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SearchArchives for May 2011
31 May, 2011
State-wide Service to
support schools
Support services for the State’s public schools are to be brought together under one roof with the establishment of State-wide Education Services at the Padbury Senior High School site.
When the school closes at the end of this year, the site will be the base for almost 300 experts in a range of areas, including early childhood education, literacy and numeracy, English as a second language and dialect, behaviour management, student disability, including deaf and hard of hearing, speech and language development, curriculum and vocational education.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said 100 staff would move to the site from the Department of Education’s central office at the start of 2012. Others would come from a range of places, including Hale House.
“For too long, programs have been run out to schools in a one-size-fits-all approach,” Dr Constable said.
“Now, schools will determine the support they need and be able to access it through State-wide Education Services.”
She said the move followed the Independent Public Schools reform which allowed schools more autonomy and regionalisation.
“The real advantage of this new approach is that professionals from different fields, such as psychology, speech and language, disability and curriculum will work together in multi-disciplinary groups in schools to provide a complete range of specialist services to students,” Dr Constable said.
She said as part of the changes to the way schools were supported, a number of Teacher Development Schools would be set up across the State.
She said these schools would have demonstrated curriculum expertise and play a major role as the Australian Curriculum is introduced from kindergarten to Year 10 from 2012.
31 May, 2011
Union responds to
Budget pressure
The Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) has published its comments on the Budget claiming it will put more pressure on a Public Service already suffering from underfunding and overwork.
The union said by reducing funding to Agencies, the Government was further hampering the effectiveness of frontline services to the community.
“The so-called People’s Budget in fact will reduce the opening hours of dental clinics, increase the waiting list of public housing as well as decreasing the amount of maintenance on existing properties and hand the delivery of important Government services to charities,” the union said in a position paper.
“Despite population growth of 2.3 per cent this year with projected further growth of 2.3 per cent in 2012, the Government has capped the number of full-time equivalent Public Servants to just 1.7 per cent in 2011-12 – well under the population growth figure.”
The union said the shift to private operators would reduce accountability as there would be less scrutiny and oversight of operations.
“Standards of service will fall as they will not the monitored as they are in the Public Service,” the union said.
It pointed out that charities were one of the lower-paying employers and would not be able to attract the quality staff needed to run complicated and demanding operations.
“The Government has trouble attracting the right staff at wages 30 per cent higher than are paid by charities and the private sector,” the union said.
“The CPSU/CSA supports efficiency in the public sector,” it said.
“We do not support blunt cuts like the euphemistically called ‘efficiency dividends’ and ‘full time equivalent ceilings’.”
31 May, 2011
Tasmanian PS to sack
underperformers
New laws have been introduced in Tasmania to allow the State Government to sack underperforming Public Servants.
The new powers were announced by Premier Lara Giddings, who said they were needed because the Tasmanian PS was “too big” and “changes were needed” to improve its efficiency.
Ms Giddings said mass redundancies would not be offered but employees in programs identified by Departmental heads as no longer required would be laid off.
She said she would introduce changes to ensure workers deemed “surplus to requirement” would be given six months and help to find a new job before they were made redundant.
Details of who would be affected and the size of redundancy packages offered were yet to be revealed, however the plan is to cut the equivalent of more than 2,000 public sector jobs over three years.
Minister for Police, David O’Byrne said under the plan, police officers were being offered $20,000 to retire early, and the same offer was being made across several Government Departments as part of Budget savings measures.
Minister for Education, Nick McKim, also said up to 150 teachers and other education staff may choose to retire under the latest round of the retirement incentive scheme.
Public sector unions in Tasmania have criticised the plan to trim the Public Service, saying it was creating more uncertainty within the sector.
Ms Gidding said Public Servants would have a wait of at least three weeks before they found out if their managers had deemed their jobs no longer necessary.
The Premier said a wide-ranging investigation into the productivity of the public Service had also been commissioned.
The Premier’s plan comes three weeks before the state Budget is due to be handed down.
31 May, 2011
Audit report gives
qualified opinions
A university that reported part of a financial grant as a ‘liability’ and two State trusts that misreported income from interest and donations have received qualified audit opinions from the Auditor-General, Colin Murphy.
Mr Murphy gave clear audit opinions to all institutions except Murdoch University, whose qualified opinion was its fourth for reporting part of its research grant income as ‘other current liabilities’ rather than as ‘income’.
In addition, the Legal Contribution Trust received a qualified opinion because its interest revenue was understated and the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Foundation Trust received a qualified opinion in relation to its donations revenue.
The Auditor General was also concerned at the significant increase in the number of weaknesses identified in controls for financial and information systems, with over half the issues at fault carried over from the previous year.
“The number of financial management control issues reported this year was a 79 per cent increase on the number identified last year,” Mr Murphy said.
“Universities, State training providers and other Agencies need to ensure that financial and information system control issues are addressed in a timely manner to ensure the continuing integrity of their finances.”
He said in contrast, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University of Technology, Challenger Institute of Technology and Polytechnic West were rated as ‘better practice’ for their financial controls and reporting.
The full text of the Auditor-General’s report can be accessed at this PS News link.
31 May, 2011
Fisheries net more
from cash splash
The Department of Fisheries is to boost its technology resources to deliver more robust information and engage in greater interaction with the commercial fishing sector.
An increase in funding would also allow the Department to install a centralised data store to facilitate better decision-making and permit users to share information and trade entitlements.
Minister for Fisheries, Norman Moore said the Government was keen to invest in technology to help strengthen WA’s fishing industry and build the State’s future.
“This funding includes $10.9 million to enable the development of an Entitlement Management System (EMS),” Mr Moore said.
“EMS will also allow much better mobile connectivity and enable commercial and recreational fishers to access and submit real-time information from mobile technology, eliminating the need for slower and more unwieldy paper-based systems.”
The Minister said the Budget recognised the need to boost marine security - an issue driven by strong growth in shipping and the expansion of WA’s resources sector.
He said an allocation of $9.4 million had been made to administer the State’s aquatic biosecurity obligations and mitigate the risk of feral marine pest incursions.
He noted the development of fishing initiatives in the Kimberley which would attract $1.8 million in funding during the next four years.
“In partnership with Tourism WA and the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Department of Fisheries will deliver marine education for recreational fishers and charter operators,” Mr Moore said.
31 May, 2011
New campaign to
get kids in school
Television, radio, cinema and online advertising are to be employed in a new campaign aimed at boosting school attendance.
It All Starts At School will promote positive messages about regular school attendance among teenagers.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said research during the campaign’s development revealed that traditional authoritative messages about punishment for not attending school were unlikely to connect with young people.
“The campaign gives the message that achieving your life goals begins with regularly going to school,” Dr Constable said
The Minister said the campaign was part of the Government’s Better Attendance: Brighter Futures strategy, released last year in response to findings of a 2009 Auditor General’s report into public school attendance.
“One of the recommendations of the Auditor General’s report was for the Department of Education to publicise and promote the importance of regular school attendance to parents, students and the community,” she said.
“That is exactly what this campaign is designed to achieve.”
Dr Constable said the $450,000 campaign would include advertising and a grassroots recognition program in 10 metropolitan secondary schools to boost attendance.
She said the Department of Education would still pursue attendance issues vigorously, and prosecution of parents for children’s chronic non-attendance at school was still an option if necessary.
“What is different about this campaign is that we are speaking to young people directly, aiming to change attitudes and behaviour,” Dr Constable said.
31 May, 2011
Lord Mayor sheds
light on city lights
A new lighting strategy aimed at enhancing Perth’s ‘visual value’ at night, is to be developed.
The strategy will provide a coordinated lighting infrastructure plan that will guide work carried out by the City of Perth, private developers and other agencies.
Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi said a bright night-time environment would increase the city’s ‘feel good’ factor and enhance vitality, tourism and general liveability.
“This can be achieved through a properly-coordinated variety of approaches to lighting - from street lighting to building lighting - which will make the city visually appealing, attract more people and improve the city’s evening economy,” Ms Scaffidi said.
“At the moment, responsibility for lighting is fragmented with the result that there is inconsistency across the city.
“An effective lighting strategy can also be an important factor in making the city feel safer and more inviting.”
She said newer forms of lighting, such as LED, were more energy efficient and economical so there need not be a high cost factor.
An objective would be to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Council seeks to encourage citizens and visitors to remain in the city in the evening to improve retail trade and create a robust night-time economy and identity,” she said.
“The Council has taken the lead with initiatives such as the colourful lighting of Council House at night and illumination of beautiful trees in Victoria Avenue and Mounts Bay Road.”
Ms Scaffidi said the timing of a lighting strategy was now more important than ever because of future redevelopment projects such as the Perth City Link and Perth Waterfront development.
31 May, 2011
More doctors to
fill new hospitals
A total of $75 million over five years is to be spent on a new training program for young doctors in WA.
The aim of the program is to ensure the State has enough medical practitioners to cope with future requirements, particularly in the staffing of new hospitals currently under construction.
Minister for Health, Kim Hames said the program would redress the shortage of GPs in Western Australia which had the fewest GPs per population of any State.
“In 2009-10, 238 junior doctors took up training places in our State’s public hospitals,” Dr Hames said.
“This is set to increase to 310 by 2015-16.
“The $75 million investment would help provide high-quality postgraduate training for our new doctors, which will in turn contribute to better health care for the people of WA.”
He said by 2015, the funding would help provide an estimated additional 138 health professionals - 94 doctors (new graduates and supervisors) and 44 clinical education and simulation training staff.
“Through this funding, the Government will also provide training places for all WA medical school graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents.”
The Minister said about 40 per cent of the new funding would provide training places in WA’s country health services.
“By providing training places in our country hospitals we will encourage new young doctors to learn about the challenges and opportunities of rural medicine,” he said.
31 May, 2011
Bonds bound up
for pet owners
Landlords will soon be able to charge more than double the previous limit for bonds on pet owners.
Announcing an increase in the maximum bond limit from $100 to $260 from 1 June,
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Anne Driscoll said the raise was necessary to reflect present day costs associated with fumigation after a tenant with a dog or cat had vacated a rental property.
“The cost of fumigation has increased over the years and it is appropriate that the pet bond also increase to adequately cover this extra cost,” Ms Driscoll said.
“It’s important to note that the pet bond is in addition to the usual security bond and can be returned if the fumigation is not necessary.”
She said the increase in the pet bond might make it easier for pet owners to find rental accommodation, as landlords would be more willing to accept an applications knowing the cost of fumigation would be adequately met at the end of the tenancy.
She said the decision was part of a detailed review of tenancy laws in WA and followed an extensive consultation and review period which involved public meetings, focus groups and individual meetings.
“The consensus of opinion concluded that the current limit was outdated and did not reflect the true cost to landlords,” the Commissioner said.
She said another change to the regulations that would occur on 1 June related to the security bond which was normally set at four weeks’ rent.
From that date it would be possible for landlords to charge bonds greater than that amount for properties where the rent was more than $1,200 per week.
The limit for this greater flexibility was previously set at $500 per week and had not increased since 1989.
31 May, 2011
Kimberley survey
to unlock secrets
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is conducting a three-year survey to help unlock the secrets of the Kimberley and direct strategic development of Western Australia’s far north.
The $3 million project, using funds provided through the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy (KSCS), will map the Kimberley’s underlying geology.
It will consist of three geophysical and geochemical survey programs, together with strategically targeted outcrop mapping.
Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore said the project would enable the DMP’s Geological Survey of WA (GSWA) to start baseline geochemical and geophysical surveys of the Kimberley Basin as part of the KSCS.
“This work will bring our understanding of the geology and landforms of the Kimberley up-to-date and to a standard that is comparable with, or exceeds, that of the rest of northern Australia,” Mr Moore said.
“It will also provide baseline data to help other Departments - such as the Department of Environment and Conservation’s research on biodiversity, agriculture and landforms.”
He said such knowledge was vitally important to the Government when making land-use decisions which affected the strategic development of the Kimberley region.
“This investment will also help ensure WA remains an attractive investment destination for resources exploration and tourism into the future,” he said.
Mr Moore said the Kimberley region had a long and complex geological history dating back almost two billion years and there was evidence that underlying parts of the Kimberley Basin were 2.7 billion years old.
31 May, 2011
More made eligible
For Seniors Cards
An expansion of eligibility for the WA Seniors Card has been announced to allow seniors who worked 25 hours or less a week to apply.
The expanded eligibility means up to 4,500 WA seniors, in addition to the 312,000 existing card holders, would now be eligible.
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering, Robyn McSweeney said the Government had promised a review of the WA Seniors Card eligibility criteria in 2008.
“The expansion recognises changes in today’s workforce with more seniors choosing to remain in paid employment, or working part-time in their transition to retirement,” Mrs McSweeney said.
The Minister also announced an increase in the annual Cost of Living Rebate (COLR) for Seniors Card holders, with singles set to receive $150 and couples $225, up from $104.80 and $157.22 respectively.
“Since this rebate was introduced in 2008, the Government has made $42 million in payments to support WA seniors with everyday living expenses,” Mrs McSweeney said.
“This additional investment, worth $9.1 million in 2011-12, will result in total COLR payments in 2011-12 of $33.4 million.”
The Minister said payments for the annual rebate would start in mid-July and she urged seniors to maximise the use of their cards by taking advantage of a range of benefits on offer throughout the year.
31 May, 2011
Horses on trial for
hunting bilbies
A trial technique for monitoring the bilby population at Lorna Glen in the northern Goldfields involves observers riding stock horses.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is using the horses as part of Operation Rangelands Restoration, which aims to restore 600,000 hectares of former pastoral lease land purchased by the Government for conservation at Lorna Glen (Matuwa) and Earaheedy (Kurrara Kurrara) to its natural state by 2020.
Senior Research Scientist at DEC, Neil Burrows said bilbies were elusive, solitary and nomadic creatures and monitoring the animals using machines such as quad bikes or on foot limited access to the bush and could be damaging to the environment.
“Horses are much quieter and gentler on the environment than quad bikes, and they can also go where vehicles can’t, navigating through thick scrub, recently burnt spinifex, through water and across steep sand dunes,” Dr Burrows said.
“They can travel much longer distances than people on foot and they provide an excellent observation platform.”
