Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The Cervical Screening Collaborative is an initiative of MNCLHD’s Women’s Health team, ensuring women have access to timely, effective screening with nursing support throughout the process.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, with more than 70 per cent of cases occurring in people who have never been screened or are overdue for their cervical screening.

A Cervical Screening Test every five years is recommended for eligible people aged 25 to 74 who have ever been sexually active. A quick and simple procedure, the test looks for a common infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes almost all cervical cancers.

Under the pilot project, women will be offered a cervical screening appointment at the time of booking their routine breast screening with BreastScreen NSW, allowing them to opt in to the cervical screening.

The first monthly clinic was held in Port Macquarie with the aim to offer the dual screening service at Coffs Harbour, Lismore, and Tweed Heads in the future.

For women aged 50-74, a breast screening every two years is still the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Aboriginal women are recommended to start screening at 40 years of age. 

Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their doctor without delay. 

For more information and to make an appointment at a local BreastScreen NSW clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online on the BreastScreen NSW website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“Breast and cervical screening can save lives, and I urge all eligible people to get screened when they’re due.

“This pilot provides a seamless experience where women can choose to attend both breast and cervical screening services at the same time.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison:

“Many women have busy lives and often put off important health checks.

“I encourage all eligible women to make the most of this innovative service and book in for the screenings that could save their life.

“The integration of these services means they can get both of these important checks done at the same time. It’ll help increase cervical screening rates on the Mid North Coast, ensuring early detection and better health outcomes for women.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin:

“Offering a combination of screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer is a progressive win for women’s health in Lismore, Tweed Heads and Coffs Harbour.

“Every woman knows these health checks can be a bit uncomfortable, but they are absolutely necessary.

“Being able to opt in for this dual screening service is convenient and increases the chances of early detection, potentially saving more women’s lives.”

Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, Cameron Murphy MLC:

“This integrated service will be seamless and life saving. We know that early detection of cancer is crucial and hopefully this new combined service prompts every eligible person to use it.”

Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal MLC:

“Early detection and prevention are key to delivering effective, timely care that can save lives and provide overall better health outcomes for women.

“This initiative will provide efficient and easy access to regular screening for women in the Mid-North Coast, helping them to manage their health on top of their busy lives.

“This is just one part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes for people in rural and regional New South Wales.”

Quotes attributable to Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW:

“As a working mother I know how busy life gets so it’s fantastic that we can provide a service that makes it easier for women to prioritise their health and get their cervical and breast screening in one location.

“The self-collection option to the Cervical Screening Test is now giving people a choice on how to do the test, helping break down barriers and encouraging people to take advantage of life-saving screening.”

Quotes attributable to MNCLHD Women’s Health Clinical Nurse Consultant Renee Bell:

“We know that time is precious and providing women with the opportunity to fulfil two commitments to their health at one location is both convenient and beneficial.

“Our Women’s Health team is excited to be able to offer this timely screening process to the women of the Mid North Coast.”

The Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program will provide small-to-medium-sized manufacturers across regional NSW with funding to undertake audits by professional consultants that will identify ways to re-organise their manufacturing operations.

Lean manufacturing is an internationally recognised business management process that revolves around the principles of continuous improvement, waste elimination, and a customer-centric approach.

It focuses on creating products more efficiently by eliminating unnecessary steps, saving time and using fewer materials in the production process. This approach helps businesses produce goods with fewer resources, without compromising on quality.

More efficient processes mean production lines manufacture fewer products with defects, which in turn reduces operating costs related to providing returns and waste disposal.

For example, a regional food manufacturer might reorganise production lines to improve efficiency, implement preventative maintenance to reduce equipment breakdowns and implement just-in-time inventory management to reduce excess stock and waste.

The audits, undertaken as part of the program, will offer tailored recommendations to help businesses identify inefficiencies, streamline operations, reduce waste and increase productivity, while also highlighting training opportunities for staff.

Several major companies have successfully implemented lean manufacturing to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity over the past decades including Toyota, Ford Motor Company, Boeing, General Electric and Nike.

Many regional NSW companies such as the Bega Group in Bega, Donaldson Australia on the Central Coast, Belmore Engineering at Tamworth, Flavourtech in Griffith and Tyree Transformers at Braemar have also successfully used lean manufacturing principles.

Manufacturing is a key driver of the NSW economy, contributing nearly 30 per cent of Australia’s total manufacturing output.

In regional NSW, the sector generates $32 billion in sales and employs 84,000 workers, reinforcing the need for continued support to strengthen and future-proof the industry.

