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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in western NSW will soon have better access to health and wellbeing support, thanks to a $132,000 funding boost for the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (AHS).

Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service operates primary care health clinics in Coonamble, Dubbo and Gilgandra, delivering culturally appropriate programs and health and wellbeing services to communities across western NSW.

The funding boost will increase access for community members to connect with skilled workers about the supports available to them in a safe place.

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

“I’m very pleased to announce $132,000 in new funding for the Coonamble AHS to provide support services to the local community.

“This new funding will support Coonamble AHS’s Fair Dinkum Choices program, which encourages community members to start conversations about mental health and emotional wellbeing, capitalising on yarning with community to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris:

“The Service already provides a range of important supports to the local community at its clinics, including population health, family health, suicide prevention and dental health services.

“The increased funding will also help upskill Coonamble AHS staff to engage in face-to-face conversations with clients where they live, creating a culturally responsive and safe environment for those seeking support.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“Coonamble AHS plays an important role in providing health services, and much more, to the local community.

“This injection of funding will allow them to continue that great work and to provide community members with an environment where they can talk freely, openly and in comfort about matters relating to their health.”

Coonamble AHS Chief Executive Officer Phil Naden:

“This opportunity has afforded Coonamble AHS to work closely with community and partner with other service providers including the Western NSW Local Health District.

“Coonamble AHS thanks the NSW Government for this important funding.”

NSW Ambulance has recognised 45 years of women in paramedic roles at an induction ceremony today welcoming 65 new paramedic interns and trainee emergency medical call takers into the service.

Forty-five women are among this class of 37 paramedic interns and 28 trainee emergency medical call takers.

The new starters join an organisation where women already make up more than 50 per cent of the workforce, after becoming the first emergency service in the state to reach gender parity in its ranks last year.

Dedicated and skilled women work across NSW Ambulance in many roles, including as paramedics, aeromedical crews, nurses, doctors, specialist rescue crews, call takers and dispatchers, and corporate and support staff.

NSW Ambulance implements a range of support programs to ensure a welcoming and inclusive workplace, including tailored training programs, mentoring initiatives, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

The paramedic interns will be posted across NSW to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships before taking permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas.

The trainee emergency medical call takers will be posted to Triple Zero (000) control centres across NSW.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“Today is about acknowledging the incredible contribution women make across all areas of the NSW ambulance service.”

“For the past 45 years, women in paramedic roles have contributed their skills and dedication to NSW Ambulance, and we are incredibly grateful for their service to their communities.”

“As we welcome many new paramedic interns and trainee emergency medical call takers today, I want to pay tribute to Lee Clout, who in May 1979 joined the ranks at Wagga Wagga Ambulance station starting what is a very long and proud history of women in paramedic roles in NSW.”

Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison:

“Our paramedics are on the frontline of healthcare in NSW, caring for people when they are unwell and at their most vulnerable.”

“As we celebrate 45 years of women in paramedicine, it’s worth noting that NSW Ambulance was also the first NSW emergency service to reach gender parity in its ranks. It’s important that our essential services should reflect the communities they serve and NSW Ambulance should be really proud.”

“Congratulations to all the women – the trailblazers – who have helped grow NSW Ambulance into the respected, skilled and diverse organisation it is today.”

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis:

“Diverse and inclusive workplaces are beneficial to all employees, not just women, and NSW Ambulance has proven over the past 45 years, the positive impact diversity has had on the organisation as a whole.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr Dominic Morgan:

“I’d like to welcome the new starters who were honoured today and thank them for their commitment to NSW Ambulance, you will be playing a vital role in keeping the people of NSW safe and healthy.”

“Women make up 50 per cent of the NSW Ambulance workforce. I hope our new paramedic interns and trainee emergency medical call takers find this inspiring and I wish them well for their future careers.”

Builders considering cutting corners on construction sites in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven should think again with Building Commission NSW establishing a permanent presence in the region from Monday.

Following the establishment of the Commission in December 2023, it has moved quickly to broaden its focus to one of the state’s busiest building and construction hubs, south of Sydney.

There are more than 4,000 active construction sites in the Illawarra Shoalhaven area making it the ideal location to pilot the Commission’s strategy to create more dedicated regional teams, as part of its commitment to work where homes are being built.

A local presence will enable inspectors to audit more sites, more often and closely monitor all active projects while also reacting faster to complaints and intelligence.

