General Interest Archives - Page 102 of 326

Embracing Equity

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Women of all ages, from across Forbes came together to celebrate International Women’s Day this week.

The sun rose on another annual International Women’ Day in Forbes’ Lions Park, setting the scene for soothing yoga, a hearty breakfast and a soul-warming address from guest speaker, communications guru, Dr Neryl East.

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed the wisdom and advice from Dr East on removing barriers to embracing equity in business, in the community and everyday life.

“Forbes has such a wealth of knowledge, capabilities and strength in our women and so often we can unknowingly limit our presence by not having that belief in ourselves, that confidence. Dr East spoke of some simple ways in which that can be addressed,” Phyllis said.

“She provided practical tips on how to communicate in business settings, for example just through the language you use. Simple things like using the phrases; ‘in my view’ or ‘in my opinion’ to give weight to your learnedness.”

Dr East also highlighted the importance of personal (internal) communication, through which negative self-talk is the most significant way to erode confidence.

Positive affirmations, such as those used by Olympic swimmers (of which she had some great anecdotes), remove negativity and set the focus of what you are setting out to achieve.

The IWD breakfast was hosted by Forbes Shire Council with funding assistance from the NSW Government.

The event is held each year to embrace the vital role women play in our community, whether it be in the workforce, the community or at home.

Dr East also addressed a number of business representatives on Tuesday night, providing insight into online reputations and business reputations.

“We thank Dr East for her time in Forbes, and look forward to seeing her advice come into play,” said Phyllis.

Putting The ‘She’ In Sheep Sustainability

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity’ – an ethos the Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF) lives every day. Image supplied by Sheep Sustainability Framework. Image supplied by Sheep Sustainability Framework.

With a Board comprising 57% women and a Steering Group with strong female representation, the SSF is leading the charge to educate and raise awareness of women’s equality in the sheep industry.

“The Sheep Sustainability Framework has benefitted from female leadership, reflecting our participation and collaboration throughout the sheep meat and wool value chains,” SSF Board Chair, Lucinda Corrigan, said.

Established early 2021, the SSF helps industry better understand its opportunities, challenges and impacts in key areas such as environmental health, economic resilience, animal care, and people and community. It presents evidence to stakeholders that Australian sheep meat and wool is produced responsibly, and demonstrates the industry has a clear path towards continuous improvement, where needed.

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) and WoolProducers Australia (WPA) lead the Framework, with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) providing funding, strategic advice and secretariat support.

SSF Sustainability Steering Group Chair, Dr Scott Williams, said having more women in leadership positions has helped foster a more inclusive culture within the SSF.

“Sustainability affects all of us – so ‘all of us’ need to be involved in conversations about sustainability,” Dr Williams said.

Marked annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and campaigns for accelerated gender parity.

No-Grounds Eviction Ban A Win For Renters, But More Is Required

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

A long awaited decision announced, as the NSW Coalition commits to reform no-grounds evictions, but warns that further steps are required.

An end to no-grounds evictions has long been championed by a range of advocacy groups and NGOs including the Tenants Union of NSW, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Shelter NSW and NCOSS.

All major parties have now committed to some form of no-grounds evictions policy.

As the peak social services body, NCOSS said that the ban on no-grounds evictions for periodic leases could make a difference to the lives of people in NSW, but more safeguards are needed.

“These changes have the potential to make a difference to those renters in NSW who are on periodic leases,” said NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty.

“This is a positive step to help some renters improve their access to safe and secure housing.

“However, our main concern is that this announcement does not go far enough. The commitment does not include fixed-term leases, which is a critical piece of the puzzle if renters are to be given the housing security they so desperately need.

The NCOSS Policy Platform called for an end of no-grounds evictions and other stronger protections for NSW renters.

Do Your Kids Love Sport, Adventure Or Nature?

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/

The NSW Office of Sport is offering free Holiday Break camps to kids from regional NSW in the April school holidays.

Regional kids aged 12-15 can enjoy a free overnight camp at four sport and recreation centres.

A range of activities, including mountain biking and BMX, stand-up paddleboarding and survival skills, camps include all meals and accommodation.

Office of Sport Chief Executive Karen Jones said the Holiday Break camps were an opportunity for regional kids to challenge themselves, learn new skills and have fun.

