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Small businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations affected by the June-July severe flooding and storms can now apply for up to $50,000 in support through Service NSW.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the grant would provide a much-needed lifeline to small businesses who have been hard hit by the floods across the 37 natural disaster-declared local government areas.
 
“These floods have had a devastating impact on communities across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, Central Coast and Hunter, and we are doing everything we can to ensure businesses and not-for-profits get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities and this package is designed to provide immediate support to help business owners recover and keep their business going.
 
“Customer care specialists are available to assist if customers are having difficulty providing the necessary documentation or are not sure if they are eligible, and successful applicants should expect to see funds in their accounts within five business days of approval.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the grant is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments and can go towards the clean-up, repairs, re-stocking and reopening.
 
“Payments of up to $50,000 can go towards the cost of safety inspections, building repairs, cleaning equipment, materials needed to resume trade, disposing of debris and spoiled stock, or leasing temporary space,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Some small businesses have been impacted by flooding four times in 18 months, which is why we’re making sure the application process is as straightforward as possible so that support can flow quickly.”
 
Fraudulent applications will not be tolerated. As evidenced during the flood financial support made available by the NSW Government earlier this year, fraud wastes valuable assessment time and delays the time it takes to pay applicants who genuinely need assistance.
 
To see if you are eligible for the June and July Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant, visit the Service NSW website. 
 
Businesses that would like to be connected with support can register for a call back from Service NSW’s Business Concierge here, or call 13 77 88 for assistance.

The NSW unemployment rate has reached a record low for the third time this year, falling 0.7 percentage points to 3.3 per cent in June.
 
It is the State’s lowest monthly unemployment rate since current records began in 1978. About 26,000 extra people were employed in jobs in June in NSW and hours worked in NSW also rose by 1 per cent.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said these outstanding figures are the result of the NSW Government’s strong economic management and show the underlying strength of the State’s economy after more than $53 billion was committed for COVID-19 support and stimulus since March 2020.
 
“NSW has done it again. Three record low unemployment rates this year despite the challenges of floods and ongoing COVID outbreaks,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The NSW Government’s tailored support measures throughout bushfires, floods and COVID outbreaks are helping NSW achieve a jobs boom.
 
“The NSW labour market is in a very strong position and our record low unemployment rate of 3.3 per cent is well below the national rate.”
 
Mr Kean said the unemployment rate underscores the importance of enabling every person who wants to work to be able to do so.
 
“That’s why our Budget included $5 billion over 10 years to fund affordable, accessible childcare to unlock the potential for more women to participate in the workforce,” Mr Kean said.
 
The reforms would enable up to 95,000 more women to enter the workforce or take on more hours by 2032-33.
 
Employment in NSW is now 158,600 above its pre-COVID level and 117,300 above its pre-Delta level.

The New South Wales and Victorian governments are working together to build a new emergency department and short stay unit at Albury Wodonga Health’s Albury campus to meet the future health needs of the community.
 
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas joined NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Member for Albury Justin Clancy today to turn the first sod on the $36 million project, marking the start of construction on the new emergency department.
 
Mrs Taylor said the strong relationship between the NSW and Victorian governments delivering the project will help ensure the Albury-Wodonga community receives the world-class healthcare it deserves close to home.
 
“We’re here today to mark the beginning of construction on this important project which, once complete, will double the capacity of Albury Wodonga Health’s emergency department,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“The new emergency department includes 42 treatment spaces, a specialised resuscitation hub, paediatric treatment area, acute treatment area, and multiple triage rooms with their own accompanying waiting rooms.”
 
Additional ambulance bays, X-Ray and CT scanning spaces, behavioural assessment rooms and private family consult rooms are also included in the project.
 
The NSW Government has provided $30 million towards the new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, with the Victorian Government providing $6 million.
 
Ms Thomas said the project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with local builder Joss Group and Albury Wodonga Health. It will create and sustain more than 100 local jobs during peak construction.
 
“The Victorian Government is providing $6 million towards the project through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to build a 16-bed short stay unit which will help reduce wait times in the emergency department, so local patients can get the very best care, sooner.”
 
“The emergency department expansion is being delivered in two stages. The first stage will deliver the new emergency department and is on track to be completed in late -2023. The second stage of the project will deliver the short stay unit in mid-2024.”
 