Industry research by Binder Dijker Otte (BDO) suggests that adopting lean manufacturing can boost small-to-medium-sized businesses’ profit margins by up to three times, depending on their size and turnover.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development designed the pilot program following in-depth industry consultation, which highlighted the need for more support in adopting lean manufacturing principles to ensure regional manufacturers remain globally competitive.

The Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting manufacturing industries across the state as they navigate rising costs and market challenges.

Expressions of interest for the audits are now open to eligible manufacturers and will close at 4pm on Monday 31 March 2025, with funding allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the program, including guidelines and Expression of Interest details, go to www.nsw.gov.au/LMPP or email economic.programs@dpird.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty, said:

“The Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program is an important part of our ongoing support for regional manufacturers across the state, helping them overcome the challenges posed by rising supply chain, energy and labour costs.

“This program is an important step towards ensuring the long-term success of our regional manufacturers.

“We know that by supporting regional businesses to improve their operations, we’re strengthening the entire economy of regional NSW, creating more local jobs and enhancing the long-term sustainability of our regions.”

Minister for Industry and Trade, Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“NSW manufacturing fell in nine out of 12 years under the previous Liberal-National Government, and the Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program is a prime example of how the Minns Labor Government is working to rebuild local manufacturing right across the state.

“Support for local manufacturing is also an integral part of the Minns Labor Government’s recently released Industry Policy.

“Central to the Industry Policy are three new local manufacturing targets, which demonstrate a real commitment to supporting local manufacturing to promote a dynamic, sustainable, and diversified economy.”

HunterNet Chief Executive Officer Ivan Waterfield said:

“Lean manufacturing plays a crucial role in the future of the NSW manufacturing sector. By focusing on eliminating waste and improving efficiency, it helps manufacturers reduce costs and enhance productivity.

“In a time of scarce resources, a strong Lean culture helps manufacturing companies improve their efficiency and their P&L.

“The Lean Manufacturing Pilot Program by the NSW Government is a significant step towards supporting regional manufacturers in becoming more competitive on a global scale and is something that HunterNet fully supports and endorses.”

Ms Minutillo’s appointment allows her to continue promoting, protecting, and enhancing the privacy rights of the people of NSW.

The NSW Privacy Commissioner investigates and conciliates complaints about breaches of privacy, advises government agencies, businesses, and other organisations on how to ensure the right to privacy is protected.

The Commissioner also oversees NSW Government agency reviews of reported breaches with a view to developments in policy, law, and technology that may impact privacy.

Ms Minutillo will continue to provide oversight of and advice to NSW public sector agencies on compliance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2022 and in protecting the personal information of individuals.

Ms Minutillo was formerly the Director of Investigation and Reporting at the Information and Privacy Commission, leading its regulatory functions including the conduct of reviews, complaints, investigations, and proactive compliance program.

She has been acting NSW Privacy Commissioner since August 2023.

Find out more about the Information and Privacy Commission NSW here.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“The Privacy Commissioner plays an important role in ensuring accountability in NSW Government by ensuring the public sector handles personal information responsibly and take steps to prevent and manage any data breaches.

“Ms Minutillo has demonstrated her expertise in this area while acting as Privacy Commissioner over the past 18 months, drawing on her experience leading programs in the fields of industrial relations and employment rights and obligations under NSW and Commonwealth legislation.

“I congratulate Ms Minutillo on her appointment and look forward to working with her to uphold the privacy of every NSW resident.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“As the NSW Privacy Commissioner, Ms Minutillo will drive integrity and strong accountability in the public sector to underpin robust governance at every level.

“I welcome Ms Minutillo to this significant role. Her extensive experience and qualifications make her well-placed to continue the important work of promoting and protecting the privacy rights of the NSW community.”

The Safe Shooting Program supports shooting clubs, shooting ranges and shooting organisations to improve storage, security and safety, as well as purchase new equipment such as electronic targets.

The Program invests in projects which incorporate inclusive design, improve safety, environmental sustainability and increase use of existing shooting facilities in NSW.

Another key objective of the Program is to increase participation in shooting by removing barriers for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Grants of $10,000 – $50,000 were awarded to 25 projects that aim to improve the safety and quality of shooting facilities in NSW.

Some of the projects to receive funding include:

• $49,287 to Gilgandra Rifle Club for safety repairs and upgrades to prevent projectiles injuring people or damaging property after they pass through targets
• $49,575 to Bermagui Field and Game Sporting Clays for new clay target traps
• $37,243 to Cootamundra Rifle Club for a new solar power system for the clubhouse, shed, and toilet block.