He said bilbies were very difficult to trap for surveys, so researchers relied largely on signs of their presence to determine how well they had been doing since captive bred bilbies were introduced into the Lorna Glen landscape between 2007 and 2009.
Dr Burrows said it was good to see stock horses once again playing an important role in the rangelands.
“This project is enabling DEC to pay respect to the rich pastoral heritage of the area,” he said.
The two stock horses were transported to Lorna Glen and kept in existing cattle yards for five days while they were not working.
He said they were fed muesli and clean chaff to reduce the risk of weed infestation.
“The trial was a resounding success,” Dr Burrows said, “as we were easily able to observe digs, tracks and burrows of bilbies, recording 10 fresh burrows along the sample transects, which leads us to believe there were more than 45 bilbies active in the area we observed.”
31 May, 2011
Guidelines to balance
roadside dangers
Guidelines to help land managers and decision-makers better balance fire and conservation in transport corridors have been published.
The Roadside Conservation Committee (RCC) and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) have worked together, in consultation with a number of key stakeholders, to develop the guidelines.
The RCC is appointed by the Minister for the Environment and includes membership from the Department of Environment and Conservation, FESA, Main Roads WA, Department of Agriculture and Food WA, WA Local Government Association, WA Conservation Council, Wildflower Society, Western Power, WestNet Rail and WA Gas Networks.
Minister for the Environment, Bill Marmion said the guidelines promoted the effective management of both fire hazards and conservation values in road and rail reserves, and had been prepared to help land managers make informed choices about fire in the corridors.
“The majority of road and rail reserves in Western Australia are only narrow strips of vegetation, which makes them particularly vulnerable to degradation,” Mr Marmion said.
“It is important to make considered decisions about how to manage these reserves to ensure vegetation longevity and function, and this includes how we use and manage fire in the reserves.
“Roadside vegetation is important in supporting biodiversity conservation as well as values for local communities and tourism.”
The Minister said fire management in road and rail reserves presented a unique challenge to a wide range of Agencies, with a need to mitigate against the potential risk of bushfires.
31 May, 2011
Figures show more
Mums at work
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found that the percentage of families where mothers are employed has increased.
In couple families with dependent children, 66 per cent of the mothers were employed compared to 59 per cent in 1997.
In lone mother families with dependent children, 60 per cent of the mothers were employed compared to 46 per cent in 1997.
The Bureau found that increased employment rates were more marked in families with older children.
In couple families where the youngest child was a dependent student aged 15 to 24, 81 per cent of the mothers were employed compared to 71 per cent in 1997.
Of lone mothers whose youngest child was a dependent student aged 15 to 24, 83 per cent were employed compared to 69 per cent in 1997.
It found that in families where the youngest dependent child was aged 0-4, mothers in couple families were more likely to be employed (51 per cent) than were lone mothers with young children (28 per cent).
The report also looked at how much contact children were having with their grandparents and, in cases where one of the natural parents did not live with the child, how much contact the children had with that parent living elsewhere.
Most children (75 per cent to 80 per cent, depending on family type) saw their grandparents at least once a year.
A higher proportion of children in lone mother families saw their maternal grandparents at least once a week (61 per cent) compared to children in couple families (48 per cent).
31 May, 2011
Solar rebates shine
in new tariffs
A review by the Office of Energy has led to a change in residential electricity feed-in tariffs to ensure the rebate scheme remained sustainable.
A new rate of 20c per kilowatt hour (kWh) will apply to all applications received by electricity retailers Synergy and Horizon Power from 1 July. Existing customers will not be affected by this change.
According to the Minister for Energy, Peter Collier, the new rate is necessary to ensure the scheme remains sustainable and that the benefit householders receive is in line with the cost of their renewable energy systems.
Mr Collier said the scheme had proved to be successful since its introduction in August last year, with the number of household systems installed more than doubling.
“There are now more than 45,900 systems installed State-wide, with at least 2,000 systems installed per month - a rate greater than expected,” Mr Collier said.
“To keep up with this demand, the State Government has increased the scheme’s initial budget allocation of $23 million and will now provide $114.5 million over the next four years.”
Recipients will continue to receive payments through the scheme for 10 years, helping householders recover the cost of installing grid-connected renewable energy systems.
Changes to the scheme will not affect payments from Synergy and Horizon Power for the purchase of renewable energy fed into the grid, which are in addition to the feed-in tariff.
The Minister said the scheme would also be capped, as it was in other jurisdictions, closing when the total capacity of renewable systems installed under the feed-in tariff scheme reached 150 megawatts.
To date, almost 70 megawatts of generation capacity have been accepted into the scheme.
31 May, 2011
Childrens Week awards
to recognise service
The 2011 Children’s Week Awards of Recognition have been launched.
The awards, to be presented during Children’s Week 2011 from 23 to 29 of October, recognise groups of children, adult’s services or programs that have made an outstanding contribution to Western Australian children and families, as well as rewarding artwork from children across the State.
Youth Minister Robyn McSweeney said the awards summed up what Children’s Week 2011 was all about - supporting and encouraging children and families to achieve their potential through community involvement.
“These awards are an important way to celebrate children’s artwork and to identify groups of children across our State who have shown generosity, compassion and community spirit,” Mrs McSweeney said.
The Minister also announced the launch of the 2011 Children’s Week website available at this PS News link which would provide easy access to online information including all Children’s Week events, award nomination forms and information and assistance on how to hold a community event.
She said the website would be helpful for local communities and agencies wanting to celebrate the week and show how much children were valued and appreciated.
“It’s our role as a community to support, protect, encourage and nurture our children as much as we can, and these celebrations are a very important part of that,” Mrs McSweeney said.
31 May, 2011
Education awards open
The 2011 WA Education Awards are now open for nominations with the revamped awards to allow State winners to vie for new national education honours.
For the first time, there will be separate awards for primary and secondary school teachers as well as primary and secondary principals. Other new categories include the WA Primary School of the Year and WA Secondary School of the Year.
Five WA major award winners will receive a prize of $25,000. Three runners-up will be awarded $2,500 each.
Wildlife volunteers wanted
Interested people are invited to join a volunteer wildlife rehabilitation group in south-west WA.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) will deliver a basic wildlife rehabilitator course which is a prerequisite for people who wish to become DEC-registered volunteers in the future.
The course will be run on 18 and 19 June at the Geographe Bay Yatch Club in Busselton.
Trees to offset carbon
A further 85,000 trees are to be planted in rural Western Australia in the next phase of the City of Perth’s carbon offset program.
The program is aimed at offsetting some of the greenhouse gases that are generated by vehicles being driven to and from the city.
Funding for the tree planting program will come from income generated by City of Perth parking operations.
Dams closed
Continuing safety concerns have resulted in waters abutting the two major dams in the East Kimberley being closed to boating and swimming.
The decision follows a number of recent incidents where swimmers and vessels have endangered their safety by getting too close to the dam walls.
The closure has been ordered by the Department of Transport at the request of the Water Corporation.
Native rights recognised
The Federal Court has recognised native title rights in the Wanjina-Wunggurr Uunguu claim in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The court’s determination covers approximately 25,909 square kilometres of land and sea and recognises both exclusive and non-exclusive native title rights over the claim area.
The traditional owners’ native title rights include the right to live, camp, hunt and fish and engage in cultural activities on the land.
Building survey launched
A safety management survey of the construction industry is to be carried out by WorkSafe.
Throughout June, inspectors will check to ensure that consultation on hazards and safety management on construction sites in metropolitan and regional areas is in accordance with occupational safety and health laws.
State workplace safety and health laws require that employers consult with others in the workplace on safety issues, and that plans are in place before the start of a job to minimise risks.
Pipeline comment extended
Public consultation on the Economic Regulation Authority’s Draft Decision on the Dampier-to-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Access Arrangement has been extended.
Interested parties are invited to make submissions in print and electronic form by Wednesday, 20 July.
Submissions should be marked to the attention of Executive Director Access and can be emailed or posted.
Infrastructure for Pilbara
Seven new infrastructure projects have been announced in the Pilbara.
The projects will receive a total of $20 million in Royalties for Regions funding through the Pilbara Cities initiative.
They are: Port Hedland Main Street Jetty Extension; Karratha Service Workers Accommodation Enhancements; Port Hedland Waterfront Revitalisation; West Australian Country Health Service Accommodation; Regional Health Administrative Accommodation; Dampier Highway Streetscaping and Hedland Senior High School redevelopment.
Marine life guide
A new guide on north-west marine life has been published.
The guide will enable users to identify species of marine wildlife.
Durable and waterproof, it is aimed at boaters to use when at sea. A paper version has been produced for schools.
$2 million for sport
A total of $2 million has been set aside for the planning of a Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) High Performance Service Centre.
The announcement is seen as a first step to ensuring WA’s athletes can continue to compete with the world’s best at the 2014 Commonwealth and 2016 Olympic Games.
The High Performance Centre will be situated within the WA Sports Park precinct.
24 May, 2011
People’s Forum to
upstage CHOGM
West Australians have been invited to take part in the Commonwealth People’s Forum - a key event in the October meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth in October.
Up to 250 delegates from across the world will assemble for the Forum, regarded as the biggest opportunity for civil society organisations to engage with Commonwealth leaders on global development issues. At least 40 Western Australians are expected to take part.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Donna Faragher said the Commonwealth People’s Forum allowed the voices of people from around the Commonwealth to be heard by more than 50 Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers who would be attending CHOGM.
“Delegates to the Forum will discuss and debate issues affecting not only themselves but many of the two billion people who live within Commonwealth countries,” Mrs Faragher said.
The Forum will be organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and hosted by the Western Australian Council of Social Service with the support of the Federal Government and the Western Australian Government.
It will be held in Perth from 25 to 27 of October.
A Lotterywest grant of $490,000 includes funding for West Australians from regional areas to attend the Forum.
The grant will also support the Forum program, opening ceremony and activities in the lead up to the event, as well as opportunities for delegates and local community organisations to learn from each other.
24 May, 2011
HQ gets OK
for DAFWA
A new state-of-the art headquarters for the Department of Agriculture and Food in South Perth has been announced in the State Budget.
The redevelopment program will include an existing allocation of $186.6 million, with a further $48.4 million to be applied in 2015-16.
Premier, Colin Barnett said the Department played a crucial role in providing leadership and support to WA’s $7 billion agriculture and food sector so it can thrive and advance in an increasingly competitive and variable operating environment.
“Our pledge to renew the facilities will ensure the State has the resources and access to the latest state-of-the-art technology,” Mr Barnett said, “to enable the Department and its staff to help the sector continue to develop and prosper.”
Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman said the redevelopment would reflect the Department’s changing role.
“The Department has undergone a major transformation in the past two years to become more dynamic, innovative and industry-focused and to effectively tackle the challenges and opportunities facing our agriculture and food sector,” Mr Redman said.
“The South Perth redevelopment will complement the Department’s other facilities established in the regions in the past year, including the New Genes for New Environments facilities at Merredin and Katanning and the Managed Environment Facility joint venture at Merredin.”
He said the Department’s location, alongside the Technology Park business centre and its close proximity to the city was ideal.
24 May, 2011
Public transport is
big ticket item
Public Transport across Western Australia is to receive a Budget boost with the Treasurer announcing a “massive” injection of funds for the State’s road, rail and bus networks.
The Treasurer, Christian Porter, said Government would spend $1.2 billion in 2011-12 to improve the State’s roads; almost $5 billion in the next four years for public transport initiatives; and fund the biggest increase in bus service kilometres in more than a decade.
Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell said the strategy was to provide a balanced transport plan which would cater for people who travelled by car as well as those who used public transport.
“We cannot look at public transport or road improvement issues in isolation while working to give West Australians the transport network they deserve,” Mr Buswell said
“The Government is investing in new buses and trains as well as improving the road network across WA.”
He said key public transport initiatives included $134 million to fund an increase in bus service kilometres by 3.3 million in 2011-12, and by 2015-16 onward, bus service kilometres will have increased by 15.2 million per annum; $40 million for an extra 78 buses to the existing fleet, on top of the existing bus replacement order, and $164 million for 15 new three-car train sets.
He said major infrastructure projects included the rail undergrounding of the Perth City Link (planned for completion in 2013-14 at a cost of $360 million) and the completion of a new underground bus station in 2015-16 at an estimated cost of $249 million.
A substantial upgrade to Mirrabooka Bus Station is due for completion in 2010-11 at cost of $5.5 million.
In the regions, the acquisition of bus depot facilities in Bunbury, Busselton and Dunsborough will enable improved operation of regional town bus services.
Mr Buswell said key road initiatives include an allocation of $6 million to widen the northbound carriage of Mitchell Freeway between Hepburn Avenue and Hodges Drive. The widening project, increasing traffic lanes from two to three, will cost $30 million by the time it is completed in 2012-13.
24 May, 2011
Graduates graduate
from DEC program
Another 12 candidates have passed through the Department of Environment and Conservation’s (DEC) Graduate Recruit Program.
The nine women and three men completed their training in team leadership, recreation planning, fire and disease management and community and cross-cultural awareness.
Minister for the Environment, Bill Marmion said the Graduate Recruit Program sought to develop the skills of people working in the areas of environmental management and conservation as well as developing future leaders within DEC.
“Since 1995, the program has trained more than 300 people and the majority of this year’s graduates have been appointed to positions throughout the State, which is an outstanding achievement,” Mr Marmion said.
The recipient of the top award, the Keynes Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in practical and theoretical work, was Wendy Chow.
The Director General’s Merit Award, for the recruit who displayed the best all-round performance in both theoretical and practical areas, went to Bree Phillips.
The Minister congratulated 11 trainees from DEC’s Mentored Aboriginal Trainee and Employment Scheme (MATES) for their graduation.
“Under the MATES program, DEC is diversifying its workforce by aiming to increase the number of Aboriginal employees within the Department,” he said.
The Kwabalitch Award, for the MATES trainee who demonstrated an admirable level of dedication to studies, went to Leslie Moore, while the MATES Aboriginal Trainee of the Year was Louise O’Reilly.
The Aboriginal Trainee Supervisor of the Year was Nick Evans.
Mr Marmion said this year also marked the graduation of the first participants in DEC’s specialist fire-fighting training for employees who were engaged in prescribed burning and fire suppression activities.
