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Making phonics compulsory in NSW public schools is already having a positive impact on student results, according to NSW Department of Education data.
 
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said analysis of the Phonics Screening check data has revealed that 57 per cent of Year 1 students were meeting or exceeding the expected target, up from 43 per cent when the check was trialled in 2020.
 
“These results are extremely pleasing and show the importance of the government’s reforms requiring phonics to be used to teach all students to read as part of our new English syllabus for Kindergarten to Year 2.
 
“The percentage of Aboriginal students that met or exceeded the expected achievement score increased from 18.4 per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent in 2021.”
 
“We know that early proficiency in phonics is the pre-curser to achievement in reading and writing.
 
“The best results in reading for our students occur when phonics is explicitly and systematically taught in Year 1 alongside other components of reading instruction.
 
“Therefore, phonics is a compulsory component of the teaching of reading under the K-10 English syllabus.”
 
Following a successful trial in 2020, the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check was made mandatory for public school students in 2021.
 
In 2021 the check was completed by more than 66,000 Year 1 students across 1,615 schools.
 
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check includes 40 words, which consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo words. The words are set each year to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to use their phonic knowledge to read a word.
 
The inclusion of pseudo words ensures that students will need to use their knowledge of letter/sound correspondences to blend through the sounds in the word to read it correctly.
 
The check is completed in Term 3 each year, with results immediately available for teachers.

The Department of Communities and Justice alongside partner agencies has registered more than 1,300 people impacted by the major floods that have engulfed parts of the Lismore region.
 
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Government was committed to ensuring people affected by the flood disaster would be supported.
 
“We are doing everything we can to help those who are stranded and isolated due to this devastating event,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“In partnership with Resilience NSW and non-government agencies, DCJ is working to provide emergency accommodation to people affected by floods in northern NSW.
 
“DCJ staff are managing and assisting agencies with evacuation centres at 10 locations across the region.
 
“DCJ has existing partnerships with local accommodation and support providers in this region and is working closely with these services to meet demand.
 
“It’s heartbreaking to see so many people being evacuated from their homes due to such severe flooding, but I want to reassure everyone that we will continue to support flood victims and work with our government and non-government partners to respond to local needs as they evolve.”
 
DCJ Disaster Welfare provides support to people who have been affected by floods, storms, bushfires and other emergencies.
 
People needing assistance due to the flood disaster should contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500 and for emergency accommodation they can contact the Link2Home hotline 24 hours a day on 1800 152 152.

Today marks the kick off Small Business Month with more than 220 grant recipients and 165 collaboration partners hosting over 360 in-person and online events and activities throughout the month.
 
Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said the theme of this year is Rebuild, Recharge, Renew. The festival will feature events focused on helping small business owners rebuild following the COVID-19 pandemic and will include local councils, business chambers, industry associations and not-for-profits.
 
“There are more than 800,000 small businesses employing over 1.6 million people and who contribute $400 billion to the state economy each year,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“The theme for the 2022 Small Business Month is Rebuild, Recharge, Renew and focuses on helping operators bounce back from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
 
“Small businesses are an integral part of our communities, especially in our smaller towns and regions, forming part of the social fabric and a place where community bonds are strengthened.
 
“From Bondi to Bega to Broken Hill and everywhere in between, a wide array of in-person and online events will be available to small business owners. The calendar of events will provide them with new skills, ideas and networks to navigate the challenging economic environment.”
 
Small Business Month will be launched online at 10am by Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos, Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont, and Small Business Month Champion Kate Carnell, along with a panel of small business owners and representatives from Afterpay, Amazon, Meta, Service NSW and ANZ.
 
To view the launch, visit: smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au/activity/launch-of-nsw-small-business-month-2022/
 
Further information on Small Business Month is available at: smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Government is calling for expressions of interest from global health innovation partners to transform world-leading research at the Westmead Health and Innovation District into new lifesaving technologies.
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said applications for the $10 million Westmead Innovation Ecosystem Fund are now open.
 
“The potential for breakthroughs in fields such as viral vector technology, cell and gene therapy, particle therapy, phage therapy and clinical trials being carried out across the District is huge,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“This fund will help turn this critical research into commercial opportunities that deliver jobs for NSW and better medical care for the world.”
 
