Healthy North Coast has announced the first successful recipients of its new Primary Care Impact Grants - innovative, locally designed projects that will support high-quality care for people with chronic diseases across the region.Eighteen (18) grants with a total value of $897,420 have been awarded in this first round, with funding going directly to general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services, allied health businesses and other local providers across Northern NSW and the Mid North Coast, to test and scale creative solutions to current health care challenges. These include local recipients, such as the Dunoon General Practice and Prema House, Lismore.Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler said the response to the initiative has shown the depth of commitment across general practice and allied health services to improving care for local communities.“Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in Australia, but we know that nearly 40% of this burden could be prevented by early intervention and addressing risk factors.“GPs, nurses and allied health practitioners delivering care every day across our region are well placed to see where change is needed. These grants are about equipping those frontline providers with funding to test new approaches that reduce the impact of chronic diseases in our community.”The Primary Care Impact Grants are part of Healthy North Coast’s commitment to strengthening the region’s primary health care system through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Network program.$3.4m in total funding has been made available for the coming year, with future rounds still to come. This includes $1.8m through the MyMedicare Multidisciplinary Teams initiative and $1.6m through the Primary Health Network program funding to support the management of complex and chronic disease in high-risk populations.Haley Hodgson, Director at Maclean Medical, was thrilled to be amongst the successful recipients.“We’re incredibly proud to receive this funding to support a coordinated, multidisciplinary model of care for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, dementia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the Clarence Valley,” Ms Hodgson said.“This grant allows us to expand access to timely care, especially for patients in rural and underserved areas, and to pilot new ways of working collaboratively across general practice, allied health and nursing teams.”The Primary Care Impact Grants are designed to support continuous quality improvement in primary care. The grant applications were reviewed using an evaluation rubric that assessed community need, health equity, efficiency and feasibility of each proposal, by a panel of health experts.Successful proposals had a data-informed and evidence-based approach to meeting the needs of their communities, with a focus on reporting outcomes to drive continuous quality improvement.“These are grassroots innovations with the potential for big impact,” Ms Wheeler added.Each grant recipient will provide valuable data back to Healthy North Coast to assist with the evaluation of this innovative new initiative.More information on the Primary Care Impact Grants, including for local health professionals interested in applying for future rounds, is available on Healthy North Coast’s website.List of Round One Primary Care Impact Grant recipientsMultidisciplinary Team Care Grants:• Dunoon General Practice - Multidisciplinary frailty intervention program - $65,040• Hastings Physio and Health + Werin Aboriginal Corporation + PCYC Port Macquarie -Group based chronic disease prevention program for Indigenous Australians - $75,000• Maclean Medical Centre – Diabetes, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, COPD & anxiety program - $64,000• Dr Tenell Holborow, Port Macquarie – MDT care for residents in aged care - $40,000• The Health Lodge Integrated Medical Centre – Supporting families living in water-damaged homes following the 2022 Northern Rivers floods - $50,000• Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation – Expansion of Youth Program - $75,000• Maria Clinic – Improving outcomes for patients with Type 2 diabetes in Casino - $74,880Total Multidisciplinary Team Care Grants awarded: $443,920Chronic Disease Prevention Grants:• Prema House, Lismore - Nurse-led clinic to address chronic disease and cancer risk in Richmond Valley - $30,000• Scotts Head Medical Practice - Iron infusion service for patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) - $15,000• Kennedy Drive Medical Centre, Tweed Heads - Prevention-focused chronic disease program centring on mental health - $29,500• Woopi Medical Centre - Practice-wide chronic disease prevention and management program - $50,000• Rekindling the Spirit - 48-week Aboriginal Healthy Lifestyle Program - $50,000• McKay Street Surgery, Macksville - Early detection, education, lifestyle change, and coordinated care - $30,000• The Physio Movement, Woolgoogla - Pain management program to address chronic musculoskeletal pain - $50,000• Rose Avenue Medical Practice, Coffs Harbour - Raise awareness of hypertension and promote early detection - $50,000• OneBridge, Ballina - Nurse-led chronic disease prevention and management program targeting individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and chronic illness - $50,000• CHC Medical, Coffs Harbour - Chronic disease screening program to detect and manage diabetes and cardiovascular risk - $50,000• One more grant TBC - $49,000Total Chronic Disease Prevention Grants awarded: $453,500More information about each of the round one grant recipients can be found on Healthy North Coast’s website.