24 May, 2011
Budget passes
school test
School maintenance programs have received a kick-along in the State Budget with the Treasurer announcing an extra $40 million for preventative work.
Also in the $4 billion-plus allocated to education would be money for frontline staff increases and other important reforms.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said an additional $77 million would go on building new schools, including the second stage of Dalyellup College on the outskirts of Bunbury, the planning and design of two new secondary schools and four new primary schools.
“Preventative maintenance at schools will attract spending of $40 million,” Dr Constable said.
“This is in addition to the Department of Education’s normal maintenance program,”
She said more than $78 million had been allocated to address the estimated net growth in public school enrolments in 2011.
An injection of $100.5 million from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program would fund a massive school building and refurbishment program across regional WA.
The new funding will see 13 schools from Esperance to Derby refurbished or rebuilt with state-of-the-art facilities that would help attract and retain teachers, as well as students, in regional areas.
“Many of the projects include new performing arts areas, which will give students specialised areas for dance, music and creative learning for the first time and provide them with access to the best,” Dr Constable said.
The Budget also included $52 million over the next four years to provide air-cooling to all WA public schools.
24 May, 2011
No love lost in
tenants game
Laws to tackle anti-social behaviour by public housing tenants have been introduced into Parliament.
The new legislation overhauls the Residential Tenancies Act.
Proposed changes would give the Department of Housing greater powers to deal with troublesome tenants.
Minister for Commerce, Simon O’Brien said under the proposed changes, the Department could apply to the Magistrates Court to terminate a tenancy in cases where the tenant was engaging in serious continuing disruptive behaviour or was using the premises for illegal purposes.
“This will allow the Government to deal more quickly and effectively with disruptive tenants in public housing,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The State Government’s Bill will also improve the clarity and effectiveness of residential tenancy law for all tenants and landlords, such as introducing plain language lease agreements and making property condition reports compulsory at the beginning and end of a tenancy.”
There would also be greater security and transparency for tenants over the handling of their bond money which would now have to be lodged with the Bond Administrator.
Mr O’Brien said this would reduce the incidence of landlords inadvertently depositing a tenant’s bond in their own bank account.
“Improving the quality of information available on tenancy databases is another issue the proposed changes will address with a nationally consistent approach,” he said.
“While these databases are a legitimate tool to minimise risk in the private rental property market, the new laws seek to ensure that tenants are not unfairly excluded from the market through out-of-date or inaccurate information.”
24 May, 2011
City library
off the shelf
Tenders are to be called for a new, state-of-the-art public library in the St George’s Cathedral Heritage Precinct.
The proposed library and an adjoining outdoor public plaza will replace the current library which has been located in the basement of the Law Chambers Building in Hay Street since 1995.
Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi said the project would see the library rise to the surface on the same site, providing a more inviting street presence.
“The building will occupy the site currently occupied by the multi-storey Law Chambers Building, which is planned for demolition,” Cr Scaffidi said.
“The new library and plaza will become a popular meeting place where people can access all the facilities expected in a 21st century library or simply relax in an attractive outdoor setting in the heart of the city.’
She said the tender process involved Perth City Council advertising for a ‘lead design consultancy’ (architect and sub-consultants). The Council would then invite up to three of the tenderers who best met the selection criteria to develop detailed design concepts. They would be paid $15,000 each to do so.
Cr Scaffidi said the decision as to which company would ultimately design the building will be made in August, with construction to begin in November 2012 after demolition of the Law Chambers Building.
24 May, 2011
Dog-gone – and
so is the money
A new puppy scam involving bogus online advertisements has come to the attention of Consumer Protection.
In the past two months, nine WA consumers have reported losing between $350 and $1,800 each after being asked to send money to purchase a puppy that didn’t exist
A total of almost $9,000 has been traced to cyber criminals in Cameroon in West Africa.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Anne Driscoll said buyers of puppies were especially vulnerable as they could also have an emotional investment in the pet.
“The financial loss suffered by puppy scam victims can be substantial, but many are also upset and disappointed when the pet they fell in love with on the internet doesn’t arrive,” Ms Driscoll said.
“After the initial purchase price for the puppy is sent, usually by wire transfer, the scammers then demand extra payments for transport and delivery or insurance, giving a variety of excuses for the extra charges.
“This is referred to as an advance fee fraud or puppy scam.”
She said the purchaser was virtually being held to ransom and the scammers were preying on the buyer’s emotional attachment to the puppy and their excitement about its imminent arrival.
She said the scam had also offered other pets including exotic birds.
“It is not until after the money is lost that the purchaser discovers that they have been scammed by the use of professional-looking documents and certificates to support the sale,” Ms Driscoll said.
“Buyers of pets online are advised to be cautious when purchasing puppies sight unseen from strangers, especially if the seller requests money to be sent by wire transfer, which is unable to be recovered once collected.”
24 May, 2011
Drinks card too
hard to swallow
The Government has rejected a proposal to introduce a ‘licence to drink’ card, with the Minister for Racing and Gaming saying it was “inappropriate at present”.
The Minister, Terry Waldron, said there were a number of reasons for his decision, one being that the system did not target problem drinkers per se - only those who had been convicted in court of an alcohol-related crime.
“The inability, so far, to control secondary supply has limited the extent to which the system has been effective in preventing persons with court-imposed prohibition orders from accessing alcohol,” Mr Waldron said.
Providing all members of the community with access to photo ID able to be scanned by the system would be a significant, problematic and costly issue.
“Purchasing the required database and scanning equipment and delivering ongoing system support in regional/remote areas is a costly exercise,” he said.
“However, this is not to say that the circumstances won’t change in the future and we will continue to monitor progress with the card-based system in the Northern Territory, particularly if a solution to the secondary supply problem becomes evident.”
Mr Waldron said after two personal visits to Alice Springs it was clear the card system was not a supply reduction measure itself, rather a means to enforce alcohol restrictions.
He said measures already in place in WA, such as supply restrictions; section 175 bans; prohibition orders; police barring notices and local accords provided a strong, effective system.
24 May, 2011
More schools to mark
independence day
A further 195 schools have applied for independent status under the Independent Public Schools reform measures.
This number, resulting from the third round of expressions of interest, means that 40 per cent of all public schools in Western Australia have shown an interest in becoming independent. The third intake period closed on 12 May.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said the Independent Public Schools initiative was a key education sector reform designed to give schools more autonomy and attracted school principals and communities across WA wanting a greater say in how their school was run.
“For the first intake in 2009, 13 per cent of all 771 public schools put in an expression of interest to become an Independent Public School,” Dr Constable said.
“The percentage rose to 18 per cent in the second intake, and we have since had another 10 per cent increase in the number applying to be independent this year.
“This reform has never been forced on schools,” she said.
“Its strength is that it has always been an opt-in scheme.
“The fact that this year 28 per cent of schools that are not currently Independent Public Schools have applied demonstrates that the Independent Public School status is highly sought after, and working for schools.”
Dr Constable said the successful schools would be announced in July, and begin as Independent Public Schools in 2012, joining the 98 already in operation.
Schools which are successful will have the authority to select and appoint all staff and manage their own budgets.
They will be empowered to make decisions that will best suit their students.
24 May, 2011
Register grinds out
organic farmers
Organic, biodynamic and other ‘sensitive’ style farmers have been invited to take part in a voluntary register of sites being compiled by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Executive Director of Grains Industries with DAFWA, Peter Metcalfe said the Department had recently written to known growers with sensitive production systems asking for their participation in a voluntary register of sensitive sites for use in 2011.
A sensitive site is considered a commercial property that needs consideration due to the nature of the production system.
He said examples included certified organic, certified biodynamic, aquaculture, horticulture and viticulture.
The Department’s website aims to provide an information service for producers to help them be aware of the location of any sensitive agricultural production systems in their area.
“This service assists growers with the preparation of risk assessment and risk mitigation plans for their ongoing production activities,” Mr Metcalfe said.
“While this provides an additional information source for growers, it is important that growers continue to communicate directly with their neighbours.”
He said the Department had had a geographic information system running for some time to help identify different production systems and in response to requests from growers for a simpler system had developed the Sensitive Sites WA map.
“This map, which is accessible at the Department’s website, is part of our response to make information simpler for growers to access,” Mr Metcalfe said.
“A similar mapping system has been used by cotton growers in the eastern States to identify areas vulnerable to crop loss due to spray drift.”
24 May, 2011
Possum partnership
is tale of survival
A partnership between the South West Community and Youth Justice (SWCYJ) office in Busselton and the FAWNA wildlife group is supporting injured or orphaned wildlife.
Adult offenders on community-based orders are making possum boxes which are used in the rehabilitation of the animals.
Assistant Community Corrections Officer at SWCYJ, Roxanne Dalton said she organised the program with FAWNA to meet the needs of the local community while giving offenders an opportunity to complete additional community work order hours.
“The offenders are given the donated materials and are instructed on how to make the possum boxes,” Ms Dalton said.
“After an initial trial run, offenders make between four and six boxes and return them on a weekly basis to the office.
“This project is great for offenders with the appropriate skills who live in remote or regional areas where there is no community work option.”
President of FAWNA, Jeff Falconer said the boxes were extremely valuable in helping care for injured and orphaned wildlife.
“We use the boxes as housing inside our cages while we are rehabilitating the possums,” Mr Falconer said.
“The boxes continue to be used when the possums are released into bushland. They are placed high into a tree with the possums still inside.
“It provides them extra security as the boxes already contain their own scent.”
He said this helped create a more gentle transition between their rehabilitative caged environment and the true unsupported bush life.
Mr Falconer said the boxes were durable and secure and were invaluable in helping FAWNA’s work.
24 May, 2011
Aerodrome lands
on heritage list
Langley Park, the site of Perth’s first aerodrome in the 1920s, has received interim listing on the State Heritage Register.
Langley Park was used for the first regular airmail service in Australia and continues to be a venue for a wide range of sporting and leisure activities for visitors and the people of Perth.
Minister for Heritage, John Castrilli said the 11.7-hectare grassland area was a popular place to view the Lotterywest Skyworks and had been used as an airfield for the Red Bull Air Race World Series.
“It is still being utilised by intermittent air services such as RAAF Caribou aircraft transporting accident victims to Perth,” Mr Castrilli said.
He said Langley Park was created by land reclamation from the adjacent Swan River between 1921 and 1935, in response to a need for open space near the city.
“It is associated with aviator Major Norman Brearley who established Western Australian Airways in 1921 and flew the first regular air mail service departing from the site,” he said.
“Located in the Central Business District and running alongside Riverside Drive, the parkland is an oasis that must be protected.”
Mr Castrilli said Langley Park had considerable historic value for its social, cultural and recreational uses and was very worthy of heritage listing.
He said it contributed significantly to the Perth community’s sense of place.
24 May, 2011
Time runs out
for road curfew
The removal of heavy haulage curfews on the Upper Swan Valley section of Great Northern Highway is to be trialled by Main Roads WA.
The aim is to create improved transport efficiencies for operators.
At present the curfew applies to all road trains from 30 metres long up to a maximum length of 36.5 metres, except for vehicles carrying livestock.
Road trains are not permitted to travel along Great Northern Highway through the Swan Valley between the hours of 9am and 6pm on weekends and public holidays.
Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell said it was timely to re-examine the need for this curfew on this section of the highway, which runs from the intersection with Roe Highway in Middle Swan to the Apple Street road train assembly area.
“This section of the highway has been upgraded substantially in recent times to dual lane highway in both directions with turning pockets,” Mr Buswell said.
“The curfews prevent road trains from operating between 9am and 6pm on weekends and public holidays, which is creating ‘convoys’ of road trains trying to leave Perth as soon as the curfew is lifted.”
This could be counter-productive to road safety when road users were confronted with a line of big trucks.
The trial would also include allowing some oversize loads between 6.5 metres and 8.5 metres in width to travel along this section of highway on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Mr Buswell said this was expected to alleviate some of the delays experienced by other traffic using the highway on weekends, which is when such oversize load moves had previously occurred.
The three-month trial will begin on 28 May.
24 May, 2011
Indigenous training
delivers bush rangers
The Australian Government and the Kimberley Training Group are to support 52 Indigenous Australians to train to be rangers.
The training will take place through the Federal Government’s Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) and the rangers will earn Certificates in Conservation, Land Management and Administration.
It will see 37 new rangers earn Certificate II and III, while 15 current rangers will upgrade their qualifications to Certificate III and IV.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Senator Mark Arbib said under the previous program, Kimberley Group Training successfully retained more than 90 per cent of the trainee rangers after one year in service.
“The continued Ranger Program will provide further opportunities for 37 more Indigenous Australians with an interest in their land to receive accredited training and qualifications,” Senator Arbib said.
“In addition to their Certificates, the Indigenous Rangers will also receive safety equipment, first aid training, licensing support, uniforms, field kits, literacy tutoring, drug and alcohol counselling and ongoing mentoring.”
A supervisor would be appointed to each ranger group to develop plans linked to the local community including waterways management, feral animal control, tourism services and fire management.
The Federal Government was providing $945,000 to train the rangers under the IEP which Senator Arbib said was part of its commitment to close the gap on Indigenous employment.
24 May, 2011
Health extends mossie warning
The Department of Health has extended its advice to people living and travelling anywhere north or east of Perth to take extra care against mosquito bites.
Six people have been diagnosed with Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) due to virus infections contracted in northern and central WA this season.
One person has died and several others remain very ill in hospital. Other possible cases of MVE infection are being investigated.
New office for DCP
The Department for Child Protection’s new Fitzroy Crossing office has been officially opened.
Nine staff will operate from the new office operating long running and newly introduced programs.
The old office had been operational in Fitzroy Crossing for many years and the new building provides greatly enhanced facilities for both staff and local families interacting with the Department for Child Protection.
Accessible trail opened
The Armadale Settlers’ Common Accessible Trail has been officially opened.
The trail, in the Bedfordale Foothills, has been built by the City of Armadale to enable locals and tourists who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids to visit the area.
The accessible trail project includes a one-kilometre sealed trail to provide wheelchair and other mobility aid access and appropriate parking facilities at the trail entrance as well as an accessible gate.
Litter reporters hit 5,000
A total of 5,000 reporters are now registered with Keep Australia Beautiful’s litter report program.