The Illawarra-focussed compliance inspectors will join a growing Commission with the power to issue a range of building orders for serious defects and track their repair before a project can be signed off. As more people move to the regions, it’s essential there is no difference in the quality of homes being built, compared with metropolitan areas.

New resources in the region will go hand in hand with tools like iCIRT that independently rate building professionals and give consumers confidence about their financial, legal and compliance history. There are more than 100 iCIRT rated builders already operating in NSW.

To kick off the Commission’s engagement in the region, a roadshow for industry and government stakeholders about the Commission’s regulatory priorities and key focus areas is being held early next week.

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The Illawarra region is booming with building activity, expanding faster than any other regional location in NSW. Establishing Building Commission NSW’s first regional office here was not a difficult decision.

“As the NSW Government works to build the homes our state needs, Wollongong has been given a housing target of 9,200 new well-located homes by 2029.

“The Building Commission will support delivery of this target by ensuring the building industry delivers quality homes and apartments for residents.

“Our new recruits will be local boots on the ground who can show up on site anytime, anywhere and ensure that the local community can be confident in the quality of the new housing stock being built.

“Quality and quantity can go hand in hand if Government and industry work together and it is exactly what needs to happen if we are to meet the housing needs of the people of NSW.”

Paul Scully, Member for Wollongong said:

“I am pleased that the lobbying of the Minister by myself and Deputy Lord Mayor Tania Brown has resulted in establishing a local presence of the NSW Building Commission in the Illawarra.

“Of late we have had a number of buildings and builders who have not been meeting the standards that we expect of them and that needs to change.

“As Planning Minister I am determined to confront the housing crisis which means building more new homes but tackling this challenge must not come at the cost of quality.

“When people buy a newly built home, they expect it to be of a modern standard and I’m pleased that a permanent presence of the NSW Building Commission in the Illawarra will remind dodgy builders and dodgy developers that cutting corners on home builds is unacceptable.”

Assistant Building Commissioner Matt Press said:

“Our inspectors have been regular visitors to the Illawarra region in the past two years but with this move we’re establishing ourselves as a full-time member of the local community.

“This is just the beginning of the first of many regional teams for Building Commission NSW. We want everyone to know that the regulator will be turning up everywhere that homes are being built, not just Sydney.

“It’s pleasing to see there are a number of iCIRT rated builders now operating in the Illawarra and they are starting to show what a more capable and trustworthy construction industry can produce.

“We want to be supporting those who are championing best-practise and focussing our attention on the small number of risky players who ruin the reputation of the entire industry.”

The Minns Labor Government-brokered deal to resolve the Mascot Towers saga concludes this weekend, with all owners finally free to move on.

The NSW Labor Government charged Building Commissioner David Chandler with bringing the Mascot Towers debacle to an end, culminating in a deal last month to settle with more than 100 lot owners.

From 30 June, financial support initiated as “emergency payments” more than five years ago ends for impacted owners.

The initial Mascot Towers assistance package, launched in 2019 by the previous government, included payments of up to $400 per night to help cover the cost of what was then called ‘temporary’ accommodation.

In addition, the Mascot Towers owner investor package approved in July 2022 and back dated from June 2019 offered up to $1,000 per week to help cover the cost of lost rental income.

Since the evacuation of Mascot Towers five years ago, the two assistance packages have paid out $24.52 million to impacted residents, owners, and investors in need.

After the 2023 election, the NSW Government tasked Building Commissioner David Chandler with finalising the Mascot Towers saga to give owners closure.

In May 2024, a deal was settled with 123 lot owners to sell their properties and free themselves of Mascot Towers related debt.

Under the terms of the deal owners also received the sale price of their unit and their share of around $8.2 million in means tested support from the Minns Labor Government to let them resolve Mascot Towers related debts and move on. 

The 18 eligible owners who opted not to sell will now work with the private consortium and Bayside City Council on the future of the building.

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“This closes the book on one of the darkest chapters in building in this state.

“Every cent of support spent to help keep owners afloat was worth it but in the future bad builders should pay these costs, not the taxpayer.

“The NSW Minns Labor Government is working every day to lift standards in the building sector and reduce the risks of another Mascot Towers.

“I want to thank Building Commissioner David Chandler for his work to resolve the Mascot Towers situation.”