APPLICATIONS OPEN: Former NSW Youth Parliament participant, Hamani Tanginoa.

Calling all future Bairds, Berejiklians, Wrans and Carrs! Applications are now open for the YMCA NSW (Y NSW) Youth Parliament: the state’s premier youth political empowerment program.

Aimed at young people in years 10, 11 and 12 or equivalent age, Y NSW Youth Parliament provides a platform for young people to have their voices heard through legislative debate and decision making.

The Y NSW is seeking representatives from all 93 NSW State Electorates to participate. Y NSW CEO Susannah Le Bron said it was exciting to be back following the program’s suspension in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has brought the direct impact of political decisions on young people’s lives and futures sharply into focus,” Mrs Le Bron said. “There’s never been a more important time for young people to stand up and be heard, and the Y is incredibly proud as an organisation to bring these voices directly to the seat of power in NSW.”

Youth Parliament consists of an eight-day camp where participants are split in committees and develop policy positions ahead of a day of debate on the floor of NSW Parliament. Following the event, passed bills are formally presented to the NSW Government.

Since its beginning in 2002, approximately six pieces of Y NSW Youth Parliament youth legislation have been passed into NSW Law, including the recent Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.

Former NSW Youth Parliament participant, Hamani Tanginoa, encouraged young people across the state to apply.

Applications are open now and will close March 12 at 5pm. Young people will be notified of the outcome of their application on March 22 ahead of an online introduction to the program on April 26 and finally, Residential Camp from July 3 to Saturday, 10 July.For more information, or to apply, visit: www.ymcansw.org.au/community-services/youth/youth-parliament/

BEE-COMING BEE SMART: Woolworths Debbie Rad-burn promoting the Bee Bonus grant for Forbes Shire education and learning centres.

Applications for the 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program are now open for Forbes Shire.

Primary schools and early learning centres across Forbes Shire can also apply for a Bee Bonus, as part of a $1.5million investment by Woolworths into the program. Up to one thousand Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants are being offered, for up to $1,000 each.

Recipients in Forbes Shire can use the grant to grow a vegetable or bush tucker garden, composting, worm farm or other environmental projects in their schools and communities, helping to educate the younger generation about the importance of the environment.

Primary schools and early learning centres can also apply for a Bee Bonus, in addition to the $1,000 grant. The Bee Bonus offers $500 of extra funding to support the conservation of Australia’s bees.

An estimated 15.6 million hectares of native Australian forest was destroyed in the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, resulting in a negative impact on the ability of honey bees to provide pollination services to Australian crops and horticulture.

Woolworths Forbes Store Manager Noel Reardon said: “Our Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program is all about inspiring Aussie environmental champions in Forbes Shire. The Bee Bonus puts the spotlight on the impact honey bees and native bees have on our ecosystem, creating awareness and encouraging positive action.

“The grants help deliver programs that not only educate younger generations on how to be more environmentally conscious, but also get Forbes Shire students hands-on and directly supporting the growth of a sustainable, greener future.

“If we work together, we can help support growth of flora and fauna so that bees can continue their vital role in supporting our agricultural systems and improving biodiversity.”

Applications for Woolworths’ Junior Landcare Grants are open from 10 February. To find out more visit landcareaustralia.org.au/woolworthsgrants

Click here to listen to the owner of the Phoenix Newspaper Group, Joshua Matic discussing the impact on community newspapers when Facebook removed access to media pages this week. @ 18 minutes 00 seconds

Australia will develop a nationally consistent bushfire modelling and prediction capability under an agreement announced between CSIRO, AFAC and the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services.

The partnership involves the development of Spark Operational, a cutting-edge bushfire simulation tool based on CSIRO’s ‘Spark’ fire prediction platform.

Fire and emergency services agencies across Australia will be able to use Spark Operational, opening bushfire prediction opportunities across borders and over different landscapes.

CSIRO’s Spark platform combines current fire behaviour knowledge with state-of-the-art simulation science to produce predictions, statistics and visualisations of bushfire spread, as well as simulating hours of fire spread across a landscape in a matter of seconds.

AFAC’s Fire Prediction Services Group will work with CSIRO to improve existing technology and build a national system that allows for consistent bushfire predictions to support emergency service and response teams across borders.

Phase one of the technology’s implementation commenced January 2021, with further developments over the next three years.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the innovation built on decades of expertise. “Our solutions from science have protected Australians from the threat of bushfires for over 70 years, from roadside fire danger signs to advanced burn over protection materials,” Dr Marshall said.

“But 2020 changed the game forever. So, we have changed our game too, by unleashing new science and technology to protect our firefighters and Australian communities.

“We believe this advanced system will help firefighters outthink fire, to anticipate its actions, and to get ahead of it, so they can beat it.”