Under the Litter Act 1979 there is a $75 fine for cigarette butt litter and a $200 fine for general litter.
Money from the fines goes back to the WA community through grants and programs that focus on litter education and behaviour change.
Rescuers recognised
Long serving members of the Mundaring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service have been recognised at a ceremony to mark the Service’s 15th anniversary.
Four of the current 16-member brigade were presented with medals marking 15 years of individual active service; several other members received medals for five and 10 years’ service.
The Service began as the Mundaring Bush Fire Brigade in 1996 as a way of widening volunteer emergency service response in Mundaring and surrounding areas.
Liquor bans extended
A voluntary liquor ban has been extended in one East Pilbara Aboriginal community and similar restrictions introduced in another.
Restrictions in the remote community of Jigalong, which were introduced in 2009, will be extended until 30 April, 2014.
Restrictions are also to be introduced in the remote community of Kunawarritji and will remain in place for three years.
17 May, 2011
Call to share ideas
on Shared Services
The Economic Regulation Authority has called for comment from public sector Agencies on its draft report into the effectiveness and efficiency of shared corporate services for the WA Public Service.
The Authority is looking into the current level of operations of the Office of Shared Services (OSS) and how that might vary with the number of agencies it services, after being invited by the Premier in January to conduct an independent review of the Office.
The Premier asked the ERA to “consider what had been achieved, the challenges encountered, what could be done better” by OSS and “whether the project offered value for money” and suspended further roll-ins.
ERA is also considering the impact rolling-in to the OSS might have had on the operations of client agencies and whether this was translating into a net benefit to the State.
The ERA will accept submissions from Agencies until this Friday, 20 May and a final report is expected to be presented to the Treasurer by 10 June 2011.
In the meantime, the Minister for Finance, Simon O’Brien has visited Cannington to familiarise himself with the operations of OSS and meet some of the staff.
OSS is to become part of the new Department of Finance from 1 July.
Mr O’Brien said he wanted to understand the history, successes and current challenges of implementing corporate services reform.
During his visit, which lasted more than four hours, Mr O’Brien visited Personnel and Payroll Officer, Glenn Mazalevskis at his workstation.
Mr Mazalevskis provided a demonstration of the capabilities of Employee Self Service for Shared Services clients and the processes from the Shared Services Centre end.
The Minister’s visit also included the Finance business area and Customer Service Centre.
Mr O’Brien formally became the responsible Minister for Shared Services on 1 April.
Submissions on the draft report can be made to osssubmissions@erawa.com.au.
17 May, 2011
Union focuses on
film production
The search is on for some of Western Australia’s most dedicated Public Servants to feature in a series of films being produced by the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association of WA.
In the lead-up to United Nations Public Service Day on 23 June, the union is seeking to make three short films celebrating some of its members’ outstanding service to the WA community.
The films will concentrate on the members and their dedication to serving the WA community and the union is seeking submissions from both metropolitan and regional locations.
Nominations close this week (Wednesday, 18 May) and the union will contact all nominees to confirm their consent and interest in the project.
The top three nominees will be selected based on a number of factors including but not limited to the quality of their story; the kind of service they have given to the WA community; their availability at some time between 1 and 10 June for the photo shoot; the union’s capacity to get a small film crew to their location; and the willingness of their Agency to allow access to their workplace.
The union will contact nominees’ Agencies at a high level and seek support for participation in the project.
The films will be screened at an International Public Service Day event, uploaded to Youtube and sent to the UN.
More information is available from the CPSU/CSA at this PS News link.
17 May, 2011
Aboriginal schools
to blaze new trail
Schools with high proportions of Aboriginal students can now break away from traditional schooling constraints under new Government initiatives.
The Aboriginal Network Schools initiative, part of the Aboriginal Education Plan for WA Public Schools 2011-2014, will free up principals and teachers to do things differently in the best interests of their students and communities.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said she wanted schools to think outside the square and work with their communities on innovative ways to improve the educational outcomes of their students.
A small number of schools would initially be chosen to be part of the program, representing a range of types and sizes across remote, regional and metropolitan areas.
“These demonstration schools may need to challenge current policies so they can make the kinds of significant improvements to Aboriginal student achievement that we must start seeing,” Dr Constable said.
“For example, a school may better serve its students and community by changing the times and days it is open.
“Or a school may want to offer special conditions or support to young mothers.”
The demonstration schools would start operating by the beginning of next year and would work with other organisations to co-ordinate health services, child care support, parenting advice, breakfast programs, attendance initiatives and extra curricula activities.
Dr Constable also announced the creation of two new positions to support innovation in Aboriginal Education - an Assistant Executive Director Aboriginal Education Innovation and an Aboriginal Executive Principal, appointed on an annual basis.
17 May, 2011
Drought measures
continue to flow
Drought reform measures are to be extended and expanded.
According to the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman, the extended pilot scheme, which would help build the resilience of farming businesses, has been an important gain for West Australian farmers, ensuring social support continues to flow to those that need it and would now cover all of the South-West.
Mr Redman said the Government would spend $11 million as part of the $55 million second phase of the pilot.
He said the $11 million would comprise $8 million allocated in the State Budget to enhance farming businesses with the balance being sourced from already allocated resources.
The pilot scheme, designed to underpin improvements in how farm businesses and Governments manage drought and other tough seasonal conditions, was announced in May 2010.
Mr Redman said it was part of a commitment to building a more profitable, dynamic and resilient farming sector which would provide long-term economic benefit to Western Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas.
“The Farm Planning component attracted strong interest and enthusiasm from farmers in 2010-11, with more than 400 businesses taking part in workshops,” Mr Redman said.
“Under phase two, an additional 800 farm businesses can access a more flexible training program that will give them the financial and managerial skills to make the best business decisions possible amid fluctuating markets and tough climatic conditions.”
He said in addition, more than 650 Building Farm Businesses grants would be made available.
17 May, 2011
Affordability plan
homes in on houses
The Department of Housing has released a new strategy for delivering affordable homes in the years to 2020.
The plan, Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020: Opening Doors to Affordable Housing addresses the difficulty new homeowners are facing in WA’s rapid economic growth and aims to deliver at least 20,000 affordable homes by 2020.
Minister for Housing, Troy Buswell said Opening Doors set a bold new direction to deliver a wider variety of affordable housing options.
“In September 2010 a family in Perth earning a median income of $73,300 per annum needed 6.5 times their annual income to purchase a property - as opposed to 3.9 times their annual income in 2000,” Mr Buswell said.
“It has also become extremely difficult for low income earners to find appropriate rental accommodation, with only four per cent of rentals in Perth being affordable for people earning less than $35,000 per annum as at December 2010.”
He said simply building more public housing was no longer the right solution, nor the most cost effective one as it would cost more than $7 billion to provide public housing just for those people already on the waiting list.
According to Mr Buswell, part of the solution involved new and improved partnerships with private developers and non-Government organisations.
“The strategy aims to combine the resources of Government with the expertise and experience of the private and not-for-profit sectors to increase the supply and diversity of affordable housing across regional and metropolitan WA,” he said.
Mr Buswell said the strategy would deliver 3,500 more social housing dwellings by 2013, with an additional 5,500 subsidised private rental opportunities and 32,000 affordable housing lots, released by the Department of Housing, available before 2020.
The news strategy could be accessed at this PS News link.
17 May, 2011
Teacher bonuses a
first class plan
A national system of pay bonuses for Australia’s teachers has been announced by the Federal Government.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the Commonwealth would provide $425 million over the next four years to ensure every classroom teacher in the country was eligible for a bonus payment.
Ms Gillard said this would mean around one in 10 teachers would receive a bonus - about $8,100 for those with most experience and around $5,400 for a teacher in the first few years of their career.
She said the first bonuses would be based on performance in the 2013 school year and paid in early 2014.
Ms Gillard said teachers were vital to ensuring children got a good start and while few had joined the profession for the money, most people would agree that the best teachers should be rewarded.
“We know that independent research conducted as recently as this year shows that a system of meaningful appraisal and feedback for teachers can increase their effectiveness by 20 to 30 per cent,” Ms Gillard said.
She said the method of assessing a teacher’s performance, the Australian Teacher Performance Management Principles and Procedures, would be fair and equitable.
She said the Principles and Procedures would include a range of evidence such as lesson observations, student performance data, parental feedback, and teacher qualifications and professional development undertaken.
She said the existing Teacher Quality National Partnership and other reforms had been making a difference in Victoria where models of school-based and teacher-based rewards in Government and independent schools were already being trialled.
Further information is available from this PS News link.
17 May, 2011
Treadmill owners are
treading dangerously
An intensive product safety campaign carried out by Consumer Protection has led to fears that treadmills were being sold in Western Australia without adequate warning labels.
The three-month campaign, from November 2010 to the end of February 2011, involved product safety officers visiting 119 retailers in the Perth metropolitan area and inspecting more than 5,000 products.
The focus for the campaign was on toys for children under three, bikes, aquatic toys, swimming aids and treadmills.
One out of 10 treadmills examined by the inspectors failed to display prominent warning labels highlighting the significant danger they posed to children.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Anne Driscoll said the high number of accidents involving children and treadmills made the warning labels essential.
“Consumers need to be cautious when using treadmills when there are children in the home,” Ms Driscoll said.
“On average, about a dozen children a year are seriously injured by friction burns and, in more severe cases, children have needed skin grafts and have permanently lost the normal use of their fingers and hands.”
She said the best solution was to keep the treadmill in a separate room that could be closed off to children, or use barriers to keep children away.
“If not being used, treadmills should be unplugged from the power socket,” she said.
Ms Driscoll said the product safety crackdown was part of a national campaign involving the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and other State Agencies. A number of unsafe bikes were discovered on sale in other States, but bike retailers in WA were given the thumbs up.
17 May, 2011
FESA stirs up
storm warning
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) has issued a warning to people in the Wheatbelt, Goldfields and Midwest to prepare for winter storms.
Speaking at the launch of Storm Awareness Week, District Manager of the State Emergency Service for Midlands at FESA, Colin Brown said people could not afford to be complacent.
“The recent storms that ripped through the Wheatbelt and Midwest, turning day into night, should really be the only encouragement people need to get ready,” Mr Brown said.
“Before people dismiss the need to be prepared they should stop and think about what would be damaged if their roof was blown off and their house flooded, in addition to the time it takes to organise permanent repairs.”
Destructive winds and heavy rain only needed minutes to litter a quiet street with debris and cause considerable damage.
“This is just what we experienced in January, in less than half an hour all the damage was done and some homes were left uninhabitable,” he said.
“The current mild weather is perfect to check your roof and gutters for damage, and clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages so they don’t overflow in heavy rain.”
Mr Brown said preparation should not just be confined to outside the house.
“Inside your home make sure you have an emergency kit with portable battery operated radio, first aid kit, torch and spare batteries, as these may prove invaluable during a storm,” he said.
17 May, 2011
Volunteer plan
on the money
A Government strategy to support the volunteering community has been released.
Vital Volunteering 2011-2016 outlines the Government’s commitment to volunteers over the next five years.
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering, Robyn McSweeney said volunteering had long been a crucial part of building WA communities with people showing their compassion to causes important to them.
“The aim of the Vital Volunteering strategy is to further encourage West Australians from a range of backgrounds and age groups to be engaged in volunteering at a local level where it is estimated that the value of volunteering will be worth $9.4 billion to our economy in 2011,” Mrs McSweeney said.
The Minister said the strategy was built on input from more than 1,000 West Australians and volunteering organisations who shared their views on the role the Government could play in supporting future volunteering efforts.
“I thank people who took the time to share their views on WA’s volunteering future and, in particular, the support and advice Volunteering WA and their volunteer resource centres provided in understanding the trends and challenges of our volunteer workforce.”
She said, in line with recommendations from the Government’s Economic Audit Committee report, strategies in the five-year plan will be implemented in partnership with the non-Government sector and the corporate and public sectors.
17 May, 2011
Councils gather
for future plans
Challenges likely to affect WA Local Governments over the next 20 to 50 years have been discussed at a meeting in South Perth.
More than 120 Local Governments were represented at the Whole of Local Government Forum, seeking to pinpoint possible changes in WA’s metropolitan, regional and rural and remote Local Government areas.
Minister for Local Government, John Castrilli said the forum had been an opportunity for Local Governments to collectively deal with social, economic, demographic and environmental issues for the benefit of their communities.
“For example, some communities will increase population with a mix of age groups while others may continue to decline in numbers with an ever-increasing average age,” Mr Castrilli said.
He said it was important that Local Government-elected members and officers invest more time in meaningful dialogue to consider the future and plan accordingly.
“The forum was a rare opportunity for such a large majority of WA’s Local Governments to sit down and participate in discussion with the ultimate aim of building a stronger and more sustainable Local Government sector,” he said.
“It also focused on how our communities could participate more effectively in our planning, as well as how State and Federal Government Agencies could work collaboratively with the sector in planning for change.”
The forum was facilitated by Professor Sustainability, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Janette Hartz-Karp.
17 May, 2011
WA misses boat on
Migrant workers
A call for Perth to be recognised under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) has been ignored by the Federal Government in its recent Budget.
According to the Minister for Training and Workforce Development, Peter Collier the workforce needs of Western Australia were discussed at a meeting in Canberra in March, but there had been no feedback.
Mr Collier described this as disappointing, saying that it appeared the call for support had fallen on deaf ears.
“The RSMS is a Federal Government program specifically designed to help regional employers fill full-time, permanent vacancies for skilled occupations when these cannot be filled locally,” Mr Collier said.
“The advantage of Perth being classified as a regional area under this program means that skilled workers can migrate on a regional visa while living and working in the metropolitan area and central business district.”
He said cities classified as ‘regional’ enjoyed a competitive advantage over other States and Territories when it came to attracting skilled migrants.
Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra were already recognised under the scheme.
“Research carried out by my Department shows WA will need up to 150,000 additional skilled workers by 2017,” Mr Collier said.
“The Federal Budget included an increase of just 6,000 skilled migrant workers under this scheme, which means WA is likely to get less than a quarter of this.
“This is clearly not enough,” he said.
17 May, 2011
Prison opens door
for job expo
Broome Regional Prison’s second annual career and employment expo was held earlier this month.
