Category: NSW News

The COVID-19 Aboriginal Community Response Program has opened today.
Quick response grants of up to $10,000 are available for Aboriginal community organisations and groups to meet the immediate health and wellbeing needs of Aboriginal people across the state as part of Aboriginal Affairs NSW’s COVID-19 response strategy.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin said the grants would help to provide Aboriginal communities with targeted COVID-19 information and assistance from trusted services.
“These quick response grants will help communities access local, culturally appropriate services so they are informed and supported to take actions like staying at home to reduce community transmission,” he said.
“Aboriginal communities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and these grants will enable Aboriginal services to support people already impacted by COVID-19 as well as taking preventative steps such as encouraging vaccination.”
Applications for the COVID-19 Aboriginal Community Response Program are now open via www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/grants/covid-19-aboriginal-community-response-grants-program

The State’s sports infrastructure boom is set for a further boost, with the opening of the latest round of a $100 million funding program by the NSW Government.
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the funding would be available for new and upgraded sports facilities in Round 2 of the Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund.
“This fund is not just an important boost for local economies and jobs, but also promotes health and wellbeing for residents across NSW,” Mrs Ward said.
“By investing in new and existing sports infrastructure, we are helping more people experience the benefits of participating in sport and active recreation.
“The Fund is creating a sports infrastructure construction boom across the State as part of the NSW Government’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure pipeline.”
Providing facilities that meet community needs and expectations is a priority.
“We welcome inclusive projects that encourage the participation of women and girls and people with a disability,” Mrs Ward said.
The Fund will provide grants from $100,000 up to $1 million to eligible sport and recreation organisations and councils. Eligible projects include lighting, amenity buildings, clubrooms, change rooms and grandstands.
Round 1 of the program resulted in $54 million being awarded to 91 projects. They included $1 million to Snow Australia for community snow sport facilities at the National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC) at Jindabyne, $1 million for a new skate park at Wyatt Action Sports Campus in Lidcombe and $937,500 for a new grandstand and amenities at Darling Street Oval, Newcastle.
Round 2 is the final round of the program and sporting organisations and councils are urged to apply. The grant application and assessment process will be overseen by an independent probity advisor. Applications open today and close on 8 October 2021. For more details, see: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants

Five men have been issued $5000 Penalty Infringement Notices after allegedly breaching the Public Health Order in Sydney’s south-west yesterday.
About 11.30am on Monday (30 August 2021), officers were conducting proactive patrols on Optimism Street at Leppington, as part of ongoing COVID-19 compliance checks, when they observed five men sitting at a table on the footpath.
None of the men were wearing face masks.
Officers stopped and spoke to the men, who revealed they had tested positive to COVID-19 in rural NSW and had been ordered to self-isolate for 14 days after being escorted back to Sydney last Monday (23 August 2021).
Following inquiries, all five men – aged 23, 25, 26, 31 and 32 – were issued $5000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PIN) for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The men were escorted back to the premises to continue their mandatory isolation.

Police have issued $12,500 in Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to employees and customers at a Western Sydney brothel, which was still operating in breach of current Public Health Orders.
About 10.15pm yesterday (Monday 30 August 2021), officers from Cumberland Police Area Command attended a brothel at Rydalmere, after receiving a report via Crime Stoppers that it was still in operation – a breach of the Public Health Orders.
The officers first spoke with the 57-year-old female owner before entering the premises and locating three female employees – aged 31, 36, and 56 – and two male patrons – aged 56 and 57, none of whom were wearing face masks.
All parties initially denied the business was operating – one man stating he was quoting for painting works, and the other visiting his girlfriend.
Police soon confirmed the business had been operating, and the group was advised they would each receive a PIN for not wearing face masks and all but the 36-year-old woman, who was living at the location, would receive a PIN for breaching curfew in an area of concern.
Further, the owner was issued a $5000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction – corporation.
All parties were directed to return to their homes, but a short time later, police observed the 31-year-old woman attempting to return to the location.
She was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station, where she was charged with not comply with curfew-area of concern and not wear fitted face covering indoor area of common property.
The Strathfield woman was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday 5 October 2021.