The NSW Government announced the fund to catalyse the innovation ecosystem, by seeding new infrastructure and programs that will support the continued growth of the Westmead Health and Innovation District into the future.
 
Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard said the fund will maximise the District’s innovation and commercialisation potential to deliver the best health outcomes in NSW, across Australia and globally.
 
“This $10 million fund will connect our world-leading researchers with global experts in commercialisation to take our greatest breakthroughs in medicine from the laboratory benchtop to the hospital bedside,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“Through this support, we can further bolster the Westmead Health and Innovation District’s capacity as a globally recognised hub for new medical discoveries and sustainable economic growth.”
 
The Westmead Health and Innovation District is home to four major hospitals: Westmead Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead Private Hospital and Cumberland Hospital; and four major research institutions: WSLHD Research and Education Network, Kids Research, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Westmead Institute for Medical Research. The District is also home to two university partners: University of Sydney and Western Sydney University; and NSW’s largest pathology service.
 
The fund will further develop the Westmead Health Precinct as the epicentre of health and innovation within the District, which currently provides:
 

• $1.9 billion in public healthcare
• Services more than 120 suburbs spanning 780 square kilometres
• 85,531 annual admissions
• 3,000 daily non-admitted patient occasions of service
• 32,767 annual surgeries

 
Global health innovation organisations and facilitators, with industry networks and expertise in medtech, biotechnology, commercialisation and innovation growth are encouraged to submit their proposals.
 
Stage 1 applications close midnight 28 March 2022. More information on the fund and its eligibility requirements can be found at investment.nsw.gov.au/westmeadfund.

The NSW Government has awarded a $2.16 billion contract to deliver the next stage of tunnelling on the mega Sydney Metro West project.
 
The Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium has been awarded the Western Tunnelling contract to deliver nine kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said this once in a century infrastructure investment will link new communities to rail services, slash travel times across the network and support employment growth.
 
“These tunnels mean you’ll be able to get from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD in around 20 minutes on a fast, safe and reliable driverless metro train, forever changing how we move around Sydney,” Premier Perrottet said.
 
“Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, transforming Sydney for generations to come,” he said.
 
This is the second major tunnelling package awarded on the city-shaping project, with work already underway to deliver twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park following the contract awarded to Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture last year. 
 
Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said major civil works have now commenced at the Bays, with tunnelling set to commence later this year towards Sydney Olympic Park.
 
“Work is well underway to get the site ready for tunnel boring machines to be in the ground at The Bays by the end of the year. Huge piling rigs have already started work to prepare the site for the excavation needed to launch the mega machines,” Minister Elliott said. 
 
“Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs – many of those jobs generated by this major contract.”
 
“To build these tunnels a broad range of skills will be required including tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards,” Minister Elliott said.
 
 
The Western Tunnelling contract includes:

• Twin 9km tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead;
• A Tunnel Boring Machine launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling toward Sydney Olympic Park and relaunched toward Westmead;
• A services facility and crossover structure at Rosehill to allow provision for fresh air ventilation and emergency egress;
• Tunnel portal and dive excavation at Clyde Services and Maintenance Facility;
• Earthworks, retaining structures, drainage and utilities corridor for the Clyde Maintenance Facility;
• Excavation and civil works for Parramatta and Westmead Stations; and
• A segment manufacturing facility at Eastern Creek constructing over 60,000 segments.

 
Completion of the contract is expected by the end of 2025.

