Students across Australia will get a chance to build their skills as next-generation pilots thanks to an innovative safety campaign being launched by aviation safety regulator CASA in schools nationally.
Children represent a growing proportion of the record numbers of Australians buying and flying drones for fun and recreation.
The new resources are designed to help the modern-day aviators develop a safe flying culture as they hone their skills in one of the Australia’s fastest-growing technologies.
CASA has partnered with youth education specialists to develop a range of materials promoting safety and aligned to the Australian curriculum.
‘In consultation with Education Services Australia, we have designed tailored resources to build awareness, understanding and acceptance of drone safety rules and regulations among young people aged 10 to 16, teachers, parents and carers,’ CASA’s Acting Branch Manager of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Services, Sharon Marshall-Keeffe said.
‘We’re asking children to test their drone safety knowledge through quizzes, school-based learning activities and teacher-led discussions.
‘We’ve also developed a dedicated education resources section on the campaign website – knowyourdrone.gov.au/classroom – and we strongly recommend the use of CASA-verified safety apps to find out where it’s safe to fly.’
‘It’s also important to raise awareness of the incoming operator accreditation and registration requirements affecting people over 16 and the need for those under 16 to be supervised by an accredited adult unless flying at a CASA approved flying site.’
Education Services Australia says its proud to be playing a role in providing school children with access to information about rules, regulations and flying zones.
‘It’s imperative that children understand the rules and regulations in place to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the freedom that comes with flying drones,’ Education Services Australia CEO Andrew Smith said.
‘We hope that by arming our pilots of tomorrow with the information they need today, they will take to the skies with confidence, in a safe and responsible manner.’
For more information about what you can and can’t do with a drone, visit the CASA campaign website: knowyourdrone.gov.au
Last night saw three aspiring young local chefs’ cook their way one step closer to London in the preliminary finals of the Brett Graham Scholarship.
The Hunter Culinary Association, in conjunction with TAFE NSW, host this prestigious annual event, now in its 18th year. Six preliminary finalists cooked for their chance to work under leading Australian chef Brett Graham in his highly acclaimed London based restaurant – The Ledbury. The Brett Graham Scholarship now in its 18th year, aims to recognise and nurture one of the Hunter Region’s most talented young chefs.
Ultimately three young Apprentices will now proceed to the final cook off – Ian Tintero of The George Tavern, Jahri Etteridge from Yellowtail, and Jayden Dann from EXP Restaurant (pictured left to right above). Contestants will all vie for the $10,000 career kick start on Tuesday 15th March. This will assist in covering airfares and accommodation in London, and is sponsored by both the Hunter Culinary Association and TAFE NSW.
Previous winners of the Brett Graham Scholarship have included Troy Rhoades Brown of Muse, Garreth Robbs of Bistro Molines, Chris Thornton of Restaurant Mason, George Mirosevich of the Signal Box, and Josh Gregory of Muse Kitchen.
Judges Tracey Amos from TAFE, Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Publisher, Cornelia Schultz and leading local Chef Shayne Mansfield of The Flotilla fame, all recognised the talent of this years competing Apprentices.
Gus Maher, Chair of Hunter Culinary Association, said his belief was that the competition was particularly close – “The Judges all said that each Apprentice brought a broad range of skills and creativity, and whilst all six finalists were very worthy, their choice of the final three was unanimous.”
Joining them on the Judging Panel for next weeks final will be Andy Wright – long time, well known Hunter Valley Chef, co-founder of The Hunter Culinary Association and now Proprietor of Pokolbin Catering Co with his wife, Janet.
The Hunter Culinary Association is a not-for-profit organisation, led by industry professionals, offering a suite of scholarships and awards that support aspiring young chefs, apprentices and front of house professionals.
As a region, the Hunter offers a culinary destination featuring diverse and abundant dining experiences ranging from quality cafes to hatted restaurants, which proudly showcase passionate and talented industry professionals, regionally sourced produce and award-winning wines from the Hunter Valley’s highly regarded wineries.
The Australian Government is placing new sanctions on Moscow’s propagandists and purveyors of disinformation, who are trying to legitimatise Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified invasion with false narratives such as the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine.
The targeting of propaganda and disinformation is one of the latest steps in Australia’s work with international partners to impose a high price on those responsible for, and complicit in, Russia’s war on Ukraine. Together with partners, we will drive Russia out of our economies, supply chains and airwaves.
This new round of sanctions will impose targeted financial sanctions on the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against an additional six senior Russian military commanders responsible for implementing naval, ground and air attacks on Ukraine. Last week, Australia also imposed targeted financial sanctions on a further 11 financial institutions of economic significance to Russia, including the Central Bank of Russia.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been accompanied by a widespread disinformation campaign, both within Russia and internationally. Tragically for Russia, President Putin has shut down independent voices and locked everyday Russians into a world characterised by lies and disinformation.
