Category: MIL-OSI

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09 April 2025

Bright lights, gleaming surgical tools, and a patient ready on the operating table. All seems to be in order, but then an alarm sounds and all eyes immediately look to you ­– what happens next is in your hands.

Luckily, this is not a critical scenario but part of UniSA’s new perioperative escape room, designed especially for nursing staff at the Calvary Adelaide Hospital.

Set in a state-of-the-art operating room, this patient simulation puts experienced nurses to the test as they solve complex scenarios and respond to perioperative emergencies. Working together, participants must adeptly and efficiently manage whatever challenges are put before them before they can successfully ‘escape’.

Nursing and Perioperative Nursing lecturer, and UniSA escape room creator, Dr Michelle Freeling, says the experience is transforming nursing education.

“Perioperative nursing is a specialty that requires nurses to work quickly and efficiently, collaborating with surgeons and anaesthetists in high-pressure environments,” Dr Freeling says.

“But with surgical advancements continually reshaping the field, perioperative nurses need to stay ahead of the latest techniques and practices – this is where experiences like our escape room can help.

“Participants will practice managing complex patient scenarios in the operating room, understanding and responding to perioperative emergencies, working cohesively with their team, and maintaining situational awareness, all of which are critical for success.

“As a hands-on, immersive activity, the escape room lets perioperative nurses learn or refine their expertise in a controlled yet realistic environment, so they can test their skills safely, without risk.”

The innovative experience is also part of a new Calvary Scholarship Program created to support nurses undertaking UniSA’s Graduate Certificate in Nursing with a focus on Perioperative Nurses. Calvary has supported 12 scholarships for nurses to undertake the Perioperative Nursing course, with the potential opportunity for additional scholarships in the future.

Calvary Adelaide Hospital General Manager Tanya Brooks says the hospital is dedicated to advancing perioperative nursing education and leadership.

“High quality, safe healthcare is our priority, and we’re committed to delivering excellence in clinical quality and patient care,” Brooks says.

“UniSA’s perioperative nursing escape room demonstrates a contemporary, engaging and innovative approach to learning that will advance our team’s specialist perioperative skills while also developing their leadership capabilities, staff culture, and excellent person-centred care.

“By investing in our team’s skill development and professional growth, we continue to champion the high standards, compassionate and professional healthcare, for which we’re known.

“The Calvary Scholarship Program reflects this commitment, and our partnership with UniSA will empower our team to reach their full potential.”

The inaugural cohort of scholarship recipients has commenced their studies this week.

The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

About Calvary: In 1885, six courageous Sisters sailed into Sydney to continue the mission of Venerable Mary Potter and the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary to care for those in need. Thus begun Calvary’s enduring legacy of care in Australia. Today, we continue their mission, in our hospitals, home and virtual care services, retirement living and residential aged care homes across four states and two territories. For more information, visit www.calvarycare.org.au

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UniSA Contact for interview:  Dr Michelle Freeling E: Michelle.Freeling@unisa.edu.au
UniSA Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
Calvary Health Care media enquiries: T: 1300 450 108 E: media@calvarycare.org.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

Strengthening safeguards and streamlining approvals for sacred sites in the NT 4 min read

Protection of sacred Indigenous sites is a cornerstone of preserving Australia’s First Nations heritage. The Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (the Act) requires project proponents operating in the Northern Territory (NT) to obtain approval to operate in the vicinity of sacred sites and comply with any conditions imposed to ensure their activities do not harm such sites.

The NT Government has proposed amendments to the Act. The Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (the Bill) aims to improve the regulatory framework by tightening timeframes and reducing red tape, while also enhancing protections for sacred sites. The NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee is considering the Bill and will provide its report to Parliament by 7 May 2025.

In this Insight, we outline the key changes proposed by the Bill and consider how they may impact stakeholders navigating the approval process.

The current framework

The Act provides the framework for the registration and protection of sacred sites in the NT. Under the legislation, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (the Authority) is empowered to issue Authority Certificates (Certificates) to people who want to enter, use, or carry out works on sacred sites.¹

After receiving an application, the Authority can request a conference with custodians to discuss the application and potential conditions of the Certificate.² A Certificate will be issued where the Authority is satisfied that the work or use of the land could proceed without substantive risk of damage to a sacred site on the land.³

The Certificate will set out the relevant conditions the Authority considers accords with the custodian’s wishes or any agreement in place between the custodians and the applicant.⁴ The Act also establishes criminal offences for damaging sacred sites.⁵

What is changing and why?

The Bill proposes several key amendments aimed at improving efficiency while maintaining robust protections for sacred sites. Key changes include provisions for transferring Certificates to new parties in continuing projects and introducing enforceable undertakings for minor contraventions.

We consider these changes in detail below.

Transferring Authority Certificates

Currently, the Act does not allow for the transfer of a Certificate. Certificates are specific to the original applicant and identified works. For example, if a development is sold, the new developer must apply for a new certificate, even if the works remain unchanged, requiring repeated approvals and negotiations with custodians.

The Bill establishes a mechanism allowing for transferring a Certificate when prior consultations were conducted, and a Certificate was previously issued.⁶ Now, a person may apply for a transfer of a Certificate, subject to the land areas and usage conditions remaining the same.

This change aims to improve efficiency by eliminating repetitive applications within long-term projects involving multiple parties over time.