“Each project stage is receiving input from staff and the emergency department team, who are developing a new model of care. This includes increased staff numbers, a specialist and multi-disciplinary team approach and the early, appropriate clinical streaming of patients for the best care,” Ms Thomas added.
 
Mr Clancy said Albury Hospital is not an old hospital but the growing regional population and increasingly complex health needs have meant a much larger, more modern emergency department is needed to serve the border community.
 
“I am pleased the NSW and Victorian governments are working together to deliver this project which will provide substantial improvements on the current facility not just in terms of capacity but through more sympathetic streaming of patients to improve our experience at the ED,” Mr Clancy said.
 
“I thank NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Victoria’s Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas for coming to Albury today to announce that construction is beginning.”
 
The expansion will support almost 80,000 patients projected to go through the emergency department by 2031.

The NSW Government will provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to vulnerable communities and expand its existing program to include those accessing tests through the Federal Government’s Concessional Access Program, which is due to finish at the end of the month.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is committed to making sure no one is left behind and ensuring vulnerable communities have the support they need through winter.
 
“We are making sure those people who need it most get the help they need to help keep themselves and the community safe through winter by stepping in and providing free Rapid Antigen Tests,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said the expanded program would allow eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW to access 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months up until 31 October 2022.
 
“The NSW Government has already been distributing free Rapid Antigen Tests to vulnerable communities, and we have the capacity to extend this to those still needing them through the Federal Government’s program,” Mr Coure said.
 
“There is no need to rush or panic about whether or not you will be able to access tests—we have enough tests to support you.”
 
The NSW Government has already made millions of Rapid Antigen Tests available to vulnerable communities, including multicultural communities, people with disability and their carers, homelessness services, social housing tenants, and children and young people in out-of-home care.
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the decision to expand the program to include those currently eligible under the soon to end Federal scheme, is about keeping people safe.
 
“We want to keep the pressure off the state’s most vulnerable as much as possible, and the expansion of this program is a key way for us to do that,” Mrs. Maclaren-Jones said.
 
If you are at a higher risk of severe illness, plan ahead. Speak to your doctor now about antiviral or other early treatment for COVID-19, so you understand your options if you test positive. If you are not at higher risk of severe illness, do a rapid antigen test unless you have arrived from overseas and have COVID-19 symptoms or your doctor tells you to have a PCR test.
 
Tests will be available through 210 neighbourhood and community centres located across the state. For more information and to find neighbourhood and community centres providing Rapid Antigen Tests, visit www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/rapid-tests 

More than 400 aspiring early childhood teachers across NSW are set to receive a cash boost to complete their studies thanks to a NSW Government investment.
 
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell announced today that a record 439 scholarships are being awarded across the state, to attract and retain staff to support supply in the early childhood education and care sector.
 
Premier Perrottet said almost $11 million has been invested from the NSW 2022/23 Budget to deliver scholarships to support educators in entering the workforce or to boost their skills as degree qualified early childhood teachers.
 
“Early learning professionals are invaluable and we need more of them, which is why we are making a record investment in the early childhood education workforce,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This investment of almost $11 million in delivering 439 scholarships will support our commitment to address workforce supply issues and build a sustainable pipeline of early childhood teachers for tomorrow.”
 
Treasurer Kean said these scholarships will help create a sustainable supply of early learning professionals, with every successful applicant to be awarded up to $25,000 under the 2022-23 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program and Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Scholarships program.
 
“This record investment in scholarships will support our vision of a highly qualified and sustainable workforce, meeting the needs of NSW families and children,” Mr Kean said.
 
“We want to build a stronger and brighter future for NSW families and we know that building on the early childhood workforce is a no-brainer in delivering this commitment to families.”
 
Minister Mitchell said one third of all successful scholars live and work in regional and remote areas across the state, which will help create lasting benefits now and into the future for all NSW children, families and the economy.
 
“With submissions from hundreds of talented applicants, many already working in community preschools and long day care services, it’s great to support these applicants to retrain or start their early childhood career,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“These scholarships will support recipients to deepen their understanding of early childhood environments, and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach.
 
“I congratulate the scholars on their commitment to education and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers.”
 
More than 18,000 prospective early childhood teachers and carers will be supported to enter the sector or boost their skills thanks to a $281.6 million workforce package in the NSW Government’s 2022/23 Budget. 
 
The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools  the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
 
More information can be found on the Department’s website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education/professional-development-and-scholarships