The addition of sanctions on those responsible for this insidious tactic recognises the powerful impact that disinformation and propaganda can have in conflict.
The Australian Government is sanctioning 10 people of strategic interest to Russia for their role in encouraging hostility towards Ukraine and promoting pro-Kremlin propaganda to legitimise Russia’s invasion.
This includes driving and disseminating false narratives about the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, making erroneous allegations of genocide against ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine, and promoting the recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic as independent.
The Australian Government continues to work with digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google to take action to suspend the dissemination of content generated by Russian state media within Australia. SBS and Foxtel have already announced the suspension of Russia Today and NTV broadcasting.
Our designation of the Russian Armed Forces covers the Russian Ground Forces, Russian Navy, and Russian Aerospace Forces, as well as the Strategic Missile Troops and Russian Airborne Troops, and has the effect of prohibiting the export of goods from Australia to all Russian military end users. The Russian Armed Forces are directly responsible for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and hundreds of civilian deaths.
With our global partners, we will collectively work to remove Russia’s ability to continue financing its war by targeting its most significant banks, including those critical to its defence sector.
Australia and partners will continue to impose costs on Russia’s egregious, unlawful and completely unjustified war on Ukraine. We again call upon Russia to withdraw its military forces immediately from Ukraine.
This International Women’s Day, the Greens have announced a plan to deliver economic security for Australian women and work to close the persistent gender pay gap that sees too many women struggle to make ends meet, juggle multiple jobs, live in poverty or without a home, or to stay in abusive relationships.
Australia has dropped to 50th place on the Global Gender Gap rankings and the gender pay gap has barely shifted in a decade. Without more effective and targeted strategies, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency estimates that it will be 26 years before the gap closes completely. Australian women cannot afford to wait that long.
Studies consistently show that women’s workforce participation and earning capacity are higher where they have access to a strong parental leave scheme, flexible working arrangements and affordable childcare.
The Greens will invest $24.5 billion over ten years to provide a 26-week parental leave package, paid at the carer’s replacement wage (pro rata up to $100,000 annual, with superannuation), with “use it or lose it” provisions to encourage parents to share care more equitably. Single parents will be entitled to the full 26 weeks.
We will also require workplaces to consider flexible working arrangements and fund free and universal childcare to give families more options to juggle work and caring responsibilities. Because giving more women the option to return to work is good for women, good for families, and good for the economy.
Other measures in the Greens’ comprehensive plan include:
Lifting the minimum wage, boosting superannuation for low-income earners with caring responsibilities to address the ‘parenting penalty’, and doubling low-income super offsets
Reversing the unfair Stage 3 tax cuts which disproportionately benefit men
Increasing the transparency of pay data and giving WGEA more power to act when employers fail to take action to close their gender pay gap
Investigating long-term options to value unpaid care work
Supporting female-led businesses
Requiring a Women’s Budget Impact Statement to consider the gendered impacts of budget allocations before they are made
Implementing all recommendations of the Respect@Work and Set the Standard reports to ensure women are equal and respected at work
Addressing the housing crisis where older women are the fastest growing group of homeless, by building one million social homes over 20 years
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“It’s pretty simple: women are busier than ever and they just aren’t paid enough.
“Women do more unpaid family work, including childcare, than men, and they’re punished for it with smaller pay packets, missed promotions, insecure employment, and tiny super balances. It’s shameful that in one of the richest countries in the world, the reward for taking time out of the workforce to raise children is lower wages, fewer opportunities, and, too often, poverty in retirement.
“The current parental leave scheme tends to lock mums into the role of primary carer and the loss of work opportunities that comes with it. We need to do much more to encourage both parents to share the parenting load, and to normalise working arrangements that help families juggle work and caring responsibilities.
“We know from the experience in other countries that more equitable parental leave, coupled with free childcare, has a significant impact on women’s workforce participation. It also helps to shape long term sharing of childcare and unpaid household tasks.
“The Greens’ plan will reduce the amount of time women are missing a pay cheque and provide families with more incentives, and more support, to share caring responsibilities more fairly.
“The Greens will also work to close the gender pay gap by lifting the minimum wage, boosting superannuation balances for low income earners, who are disproportionately women, reversing the sexist Stage 3 tax cuts which go largely to men, removing pay gag clauses, and increasing the penalties on employers who fail to close their gender pay gap.
“And we’ll get the Productivity Commission to examine options for valuing unpaid caring responsibilities and domestic labour, and reinstate the Women’s Budget Impact Statement to analyse the gendered impacts of budget allocations.
“We know the Liberals aren’t interested in improving the lives of women. That’s why Tony Abbott removed the gender lens on the budget in the first place, and it’s why they continue to pay nothing but lip service to women’s demands for fairness and equality.