Recorded parties

The Bill also establishes a mechanism for a holder of a Certificate to apply to have additional individuals or groups added as ‘recorded parties’. Subject to the area, use of the land and the conditions of the existing Certificate remaining unchanged, the Authority must issue a new Certificate to the applicant holder, which includes the added recorded parties. This will have practical benefits for proponents, who wish to ensure that contractors or joint venture partners will also have the benefit of acting in accordance with an existing Certificate.

New enforceable undertakings

New Part IVA of the Bill will establish a process for dealing with contraventions of the Act or conditions in a Certificate. The Authority will have the power to enter into an enforceable undertaking with a person regarding alleged contraventions. This amendment aligns the Act with enforcement mechanisms commonly used in environmental and development legislation.

The undertaking may contain any terms or conditions that the Authority considers necessary to ensure compliance with the Act or a Certificate.⁷ Time limits for performing obligations and methods to monitor compliance must be stated in the undertaking.⁸ Additionally, notice of both the alleged contravention and the undertaking must be published by the person giving it.⁹

When accepting an undertaking, various factors must be considered by the Authority, including:

• the nature and gravity of the conduct;
• the maximum penalty for the alleged contravention;
• the benefits of the proposed undertaking; and
• matters of public interest.¹⁰

To promote transparency, notice of decisions to accept an undertaking along with reasons must be published by the Authority.¹¹

If a proponent fails to comply with an enforceable undertaking, an application can be made to the Supreme Court for enforcement.¹² The Supreme Court may issue orders requiring payment of costs incurred by the Authority in mitigating any harm resulting from non-compliance or compensation to individuals who suffered loss due to such contraventions.¹³

Notably, entering into an enforceable undertaking precludes criminal proceedings against a person who has agreed to it.¹⁴ If full compliance with an undertaking is achieved, reasonable steps must be taken by the Authority to discontinue prosecution efforts.¹⁵

Composition and Membership of Authority

The amendments formalise practices concerning appointments to the Authority. The Authority will be constituted of ten First Nations members nominated by Land Councils and two members nominated by the Minister.¹⁶

Members appointed via Land Councils can face termination on grounds such as incompetence or misbehaviour. Conversely, ministerial appointees may only face termination following written recommendations from the Minister.¹⁷

What do the changes mean for me?

It is important to remember that these reforms are still being considered by Parliament and are not yet law.

If the Bill is passed, the introduction of enforceable undertakings will provide a more flexible way to address minor contraventions without immediate resort to criminal prosecution.

If you are involved in ongoing or long-term projects in the Northern Territory, the proposed amendments may also simplify your compliance obligations by allowing the transfer of Certificates, and the addition to a Certificate of other parties working on a project as recorded parties.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: AMP Limited

09 04 2025 – Media release

Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop this week. 
Eight teams have been selected to take part in the Kids IP Incubator Initiative, an Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) and Screen Australia program for children’s content makers to develop Australian IP for digital platforms.
Following a competitive assessment process, a mixture of experienced and emerging creatives has been selected for a three-month program which kicks off this week with an in-person workshop at the ACTF offices in Melbourne.
Digital content strategist Nico Lockhart will lead the workshop, joined by investment managers from Screen Australia and development managers from the ACTF. Nico has a decade of experience in online content, formerly leading the digital content division of animation and production studio WildBrain. He is the co-founder of a new venture which develops YouTube-first IPs.
Australian children have more content available to them than ever before across a range of multiple platforms and screens. This initiative will provide insight into the rapidly changing kids’ content landscape and empower creators with information and strategies to deliver distinctive Australian content for digital platforms like YouTube, which requires unique strategies to engage with audiences.
ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said, “As the child audience fragments and more and more children gravitate towards digital platforms, we need to ensure that quality programming made specifically for them reaches them wherever they are. This unique initiative will allow new and experienced practitioners to learn, experiment and develop fresh and innovative content that is specifically created for the platforms they are accessing it on, and keeps up with the ever-changing kids’ content landscape.”
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said,“As the ecosystem for children’s content continues to shift globally, it’s essential that we provide our creators with the support and resources to innovate and take full advantage of new platforms and opportunities to reach Australian children. The Kids IP Incubator Project is a fantastic way to help both emerging and experienced creatives refine their skills and develop bold, original Australian stories for Australian children. We’re excited to see the projects that will evolve from this initiative and look forward to their contribution to a vibrant and sustainable future for children’s content in Australia.” 
Projects selected for the initiative are:

Bookstore Duck: Angus Woodiwiss, Celine Goetz, Patrick Egerton and Sophie Knoblanche
Moving Out – The Mini Series: David Smith and Bill Northcott
My Brother the Monkey King: Nicholas Lin and Aven Yap
Pit-Pats: Darcy Prendergast and Josie Mackerras
Proudfoot and Friends: Lucas Proudfoot, Ellenor Cox, John Armstrong, Mikalya Nicol, Georgie Bauman, Freddy Komp, Tim Shultz, Jenny Hanslow, Lauren Woods and Douglas Watkin
The Void Diner: Monique Mulcahy, Millie Holten and Caitlyn Staples
Weird Warden: Nicole Delprado and Grace Rein
Woolings: Liam O’Leary and Amanda Spagnolo

Following the workshop, participants will undertake fortnightly online masterclasses with thought leaders, companies and creators in the space to further develop their practice over the coming months. Teams will receive a grant of up to $20,000 to develop their projects during this phase. At the end of the three months, teams will formally pitch their projects to a panel of ACTF and Screen Australia representatives and be invited to apply for a second round of development funding.
ACTF Media Enquiries
Emma Field | [email protected]
Media enquiries
Maddie Walsh | Publicist
+ 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
+ 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries
Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]