also prioritising community safety.
“These changes will breathe new life into one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic.”
Liquor reforms that begin today include:
Replacement of the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross licence freeze

• The freeze on new liquor licences for hotels, registered clubs, nightclubs, and packaged liquor outlets has ended and is replaced with a new evidence-based approach to manage numbers of licensed premises in the precincts and the related risks.
• The new approach is set out in a ‘Cumulative Impact Assessment’ which is available from the Liquor & Gaming NSW website.

Live music and entertainment changes

• Liquor licensing decision-makers are required under NSW liquor laws to consider the need to support employment and other opportunities in the live music industry, and arts, tourism, or community and/or cultural sectors when determining licence applications.
• NSW Councils have the option to take the lead in managing complaints about noise from inside licensed premises in their local area, including entertainment sound.
• Councils will also have new powers to establish ‘Special Entertainment Precincts’ where they adopt their own plans to encourage and manage live, amplified music.

Changes to small bars

• Eligible small bar applicants with the necessary planning approvals can be issued with an interim approval to start trading as soon as they lodge their liquor licence application online.

Further information about the 24-hour economy liquor reforms can be found here.

Secret tours will be held across the Sydney CBD this weekend with $10,000 worth of vouchers up for grabs for the first people to solve the riddles and unlock the clues.
The Secret City Trails Sydney website is part of the City Revitalisation Innovation Challenge, supported by Transport for NSW, to encourage people back into the CBD.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Sydney CBD was the economic engine room of the State and this exciting initiative would help people rediscover everything it has to offer and give it a much-needed jump-start.
“The pandemic has seen working patterns shift and we have to look at new and innovative ways to entice people back to into the city,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Nothing beats a day out in Sydney and this new and creative project will help more people rediscover the hidden gems of our city to support businesses and jobs in the CBD.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the challenge is about giving people exciting new reasons to head into the city.
“We are seeing more people returning to the CBD and we want that trend to continue. These unique experiences give people that extra reason to venture out of their suburb and into the CBD to explore all this wonderful city has to offer,” Mr Constance said.
“We are proud to provide more than $400, 000 in funding to encourage business to innovate new ways to help revitalise the city as we continue a strong economic recovery through COVID.”
The Secret City Trails Sydney will see participants discover the city through self-guided walks and by solving riddles to unlock curious stories about local landmarks. The first 2,000 people to complete a trail will receive $5 to spend at the final destination, on a coffee, ice cream or as a discount off the total bill.
The CBD will also play host to an outdoor art gallery called, ‘I Came to See’, a joint initiative with City of Sydney featuring work from Australian artists.
The Director of the Council’s city life program, Emma Rigney, said art plays an important role in Sydney’s cultural life.
“A thriving arts scene is a critical element of our vision for Sydney as a liveable, sustainable and dynamic global city, and is an aspect of our city that we are keen to promote to both Sydneysiders and visitors,” Ms Rigney said.
Explore Sydney’s Secret City Trails at: https://secretcitytrails.com/sydney.
The ‘I Came to See’ Outdoor Art Gallery will be in the Sydney CBD on:
Saturday 1 May – Friday 7 May at Martin Place
Saturday 8 May – Tuesday 18 May at Customs House Square
Wednesday 19 May – Sunday 30 May at Exchange Place, Barangaroo

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee today announced TAFE NSW has signed a partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport to encourage more elite athletes to pursue vocational education and training pathways.
Under the memorandum of understanding, athletes will be given personalised support to balance their sporting commitments and vocational training.
The number of athletes seeking professional career advice through the AIS Career Practitioner Referral Network more than doubled in 2020 with around 20 per cent of these athletes going on to enrol at TAFE or university to support their post-sport career aspirations.
Mr Lee said TAFE NSW will join the Elite Athlete Education Network, firming its reputation as a world-class vocational education and training provider.
“This partnership cements TAFE NSW as a provider of choice for elite athletes who want flexibility and personalised support to gain employment skills while they compete at the elite level,” Mr Lee said.
“We’re proud to be partnering with the Australian Institute of Sport to help deliver the skilled workforce Australia needs now and into the future.”
Elite athletes enrolled at TAFE NSW will receive a nominated point of contact to provide advice and guidance on academic planning, course management and timetabling.
Australian Institute of Sport CEO Peter Conde said the agreement will support elite athletes who may have missed the opportunity to obtain formal skills.
“This is great news for elite athletes who can take advantage of the wide range of courses and flexible study options offered by TAFE NSW,” Mr Conde said.
“Education and training enable Australian athletes to learn, thrive and contribute to the community during their time in high-performance sport and life afterwards.”