“With camps at Berry, Jindabyne, Lake Keepit and Broken Bay on the Central Coast, we’ve got all corners of the State covered. Register your kids and give them a once in a lifetime experience,” said Karen.

The Holiday Break camps are funded through the Office of Regional Youth’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.

Camp dates and locations:

• Berry: 17th – 19th April

• Lake Keepit: 17th – 19th April

• Jindabyne: 12th – 14th April

• Broken Bay: 17th – 19th April

For further information and to register call 13 13 02 or visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/holiday-break-camps

Meeting Health Needs Of Rural Communities

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The School of Rural Health in Dubbo provides Andrian Anderson with the opportunity to pursue his dream, while remaining close to family.

Adrian Anderson recently embarked on his journey to becoming a doctor, studying the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo. Adrian will complete the entire four-year postgraduate degree in Dubbo with clinical training centered on Dubbo Hospital.

Originally from Narromine, Adrian returned to Dubbo 18 months ago to be closer to family and to work as a paramedic, all while following the development of the Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Adrian was attracted to the rural focus of the program, the opportunity to study locally and the small cohort size which offers a more personalised study experience and more face-to-face time with clinicians and tutors.

“I have been working as a paramedic for a while now and wanted to further the care I can provide for patients. I don’t think I can single-handedly solve the rural doctor shortage, but I want to do my bit to improve the access of country people to medical services. I have been watching the development of the full four-year program at Dubbo and saw it as a fantastic opportunity to pursue the dream,” said Adrian.

Adrian is part of the second cohort of students now studying the University of Sydney’s entire four-year Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Students in Dubbo study the same world-class medical education as their peers in Sydney, while gaining hands-on experience in rural and remote medical practice.

The Dubbo Stream is only available to students eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places and pathways are available for First Nations students and those with rural backgrounds.

The School of Rural Health in Dubbo features state-of-the-art medical education facilities including learning studios, anatomy teaching lab, and six-suite simulation training centre.

For more information visit sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/dubbo

Crown Land Development – A Vote Of Confidence In The Growth Of Forbes

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Pictured last week at the major Crown Land development announcement was The Hon Sam Farraway MLC, Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller and Candidate for Orange Cr Tony Mileto.

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller, and the citizens of Forbes have welcomed the announcement last week of a major development in the activation of 10.29 hectares of Crown Land to provide affordable homes for local families.

The land is located across three blocks at Farnell Street and Dawson Street and in a few short years, will be completely transformed into a community of affordable houses just 2.2 kilometers north of the Forbes town center.

“We all know that housing availability has been a major issue in Forbes for quite some time, particularly for people looking for rentals or even a first home purchase,” Mayor Miller said.

“The shortage of land especially, has contributed to pushing up the prices of houses being sold in Forbes. Now combined with rising interest rates and pressure on cost of living the prospect of owning a home for many is moving further out of reach,” Mayor Miller said.

“This activation of Crown Land is a very welcome step in easing some of this pressure, and providing a new supply of homes for the next generation.”

“We are very excited for this project and very grateful to the NSW Government,” she said.

The development will see 101 new housing lots, with around 30 percent of this dedicated to social and affordable dwellings.

“This is fantastic news for Forbes particularly as our projected population growth far exceeds the State average and the need for housing and facilities to accompany this growth is paramount,” Mayor Miller said.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government was moving the state forward by increasing the housing supply in Forbes with the activation of 10.28 hectares of Crown land to deliver up to 100 housing lots.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is listening to the concerns of local families by increasing the supply of housing in our region and helping them to get into an affordable home,” Mr Farraway said.

“We’re able to do this thanks to our economic management ensuring that NSW continues to have the strongest economy in the country.”

Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said this announcement is part of a three-year Crown Lands program, designed to activate underutilised government land for housing projects in regional areas facing housing stress.

NSW Government Supporting Growth In Aboriginal Businesses

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Aboriginal businesses in NSW received $92 million in direct Government contracts in 2019-20. This soared to almost $480 million in 2021-22. The NSW Aboriginal Procurement Policy came into effect in January 2021 with the aim for Aboriginal-owned businesses to be awarded at least 3 per cent of the total number of domestic contracts for goods and services issued by NSW Government agencies

Treasurer Matt Kean welcomed the increased volume of contracts with Aboriginal businesses as proof of the collaborative approach taken by the Government with Aboriginal community leaders. “The NSW Government is committed to driving greater partnership and shared decision-making with Aboriginal communities,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said the policy’s success reflected the expertise and quality of the products and services provided by Aboriginal businesses in NSW. “The Aboriginal Procurement Policy had a target of 200 contracts worth a total of $136.7 million for the 2021-22 financial year. We can report there have been 694 contracts worth $479.6 million,” Mr Tudehope said.