Netball NSW, alongside the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball, is delighted to announce the launch of the organisation’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
A project which started in 2019, Netball NSW’s RAP has now been formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. This is the first step in turning intentions into actions to create a safer space for Indigenous Australians across NSW’s netball community. It is also key to netball’s role in the wider reconciliation of the nation.
Through this framework Netball NSW can ensure it is in the best possible position to implement effective and mutually beneficial initiatives which also properly respect and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within our community.
The Reflect RAP has been developed as a collaboration between the Netball NSW RAP Working Group and internal and external stakeholders. Netball NSW would like to extend their gratitude to RAP Working Group Members Casey Ralph, Marcia Ella Duncan OAM, Professor John Evans, Ali Tucker Munro, Donna Coady, Georgina Cohen and Whitney Skuthorpe.
Netball NSW CEO, Tain Drinkwater said the release of the organisation’s RAP was a very meaningful step towards reconciliation and awareness in the state’s netball community.
“This is a hugely important day in our organisation’s history,” she said.
“I would like to thank the RAP Working Group the Netball NSW staff involved for their dedication to this project over the past three years, as well as their patient and sensitive approach to it.
“They have addressed actions under Reconciliation Australia’s four key pillars – relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance – which will form a framework for significant impact and outcomes across our game state-wide.
“It is important to note that netball, across the nation, hasn’t always been leaders in this space but the past 12 months have seen a much greater celebration of our nation’s Indigenous culture – from Super Netball to grassroots.
“This RAP now gives us a much-needed reference point and I look forward to stakeholders of all levels in our game making use of this excellent resource, which will be revisited annually to ensure it remains relevant in an ever-changing society.”
To view Netball NSW’s RAP and Artwork CLICK HERE
ABOUT RAP ARTWORK:
Netball NSW’s Reflect RAP artwork, entitled Together For Growth, has been designed by proud Wiradjuri woman Maree Bisby, who hails from the Mudgee Region.
Bisby is based in the Hunter and enjoys netball with family and friends in the Newcastle area, as both a player and parent.
Together For Growth symbolises the many dimensions and levels of the netball community. The use of traditional symbols such as footprints, rain, meeting place and watering hole, along with stars, and universe show the ability of all to dream and reach for their goals.
Individually we can soar but in a team we can reach higher. It takes all of the natural elements of the earth to connect to one another and to believe and achieve greatness.
The seven paths around the netball symbolise the seven players on the court with the symbols of man, woman and person again representing the netball community, inclusive of gender identity or fluidity.
No path in life and success is straight, hence the curvature and direction of the path, leading to one’s own destiny. The path is off the canvas, to highlight that we each are members of community and can influence each other in our own way. The brightness of the colours symbolise the fun and positivity of netball and the harmony and connection we all have.

Older people, the LGBTIQ community and people living in regional NSW are among the at-risk groups who will now have improved access to mental health support thanks to the NSW Government’s Suicide Prevention Fund.
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said that $8 million in funding has been allocated to six organisations committed to engaging with communities known to have higher rates of suicide.
“We know that there are some groups of individuals who are at greater risk of suicide due to issues such as past trauma, stigma or isolation,” Mrs Taylor said.
“These experiences not only destabilise their mental health and sense of connectedness, they also make it extremely hard to ask for support.
“This is all about encouraging safe conversations around suicide and suicidal behaviour so people in these priority groups know how and where to access the help that is right for them.”
The NSW Government is also in the final stages of identifying an Aboriginal-owned organisation to deliver targeted suicide prevention activities to First Australians.
The funded services and activities are:

The $8 million investment is in addition to the $87 million Towards Zero Suicides investment. Towards Zero Suicides is a NSW Premier’s Priority.
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately by calling 000 (Triple Zero).
For anyone who is struggling, you can call the below helplines for support and advice:
Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511.

