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Wollongong Hospital is significantly improving wait times through innovative use of the Short Stay Unit in the emergency department (ED), almost tripling the use of these beds in the past 12 months.

ESSA (Emergency Short Stay Area) operates like a ward within the ED itself – one designed to provide a short period of ongoing treatment and observation of a patient’s condition, avoiding an unnecessary hospital stay.

Wollongong Hospital is prioritising patients needing treatment for moderately complex conditions through the ESSA, freeing up beds in the ED for more seriously unwell patients and enabling the earlier discharge of patients who don’t require admission to hospital.

In the month of January 2024, almost 770 patients were treated in Wollongong Hospital ESSA, compared with 282 patients treated in January 2023. Performance has further improved in March, with 831 patients managed though ESSA.

In the 3 months to December 2023, 43,216 people attended EDs across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and the number of ambulance arrivals was 12,532, which represents the second highest quarter on record.

Despite this increased demand, ED staff achieved some remarkable results, including a 27.5%-point improvement in the number of patients transferred from ambulances to the ED within 30 minutes at Wollongong Hospital, compared with the same quarter in 2022.

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“These improvements have come about thanks to excellent collaboration of staff across ED, hospital wards, transit lounge, patient flow teams and multidisciplinary working groups.

“Together, they’ve implemented more robust analysis, better communication pathways and focused on the availability of transition-to-ward beds that better aligns with peak ambulance arrival times and maximised the efficacy of the short stay model of care within the ED.

“Collectively, these initiatives are having an impact.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“The innovations undertaken by frontline health staff at Wollongong Hospital to improve patient access to care is clearly working and I’m incredibly grateful for their efforts.

“The stronger focus on the use of the short stay area means people in our community are being seen and treated faster.”

Motorists in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Marsden Park, Auburn and Merrylands are among the biggest beneficiaries of the NSW Government’s $60 toll cap.

Motorists are claiming an average $264 in cash back from the signature cost-of-living relief scheme that began on 1 January.

Drivers in Auburn ($600.51), Lakemba ($516.33) and Wiley Park ($465.87) have received some of the largest average toll relief returns during the first month of claims.

More than 47,600 claims have been lodged by drivers who are able to claim for the first 3 months of the toll cap period.

A total of $46.8 million is available to 350,000 toll account holders to be claimed after the first quarterly period.

Claims will open for future quarters on 9 July 2024, 9 October 2024 and 9 January 2025.

Get more information and claim Toll relief.

Top 20 suburbs ranked by total claim amount

Minister for Roads John Graham said:  

“The $60 weekly toll cap is working just as it was designed – getting relief to where it is needed most.”

“This means much-needed dollars in the pockets of drivers across western Sydney, those areas where people have little other choice than to use toll roads and where public transport alternatives are not as viable as in other parts of Sydney.

“The NSW Government’s number one priority is delivering cost of living relief and I urge those drivers who are eligible for toll relief to link their toll account with Service NSW.”    

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:  

“The Labor Government’s toll relief scheme is helping households save money, and people can easily access this using the Service NSW website.”  

“There is a video on the Service NSW website which walks customers through the steps of the claim process. People need to link their toll account to their MyServiceNSW account, follow the prompts and submit a claim if eligible.”  

“Toll relief customers have found the online claim process seamless and accessible, and team members at Service Centres are also available to assist people or you can call 13 77 88 for assistance. I encourage people to jump online and make a claim.”  

The NSW Government is continuing to invest in meaningful action to increase support for victim survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence across the state, with the opening of a NSW Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety.

Committed to during the election, the NSW Government has partnered with Settlement Services International (SSI) and invested $4.4 million to establish the centre. This will increase accessibility to services and safety for migrant and refugee women by having holistic, well-informed and culturally appropriate responses to domestic, family and sexual violence.

The NSW Government recognises the unique needs of migrants and refugees whose domestic, family and sexual violence experiences are overlaid and further compounded by other factors, including social and institutional barriers that inhibit access and present challenges that services and systems must address and overcome.

With thousands of women to be assisted each year, the centre will be based in South Western Sydney but operate statewide, including outreach into regional and rural NSW.

Recognition of the need for specialisation of services is a key element of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32, with the plan highlighting the need for nuanced and cultural responses informed by the knowledge of and connection to communities.

SSI is a national organisation working with culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities in NSW with subject matter expertise in domestic, family and sexual violence.

This announcement follows the government’s commitment this week to provide $230 million over 4 years as part of an emergency package to enhance support for domestic, family and sexual violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.