A total of 19 exhibitors from businesses, employment and training organisations in Broome and Kununurra set up displays at the prison with the aim of sharing knowledge, ideas and advice to prisoners who will be looking for work on release.
Employment Coordinator, Sharon Vanderriet said the aim of the expo was to help prisoners prepare themselves better for successful re-integration into the community.
“Prisoners were exposed to a wide range of career advice and information as well as industry employment opportunities, training, education and community support services that are readily available to them upon release,” Ms Vanderriet said.
“As Broome prisoners come from an area encompassing about one third of the State and many have lived most of their lives in remote communities, many have not been exposed to the idea of engaging with full-time employment.”
As a result, highlighting options available to them in the Kimberley Region was important, so the event was significant in expanding their personal knowledge and providing options for the future.
“There were plenty of opportunities for prisoners to talk one-on-one to exhibitors to find out what options there are to help them achieve their career or employment goals on release.” Ms Vanderriet said.
The first Broome employment expo was held in 2009 with a third one flagged for 2012.
17 May, 2011
Hip students can
hop into program
A new program involving students at South Fremantle Senior High School will see them spend the next two terms honing their hip hop skills with established artists.
South Fremantle Senior High has an acclaimed specialist music program - one of 103 specialist programs at 57 schools in the State.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said the hip hop program was just one of many that engaged and challenged students in Western Australian public schools.
“The program has been made possible by a $30,000 Creative Education Partnerships: Artists-In-Residence (AIR) initiative grant from the Australia Council for the Arts, the Department for Culture and the Arts, and the Department of Education,” Dr Constable said.
“From fashion design to football, aviation to agriculture, surfing to science and hospitality to hockey, many of the programs are linked to universities, industry, training organisations and sporting bodies.”
She said Hip Hop Harmony was a professional learning program for up to 60 students aged between 12 and 17 that allowed them to explore song writing, recording and performing.
Students will be mentored by professional artists and have the opportunity to perform at surrounding primary schools, at a concert at the school and at their own CD launch.
Head of Arts at South Fremantle Senior High, David Anderson said the initiative was a marvellous, rich extension to the program allowing students to extend their musical capabilities and enrich their cultural experiences.
Dr Constable said parents should apply on their children’s behalf for the wide range of programs available as students could take part in a program no matter where they lived.
Each program is accredited by the Department of Education to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
17 May, 2011
Nurses tuck into
fellowships
A $20,000 fellowship has been awarded to each of three nurses and midwives to fund research projects that will improve patient care in Western Australia.
The fellowships have gone to Fenella Gill, a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse Educator at the Child and Adolescent Health Service who has received the Helen Bailey Fellowship; Ce Kealley, a Clinical Nurse Manager of Peri-operative Services at Kaleeya Hospital who has been awarded the Margaret J O Watson Fellowship; and Sarah Nicholls, Registered Midwife at Kaleeya Maternity Hospital who has received the Midwifery Fellowship.
The annual fellowships are awarded by the Nursing and Midwifery Office.
Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Catherine Stoddart said the awards provided an opportunity for the three recipients to further their studies and improve nursing and midwifery education and practice in Western Australia.
She said Ms Gill was awarded the Helen Bailey Fellowship for her proposal for an evidence-based study in critical care nursing standards of practice and outcomes for course graduates.
The Margaret J O Watson Fellowship is awarded to individuals who showcase innovations and vision for the professions and has been given to Ms Kealley for a comparative study of the perceived efficacy of the graduate nurse transition programs in WA.
Ms Nicholls was awarded the Midwifery Fellowship for a qualitative study exploring the perception of confidence in midwives facilitating water births in Western Australia.
Ms Stoddart said it was important that nurses and midwives were recognised and financially supported for their further studies which ultimately affected patient care within the health system.
17 May, 2011
Players lose in
Powerball scam
Mobile phone users in Western Australia have been alerted to avoid an SMS Powerball scam.
Consumer Protection and Lotterywest reported jointly that there had been more than 100 complaints in a week regarding bogus text messages.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Anne Driscoll urged anyone who received the SMS to delete it.
“This message claims it comes from Powerball but Lotterywest never notifies prize winners via SMS or email,” Ms Driscoll said.
“The text is likely to be in block capitals, claiming that your mobile number has been awarded $500,000,” she said.
“There will also be a contact email address for you to respond to in order to claim your prize.
“We strongly recommend that you do not contact the sender.”
Ms Driscoll said many Western Australians buy tickets for the Powerball lottery and the scammers would be banking on some receivers of the text message to be ticket-holders.
“Experience tells us it is highly likely that the sender of the SMS will request some sort of fee to cover the release of the prize money,” she said.
“They will probably ask for it to be sent via wire transfer – a payment method which is great for sending money to people who you know and trust but should never be used when dealing with unknown parties because it is virtually impossible to trace the transaction afterwards,” Ms Driscoll said.
17 May, 2011
Rare chuditch is
back in business
A plan to repopulate Francois Peron National Park in Shark Bay with chuditch (Western Quoll) has swung into operation with the release of nine of the creatures.
Department of Environment and Conservation’s (DEC) scientists reintroduced the animals from Julimar Conservation Park, west of Toodyay, and the adjacent Bindoon Army Training area as part of its Project Eden.
Chuditch were widespread and abundant across all mainland States and the Northern Territory at the time of European settlement, but by the 1970s, were restricted to the south-west corner of Western Australia.
Minister for the Environment, Bill Marmion said many factors contributed to the decline of the chuditch across Australia, including predation by cats and foxes, habitat loss and degradation, altered fire regimes; and competition for food and resources.
“Since the early 1990s, DEC and its predecessor, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, have been working to improve the conservation status of the chuditch through increasing existing populations in the South-West and translocations to the animal’s former range,” Mr Marmion said.
“In 1992, a trial translocation of captive-bred chuditch was undertaken to fox-baited woodland at Julimar, which resulted in the chuditch population establishing and expanding into neighbouring areas, including the army training area.
The translocation to Francois Peron National Park was considered to be a reintroduction, as chuditch were known to exist in the Shark Bay area.
The last known specimen was recorded in 1858, and chuditch bones dating from the past 100 years were found in 2003.
As part of DEC’s Western Shield program, extensive fox and cat control has been under way in the park since 1995, involving aerial and ground baiting and trapping.
If the translocated population thrives, DEC plans to introduce up to 40 more chuditch in the next three years.
17 May, 2011
Online approvals popular
WA’s mining approval process has improved significantly with the use of new technology to improve the turnaround.
Applications lodged online had jumped from 10 per cent to 26 per cent in a month following the launch of the new electronic lodgement system.
Information can now be streamed to computers and hand-held devices such as phones resulting in 22 per cent of all electronic lodgements being outside core business times.
Entertainment Centre goes
Demolition has begun at the old Perth Entertainment Centre as part of the Perth City Link project.
Perth City Link will reconnect the central business district with Northbridge for the first time in 100 years.
Subdivision works are scheduled to begin at the western end of the project area to create two development sites and assist with the early delivery of a new hotel for inner city Perth.
Call for consumers
Applications have been called for people to sit on WA’s Consumer Advisory Committee.
The Committee will meet four or five times a year and provide guidance on the activities of Consumer Protection.
It will also provide its views to the Minister and the Commissioner for Consumer Protection on current or emerging consumer issues, or matters referred to the Committee.
Gas checks continue
The next stage of the WA Gas Appliance Rectification Program has begun, with the replacement and servicing of appliances considered at risk.
More than 24,000 homes in WA had been visited in the identification of defective gas appliances.
The visits have resulted in approximately 22,000 pre-1980 domestic gas appliances being identified, of which up around 10,000 will be replaced and a further 6,000 will be serviced. The rest are safe to be used in their existing condition.
Grant for Art Centre
The Warmun Art Centre, badly damaged by recent flooding, has received a one-off $30,000 grant from the Federal Government.
The Centre’s gallery and production studio sustained heavy damage and
around 800 trade paintings were lost, impacting significantly on the income of the 75 Indigenous artists that the art centre supports.
The funding will go towards the production, marketing, exhibition and sale of new paintings.
Fathers in focus
The positive influence of good fathering will be stressed during Families Week.
Planned activities have included a family fun day in Bayswater, a teddy bears’ picnic in Collie, and a community barbecue in Balga.
Families Week ends on 21 May. It is celebrated nationally and coincides with the United Nations International Day of Families, which occurred on Sunday.
More parking at Rockingham
A new 79-bay car park has been handed over to the City of Rockingham as part of the Rockingham Waterfront Village urban renewal project.
The project covers 16.8 hectares and is adjacent to Rockingham’s beachfront.
Ultimately the project will yield some 179 apartments and 59 single dwellings with links to the Rockingham train station, through the Rockingham City Centre Transit System.
10 May, 2011
New building standards
disability friendly
New building accessibility standards, which will ensure public buildings in Western Australia and across Australia are accessible to people with disabilities have now come into force.
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland said the Disability (Access to Buildings – Premises) Standards 2010 (Premises Standards) was an important milestone in the National Disability Strategy.
“The new Premises Standards will apply to any application for a building approval for a new public building or upgrade of an existing public building,” Mr McClelland said.
“Providing better access to public buildings will remove a significant barrier for people with a disability accessing services, employment and taking part in the community.”
He said the access requirements in the Premises Standards operated throughout Australia and were complemented by building regulations in each State and Territory, including WA.
Commonwealth Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr said the changes were good for both the building industry and people with disability.
“The Australian Government will work with industry to improve access to buildings in Australia for people with disabilities,” Senator Carr said.
“The new building codes give everybody involved the certainty they need for future investments.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas also welcomed the Standards.
“Ensuring our communities are accessible and well designed for people with disability is an important part of the National Disability Strategy,” Senator McLucas said.
She said the National Disability Strategy set a 10-year reform plan that would help to ensure that people with disability had the same opportunities as other Australians.
Senator McLucas said the Premises Standards had been under development since 2001 and were developed in consultation with representatives of the disability sector and industry, as well as the Australian Building Codes Board and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Copies of the Premises Standards and associated documents are available at this PS News link and further information on them can be obtained from this PS News link.
10 May, 2011
Crime pays off for
PS in Bunbury
A group of specialist officers from the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) has visited Bunbury to discuss integrity issues with Government staff in the area.
Director of Corruption Prevention at the CCC, Roger Watson, said it was the first time a group representing the main functions of the Commission - investigations, complaints assessment and corruption prevention - had visited the area together.
Mr Watson said they brought the full range of expertise in the Commission to Bunbury and presented a breakfast for community leaders, a round table discussion for the heads of State Government Agencies and workshops for public officers.
He said public officers in regional areas faced particular issues affecting integrity that included high staff turnover, handling conflicts of interest and confidential information when living in small communities, and access to information and training.
“The fact that the visit was made to the South West does not mean that the region is any better or worse than other regions or has significant integrity issues that need addressing,” Mr Watson said.
“Rather, it is a rapidly growing area of the State that presents challenges to public officers, and the Commission was keen to offer support.”
Commission officers were also keen to hear at first hand about the integrity issues being faced.
10 May, 2011
Healthy report on
hospital service
The Four Hour Rule, under which all people presenting at hospital emergency departments are admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours, has been achieved in at least 85 per cent of cases, by all major hospitals.
The landmark has been reached in the face of a nine per cent increase in emergency department presentations.
Minister for Health, Kim Hames said since the program began in 2009, significant inroads have been made not only to reduce waiting times but also to improve safety and quality.
Princess Margaret Hospital had maintained strong results in the first years of the program currently tracking at 96.8 per cent for the week ending April 24 and hitting 100 per cent on April 26.
At Royal Perth Hospital, 92.8 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours, compared to 66.3 per cent on the same week last year, while Fremantle Hospital is currently tracking at 88.2 per cent.
Nearly 75 per cent of patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours compared to 57.3 per cent on the same week last year, with the hospital hitting 86.4 per cent on April 24.
Dr Hames said the Four Hour Rule Program had also resulted in significant improvements to access block (where a patient waits for more than eight hours for a bed).
“Recent figures show access block has dropped to 10.9 per cent in March 2011, compared to 25.1 per cent for the same time in 2010,” Dr Hames said.
10 May, 2011
Fire safety messages
spark new DVD
Home fire safety messages are delivered in 12 languages on a new DVD produced by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of FESA, Frank Pasquale said the DVD would reach out to people who had made Western Australia their new home.
“This 16-minute DVD containing vital fire safety messages will undoubtedly save lives and lead to a safer community,” Mr Pasquale said.
“Research has shown 60 per cent of deaths from house fires in Western Australia between 1992 and 2006 were of people from non-English speaking backgrounds.”
He said the DVD would not only give new arrivals information in their first language about the role of the Fire Service and who to call, but also offered advice on what to do if a fire started in their home.
“Practical tips such as keeping fire lighting material away from children, not smoking in bed and having a working smoke alarm are just a few of the topics covered,” he said.
Mr Pasquale said the languages of Kiswahili, Nuer, Amharic, Sudanese Arabic, Kirundi, English Creole, Arabic, Dari, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Burma’s Karen and Chin had been selected in consultation with the Settlement Grants Program.
“I encourage ethnic leaders to ensure the DVD is made widely available throughout their communities and congratulate everyone involved for producing such an important educational resource,” Mr Pasquale said.
“By working together on initiatives such as these we will continue to work to make our communities and homes a safer place,” he said.
10 May, 2011
Bunbury buses
go gangbusters
Bunbury City Transit town and school bus services are now operating under the name TransBunbury.
The move is consistent with a State-wide strategy to improve the visibility of the Public Transport Authority’s (PTA) regional operations.
Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell said as part of the strategy, the PTA would also acquire the Bunbury bus fleet and bus depot.
“All other operations and administration will remain the same, but the name of the service and colour scheme of buses will change to be consistent with Transperth and other Transregional services,” Mr Buswell said.
“This involves a move to the standard silver and green colour scheme for the newer, low-floor buses, and green and white for the older buses.”
He said Bunbury was the fourth regional centre to introduce an electronic ticketing system and new look and branding, following successful rollouts in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Busselton.
Esperance and Broome also have ‘Trans’ branding but do not yet have the SmartRider ticketing system.