The NSW Government will develop a new safety net for political staff following a review of policies ordered by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Professor Pru Goward has delivered her report to the Premier.
Ms Berejiklian said she welcomed the findings of the Goward Review into Policies and Procedures in Ministerial Offices regarding bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct and will be accepting the recommendations made.
“I would like to thank Pru Goward for this comprehensive and forthright report,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It’s very important to me that we stress test everything that exists in and around NSW Ministerial Offices to make sure that we have in place good policies and culture.
“I am keen to adopt all the recommendations and there will be an opportunity for consultation in the next phase of this process. If we’re serious about making change, we have to do it properly and this will involve engagement with NSW Parliament and any survivors.
“I want to have a clear conscience that I’ve done everything I can to make sure that our workplace is supportive, respectful, and fair and that staff are always comfortable in coming forward in a safe setting.”
The review found shortcomings currently exist within the system, and 13 recommendations have been made including:

• The establishment of an independent process for those unwilling to have their complaint handled within a Ministerial Office;
• The establishment of clear and transparent processes to be followed where complaints are made, including where the complaint may constitute criminal conduct;
• Development of a best practice Respectful Workplace Policy, including investigative and reporting procedures to address bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct in Ministerial Offices to enhance the safety and security of staff;
• An increased focus on training for staff and Chiefs regarding their obligations;
• An anonymous survey to be conducted of all Ministers and their staff to establish a baseline for the subsequent impact of the new policies and procedures.
• That the independent structure report regularly to the Premier on emerging trends and proposals to improve the respectful workplace policy.

Full report can be found here: www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/gowardreview

New rules introduced this week for NSW public school principals will mean they must spend all of their record education funding on the students it is intended for.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the move is being supported by additional training and tools to simplify school budgeting so that every dollar allocated is being invested in the current cohort of students.
“We know there are some principals who need more support to effectively spend the funding they are receiving on the students it is intended for,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our schools are required to plan and spend each year’s budget allocation within that calendar year using new tools and a simplified budgeting system.
The school funding model is student focused, schools receive amounts depending on their student cohort.
“Public schools in NSW are better funded than at any point in history. It is imperative that this money is actually spent on the current student cohort. Gonski funding is there to lift student outcomes – it’s not there to be saved for a rainy day,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The NSW Government’s commitment to record funding in schools has always been student focused. Every dollar allocated must be spent on providing the support and services to the students it was intended for, within that year.”
The Carry Forward Policy was developed in consultation with school stakeholders over a 12-month period and is part of a renewed focus on school success to ensure the necessary supports are in place to drive student outcomes.
The policy will apply to the annual State and Federal budget allocations but does not affect funds from local school and community sources.
“We have fought hard to achieve a needs based, sector blind funding model and we must ensure the necessary system-wide tools are in place to deliver this investment to support the current student cohort.”
In 2021, NSW public schools will receive $10.1 billion to invest in students. Currently $1.49 billion remains unspent from previous years. The changes introduced through this policy will no longer allow schools to rollover funding year to year.
“Principals will no longer be able to rollover funds across years, and measures will be put in place to provide additional support to invest the funding in current students. This may take the form of guidance on teaching practice and learning programs, or extra staff and resources in areas of need,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Introducing this policy also provides our schools with clarity to spend the balances that they have accumulated from past budgets. Schools will be supported to spend these balances evenly over the next four years in alignment with school Strategic Improvement Plans.
“Under the new School Success Model introduced this year, a range of individual targets have been set for schools to meet.
“Schools that have ‘underspends’ who are not meeting targets will receive instruction on how to spend their unspent funding to lift their results.”