“Australian women can no longer afford a government that cries poor when it comes to meeting women’s economic needs, while spending billions of dollars on failed military technology and subsidies to their coal and gas donors.
“At the next election the Greens will help send the Coalition scuttling to the opposition benches, and we’ll push the next government to deliver the economic security that all women deserve.”
The Australian Greens are calling on the Morrison Government to immediately extend the suspension of mutual obligations for jobseekers and others on income support in flood-affected areas across New South Wales and Queensland.
Australian Greens spokesperson for community affairs and social services, Senator Janet Rice said:
“Morrison’s decision to reinstate mutual obligations today for people on income support in flood-affected areas is a cruel joke.
“People across NSW and QLD are dealing with an ongoing natural disaster and the impacts have already been devastating. People in these areas have been battered by more than a week of catastrophic weather conditions, their lives as they’d known them have been destroyed, and they’re struggling to rebuild their homes and communities. More than ever they need the support of their government.
“Yet after only seven days, the Morrison Government has ended the suspension of mutual obligations for jobseekers and people on income support.
“Clearly, Morrison and his government have not even an ounce of empathy or understanding for the hell people are living through.
“People should be focusing on healing from the disaster and repairing their lives. Instead, those on income support are once again being forced to fulfil mutual obligations or risk their payment being cancelled.
“The government must immediately extend the suspension of mutual obligations to ensure that these communities aren’t further devastated.”
Sporting events across rural and regional Australia are set to benefit from the Morrison Government’s Regional Sport Events Fund.
Now open for applications, the fund will support community sporting events with an aim of kick-starting local economies and encouraging visitors back after the impacts of the pandemic.
The grants will also assist rural and regional communities across New South Wales and Queensland affected by flooding.
Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, said local government areas outside major cities would benefit from the $1.9 million investment from Sport Australia.
“Sport is often the glue that brings rural and regional communities together and this program aims to fast-track the recovery from what’s been a very challenging period for these parts of Australia,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Local sporting clubs and associations play an incredibly important role in regional Australia and through this fund, the Australian Government is encouraging communities to come together and celebrate through sport.
“Staging these events in regional and remote communities will also benefit the small businesses that are central to local economies across the country.”
More than 400 eligible LGAs across Australia can apply for funding of up to $50,000.
Local government areas are encouraged to work with local sporting clubs and organisations to deliver fantastic sports events to their respective communities.
Events can range from “come and try days” to larger events including elite sporting exhibitions and state level competitions that engage the broader community.
Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said the resumption of these events will have wide-ranging benefits for regional and remote communities.
“Like so many sectors of our economy, community sport has been hit hard by the pandemic and this fund will support many of the events that were cancelled or postponed to resume,” Mr Dalton said.
“This program encourages LGAs to be creative in how they re-engage with their communities through sport and will have substantial flow on effects throughout the rest of the community.”
Applications for the Regional Sport Events Fund are now open.
More details about the program, including the Fund Guidelines and closing dates can be found on Sport Australia’s Grants and Funding page, here.
Australian schoolkids will learn more about respect and relationships as part of a new Labor plan to prevent violence and improve child safety.
Labor’s $77 million plan will train teachers how to best talk to students about respect and relationships in a way that’s appropriate for their age. It will ensure students and families who’ve experienced violence get the help they need.
The plan will also allow principals to hire extra expert support, and develop respect and relationships education programs that are based on evidence and tailored to their school.
Recent changes to the national school curriculum have strengthened the mandatory minimum standards for Australian children to learn about consent and respectful relationships.
But delivery of high quality respectful relationships education programs is patchy and inconsistent across the country. For example, there’s nowhere near enough support to train teachers properly in this kind of education, and some schools don’t have access to programs developed by experts. Too many school students are missing out on education that can help keep them safe.
Labor’s investment will change that. We will partner closely with state and territory governments, and school systems, to deliver these improvements to respect and relationships education.
When students are younger, teaching respect covers things such as how to have healthy, happy relationships with friends and family – learning kindness, and how to share and take turns.
It’s also about teaching kids how to seek help if they feel unsafe. Alarmingly, parents say only one in five Australian schools have programs that do that. That leaves our children vulnerable.
As students get older, teaching respect covers issues such as consent, and additional education to help stop sexual harassment, sexual assault, and family and domestic violence.
Age-appropriate respectful relationships education can also help promote equality between women and men and improve classroom behaviour.
Too many school students experience sexual harassment and assault. The Teach Us Consent campaign, led by Chanel Contos, saw more than 6,700 young women share their experience of being sexually assaulted. Labor’s plan to teach schoolkids more about respect and relationships will help put a stop to this.
Scott Morrison has seriously dropped the ball on respect education in schools.
In the 2020 Budget, Mr Morrison tried to halve funding for respect education in schools.
Just months later, his Government released the widely panned “milkshake and taco” respect education video for schools. The video had to be dumped after experts described it as “bizarre, concerning, confusing” and “harmful.”
Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne.
Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman. His achievements were the product of his talent, his discipline and passion for the game he loved.
But Shane was more than this to Australians. Shane was one of our nation’s greatest characters. His humour, his passion, his irreverence, his approachability ensured he was loved by all. Australians loved him. We all did.
There was something magical that he brought to our summers. The bleached blonde hair, the almost casual way he moved to send down a delivery, and his engagement with the crowd. He was one of a kind.
He inspired so many girls and boys to try their hand at cricket. He made it all look so easy. At some point, in most Australian backyards, we all tried to deliver a flipper.
As we heard as a commentator, behind the playfulness that we associated with Shane, there was a player who understood the strategies and intricacies of cricket as few others. A brilliance that will always be remembered alongside that of Bradman and Benaud.
There was also a generosity to so many people away from the cameras. With a smile and a g’day he’d bridge every gap.
Shane was his own man, following his own path. In those times when he could have been knocked down by the headlines, he got back up. He always did.
Shane was the “King of Spin” because there was none like him. The “ball of the century” will be talked about forever.
Our love and condolences go to Shane’s family and particularly his children Brooke, Jackson, and Summer.
We have lost one of Australia’s greatest cricketers and today we are bewildered by this sad and sudden loss.
In recognition of Shane Warne’s national achievements his family will be offered a state funeral by the Commonwealth Government. This will be done in consultation with the Warne family, Cricket Australia and the Victorian Government to ensure we honour Shane’s passing and memory.
A proposed major refurbishment of Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground grandstand will transform the facility into a modern venue able to cater for the needs of local, regional and elite-level sporting fixtures.
City of Newcastle has applied for a $5 million grant from the NSW Government to complete the project, which will increase the footprint of the existing grandstand with a two-storey addition at the rear of the building to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.
The construction is the second stage of the overall redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground, which began with a major upgrade of the playing facilities, lighting and seating capacity.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a refurbished grandstand would be the icing on the cake to attract first class cricket and AFL matches to Newcastle’s premier inner-city sportsground.
“With the first stage of the redevelopment approaching its end, City of Newcastle is turning its attention to the design and funding arrangements for the next phase, which will deliver premium-level facilities that will not only benefit local users but allow Newcastle to attract even more major sporting events to the city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle are committed to the future of this facility and the wider National Park recreational precinct.
“We have already invested more than $7 million into the redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground and have recently submitted a $5 million grant application to the Multi-Sport Facility Fund through the NSW Government to complete the works.
“If successful, that funding will allow us to deliver the regional sporting facility our community deserves, which is capable of hosting elite level AFL and cricket matches.”
Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the concept designs included a range of benefits for both spectators and players.
“Concept designs prepared for City of Newcastle with input from both Cricket NSW and AFL NSW/ACT illustrate our grand plans for this site, with the ground floor featuring new universal player facilities, dedicated spaces for team doctors and medical staff and upgraded rooms for match officials,” Cr Winney-Baartz said
“The building’s new second storey will provide a panoramic view over the sportsground, with floor-to-ceiling windows running the entire length of a multipurpose community function room and team viewing areas, while commercial kitchen facilities will open up a range of opportunities never previously available at this venue.
“Upgraded public toilets will also improve the amenity for spectators, complementing the extended concrete bleacher seating constructed during the first phase of the redevelopment, which has almost doubled the ground’s current seated capacity.”
While wetter than average La Niña weather conditions and supply chain issues brought about by COVID-19 have extended the stage one construction phase, work is now nearing completion with sporting teams expected to be back on the pitch following a final growing-in period for the turf.
The staged works include increasing the size of the playing field to achieve the minimum standard required for a first grade AFL match, constructing seven new cricket wickets and re-building the entire playing surface with a new sub-soil irrigation and drainage system.
The installation of six new 40 metre light poles has upgraded the lighting to 750 lux, with increased electrical conduit to allow for a further increase in lux level if required for televised night-time fixtures. New sight screens, player dug-out benches and oval fencing will also improve the playing experience.
The project will position the region to attract sporting fixtures such as trial Big Bash League and trial AFL fixtures.
No.1 Sportsground History
No.1 Sportsground sits within the 20-hectare National Park, one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves.
National Park Sports Ground, as it was originally known, was designed by city engineer JF Shine in 1921.
Its original two-storey timber grandstand was completed in October 1921 and could accommodate between 200 and 300 people, with dressing rooms, stores and locker rooms in the lower level.
The sportsground was officially opened on 16 September 1922, with City of Newcastle changing its name two years later to Newcastle Sports Ground.
In 1989 the Newcastle Earthquake caused major structural damage to the original timber grandstand, which resulted in it being almost completely reconstructed with concrete stands, which remain today. This was the last significant upgrade to take place at the ground.
