16 News

The NSW Government welcomes the $90.6 million investment by the Federal Government in skills training in the construction sector.

An investment in additional Fee-Free TAFE places in construction related courses as part of the 2024-25 Federal Budget underscores the commitment at a State and Commonwealth level to reducing national skills gaps contributing to ongoing housing shortages across Australia.

This announcement, along with the addition of housing and construction skills as a priority area for the National Skills agreement, reflects the urgent need to bolster housing supply and aligns closely with the NSW Government’s priorities.

This initiative complements the 147,400 Fee-Free TAFE places already provided by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments aimed at removing cost barriers to education and training, including places for apprentices and trainees.

Earlier today, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor and Housing Minister Julie Collins visited TAFE NSW Randwick Campus to meet with students benefitting from these initiatives.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

“The announcement to invest in the construction sector is a significant step towards addressing the skills gap and supporting housing supply across our state.

“We know that we cannot fix the housing crisis without enough carpenters, builders, electricians and other skilled tradespeople required to build new homes. Fee-Free initiatives to encourage more people into the sector are always welcomed.

“The NSW Labor Government is focussed on building more houses for the people of NSW. I commend the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in skills development to ensure more homes can be built and look forward to working collaboratively with our federal counterparts.

“This initiative underscores our shared commitment to equipping our workforce with the necessary skills to meet the demands of our evolving economy and address critical challenges such as housing shortages.”

Virtual care can relieve pressure from the state’s busy emergency departments, according to new data released by the NSW Government.

Almost 24,000 consultations were delivered virtually through the NSW Government’s urgent care services between 1 July 2023 and 1 April 2024.

Urgent care services have been critical in providing patients with non-life threatening conditions with an alternative pathway to care outside of our hospitals.

A significant proportion of these services is delivered virtually.

The NSW Government has so far delivered 16 of 25 urgent care services across the state – four of these provide virtual care services, including VirtualKIDS and the Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service.

VirtualKIDS commenced in Sydney in July last year, and expanded operations statewide in January.

The Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service origins stem from the pandemic, but in July last year, it was expanded as a permanent service catering specifically for older residents in residential aged care facilities.

It comes as the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has today released reports showing increased use of virtual care compared to prior to the pandemic, as well as high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients who use it.

BHI’s report titled ‘Virtual Care in NSW: Use and patients’ experiences’ shows that virtual care has established itself as a permanent and widespread form of care following the pandemic.

The report shows that 17 per cent of outpatient services provided by NSW Health to patients were delivered by virtual care.

BHI’s report titled ‘Patients’ experiences of virtual outpatient care in 2023’ also shows high rates of satisfaction among patients with 87 per cent of patients saying the health professional ‘always’ explained things in a way they could understand.

Eighty-four per cent of patients believed health professionals ‘definitely’ listened carefully to their views and concerns.

And 83 per cent said they ‘definitely’ had confidence and trust in the professionals treating them.

The BHI Virtual Care Patient Experience Survey is available on the BHI website.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“These reports remind us of the opportunities that virtual care presents in alleviating pressure on our state’s busy emergency departments.

“Not only are we seeing virtual care becoming a more natural part of healthcare, but more importantly, we are also seeing high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients.

“Virtual care means that people with non-life threatening conditions don’t need to wait in an emergency department.”

The NSW Government is inviting Sydneysiders to rediscover Darling Harbour with the opening of three new public spaces.

A state-of-the-art playground, a sound shell in Tumbalong Park and a bamboo forest walk in the Chinese Garden of Friendship are being opened to the public as new enticing places that will draw more crowds to this harbourside precinct.

The new 2000 square-metre playground doubles the size of the existing Darling Harbour playground and is designed to cater to older children and teenagers. The playground, a $10 million investment from Tianlong as part of the Ribbon development, is made up of two areas: the Bay, with a series of decks, ramps and bridges and the Wave, with higher level ramps, climbing tower and slide plus plenty of seating for parents and carers.

The new sound shell at Tumbalong Park, a $10 million investment from Placemaking NSW, will become Sydney’s newest home for live concerts, a site for sporting events and community festivals.