Mr Buswell said there were 32 buses in the Bunbury fleet, of which 27 would be repainted. The other five will come from the Transperth fleet and replace five of the oldest buses.
“SmartRider enables cardholders to travel anywhere on the TransBunbury system,” the Minister said.
“It is also valid for all other Transregional services and on all Transperth bus, train and ferry services in the greater metropolitan area of Perth.
10 May, 2011
Education kit is
top of the class
Every Australian primary school is to receive a new education kit to teach children how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland said the Li’l Larrikins Teachers Resource Kit was developed around a national television campaign of safety stories featuring animated cartoon characters.
“It’s important that children are aware of the dangers of natural disasters,” Mr McClelland said.
“The Li’l Larikkins series helps students learn in a fun way that won’t unnecessarily frighten or upset them.”
He said more than 7,800 independent and public primary schools across Australia had already received the resource kit, which included a DVD-ROM containing lesson strategies and student activity sheets for teachers along with background information on the types of disasters likely to happen in different parts of Australia.
Mr McClelland said the safety messages and resource kit were both part of the Li’l Larikkins Natural Hazards Children’s Program which was funded by the Australian Government and developed in partnership with State Emergency Service agencies, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and the Ettamogah Group.
“This is a great program which will help children become more aware of their environment and encourages them to share their knowledge with their parents and families,” he said.
“The storms, floods, bushfires and cyclones that have been experienced in many parts of the country over the past summer remind us that it is extremely important families understand and are prepared for the potential danger posed by natural hazards.”
Further information on Li’l Larrikins Natural Hazards Children’s Program and other natural disaster education and awareness initiatives for children can be found at this PS News link.
10 May, 2011
Trash ad competition
a schoolyard treasure
The popular anti-litter film-making competition for young people, Keep Australia Beautiful’s Trash My Ad, has been expanded to include a radio category.
Young filmmakers and radio ad-makers are challenged to find new ways to get the anti-litter message across and be in the running to win up to $1,000.
The competition is open to people 25 years or under and entrants can create either a 30-second anti-litter TV commercial or radio advertisement with an anti-littering message targeting their age group.
Coordinator of Trash My Ad and Community Educator at the Department of Environment and Conservation, Maureen Maher said the competition, which originated in WA, had always been open to anyone in Australia, but this would now be actively promoted in the other States.
There are two video categories - secondary school and 18-25 years – with the winners in each category receiving $1,000.
The winners of the two radio ad categories - secondary school and 18-25 years – would each receive $500.
All winners will have the opportunity for their anti-littering messages to be used in future Keep Australia Beautiful WA education programs.
The winning video entries from 2010 have been screened at a number of outdoor film events across the State and at Hoyts cinemas in the Perth metropolitan area.
Entries for Trash My Ad close on 22 July and will be judged by a panel of experts, including advertising and marketing specialists, as well as a youth panel.
10 May, 2011
Tobacco debate
heating up
The Department of Health has published a discussion paper proposing changes to the State’s tobacco laws.
The paper lists a number of options for amendments to the legislation, which will form the basis for consultation with key stakeholders and the community.
Director of Chronic Disease Prevention at the Department, Denise Sullivan said submissions would be open until 10 June.
“Among the options listed in the paper are a ban on the sale of fruit and confectionery-flavoured cigarettes and a complete smoking ban in outdoor areas,” Ms Sullivan said.
“A requirement that tobacco can only be sold by persons over 18 years and the removal of the smoking exemption applying to the Burswood Casino International Room are also up for consideration.”
She said it was important to remember that all the options were for discussion only and had not been endorsed by the Department of Health, the Minister for Health or the State Government.
The review into the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 was part of a legislative requirement to review and report on the operation and effectiveness of the Act after four years in operation.
Consultation of the discussion paper would involve distribution to key stakeholders and print advertising.
Ms Sullivan said once the submissions closed, the Department of Health would analyse the feedback and prepare a final report for the Government’s consideration.
10 May, 2011
Schools breathe easy
from asbestos claims
The Minister for Education has rejected claims that Western Australian schools were in need of asbestos removal.
Dr Liz Constable said that while some schools had been identified as having maintenance needs associated with material that contained asbestos, she had been reassured by the Department of Education that those works were listed as low priority because the materials in their current condition did not pose any danger to students or staff.
“Typically, these cases involve minor issues, such as some asbestos cladding requiring some new paint,” Dr Constable said.
The Minister said there were 771 public schools in Western Australia, each of which had a Building Condition Assessment Report by Building Management and Works every two years detailing the visible condition of the facility.
The reports listed all visible maintenance needs at schools, from high priority works to very low priority.
Dr Constable said not all maintenance needed to be undertaken immediately but the Government was committed to maintaining school environments and had committed additional funds to school maintenance.
She said a senior officer of the Department of Education had visited the Scarborough Primary School site and reported that there was no asbestos roof on the school site, as was claimed by the Opposition.
She said asbestos containing materials was a generic term used to describe cladding, floor tiles, roof sheeting and other non-limpet asbestos.
This asbestos was generally embedded in cement sheeting or vinyl tiles and was not dangerous when left undisturbed, she said.
10 May, 2011
DEC staff gear up
for whale of a time
Wildlife Officers with the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) are gearing up for a busy few months as the annual humpback whale migration begins along the coast.
DEC officers had already received reports of early glimpses of humpback whales this year, with confirmed sightings off Rottnest Island and as far north as the Kimberley in early March.
Minister for the Environment, Bill Marmion said humpback whales made the 13,000 kilometre round-trip from Antarctica to warmer waters in WA’s north between May and December each year, making it one of the longest migrations of any mammal on earth.
“This generates a huge energy demand on the individual whales that will take its toll if the animal is not in peak condition,” Mr Marmion said.
He said DEC responded to a number of humpback whale stranding incidents each year and acknowledged a small group of DEC wildlife officers who were experts in dealing with whale stranding and entanglement incidents.
“WA is very lucky to have such skilled professionals to assist with whale stranding incidents which can be extremely difficult and complex,” he said.
The west coast humpback population was estimated at more than 30,000 and the number of whale mortalities was likely to continue to increase as their numbers climbed.
The Minister said DEC was working closely with scientists in an effort to better understand the biology of humpback whales and investigate the factors contributing to the mortalities.
10 May, 2011
New suburb
in fast lane
A new suburb in the City of Swan has been named after former motor racing champion, Sir Jack Brabham.
The suburb, now named Brabham, takes in the area of the Caversham Motor Racing Circuit reserve where Sir Jack raced in the early days of his career.
Minister for Lands, Brendon Grylls said it was an honour to have Sir Jack and Lady Brabham attend the naming event.
“Sir Jack is not only a triple formula one world champion but was also named Australian of the Year in 1966, awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1967 and then knighted for his services to motor sport in 1979.”
The new location of Brabham is part of the City of Swan’s Urban Growth Corridor and is bordered by Park Street in the north, Murray Street in the east, Harrow Street in the south and Lord Street in the west.
The Minister said the name was submitted by the Vintage Sports Car Club of WA and received support from East Metropolitan MLC, Alyssa Hayden and the City of Swan.
Mrs Hayden said the area had significant historical motor racing connections for many West Australians and congratulated members of the Vintage Sporting Car Club for their efforts in securing name recognition for the area.
She said it was a great tribute to Sir Jack and would preserve the history and heritage of the area for future generations.
10 May, 2011
Coastal plans draw
line in the sand
The Minister for Fisheries, Norman Moore has encouraged West Australians to comment on the Federal Government’s plans for waters off the South-West coast.
Mr Moore said the draft Marine Bioregional Plan was intended to guide the Federal Government on key issues of environmental significance in the South-West bioregion.
“The draft Marine Reserve Network document includes proposed zones to cover an area from Shark Bay in Western Australia’s north through to South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, between three and 200 nautical miles offshore, within which some forms of commercial and recreational fishing activity will be excluded,” Mr Moore said.
“The Department of Fisheries is currently reviewing the documents to determine what effect the proposed marine reserves will have on WA’s commercial and recreational fishing interests.”
He said compensation for displaced commercial fishers would be addressed through a recently released Fisheries Adjustment Policy.
“Although I have not yet had the opportunity to study the documents in detail, I remain hopeful that the Commonwealth has taken a balanced and pragmatic approach to proposed marine reserves which minimises the social and economic impact on stakeholders such as the fishing sector,” he said.
The 90-day comment period ends on 8 August and the Minister said anyone with an interest in these affected waters should take advantage of this opportunity to have their say.
10 May, 2011
Firefighters fired up
for fundraising
Residents affected by the Red Hill, Roleystone and Lake Clifton bushfires are to benefit from more than $4,000 raised by 50 career Fire and Rescue Service firefighters.
Station Officer at the Fire and Rescue Service, Rick Curtis said many firefighters involved in the fundraising had also fought in the bushfires and saw at first hand the impact on the community.
“Raising money to help people who sustained personal loss was something pretty close to our hearts because many of us attended these incidents and saw what people went through during and after the fires,” Mr Curtis said.
“We are all extremely passionate about this cause and wanted to help by raising money for the Lord Mayors Distress Relief Fund.”
He said dozens of firefighters from areas across the State had been involved, some travelling long distances, to help raise money.
“We organised tin shakes before and after the firefighter versus police football game and also at a pre-season Fremantle Dockers match,” he said.
“The overwhelming support from the public was fantastic.”
Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi said it was a wonderful initiative with the money put to great use helping the people who had been through the bushfires.
“There has been an exceptional response to the appeals, with more than $3 million raised for the Perth Hills Fire Appeal alone,” Ms Scaffidi said.
10 May, 2011
DMP geologist to
rock conferences
International demands on the expertise of staff from the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is increasing with Precambrian Geoscience Specialist, Martin Van Kranendonk invited to an international conference in Prague.
Dr Van Kranendonk said interest in WA’s unique geology was due to evidence of the earliest life on Earth, 3.5 billion-year-old fossil stromatolites, which occur in well preserved rocks in the Pilbara.
“These sites give us a good understanding of the habitat of early life, which we use to give us clues to how life started on our planet and evolved into the more complex forms living today,” Dr Van Kranendonk said.
“This is the only locality on Earth where such old, well-preserved fossils are found.”
He said stromatolites were layered structures preserved in sedimentary rocks which formed from living microbial communities.
Dr Van Kranendonk will give four talks at the Goldschmidt 2011 conference in the Czech Republic, including the keynote lecture on the geology, age, and origin of the world’s oldest terrestrial rocks and minerals.
In October he will address the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota with two talks.
He said his work has helped to show that the fossil stromatolites grew in a volcanic caldera setting, affected by the strong circulation of shallow seawater down into the crust.
Other researchers have shown that some of the fossil hydrothermal pathways preserved in the footwall to the sedimentary rocks in the Pilbara contain microfossils of organisms believed to gain their metabolic energy from chemical elements, rather than by sunlight as modern stromatolite micro-organisms do.
10 May, 2011
Disability office
ready and able
The new Midland Local Area Coordination office (LAC), providing access services for people with disability in the Eastern Hills region, has been officially opened.
The office merges the previous Kalamunda, Midland and Mundaring services and will assist people with disabilities to plan, organise and access support and services.
The new office has a team of eight local area coordinators who will visit hundreds of people with disabilities living in the City of Swan and the Shires of Kalamunda and Mundaring.
It is estimated the region’s population would increase from 209,000 people to about 300,000 over the next 20 years.
Minister for Disability Services, Helen Morton said this meant the demand for disability services would also grow.
“The Disability Services Commission already has a productive and supportive relationship with all the Local Governments and Government Departments in this region as well as local businesses and community groups and people with disability, their families and carers,” Mrs Morton said.
The Minister said the Commission looked forward to continuing this positive relationship, working together to improve the lives of people with disability, their families and carers and to ensure fair and equitable access to everything that contributes to a good life in the region.
The Midland LAC is located is at 2 Keane Street in Midland, near the Midland Gate Shopping Centre.
10 May, 2011
Officers flip over
dolphin rescue
A young dolphin trapped in shallows near Leeman has been saved by staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
Without their intervention, the dolphin almost certainly would have died within hours.
The 1.7 metre-long juvenile bottlenose dolphin was reported washed up on the beach in a remote area and despite the efforts of concerned members of the public, the animal could not be encouraged to swim into deeper water.
A holidaying teenager and his father stayed with the animal and then raised the alarm when it was clear the dolphin was in trouble.
In consultation with DEC’s Nature Protection Branch and under the supervision of a local veterinarian, DEC staff carefully collected the dolphin from the beach, assessed its condition and then released the animal near a sanctuary zone in Jurien Bay Marine Park.
Marine Park Coordinator at DEC, Matthew Dasey conducted the operation with the assistance of marine park rangers based in Jurien Bay.
“I am confident that swift action by members of the public and DEC has saved the life of this dolphin and the whole team was extremely pleased at the result,” Mr Dasey said.
“Bottlenose dolphins are plentiful in the area and a feature of the marine park. They are intelligent and aware creatures that can become disoriented. So I am grateful that we were able to be on the spot within the hour of its report to intervene in this case.”
He said that despite their serene appearance, dolphins can become stressed and can behave in ways that make no sense. It was possible that the dolphin had been chased by predators such as sharks into the shallows.
When finally released under the supervision of the veterinarian, the dolphin swam away strongly.
10 May, 2011
Nominations closed
The nomination period for the election of Councillors to the Community & Public Sector Union / Civil Service Association of WA has closed.
Nominations will now be examined by the returning officer and should ballots be required in any or all electorates, they will occur between 11-24 May.
The union will inform members of the outcomes online and through the fortnightly e-newsletter.
Wage case opens
The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission is inviting submissions on what the minimum wage to apply to employers and employees covered by the WA industrial relations system should be.
The Commission is required to make a decision on the minimum wage each year before 1 July. Submission must be received by 13 May.
Oral submissions will be heard beginning on 31 May. Anyone who wishes to make an oral submission at that time should notify the Registrar by 13 May.
Newcomers wanted
West Australians born in the countries attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) are being sought as part of an art project to coincide with the October event.
Portrait photographs of the 53 people chosen will feature in a public art exhibition showcasing the immense cultural diversity within Western Australia.
The exhibition will include a quote from each person about what they love, or miss, most about the country of their birth, and a short factual piece about their country.