For further information including the list of grant recipients, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/safe-shooting-program

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The Safe Shooting Program supports shooting clubs to provide safe, inclusive and accessible facilities.

“Projects announced today will increase the use of shooting facilities across NSW and encourage participation by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

“This funding will play a significant role in supporting the next generation of Olympians and ensure Australia’s success at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”

The new Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act, if passed, will create a framework for suppliers of certain products to participate in mandatory stewardship schemes. That means those who make and sell products will have to adhere to requirements on design and manufacturing, reuse and recycling and safe disposal options of their product.

NSW will be the first state to pass such legislation.

The first products that will be regulated under this act will be batteries, which according to NSW Fire and Rescue are the fastest growing fire risk in our state.

The waste and recycling industry estimates that between 10,000 and 12,000 fires each year in trucks and at waste facilities are caused by improper disposal, use, and poor design of lithium batteries.

Fire and Rescue NSW responded to 384 lithium-ion battery incidents since 2024 alone. Those incidents include at least 33 injuries and multiple fatalities.

If passed, the Act could require battery suppliers to:

• Register battery products to ensure compliance and facilitate safe disposal or recycling through dedicated collection points
• Run public education campaigns to improve awareness of battery risks and disposal options
• Enhance battery design, packaging, importation, and storage to improve safety and recyclability.

The new legislation and regulation will also apply to smaller embedded batteries, which are found in everyday devices such as, cordless vacuums, electric toothbrushes, children’s toys, e-bikes and e-scooters.

Industry and other stakeholders have helped shape the reforms and will be key to their successful implementation.

Quotes attributable to NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe:

“This Bill will give the NSW Government the strongest powers in the country to ensure suppliers take accountability for the products that they sell. This is nation-leading reform and I’m very proud to move on it.

“Batteries power our modern life, and we will need them more as we decarbonise our economy. But without adequate safety and care we will see further deaths, injuries, and property damage.

“Our product stewardship obligations will be a critical step in protecting firefighters, waste and resource recovery workers, and the broader community from dangerous and preventable battery fires.” 

With a significant number of homes damaged during the weather event landlords and homeowners are being warned against accepting unsolicited offers of repairs from people who may be posing as builders or other tradespeople.

Service NSW offers a free licence check tool to verify a tradesperson’s credentials before hiring, while the myHome Planner tool can be used to identify key planning controls which may impact a site, such as flood-prone areas, bushfire risk, and heritage orders.

Before engaging a tradesperson, customers should:

• Check their licence via the Service NSW website.
• Ask for references and examples of previous work.
• Complete the step by step process outlined on the NSW Building Commission website.
• Clarify what is and isn’t included in the contract.
• Confirm whether subcontractors will be involved in the project.
• Check for additional insurance beyond the mandatory Home Building Compensation (HBC) Scheme.
• Understand what compensation may be available if construction delays lead to extra costs such as additional rent or mortgage repayments.

Since 1 July 2024, Building Commission NSW has received almost 400 reports of alleged unlicensed or unregistered trade work.

After catastrophic events such as cyclones, floods, and other natural disasters, it is even more important to be vigilant and ensure the people completing work on your home are appropriately licensed, and that Home Building Compensation cover is purchased for work worth more than $20,000.

To complete the step by step process outlined on the NSW Building Commission visit here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/current-and-future-homeowners/building-and-renovating-resources/step-by-step-guide-to-choosing-right-tradesperson-or-builder.

If consumers have concerns with the building contract being offered or the quality of work being performed, they are encouraged to lodge a complaint with Building Commission NSW via https://hbc.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/forms/20490.

Consumers can check a builder or tradesperson licence on the Service NSW website here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-a-builder-or-tradesperson-licence.

Use step-by-step guides to plan and build a home with myHome Planner: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/myhome-planner.

Check when Home Building Compensation insurance is required for residential building works here: https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/home-building-compensation/home-building-compensation-for-homeowners.

Renters whose homes have been damaged should report repairs to their landlord or property manager as soon as possible.

There are two types of repairs: urgent and non-urgent.

• Urgent repairs – include gas leaks, dangerous electrical faults, burst water services, blocked toilets, serious structural damage from flooding, storms, or fire, and essential appliance failures such as stoves, ovens, heaters, or hot water systems.
• Non-urgent repairs – are those that do not pose an immediate risk but still need to be fixed.