The sound shell design has a unique cantilevered roof resembling a cockle shell that is a symbolic link to the history of the area. Tumbalong also means ‘the place where shellfish is found’ in Gadigal. The state-of-the-art structure includes two new 9 x 5 metre digital screens, permanent speakers, acoustic panelling and a motorised truss capable of hosting a variety of events.

The Friendship Bridge and bamboo forest walk at the Chinese Garden of Friendship is part of a $1 million expansion that connects the existing Garden with a repurposed area including 20 per cent more accessible open public space.

The space called the ‘Meandering Pathway of Tranquillity’ crosses the Lotus Pavilion and the Seven Sages Walk and finishes near the base of the waterfall, with a calming design that represents the first major upgrade to the Garden since it opened in 1988.

These reinvigorated spaces will improve the experience for more than 28,000 residents in the CBD and 13,000 on Pyrmont, as well as creating significantly improved experiences for locals and visitors to the Darling Harbour precinct.

As the redevelopment of Darling Harbour continues, more green and public spaces will continue to be delivered, reinventing the precinct for future generations.

The NSW Government is also developing a Darling Harbour 2050 Vision, a planning framework to shape it into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable waterfront precinct. A draft is expected to be exhibited for feedback in coming months and will reflect the views of the community.

To find out more about the revitalisation of Darling Harbour.

For information on booking the Tumbalong Sound Shell.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“With around 27 million visitors a year it’s important that the NSW Government continues to revitalise Darling Harbour as a modern, accessible and enjoyable precinct with plenty of open space for recreation and play.

“The new playground catering to older children and teenagers has been delivered as part of the Ribbon redevelopment and is designed to complement the existing playground which was focused on small children.

“The sound shell at Tumbalong Park is Sydney’s first major purpose-built, live outdoor cultural venue in the heart of the city. It is destined to become an iconic landmark rivalling sites such as the Sidney Myer Music Bowl or Federation Square in Melbourne or the HOTA Outdoor Area at the Gold Coast.

“The Chinese Garden of Friendship is an important heritage-listed cultural space which provides visitors with a tranquil garden oasis nestled in the heart of Darling Harbour. Thirty-six years after the Garden opened it is continuing to grow and expand with recent works giving the Garden a new lease of life.

“Darling Harbour is the third most visited destination in NSW and so many of us have celebrated big moments there. The Darling Harbour 2050 Vision will also guide future decision-making and secure this harbourside precinct as a world-famous destination for generations to come.”

Grassroots sport in some of NSW’s most disadvantaged areas have received funding for new life-saving defibrillators at local sports facilities.

One hundred and ninety-four organisations have shared in $500,000 under the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

Each organisation will receive up to $3000 towards the purchase, installation, and training in a new automated external defibrillator.

The NSW Labor Government is committed to rebuilding our grassroots sporting communities and ensuring local facilities are fit-for-purpose. The program was available to sport and recreation clubs, associations, and organisations as well as councils and service clubs in the state’s lowest 5 socio-economic areas according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Get more information on the Local Sports Defibrillator Program, including the list of recipients.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Heart attacks and heart disease do not discriminate, and access to a defibrillator immediately following a cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life and death.

“The NSW Government wants to ensure that people participating in sport in the state’s most disadvantaged areas have access to the same life-saving equipment as people in more affluent areas.

“The NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program ensures that our smallest community sport and recreation clubs are equipped to respond to life-threatening emergencies.”

Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said:

“Nine out 10 people who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital won’t survive.

“But your chances are greatly increased if there is a defibrillator close at hand.

“It’s fantastic to see that more sports clubs across NSW will now have these life-saving devices installed as a result of these grants.

“Every second counts when it comes to surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.”

The Aboriginal community at Collarenebri is partnering with the NSW Government on more than $1.8 million in infrastructure upgrades to provide social, economic and employment benefits for the area.

The Roads to Home program in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is working with Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council to upgrade The Walli village.

The NSW Government has committed a total of $173.8 million under Roads to Home to support infrastructure upgrades in 34 Aboriginal communities across the state, including $1.8 million at The Walli.