Exchange visits funded
Student exchange programs with Perth’s Sister Cities - Chengdu (China), Seocho (South Korea), Kastellorizo-Megisti (Greece) and Rhodes (Greece) - will each receive $5,000 from Perth City Council.
The educational programs will see exchanges between students in the cities. Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said that there was a great deal of interest shown by Perth’s Sister Cities in student exchanges.
Western Australia is the fastest growing market for Chinese students seeking overseas studies in Australia and there are almost 8,000 Chinese student enrolments in WA. Sister City relations with Greece are based on strong links through immigration.
Public art up
The first public art project by Foodchain Perth, the City’s youth events and music arm, has been installed in Target Lane, off Murray Street Mall.
The artwork, by Perth artist David Turley, is titled I Must Stay on Task and was informed by a document the artist discovered in a puddle outside a schoolyard.
Bearing evidence of punishment, the child’s scrawled lines are repeated three times:
I must stay on task without disturbing or distracting others. I will not use ‘put downs’ or harass others. It is important that I respect other people’s differences and opinions.
Prison plans on table
Expressions of interest are being sought from the private sector to design, construct, finance and maintain the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison Redevelopment Project, set to open in 2015.
The $232 million, mixed gender facility will provide 350 beds across all security levels, replacing the existing outdated Kalgoorlie-Boulder facility.
It will also ensure offenders can remain ‘in country’ and be close to family and other support.
Mines comment extended
The public comment period for the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s Preferred Option Paper on Western Australia’s future mining securities systems has been extended.
Public comments will now close on 13 May.
The Department’s preferred option is a fidelity fund model known as the Mining Rehabilitation Fund.
Serco for security
Serco Australia has been selected as the preferred tender for court security and custodial services in Western Australia.
The current court security and custodial services contract expires on 30 July. Serco will take over the following day for an initial term of five years.
Serco’s services will be delivered to the Departments of Corrective Services and the Attorney General, and WA Police.
G4S is the current holder of the contract.
Inventors called
Western Australian inventors, industry, entrepreneurs and academia have been invited to enter the WA Innovator of the Year Awards.
In the program’s four years, more than 400 innovators have taken part with many going on to successfully take their idea and turn it into a commercially viable business.
The awards feature two categories, Start-Up (pre-revenue) and Growth (post-revenue). All entrants must be able to demonstrate how the product, technology or service has an economic, social or environmental benefit to the State.
Export awards open
The Department of Commerce has opened nominations for the 2011 Western Australian Industry and Export Awards.
Now in their 23rd year, the awards recognise the success WA businesses have had in international markets.
The awards feature 14 industry and export categories and the Premier’s Award for Excellence. Nominations close on Friday, 15 July.
3 May, 2011
CHOGM to swallow
up 500 volunteers
A call has been made for West Australians to volunteer their services for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October.
Premier, Colin Barnett said 500 volunteers would be needed to help run CHOGM by welcoming delegates to venues; working as ushers at the opening ceremony; directing people towards the Queen’s visit; run information centres at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre; and provide friendly assistance to delegates and the public.
“Volunteers will be provided with uniforms to identify them as official CHOGM personnel,” Mr Barnett said.
He said the Government would provide all volunteers with a special SmartRider card, enabling free travel on any bus, train or ferry service on the Transperth network for a 10-day period before and during CHOGM.
“Volunteering at CHOGM is a once-in-a-lifetime experience but it is only one of the ways in which Western Australians can get involved in and celebrate this important event,” he said.
He said a number of artistic, cultural and sporting events will be held in conjunction with CHOGM and detailed planning and implementation was well under way.
“Six months from now, Perth and Western Australia will play host to more than 4,000 CHOGM 2011 visitors, including Presidents and Prime Ministers, their Foreign Ministers, key business people, journalists and community and youth leaders,” Mr Barnett said.
Mr Barnett and Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans attended a ceremony to officially launch the CHOGM 2011 Volunteers Program.
Chief Executive of Volunteering WA, Mara Basanovic said as well as ensuring the smooth running of the event, volunteering also provided personal benefits for individuals.
“Volunteering changes the lives of those who give as well as those who receive,” Ms Basanovic said.
“CHOGM 2011 will provide a unique opportunity for volunteers to demonstrate the warmth, generosity and hospitality of Western Australia to fellow members of the Commonwealth family.”
Senator Evans said CHOGM 2011 would be held from 28 to 30 October 2011 and would be the biggest international event to be held in Perth for almost 50 years.
People interested in volunteering for CHOGM 2011 should visit this PS News link to find more information.
3 May, 2011
Energy assessment
gets power boost
A detailed assessment of the renewable energy potential of the Mid-West and Pilbara regions of Western Australia is about to begin.
Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson said the study would help address some of the barriers to investment in remote off-grid and end-of-grid areas that had patchy access to the electricity grid.
Mr Ferguson said Evans & Peck was the successful tenderer for the Western Australia Regional Renewable Energy Assessment.
“Western Australia is Australia’s largest State geographically,” Mr Ferguson said. “These large distance and dispersed energy needs create challenges for energy supply but also opportunities to use renewable energy sources to meet this demand.”
He said renewable energy may offer a real solution in terms of supplying electricity to power some of WA’s remote farms, mines and communities and the said the study would assess the most economically viable renewable energy technologies in the region and identify the constraints to their deployment.
Mr Ferguson said it would also look at the future electricity demand profile for the region to see what network infrastructure might be required and if it could be met through renewable sources.
“This assessment will give us a clearer picture of where the potential is, what the obstacles are and how we can best address them,” he said.
“Western Australia has some of the best renewable energy sources in Australia ranging from solar, ocean, wind and geothermal, yet has the lowest renewable energy capacity among the States.”
He said the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) was funding the study and similar studies were being considered for other regions.
Mr Ferguson said ACRE was a central point of contact for companies looking to invest in renewable energy and enabling technologies.
He said ACRE was part of the Australian Government’s $5 billion Clean Energy initiative.
3 May, 2011
Student improvement
is first class result
A report issued by the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) shows that Western Australian school students are making significant improvements.
The data covers students who sat for the first set of tests in 2008 and were tested again in 2010.
Minister for Education, Liz Constable said WA’s student gains, along with Queensland’s, were significantly higher than gains by all other States and Territories for spelling, grammar and punctuation in students moving from Year 3 to 5.
Dr Constable said those moving from Year 5 to 7 showed significant gains above the national average in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy.
“Western Australian schools have used the 2008 NAPLAN results to provide additional support for students in greatest need,” Dr Constable said.
“We are now seeing improved student results and gains across the two years which are higher than the Australian average gains across all assessments.”
She said the performance of female students in numeracy showed they were closing the gender gap in this area, but boys continued to perform at lower levels than girls in all literacy areas.
She said the influence of geographic location on results could be seen across the country, with students at remote schools recording fewer results above the national minimum standards than students in other locations.
Dr Constable said while Indigenous students in remote areas showed significant gains in reading and spelling between 2009 and 2010, they continued to lag behind non-Indigenous students.
The report can be found online at this PS News link.
3 May, 2011
Ambulance service
gets kiss of life
More than 309 additional paramedics and officers are to be recruited to the State’s ambulance service.
The recruits, who would be phased into the service over four years, are to be employed as part of the response to the review of operations at St John Ambulance.
According to the Minister for Health, Kim Hames, the St John Ambulance Inquiry - Implementation of Recommendations Completion Report is the latest step in improving emergency health care across Western Australia.
Dr Hames said it signalled the end of a long journey to rebuild public confidence in WA’s ambulance service.
“Since 2009, the Government has been working closely with St John Ambulance to boost funding, add resources, rebuild staff morale and ultimately improve services to patients in need of emergency care throughout WA,” Dr Hames said.
“All 13 recommendations made in the initial independent review have been addressed, resulting in everything from new IT systems to more staff, more ambulances and new safety and quality monitoring.”
He said St John Ambulance expected to increase the number of communications officers by 40 over the next five years, which would result in eight additional staff in the operations centre for every 24-hour period.
He said to date, four new depots had been opened, 22 new ambulances and patient transport vehicles were on the road, 79 new paramedics had been recruited and 24 new communication officers had started work.
“This is in addition to 12 community paramedics who have joined the regional workforce out of a total of 39 to be recruited, and 46 new patient transport officers who will help take pressure off the ambulance service,” Dr Hames said.
The report also said that 12 ambulances and 10 patient transport vehicles would be introduced over the next three years and that emergency medical services in regional areas would be strengthened with the appointment of 39 paramedics.
3 May, 2011
Apple island
losing appeal
Tasmania’s State Public are concerned that PS job cuts may be on the table after the Opposition obtained documents under Freedom of Information laws.
Tom Lynch, from the Community and Public Sector Union, said the union was demanding to see the detail of the Government’s redundancy plans.
He said a letter from Treasury to Government agencies allegedly outlined strategies approved by Cabinet to cut the public sector wage bill, including vacancy control measures, early retirement incentives and targeted voluntary redundancies.
Mr Lynch called on Premier Lara Giddings to end the uncertainty.
“What I would be guessing there is the Government is planning to put out a redundancy program even lower than the one that it ran last time,” ,” Mr Lynch said.
“Two weeks (pay) for each year of service is below market standards”
He said if the Government was making decisions to make PS staff redundant it should at least pay them community standard amounts.
He said some staff were being told to take $20,000 and go because the offer may be less later on.
Shadow Treasurer Peter Gutwein said Premier Giddings had no intention of imposing forced redundancies on the public sector but she had been overruled by her Cabinet colleagues.
“This document is devoid of any mention whatsoever of the Premier’s preferred plan and that is to have a forced redundancy program,” Mr Gutwein said.
The Premier said the Government was exploring all options to achieve the savings required.
3 May, 2011
Prisoners taking
puppies in hand
Puppies to assist people with physical disabilities are to be trained by prisoners at Wooroloo Prison Farm.
The initiative follows the official launch of a partnership between the Department of Corrective Services and Assistance Dogs Australia
Deputy Commissioner at the Department, Ian Giles said the Pups in Prison program would involve four assistance dog puppies spending 18 months at the prison farm, training with the prisoners, before they were returned to Assistance Dogs Australia for more intensive training.
Mr Giles said the program began in NSW in 2002 and its success had seen it expanded into Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
He welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations, saying the program provided a valuable opportunity for prisoner rehabilitation.
“The Pups in Prison program will give the prisoners who volunteer the opportunity to learn valuable pet industry-related vocational skills to use in finding employment when they resume their lives on the outside,” Mr Giles said.
“In addition, this program will develop offenders’ sense of responsibility, improve their self esteem and team work and develop their communication skills, which are all essential elements to successful rehabilitation.”
He said the pups would be trained on weekdays by prisoners, attend weekly training sessions with Assistance Dogs Australia and go home with Wooroloo prison officers on the weekends for some community socialisation.
He said the four puppies would spend about 18 months learning basic obedience, adapting to social interaction and learning to perform tasks that would help people with physical disabilities.
3 May, 2011
Healthy honours for
healthcare workers
Plaques bearing the names of people with a long-standing commitment to health care in the Pilbara are being installed in ward areas at the new Hedland Health Campus.
Minister for Health, Kim Hames said the presentations marked official opening celebrations at the state-of-the-art, $138 million health campus, the newest regional hospital in Australia.
Dr Hames congratulated the plaque recipients, saying the new Hedland Health Campus was a significant milestone for delivering better quality health care to regional West Australians.
“Hedland Health Campus brings together the majority of South Hedland and Port Hedland’s health-related services to become a health care hub for the Pilbara region,” Dr Hames said.
“In addition to the 24-hour emergency department and in-patient beds, the campus includes dedicated obstetrics and paediatrics wards, day surgery, renal dialysis, medical imaging (x-ray) and a comprehensive range of specialist services such as urology, speech pathology and home nursing.”
He said the new campus opened in November 2010 and was the first of four major hospital redevelopments being undertaken in one of the biggest country public hospital building programs in the world.
He said the dedication plaques had been awarded to the following people:
Outpatients, Carol Simpkins;
Population Health, Sally Connelly;
Dialysis, Delia Perrett;
Emergency, Dr Malcolm McCallum;
General, Dr Allan Vickers and Rev. John Flynn;
Maternity, Sister Gwen Pearson Ellery;
Children’s, Sister Linda Rutherford;
Theatre, Dr Philip House;
Hostel, Dr Pascall Burton;
Staff Dining Room, Maggie Galvin;
Port Hedland Kiosk, Fran Carter;
Volunteers, CWA and Port Hedland Auxiliary Shop.
3 May, 2011
Income management
paying dividends
The trial of income management and financial management support services in Western Australia is to be continued with an additional $17.9 million from the Australian Government.
Federal Minister for Families, Community Services, Housing and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said this amount of funding would allow the trial to continue until 30 June 2012.
Ms Macklin said the child protection income management measure, part of the overall scheme, gave the Department for Child Protection the power to recommend to Centrelink that income support and family payments be quarantined to ensure welfare was spent in the interests of children.
She said 70 per cent of parents’ welfare payments were set aside to be spent on the necessities of life such as food, housing, utilities, clothing, and medical care.
She said currently in Western Australia, more than 200 people were on child protection income management, with more than 700 people participating in voluntary income management.
Ms Macklin said families in the Kimberley region were being encouraged to take advantage of the services to help them better manage their money, with a series of advertisements launched in Broome.
She said the advertisements would be run across Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Kununurra during May.
She said seven community sector organisations would receive $3.6 million from the Australian Government to deliver financial counselling and money management services in the Kimberley.
Ms Macklin said the organisations helped people develop financial literacy skills, manage their family budgets and save for the future.
3 May, 2011
Housing plans
going up
Expressions of Interest have been invited from suitably qualified companies to develop medium-density housing at Baynton West in Karratha.
The project is aimed at offering residents more choice and to create distinctive and attractive housing reflecting the Pilbara’s character.
Minister for Lands, Brendon Grylls said this type of housing had not been offered in the region before.
“Not everyone is after the typical four-bedroom, two-bathroom single-storey house,” Mr Grylls said, “so we need to provide a diversity of accommodation for a diversity of households.
“Smaller families, couples and single people will have the opportunity to live in smaller apartment-style homes right in the heart of the estate.”