The New South Wales visitor economy will get a boost through two new industry support and marketing programs.
Applications are open for the $5.5 million Business Events Industry Support package and $1 million Tourism Industry Marketing Support package through the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and Sydney’s business events bidding specialists BESydney.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said these targeted programs would support the businesses and communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re helping the event owners, businesses, local tourism organisations, regional councils and industry groups that need it most by stimulating activity now and creating a pipeline of events and visitors into the future.
“The business events industry is a powerhouse of the NSW visitor economy because it attracts high yield visitors who stay multiple nights, and these events engage many industry partners from accommodation and catering to staging, AV and other event delivery services.
“The Tourism Industry Marketing Support package offers dollar-for-dollar support to communities that are ready to drive demand that translates to bookings and confidence, for businesses,” Mr Ayres said.
The programs are part of the NSW Government’s Tourism Support Package and include:

• $4 million Kickstart 2021 Sydney Business Events Fund (administered by BESydney in conjunction with Destination NSW): Up to $45,000 for one-day events and up to $90,000 for two-day events in Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, matched dollar-for-dollar by event organisers
• $1.5 million for Regional Conferencing to include an additional round of the Regional Business Event Development Fund: Up to $15,000 for events with up to 150 delegates, and up to $30,000 for events with more than 150 delegates
• $1 million Tourism Industry Marketing Support package – grants program:  Destination NSW will match dollar-for-dollar between $10,000 and $50,000 for operators to deliver marketing activities to promote visitor experiences, attractions, tours and accommodation

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting businesses engaged in the visitor economy, so they have confidence and hope for the future,” Mr Ayres said.
Both marketing programs include digital, social media, print and video media placements, and are supported by publicity and partnership activity to amplify the message and convert interest to bookings.
To apply for the Business Events Industry Support package grants and for more information including eligibility criteria and the LGAs relevant to each fund, visit www.meetinsydney.com.au for the Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong program and www.meetinnsw.com.au for business events elsewhere in regional NSW.
To apply for the Tourism Industry Marketing Support package and for more information including eligibility criteria, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/tourism-recovery.
Campaign assets are available to download: www.media.destinationnsw.com.au
To apply for the Tourism Industry Marketing Support package and for more information including eligibility criteria, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/tourism-recovery.

The NSW Government has announced it will support 3,000 training places for women in trades to help boost female representation in construction, manufacturing, engineering, transport and logistics.
The fee-free Built For Women training program will target women aged 16 to 24, female jobseekers, women at risk of unemployment and women in receipt of Commonwealth benefits.
Women currently represent 8.9 per cent of all current learners in trades and just 2.1 per cent of all learners studying a trade in the building and construction industry.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the program would help boost numbers of women working on building sites.
“The Built For Women program is about attracting women to rewarding careers in trades industries that are experiencing skills shortages,” Mr Lee said.
“There has never been a better time to reskill or up-skill and take advantage of the employment opportunities arising from the NSW Government’s record $107 billion infrastructure investment, which is creating hundreds of jobs.”
“Growing housing developments, new road and infrastructure upgrades as well as the new Western Sydney airport are creating skills demands in manufacturing, engineering and transport and logistics, providing an opportunity for women to increase their skills and participation in the industry.”
There are 154 full-qualifications and 408 part-qualifications available in construction under JobTrainer.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the Built For Women program would help close the gender gap present in the trades industry.
“The NSW Government is committed to increasing the number of women working in non-traditional trades,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Whether you’re a female school leaver looking to pursue a career as an engineer or a woman looking to retrain as a construction worker – now is the perfect time to train and get started in the industry.”
For more information visit education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/built-for-women or call 13 28 11.