The NSW Government has launched the next phase of its statewide COVID-19 advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people across NSW to get vaccinated.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the ‘Let’s Do This’ campaign is designed to encourage people to get their COVID-19 vaccinations so we can all get back to doing the things we love.
“NSW has done it tough over the last 18 months but we can’t lose sight of what we’re all aiming for, which is to open the state back up again,” Mr Dominello said.
“This ad hopes to capture what we’re working towards and the importance vaccinations play in that recovery.”
The campaign will include metropolitan and regional television and newspapers, as well as radio, digital, social media and out of home advertising across NSW from Sunday 29 August with material translated into 19 languages and adapted for Aboriginal media channels.
“NSW recently passed six and a half million vaccinations and it’s vital we keep this momentum going,” Mr Dominello said.
“Vaccinations don’t just protect ourselves, our family, our friends and our community – they will get us back doing the things we love to do.
“Anyone that is yet to make a booking for their first vaccination can get online and book an appointment.”
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status and are available to book at more than 2,000 locations in NSW including GPs, pharmacies, and NSW Health vaccination clinics.
To make a COVID-19 vaccination booking go to www.nsw.gov.au

Small and medium businesses working with the NSW Government can now track their invoices more easily and get paid faster, thanks to the launch of the Supplier Hub Invoicing Portal.
The invoicing portal, launched on Buy.NSW’s Supplier Hub, gives more than 20,000 suppliers a centralised source for all invoicing information; allowing them to submit invoices to e-Invoicing enabled agencies and check the status of submitted invoices.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the portal is an important step leading up to next year’s e-Invoicing mandate.
“We are putting the customer at the centre of the process. The Hub will save suppliers time and money by reducing payment times, paperwork, and manual errors,” Mr Dominello said.
“This is a one-stop shop for suppliers to register to sell to NSW Government, update their information, view opportunities and share procurement-related information.
“We want to reduce the amount of time businesses have to deal with government, so they can instead focus on running their operations.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the new portal would reduce red tape and make the invoicing process easier.
“Cash flow is one of the most important issues for businesses and often it can take time to receive payment,” Mr Tudehope said.
“This portal will facilitate faster and on time payments to businesses to cut down on unnecessary stress for those who just want to get on with the job.”
The e-Invoicing service has been enabled across the 42 agencies that are part of the Customer Service, Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and Stronger Communities & Justice clusters.
Businesses with a Supplier Hub account, and which do not use any accounting software, can use the Portal to quickly send their invoices to agencies that are enabled for e-Invoicing.
All State Government agencies will be expected to receive e-Invoices by 1 January 2022.
Based on the 4.2 million invoices across NSW Government in 2019, a shared saving between the suppliers and NSW Government is estimated to be $71 million.

Cyclists will soon be able to ride safely from Sydney’s east to the CBD, with work now underway on new pathways through Queens Park.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the new bike and pedestrian paths along Darley Road will form a critical link in the active transport network.
“This project will be welcome news to the many people who visit Centennial Parklands or cycle from the east to the CBD as their journey will no longer be along a goat track on the edge of the park,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’re replacing it with wider pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, providing safe bike access through the Parklands as well as providing an alternative to driving a car.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the works were the result of collaboration between Transport for NSW, Greater Sydney Parklands, and Randwick and Waverley councils.
“This is a fantastic active transport link that will make the journey between the eastern suburbs and the CBD much safer, and will also attract new cyclists,” Mr Constance said.
“It will run along Darley Road, connecting York Road to Carrington Road, and will be complete early next year.”
Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said there had been strong demand from local residents, park users and cycle advocacy groups for the project to go ahead.
“This is great news, particularly for kids and parents who use Queens Park for weekend sport.  Now they will be able to cycle to sport instead of getting caught in traffic jams,” Ms Upton said.
Project details can be found on the Centennial Parklands website.