This package includes:

• $48m to roll out the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program statewide and to expand the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS).
• $45 million has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence with measures to be announced in coming weeks. 
• Nearly $24 million for specialist DV support workers within the justice system.
• $2 million over 4 years to support the Domestic Violence Death Review Team and its work to deliver robust research around risks factors, trends and impact of service delivery.
• $2.1 million over 2 years to improve and continue the Corrective Services program EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence, delivered to offenders in custody and under supervision in the community to prevent reoffending.
• $48 million to secure and increase funding for workers who support children accompanying their mothers to refuges. These specialist workers support them, including with education and mental health measures.
• Support of $700,000 for the NSW Domestic Violence Line (DV line).
• $38 million for the implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy. The Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2027 will develop a range of initiatives to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.
• $8.1 million over 4 years for the ‘All in’ early childhood pilot, to prevent domestic violence by teaching young children about healthy relationships.
• $5m in funding for research into perpetrators and effective interventions.

Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“This announcement is part of how we are coming good on our election commitment to close a service gap by providing a vital statewide service for migrant and refugee women and their children experiencing domestic violence.

“NSW and Western Sydney in particular is made up of diverse communities with unique needs that we must address to tackle the scourge of domestic violence head on.

“This is 1 of a suite of initiatives the NSW Government is implementing to respond to the ongoing crisis of violence against women.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“Domestic, family and sexual violence is an issue that impacts all communities. In order to properly address this issue we need to make sure we are delivering for all communities.

“The Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety will help deliver much needed services to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities in a manner that is accessible and respectful of their culture.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The centre would drive better support for diverse communities and deliver on an election commitment.

“Domestic and family violence is a scourge which stains all sections of our community and the response must be tailored to communities in all their diversity in order to be effective.

“Not only are women from multicultural backgrounds more vulnerable to abuse, sadly they are less likely to seek help due to a range of cultural and language barriers.

“This centre will bring together the state’s best minds in multicultural women’s safety to address immediate risks to women and children and create long term positive change for the whole community.”

Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said:

“The centre will address a critical need for migrant and refugee women and children.

“All communities in Australia experience domestic and family violence. But we don’t have equal access to support.

“The centre will collaborate with other services to address the diverse needs of migrant and refugee women and their children who are at risk of, or experiencing, domestic, family and sexual violence. It’s about creating equity and ensuring support is accessible to all victim-survivors, no matter their language, culture or visa status.”

The centre commenced operation in April.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, please call the toll-free number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support on 1800RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au. 

45 community projects will share in more than $6.6 million in funding in the latest round of the ClubGrants Infrastructure Grants Program.

ClubGrants Category 3 directs profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects, while clubs receive a tax concession in return.

A total of $12.5 million in funding will be made available through the program this financial year, including to a women’s shelter, evacuation centre and an indoor futsal stadium.

This round of Infrastructure Grants includes sport and recreation facilities, disaster readiness projects, community infrastructure, and arts and culture-related works.

Key projects supported in this latest funding round include:

• $250,000 for Foodbank NSW & ACT to purchase a flat deck freezer trailer with insulated frame to help deliver more food relief to regional NSW. Foodbank already distributes more than 327,000 tonnes of food each week to community partner networks.
• $188,600 contribution to an evacuation centre in the grounds of Gooloogong Public School which will provide an essential venue in times of emergency for the community and surrounding areas. It will also provide a space for community family daycare throughout the year for local working families.
• $184,700 to refurbish the outdoor toddler play-therapy space at Karitane Early Parenting Service at Campbelltown.
• $93,500 to upgrade the gates and security system at the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter enabling staff to better respond to security breaches and improve accessibility for women staying in the shelter.

The Government’s review into the effectiveness of Clubgrants is ongoing as the Government continues working to improve integrity and public trust in government grants.

This is the first formal review into the scheme since 2013.

See the complete list of Infrastructure Grants Program recipients

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“These grants support local communities with projects that help rebuild community spirit by increasing participation in sports and recreation, encouraging participation in the creative arts and museums, and helping communities prepare for natural disasters.

“I am especially pleased that we have been able to support the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter to upgrade their gates and security system, which will help keep women and children escaping domestic and family violence safer as they try to rebuild their lives.

“I am also pleased that eight disaster readiness projects will receive more than $900,000 to help ensure communities are better able to withstand emergencies.

“We received a large number of funding applications in this round and I commend all of those who committed their time and energy into preparing such high-quality submissions.”