The Walli project, which is being managed by Collarenebri LALC, is now underway and will include upgrades of roads and gutters, stormwater drainage, house fencing, a community shed, and landscaping, as well as installation of driveways and concrete footpaths.

There will also be upgrades to sewer, water and electrical infrastructure and the Telstra network. Erosion and sediment control work is also planned.

Aboriginal company Haroca Civil Plant & Mining has been contracted by Collarenebri LALC to undertake the infrastructure work and will be employing six members of the local community on the project, creating job and training opportunities.

Currently there are nine homes at The Walli on one lot owned by Collarenebri LALC, but the Roads to Home project will include subdivision and zoning changes to give addresses to individual homes to make it easier for residents to access municipal services and for utilities and emergency service providers to find them, as well as create home ownership opportunities.

Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council Chair Roslyn McGregor said:

“The Walli means camping place in Gamilaroi. This is a proud community but currently the infrastructure is in bad shape. The roads are worn with potholes that fill with stagnant water after rain and impact vehicles and road safety, and there are no footpaths and not much street lighting.

“We have seen the work at other Roads to Home projects and the huge difference it can make. What is also important is it is giving Aboriginal community members a say in infrastructure upgrades and planning changes.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Roads to Home is a grassroots program that empowers Aboriginal communities to make decisions about infrastructure upgrades to enhance quality of life and improve access to services, including waste collection, postal delivery, emergency access and community transport.

“Significant benefits can be created for communities when they have fit-for-purpose infrastructure, and this project will support social, employment and training benefits for local Aboriginal residents.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“Roads to Home is a wonderful example of ensuring Aboriginal people and communities are in the driver’s seat when it comes to making decisions that impact their lives. The community of Collarenebri has identified issues that, when resolved, will provide real benefits to the community’s quality of life.

“The program’s focus on creating training and job opportunities will also have an important, long-lasting impact on the community of Collarenebri, which is essential as we work towards closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“This investment is great news because it will improve essential infrastructure and support a better quality of life for the residents of The Walli.

“Roads to Home is correcting an historic injustice, where Aboriginal communities on former missions and reserves were left without the types of infrastructure other communities take for granted.

“This will go a long way toward improving quality of life for this community.” 

Close to 150 former teachers are poised to return to public school classrooms this term, after accepting an offer as part of the Teachers Re-Engage initiative, aimed at arresting the teacher shortage crisis that gripped schools under the former Liberal National Government.

The progress comes after the NSW Government last year removed the public sector wage gap and gave teachers the largest pay rise in decades, while taking steps to reduce the burden of admin work that piled up under the former government.

Vacancies dropped by 20% at the start of the 2024 school year compared with the same time last year, but there is still work to do.

Since November 2023, the NSW Department of Education has contacted more than 1500 teachers who quit their jobs in the past 5 years to ask them to consider returning.

More than 260 have expressed interest in returning to service, with 145 now linked with schools to perform casual and temporary work in more than 600 schools across the state. Around 60% of the returning teachers are coming out of retirement. Both the pay increase and workload reduction have been cited as motivations for returning.

The department has simplified the re-employment process for these teachers by providing support for attaining accreditation, approval to teach, and a Working with Children Check.

Teachers re-engaged under the program will add to the department’s pool of qualified teachers who can cover gaps due to absences in schools, relieving pressure on other teachers and principals and reducing the amount of merged and cancelled classes in NSW schools.

Other employment options are also available to the cohort, including permanent teaching positions and working as small group tutors.

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

“We are doing everything we can to get more teachers in classrooms and Teachers Re-engage is part of our laser focus on reversing the teacher shortage that built up under the Liberals and Nationals.

“NSW started the new school year with a 20% drop in the number of teacher vacancies, compared to the same time last year, but there is a long way to go.

“It’s wonderful to see the passion for teaching reignited among hundreds of experienced educators who thought they had taught their last lesson – but thanks to changes being made by the Labor Government, have decided to return.

“Ensuring every class has a qualified teacher in front of it is vital to improving student outcomes, which declined under the Liberals and Nationals.”