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Young people at Cobham Youth Justice Centre in Western Sydney are getting hands-on experience in simulated work environments that provide an avenue to the automotive industry post-release.

The donation of an MX5 motor by the Motor Trades Association (MTA) will help young people at the Putland Education and Training Unit, located within Cobham, gain useful mechanical skills, while dedicated Try a Trade Days and workshops provide further opportunities for young people to try their hand at new skills.

The MX5 motor is a readily accessible resource young people can tinker with and it complements the skills and training initiatives jointly provided by NSW Youth Justice, the Department of Education (which operates schools within each of the six Youth Justice Centres) and Training Services NSW.

In April, the Motor Trades Association ran a four-day panel workshop to provide accreditation opportunities for young people, while the Cobham Youth Justice Centre held its biggest Try a Trade Day yet, with 10 trades on offer.

Through Try a Trade, young people can experiment with concreting, hospitality, traffic control, gyprocking, bricklaying, barbering, roofing, plumbing and bike mechanics and fencing.

Try a Trade days are run across all six Youth Justice Centres and they enable young people to experience what a day in the life of a ‘tradie’ feels like, while also setting up potential business connections in the outside world.

Since December 2022, more than 200 young people have taken part in Try a Trade days and several young people have taken up trade apprenticeships upon release.

Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said:

“It is important that during their time in the youth justice system, young people have every opportunity to find a more positive pathway upon release.”

“The skills and training initiatives available in these centres are a great example of the work Youth Justice is doing, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training Services NSW, to provide new experiences and options for young people.”

“The generous donation of a MX5 motor by the Motor Trades Association gives young people in Cobham a resource they can use to hone their mechanical skills, providing a potential pathway into the automotive industry.”

“Specialised schools, such as the Putland Education and Training Unit within the Cobham Youth Justice Centre, are essential in providing pathways for young people. Through education and training, we aim to empower students to make positive contributions to society.”

“This course is more than just a training opportunity; it’s a lifeline for these students. It offers a tangible pathway to success, opening doors to apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.”

“In creating these opportunities, we’re offering a pathway to young offenders who may not have supportive environments to return to. Here, they can flourish and thrive, building brighter futures for themselves and the community.”

NSW Ambulance has welcomed 113 new paramedic interns and trainee emergency call takers after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony today.

There were 15 extended care paramedics (ECPs) who were also recognised, after completing their specialist qualifications.

Minister for Health Ryan Park congratulated the 96 paramedic interns and 17 trainee emergency medical call takers, who will start in their new roles from tomorrow.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“This is the third class of NSW Ambulance interns this year and I’m proud to see them ready to serve their communities.

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

“I congratulate these new paramedic interns and trainee call takers for reaching this significant milestone in their careers and also extend my appreciation to the 15 extended care paramedics, who have completed a specialist course proving their dedication to serving our community.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan welcomed the new starters and ECPs, who were honoured at a ceremony at Sydney Olympic Park, attended by family and friends.

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said:

“I know all who are graduating today have worked incredibly hard throughout their training and I thank them for their commitment and warmly welcome them into NSW Ambulance. 

“The extended care paramedics recognised today completed the 25th ECP course conducted by NSW Ambulance, and also the first course conducted at the State Operations Centre. I’d like to extend my congratulations to these specialist paramedics who are progressing their careers and playing a vital role in keeping the people of NSW safe and healthy.”

ECPs have advanced skill sets to treat eligible patients with a range of non-emergency conditions out of hospital, helping patients avoid a trip to the emergency department, where clinically appropriate.

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 all be posted to Triple Zero (000) control centres in Sydney.

With a number of significant mining sites slated for closure in the coming decade, the NSW Parliament will launch an inquiry to investigate new and innovative approaches to post-mining land use.

The inquiry will help ensure these sites can continue to bring economic investment and opportunities to regional communities even after the mines close.

There are more than 50 large active mine sites across NSW, 37 of which are coal mines. There are other sites which were previously used for mining which continue to offer opportunities for new, productive uses of land.

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos has written to Emily Suvaal, chair of NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on State Development, asking her to undertake the inquiry.

A number of new post-mining land uses are already being progressed in NSW.