Due to unprecedented demand on the NSW SES website, we are aware that people are experiencing difficulty accessing current Evacuation Warning and Evacuation Order information. We apologise for this interruption, we will continue to provide up to date information via social media channels and our media partners. Please see below the list of current Evacuation Order and Evacuation Warnings: Evacuation Orders (31 locations) Redbank Dam Ballina Island Low Lying Areas of Western Lennox Head Low lying parts of Ballina CBD Low lying areas of South Ballina Low lying areas of Ballina and surrounding areas Wardell Low lying parts of Wharf St, Casino Low lying parts of Casino near river Low lying areas of Lawrence and surrounding areas Tweed Heads East Bellingen Low lying properties in Maclean Low lying areas Broadwater and Cabbage Tree Island Woodburn, Swan Bay and Surrounds Clarence River at Brushgrove and Cowper Low lying properties in Southgate Low lying properties in Ulmarra Murwillumbah CBD and low-lying areas of East Murwi Low lying areas of Coraki Rocky Creek Dam Brunswick River at Mullumbimby Marshalls Creek at Billinudgel Ocean Shore, New Brighton, Sth Golden Beach Low lying properties in Iluka Lismore CBD North Lismore South Lismore Sth Murwillumbah, Condong, and surrounding areas Kyogle Lower CBD Tumbulgum and Surrounding Areas Evac Warnings (9 locations) Picton CBD Camberwarra Dam Parts of Lansvale Parts of Milperra Parts of Chipping Norton 1 Parts of Chipping Norton 2 Northern Rivers Sth Murwillumbah, Condong, and surrounding areas Uki and surrounding areas

Netball NSW today announces that Tain Drinkwater has resigned from her role as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer to take up a new opportunity with the National Rugby League (NRL).

Drinkwater joined Netball NSW in April last year and guided the organisation through the second COVID-19 lockdown of Greater Sydney and regional NSW, as well as the multiple relocations of the organisation’s two professional franchises – the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball – for the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Season.

The Newcastle native, who previously held Senior Executive roles with the Brisbane Broncos and in the Mining Industry, is set to become the NRL’s new Head of Performance & Pathways for their men’s and women’s teams, and will finish up with Netball NSW at the end of March.

Former Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones will join Netball NSW as interim CEO until the completion of the 2022 Super Netball Season.

Drinkwater said she was immensely grateful for the opportunity she’d been given by Netball NSW and the wider netball community over the past year.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Netball NSW President and Board of Directors for the opportunity to work in this brilliant game which truly is one of the benchmarks in Australian sport when it comes to grassroots and high-performance pathways,” she said.

 “I would also like to thank my Executive Team and the Netball NSW staff across all areas for their efforts over the past 12 months which have been some of the toughest the game has known.

“Despite the challenges we have been able to deliver very strong registration numbers and an all-NSW Super Netball Grand Final, and I leave knowing that the game is in a very strong position which is a testament to the brilliant team we have.

“A special thank you too to the NSW netball community who showed how innovative and agile they are to keep the game thriving, despite the once-in-a-generation challenges thrown up by COVID-19.

“This was not an easy decision to make and it was one that I thought about long and hard about for a significant period of time, however, the opportunity offered by the NRL was one that I couldn’t turn down.

“I am now looking forward to working with the Board, Executive Team, staff and wider stakeholders to ensure the handover process is as seamless as possible as Netball NSW gears up for a massive year of elite and community netball.”

Netball NSW President Louise Sullivan thanked Drinkwater for her significant contribution over the past year.

“While we are very disappointed to lose Tain we understand her decision and would like to commend her on everything she has achieved since joining us,” Sullivan said.

“Not only did Tain display admirable leadership when the game was plunged into lockdown again last year, she and her staff went above and beyond to ensure netball in NSW emerged from it in a very healthy position and we will always be very grateful for that.

“She also had the unenviable position of overseeing the Swifts and GIANTS as they moved from state to state, often late at night, to keep the Super Netball Season alive. Ultimately it was all worth it with both teams contesting the Grand Final and that is something Tain should be very proud of.

“We saw in Tain a very capable and emerging female leader and it is a credit to her achievements that the most powerful code in the state has offered her this brilliant opportunity.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, and all of Netball NSW, I would like to wish Tain the best in her next venture and look forward to seeing her courtside as a fan in the future.”

Sullivan also welcomed Jones to Netball NSW in the role of Interim CEO.

“Andrew has a fine record in sports administration, including as a former CEO of Cricket NSW, so our game is in safe hands for the months ahead,” she said.

“Like netball, cricket has a vast grassroots community across the State, vital pathways to the elite level, and multiple teams competing in national competitions.  

“Andrew understands the challenges and opportunities of having two professional clubs under the one organisation via the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.

“Andrew was also a key driver of the professionalisation of women’s domestic cricket and the formation of the Women’s Big Bash League so has a strong record when it comes to women in sport.”

Netball NSW will shortly begin the recruitment process for a new CEO and more information will be released in due course.