Tenants should contact their landlord or real estate agent about anything needing repair.

Landlords and agents have an obligation to carry out urgent repairs promptly.

If urgent repairs are required and the landlord or agent cannot be reached, tenants may arrange repairs themselves using an approved or preferred tradesperson listed in their tenancy agreement and claim reimbursement up to $1,000.

If a landlord fails to carry out urgent repairs, tenants should keep records of all communications and receipts and if the issue remains unsolved, lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading here: https://www.cas.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/icmspublicweb/forms/Tenancy.html

More information on rental repairs is available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/renting-a-place-to-live/getting-repairs-done.

For more information about help after flooding, visit the NSW Fair Trading website: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/publications/natural-disasters.

Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:

“Disasters can bring out the best in our communities, but unfortunately also attract those looking to take advantage of vulnerable people, so renters and homeowners must stay alert to unlicensed tradespeople and scams.

“We don’t want to see people already dealing with a natural disaster left further out of pocket by dodgy operators, so remember to always check a tradesperson’s licence and credentials before engaging their services.

“If you’re a tenant of a rental property which sustained damage and it requires urgent attention, remember that urgent repairs are just that – urgent – and should be treated as such by your agent and landlord.”

The legislation is complementary to the Federal Government’s gig workers reform and follows consultation with unions, industry and the community to ensure the changes are fit-for-purpose for the gig economy and the modern transport sector like rideshare.

The legislation will provide a mechanism for transport gig workers to access the same legal protections currently offered to owner driver truck drivers, couriers and taxi drivers under the NSW Industrial Relations Act (the Act).

The decision to reform the Act was an election commitment and will allow platform companies, employers and unions to apply to the Industrial Relations Commission for binding determinations on workers’ pay and conditions of employment for the first time.

Once the changes are implemented, eligible gig workers in the transport sector and their representative will be able to apply to the NSW IRC to have contract determinations or agreements that will regulate their pay and conditions

The NSW Government’s bill will:

• Modernise the existing provisions of Chapter 6 of the Industrial Relations Act, including establishing objects for the Chapter
• Allow the Commission to determine what is fair and reasonable pay and conditions for rideshare and other gig workers in the transport industry.
• Establish new offences of accessorial liability for those who break the law in a supply chain.
• Ensure there are enforceable standards across road transport supply chains to make sure everyone, no matter how big or small, can recover their costs.

Consistent with the approach of the Commonwealth Government, the existing exemptions for transport of livestock and produce will remain in place.

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“This new legislation will enable our Industrial Relations system to be fit for purpose when it comes to gig workers in the transport sector.

“The public relies on gig workers in the transport industry every day, and workers can rely on us for the same legal protections.

“This is an important step in supporting the thousands of gig workers to ensure they have the same industrial rights to access the industrial relations commission.”

One of the key indicators of hospital ramping is the proportion of patients transferred from paramedics to ED staff within 30 minutes – also known as Transfer of Care (TOC).

St George Hospital – which received over 82,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 25 percentage point improvement in transfer of patient from paramedic to ED staff in the December 2024 quarter compared with the same period the previous year.

Blacktown Hospital – which received over 67,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 23.2 percentage point improvement.

Campbelltown Hospital – which received over 92,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 9.3 percentage point improvement.

Liverpool Hospital – which received over 90,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 7.2 percentage point improvement.

These improvements come despite the health system recording the highest ever number of patients arriving to EDs by ambulance – almost 200,000 in a single quarter.

The Minns Labor Government has invested half a billion dollars into ED relief, which includes:

• $189 million in tax relief to incentivise GPs to maintain bulk-billing rates, meaning people with non-life-threatening conditions don’t need to present to the ED
• $171.4 million to expand statewide virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED
• $100 million to back in our urgent care services to become a mainstay and key instrument of the health system in providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients
• $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours
• $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times
• $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed
• $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identified patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Relieving pressure on our emergency departments and ensuring people receive care in a timely manner have been top priorities of our government.

“Such significant challenges have been met with a significant half-a-billion dollar investment in ED relief.

“Today, I’m so pleased to see encouraging progress in our effort to reduce ramping.

“But I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves, because there is still much more to do.

“I do want to reiterate that people who present to hospitals with non-life-threatening conditions can still expect to wait long periods in the ED.

“So if you do have a non-life-threatening condition, I strongly encourage you to phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where you can avoid an unnecessary wait in the ED, and receive care outside of the hospital including through urgent or virtual care services.”