Earlier this year, the NSW Resources Regulator signed off on the rehabilitation of part of the old Rhondda Colliery in Lake Macquarie. The Black Rock Motor Park and Tourism Resort will take over part of the site, bringing 450 jobs during construction and 229 permanent roles.

BHP’s Mt Arthur, Idemitsu’s Muswellbrook coal mine, and Yancoal’s Stratford coal mine are investigating opportunities for pumped hydro and other clean energy uses.

The inquiry will consider how to accelerate and facilitate these uses, including through:

• the development of sites for use for advanced manufacturing, commercial and tourism use,
• reforms to the rehabilitation and planning regulatory frameworks which support mines,
• opportunities to promote the development of solar farms, pumped hydro and other clean energy industries which may be particularly suited to the form and nature of former mine sites,
• what investments in skills and training are needed to support the mining workforce,
• the potential of unlocking surrounding land for residential dwellings, amenities, environmental and educational facilities, and
• the compatibility of post mining land sites with commercial projects.

The inquiry is part of the government’s efforts to support mining communities, in particular where coal mining plays an important economic role in the region.

The NSW Labor Government has already committed $5.2 million to establish Future Jobs and Investment Authorities in four coal-producing regions across the state. The authorities will work with the Commonwealth Government’s Net Zero Authority to support workers, industries and NSW coal mining communities.

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:

“Mining is a temporary use of land. We need to make sure NSW has the right policy mix to keep employment and economic opportunities even after mines close.

“I was privileged to turn the sod on the Black Rock Motor Resort earlier this year and witness the opportunities that can be created from these old mine sites.

“We will work with industry, local government and unions to bring forward these exciting opportunities.

“This is an important inquiry that will help us deliver positive community benefits in regional areas across NSW.

“We need to make sure these large mine sites can continue to be put to economically productive and efficient use long into the future.”

Chair, Standing Committee on State Development Emily Suvaal said:

“As a Hunter-based MP, I am committed to ensuring our mining communities across the state have a vibrant economic future, with secure, well-paid, local jobs.

“Exploring how we can improve the use of post-mining land is crucial for the continued success of our rural and regional communities, who have contributed so much to our state’s success.

“As chair of the State Development Committee, I am committed to conducting a robust and thorough inquiry into post-mining land use that will provide a blueprint for the economic future of our mining communities.”

A new Opal Travel widget is now available on Apple devices, showing passengers service information from their favourite stops with greater convenience and fewer clicks.

Nearly 50% of searches across trip planning apps and websites are people doing quick checks of public transport timetables. The widget helps to make these checks simpler and faster for passengers on the go.

The feature is believed to be a first of its kind to be offered by transport officials in Australia. It is now available on iOS devices and is expected to be available on Androids in the coming months.

By saving your favourite trip in the Opal Travel App, the widget automatically refreshes and shows the next three trip options with times and the platform, bus stand, or wharf number.

The new widget is one of several simple solutions introduced for Apple users in recent years, others include Apple Express Transit tap-on which allows passengers to tap on without unlocking their mobile, and disruption notifications that push updates about any network changes.

To add the widget, iOS users should update to the latest version of the Opal Travel in the App Store. Then choose a public transport route from your ‘Saved Trips’ or set up and save a new trip using the ‘Next Service’ option.

To place the widget on their home screen users should touch and hold the screen to enter edit mode, then click the ‘+’ button to locate the Opal Travel widget and follow the prompts.

Find out more about the Opal travel app. 

Transport Minister Jo Haylen:

“The Opal app has around 850,000 users each month, and this new widget acts as a shortcut, meaning they can access timetable information that bit easier.

“It’s a simple addition to our app that’s putting more travel information in the palm of people’s hands, like a personalised departure board.

“It may seem minor – but sometimes it’s the little things that can have a big impact on making our lives a little bit more convenient when we’re in a rush to get to work, school, or that first kick in the footy.”

Transport for NSW Acting Chief Technology Kurt Brissett:

“This is one of several ways we’re making it simpler, clearer and quicker for passengers to check their travel times.

“You can unlock travel information through your smart phone – but the most important is ‘where do I need to be and when?’, and you can now check that on your phone’s home screen.

“There’s no limit to the number of widgets you can add, so you can have different boards for the different legs of your train, bus, metro, light rail or ferry route.”