For information go to https://buy.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/aboriginal-procurement-policy.

Families Set To Save With Voucher Swap Scheme

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Parents will have more choice when it comes to cost of living support thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher swap initiative.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said families would be able to use the two vouchers interchangeably from Term 2, letting kids do more of what they love.

“Our Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers have been incredibly popular with parents across the state, with almost 7 million vouchers already downloaded and redeemed saving families $694 million,” Mr Perrottet said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the change would allow families to lean into the activities their kids loved.

“Whether it’s playing netball, footy or the violin, we want kids to be able to extract the most out of every day. Helping families with costs like these means they can focus on seeing their kids grow and kick goals, no matter what they love doing,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said families across the State could use the digital voucher in just a few clicks through the Service NSW app.

The voucher swap program will commence from the start of Term 2, 26th Apriland only apply to:

• $100 Active Kids voucher for sport and recreation costs including school holiday programs.

• $100 Creative Kids voucher for arts and cultural activities costs including school holiday classes and workshops.

Families can download their child’s vouchers via the Service NSW app or website and by calling 13 77 88.

Boosting Mobile Reception In The Bush

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $250 million to boost mobile reception in the bush in small communities, tourism hotspots and along key transport corridors through the Mobile Coverage Program.

• The new program will target three key areas:

• Small regional communities with little tono existing coverage;

• Key transport corridors, where a boostto coverage can help drive increasedproductivity and improved safety; and

• Visitor economies where major eventsdraw large crowds.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government had already invested in more than 120 mobile towers across regional NSW to boost coverage in known blackspot areas.

“Our $250 million investment in this program shifts away from traditional ‘one tower, one provider’ model thinking in favour of a nation-leading approach to deliver shared infrastructure available for use by all carriers,” said Paul Toole.

The Mobile Coverage project is part of the Regional Digital Connectivity program and funded through the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund. For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/connectregionalnsw

Proud Forbes Chef A Rising ‘Star’

March 3, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Star Annandale’s competition dish was a red rice coconut arancini with a mango filling, coconut wafer pandan pearls and mango gel.

Local apprentice chef, Star Annandale was recently selected as one of only 32 finalists Australia-wide to compete in the Proud To Be A Chef competition.

The local, 23 year old is employeed as an apprentice chef at the popular Club Forbes and was extremely honoured and proud to represent NSW in the competition.

Held in Victoria over four days, the thrilling competition involved tuition and paddock to plate experiences such as milking cows, farms visits, markets and various tastings in addition to dining experiences and cooking lessons with renowned Melbourne based chefs.

Participants received mentoring and competed in a ‘Master Chef’ style cookoff in which they were judged on their dishes. An absolute trip of a lifetime for any young, up and coming chef.

Speaking of her experience, Star said, “The whole opportunity to be part of the program was an experience that was truly rewarding in both knowledge and self growth.”

“It was amazing to have been able to experience beautiful food at up and coming restaurants with Melbourne’s best Chefs. It’s not something that often presents itself as an opportunity living in rural NSW,” said Star.

Star said her favourite part of the trip was milking a cow, learning where and how dairy products come from and where they are processed. She was inspired by the passion of the the dairy farmers towards the production of their products.

“Getting to know other people who are going through and sharing the same chefing journey I am, made me feel part of a bigger community,” said Star.

“I guess taking away from the program, I want to continue developing myself and refining my skills as a chef. I would like to do more in the community and give similar opportunities to others as this program gave to me,” said Star.

Club Forbes CEO, Adam McGregor said, “Star started over 12 months ago with us, after a few months she moved into the kitchen as an apprentice chef. Star has found her feet within this area of Club Forbes and proved herself a reliable employee willing to work hard and show initiative.”

“Our Head Chef Damian Scott is keen to mentor and provide opportunities for our staff to grow and learn. He encouraged Star to enter the Proud To Be A Chef competition. We are all so very proud of Stars efforts within the competition,” said Adam.

Star is pictured with the other finalists in the Proud to be a Chef competition.

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