He said delivering a variety of housing styles and choices was a key priority of the State Government’s Pilbara Cities vision.
“LandCorp, in partnership with the private sector, is delivering to the people of Karratha,” he said.
Mr Grylls said the estate was situated at the corner of Wagari Drive, Marniyarra Circuit and Tharnda Road and comprised 6,630 square metres zoned residential R40.
“The development will need to interface well with the adjacent community facility and neighbouring land.”
He said Expressions of Interest closed on Tuesday 7 June and a preferred proponent was expected to be announced in July.
3 May, 2011
Tide turns for
clean beaches
Keep Australia Beautiful’s annual competition encouraging communities to look after their local beaches, is being held this month.
Entrants in the 2011 WA Clean Beaches Awards will be visited by competition coordinating judge, Ewan Buckley.
Mr Buckley said it was great to see a range of entries including regional beaches, beaches on rivers, popular Perth beaches and remote beaches on the Pilbara and the South coasts.
He said of the beaches nominated, six were from Perth - City Beach, Coogee Beach, Cottesloe Beach, Waterman’s Bay, Marmion Marine Park and the Point Walter Foreshore; two were from Bunbury - Koombana Bay and Back Beach; and three were from Walpole - Blue Holes/Bellanger Beach, Shelley Beach and Coalmine Beach.
He said the other nominees were Jurien Bay, Cemetery Beach and Pretty Pool (Port Hedland), Melros Beach (Mandurah), Green’s Pool (Denmark), and Emu Point (Albany).
Chair of the Keep Australia Beautiful Council, Mel Hay said the competition aimed to encourage the care, protection and management of WA’s coastal and river regions.
“Judges consider each beach’s geographic, environmental, cultural and economic circumstance and how effectively the community uses the resources available to it,” Mr Hay said.
He said beaches had been entered for awards in five categories: Friendly Beach, Litter Prevention, Resource Management, Protection of the Environment and Community Action.
He said all beaches would be in the running for the State title of WA’s cleanest beach.
The winner of the 2010 State award, Rockingham Beach, is in the running for the national Clean Beaches title that will be announced in Adelaide on Friday (6 May).
3 May, 2011
WorkSafe campaign
in safe hands
An inspection campaign on safety standards in manufacturing workplaces in the Malaga industrial area is to be conducted by WorkSafe.
Acting Commissioner for the Agency, Lex McCulloch said the inspection campaign would be the latest in a series of projects targeting specific geographical areas in the metropolitan area.
“WorkSafe has a schedule of proactive inspection campaigns concentrating on particular industries or activities or specific geographical areas,” Mr McCulloch said.
“Our schedule of proactive campaigns includes regional areas of WA, but this campaign is the latest in our geographically-specific campaigns in the Perth metropolitan area, following on from Wangara and Maddington.”
He said the aim was to identify risks to the safety and health of workers in the industries and to provide employers with information on how to comply with workplace safety laws.
He said the campaign would target manufacturers of food and beverages, wood and paper products, non-metallic mineral products, metal products, equipment manufacturing and other types of manufacturing in the Malaga area.
Mr McCulloch said WorkSafe’s inspectors would focus on the priority areas of manual handling, working at heights, slips, trips and falls, electricity, hazardous substances, new and young workers, mobile plant and machinery guarding.
“These inspection campaigns aim to provide employers with the information they need to provide a safe work environment and comply with the laws,” Mr McCulloch said.
“The inspectors will also take the opportunity to encourage small businesses to take advantage of the ThinkSafe Small Business Assistance Program, which offers businesses with less than 20 employees a free three-hour assessment by an independent safety and health consultant.”
3 May, 2011
Firefighters in
blaze of glory
Four career Fire and Rescue Service firefighters have won the 000 Challenge by experiencing the adversity faced by people living with Cerebral Palsy.
The firefighters completed an obstacle course that simulated the day-to-day challenges for people living with the condition.
Station Officer Wayne Spear said it was a hard-won race by the team consisting of himself and Senior Firefighters Terry Dunlea and Nathan Wilcock and Firefighter Will Keady.
Station Officer Spear said there was very tough competition from WA Police and St John Ambulance.
“Winning was a bonus and the teamwork amongst the guys really came into play,” Station Officer Spear said.
“But really, the day was about developing an appreciation for the challenges faced by people and families living with Cerebral Palsy.”
He said it was an eye-opening experience, learning what obstacles were faced on a daily basis.
The event formed part of the Centre for Cerebral Palsy’s Wheelie Big Day Out celebrations, the culmination of a year-long effort to raise support and community awareness about the condition.
“It was a great day to be part of and we are looking forward to defending the title again next year.” Station Officer Spear said.
General Manager of the Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Paul Goonting presented a trophy and certificate of appreciation to the firefighters.
3 May, 2011
Rottnest upgrade
more than a picnic
Facilities on Rottnest Island have received a $500,000 upgrade.
The work includes new barbecues, new dive tank filling services, new furniture for units and the replacement of playground equipment.
Minister for Tourism, Kim Hames said 24 new barbecues had been installed in villas, and public barbecues were set to be upgraded at South and North Thomson next month.
“This is part of ongoing upgrades to Rottnest,” Dr Hames said.
“Most recently all hire bicycles owned by the Rottnest Island Authority were replaced to ensure the next generation of family holidaymakers can experience the tradition of riding at the island.
“This brings the total of upgrades on Rottnest Island to almost $500,000 for the first half of this year.”
He said over Anzac Day, Rottnest Island played host to about 800 people, including children and families, as part of celebrations through the State Government-sponsored Nature Play program.
“This also coincides with an upgrade of a children’s playground in South Thomson - affectionately known as Nappy Alley - and we will be upgrading the playground equipment at Heritage Common later this year,” he said.
Dr Hames said upgrades already completed included $230,000 for new bicycles, $50,000 for barbecues in villas and North Thomson, $25,000 upgraded play equipment for South Thomson (Nappy Alley), $50,000 for upgraded dive tank filling services, including new compressor and equipment and $80,000 for new furnishings, including sofas and fold-away chairs in 100 units.
3 May, 2011
Lessons learned from
schools program
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council has found that all States and Territories have made progress in improving students’ literacy and numeracy.
The $540 million National Partnership Agreement on Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a commitment from all Governments to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes, particularly for those students most in need.
Chair of the Council, Paul McClintock said it acknowledged that good reform activity had been implemented under the agreement.
“These activities have so far assisted 1,000 schools across Australia, with over 400,000 students, including 28,000 Indigenous students,” Mr McClintock said.
“For example, in NSW individual learning plans have been developed for almost 5,000 students, and in South Australia 30 literacy and numeracy coaches have been introduced in schools.”
He said while the Council was pleased to see that good progress had been made, there were some issues that COAG had been asked to address.
“Many of these issues concern the high level of variation across the States and Territories in their approach to setting and measuring targets under this agreement,” he said. “For example, there are differences in the number and type of schools involved, the size of expected change over time and in the transparency of reporting.”
Mr McClintock said while a degree of variation was important to allow flexibility in implementing strategies most appropriate to each Government’s circumstances, too much variation could have some implications for transparency.
He said the Council assessed each Governments’ achievement against their individual performance benchmarks according to three categories - ‘A’ was for benchmark achieved, ‘B’ for some progress, and ‘C’, no progress or no data
He said Western Australia had a total of 29 assessments and the Council reported 19 ‘A’ assessments, two ‘B’ assessments and eight ‘C’ assessments.
3 May, 2011
Sentences passed on
English teachers
AMEP contracts awarded in WA Central Institute and Polytechnic West have been successful in winning contracts from the Federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship to deliver the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) in two Western Australian regions.
The Department said service providers were selected after a rigorous evaluation process considering technical merit; relative risk; price; and financial viability of each tenderer.
It said those selected would begin providing services from 1 July, with contracts expiring on 30 June 2014.
The Department said the new AMEP business model would deliver key features such as a greater focus on settlement and on providing guidance to clients both during their participation in the program and as they exit the program.
It said greater benefits to clients as a result of changes included increased educational and vocational counselling; clearly delineated and flexible pathways to further English as a second language (ESL) courses; education; and employment/vocational training.
It said eligibility for the AMEP had been extended to 15- to 17-year-olds who had discontinued their schooling within the first year of arrival in Australia.
According to the Department, clients would continue to have access to free childcare for under school-aged children and multiple learning delivery modes including classroom tuition, home tutors and distance/e-learning.
It said a single national service provider would deliver distance/e-learning to AMEP clients.
It said the program was delivered in 250 locations around Australia to more than 50,000 clients from 193 countries.
3 May, 2011
Royalties program
is fit for a king
The latest round of the Royalties for Regions Regional Grants Scheme (RGS) is expected to distribute $9 million.
Minister for Regional Development, Brendon Grylls said Royalties for Regions aimed to improve economic and community infrastructure and services in regional WA by providing money for projects to help attract investment, increase jobs and improve the quality of life.
Mr Grylls said the third contestable round administered by the nine Regional Development Commissions had now closed with each Commission allocated $1 million.
He said a total of 476 applications, amounting to almost $46 million, had been received.
“The themes that have emerged in this funding round include recreation, education and health,” Mr Grylls said.
“It is vital for communities to have input into the decision-making process to identify which projects are priorities for their region.”
He said applications received by the Regional Development Commissions for the 2010-11 Regional Grants Scheme were: South West 118; Great Southern 71; Kimberley 55; Wheatbelt 50; Mid-West 50; Pilbara 41; Goldfields-Esperance 40; Peel 31; and Gascoyne 20.
He said the nine Commissions would now decide how they would distribute the $1 million they had, with successful applicants notified by mid-year.
“I commend the Development Commissions for their ongoing commitment to the Royalties for Regions initiatives and look forward to seeing local communities enjoy the benefits from these projects,” Mr Grylls said.
3 May, 2011
Maternity unit for
women’s business
A new maternity unit to address disparity in health outcomes for Western Australia’s Aboriginal mothers and babies has been launched.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier said the Aboriginal Maternity Services Support Unit (AMSSU) was located at King Edward Memorial Hospital.
Mr Collier said it aimed to better address the needs of Aboriginal women accessing maternity services in WA through the introduction of a broad range of culturally appropriate resources and support strategies.
He said while there had been some improvement in recent years, there remained a significant disparity in maternal and child health outcomes for Aboriginal women and babies when compared to non-Aboriginal women.
He said Aboriginal women in rural and remote WA returned some of the poorest maternity and neonatal outcomes in the State.
“The State Government is committed to closing this gap for Aboriginal families and has committed $128 million towards improving Aboriginal health in WA under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Partnership agreement,” Mr Collier said.
“As a small but vital part of this commitment, the AMSSU has been funded by COAG for $3.28 million until June 2014.
“COAG will also provide the framework to guide the unit’s service delivery.”
He said the new unit would work in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia and others on the front line of service delivery across the State.
He said a key priority for the new unit would be working with health services and local communities to provide Aboriginal women with culturally safe and supportive services and facilities.
3 May, 2011
Wedding donation
WA has donated to two charitable organisations in the name of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
The donations - $5,000 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and $5,000 to the Save the Children Fund – were made instead of a wedding present to the Royal couple at their request.
Letters confirming the gifts have been sent to the Royal couple and their charities of choice.
Offices move
Government Procurement (GP) and Building Management and Works (BMW) have relocated to the Optima Centre in Herdsman Business Park.
Contact details are Optima Centre, 16 Parkland Road, Osborne Park, WA, 6017 with the GP switchboard (08) 6551 1555 and BMW (08) 6551 1600. Postal addresses remain the same.
A feature of the co-location is the single drop off point for all tenders. The Tenders Office is on the ground floor of the Optima Centre.
Only staff based in Head Office have been affected by the move. Procurement Agency-based staff will remain at their current locations.
Playback for library
Fremantle City Library is to receive 10 new digital playback devices to give people with print disability greater access to library materials.
Funding for the project comes from the Australian Government’s Increasing Accessibility Library initiative which is providing $1 million for digital playback devices to be made available for loan to people with print disability through public libraries across Australia.
The initiative also includes training library staff to help users gain access to available resources.
Nursing awards open
The 2011 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards are now open for nominations
The awards recognise Western Australian nurses and midwives from public, private or Federal health services.
Nominations close on Wednesday, 22 June. For more information and nomination forms visit this PS News link or phone 9221 5556.
Winners will be announced on Saturday, 17 September.
Rail tender let
EDI Rail-Bombardier Transportation (Maintenance) Pty Ltd has been selected as the preferred tenderer for a major railcar maintenance and cleaning contract.
The contract will run for seven-and-a-half years with the option of an additional seven-and-a-half-years.
It is worth about $317 million for the first period after allowing for escalation.
Murders remembered
The 85th anniversary of the murders of Detective Inspector John Walsh and Detective Sergeant Alexander Pitman of the Kalgoorlie Gold Stealing Detection Branch has been marked by WA Police.
Detective Inspector Walsh and Detective Sergeant Pitman were members of the then Gold Stealing Detection Branch and were investigating local gold stealers when they were murdered.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Kalgoorlie Police Station Memorial.
Church on list
Holy Spirit Catholic Church at Perth’s City Beach has been State heritage listed.
The church is a landmark in the area and an example of contemporary 1970s architecture in harmony with the changing liturgical practices of the time.
It was designed by prominent WA architectural firm Forbes & Fitzhardinge and still contains many of the original fittings and furnishings, including finely-designed artwork.
$240K for playgroup
An Indigenous children’s playgroup is to be funded for Balgo, in the Kimberley region.
The Australian Government will provide $240,000 over three years to support the playgroup.
It will be established under the Australian Government’s Family Support Program.
Warmun wins $8M
More than $8 million has been provided to the remote community of Warmun to help with its recovery following recent floods.
The Australian Government funding will be provided over two years under the Community Development Employment Projects program.
It will go towards projects that will help with the economic and social development of the community, such as building and restoring facilities, while also creating opportunities for local people to develop skills that will contribute to their community.
Primary students join Cadets
The first primary school students have been enrolled in Cadets WA by the Department for Communities.
The students, based across the Swan Canning Catchment, have now become guardians of the Swan Canning Riverpark.
Cadets WA gives primary schools a chance to be involved in fun activities that reinforce the importance of protecting the Riverpark.
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