The NSW Government is collaborating with businesses to build the net-zero workforce of the future by giving students the opportunity to be job-ready for a career in decarbonisation through a new $1 million internship program.Applications are now open for businesses and students who want to take part in NSW Skills for Net Zero. It is a three-year pilot program that will pair 100 tertiary students with businesses in NSW to undertake at least 200 hours of paid work on projects that reduce emissions.Businesses involved in the program will receive end-to-end recruitment and placement support to address specific skills gaps.Workplaces will also receive a $2,500 payment to subsidise the intern’s wage, paid after the internship is completed.Students in their penultimate or final year of tertiary study are encouraged to apply and help businesses contribute to achieving net zero across the state.The types of roles they could take on could involve:Supporting sustainable packaging and emissions reporting in advanced manufacturing.Focusing on reducing emissions in agribusiness.Contributing to more sustainable freight and logistics processes.In addition to boosting skills and supporting businesses and industry, this action will take NSW closer to our legislated net zero targets, to safeguard our state and our planet for future generations.NSW Skills for Net Zero is part of the government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative which provides opportunities for NSW businesses to remain leaders in the net zero transition. The NSW Government has engaged CSIRO to deliver the program.For details, students and businesses are encouraged to visit https://www.csiro.au/en/education/Initiatives/NSW-Skills-for-Net-Zero.Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said, “This program is a win-win-win for students, businesses and the move to net zero.“Businesses will tell the program what skills they need to further their decarbonisation projects, and we’ll connect them with talented tertiary students from whatever course is required.“I encourage any business working on decarbonising projects to see how they could benefit from having a skilled student intern on staff.”Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said, “The Minns Labor Government is continuing to fund the training and skills development needed to grow our workforce and give students the experience they need to secure the jobs of the future.“I urge passionate tertiary students in their second-last and final-year to explore this fantastic opportunity and see how their skills can contribute to our net zero future.”

The 2022 floods unified our community as friends, family, and perfect strangers pitched in to rescue, recover and rebuild the lives of those directly affected by Australia's most costly disaster.An example of that was brought to light recently when the Rotary Club of Goonellabah held a morning tea to celebrate raising an incredible $500,000 to help people get back on their feet through the Repair to Make Liveable Flood Project.Brian Henry, the Flood Recovery Committee Project Manager, said the club recognised there was a longer-term need to assist flood-affected people."Instead of committing our resources to assist in providing immediate emergency needs such as food, clothing, personal items and shelter etc, we focused on the next major stage of assisting in getting residents back into their homes via what was named the “Repair to Make Liveable Program”.(Left to Right Standing: Ruth Harrison from Our House, Steve Smith from Lismore Soup Kitchen, Paul Murphy from Rotary Club of Goonellabah, Greg Isaac from Lismore Catholic Diocese, Brendan Muldoon from Joel Jensen Constructions, Melissa Gahan from Lismore Catholic Diocese, David Pearson from Rotary Australia World Community Service, John Oomen Rotary District 9640 District Governor. Left to Right Sitting: Renee Simpson, a Flood Impacted Resident, Leonie Baxter, a Flood Impacted Resident, Elly Bird from Resilient Lismore and Brian Henry from Rotary Club of Goonellabah)"It was only through a well-organised co-operative approach that we have been successful. We commenced the program with $5,000 donated by club members and then leveraged that with contributions through our Rotary contacts, both locally and around Australia, as well as gaining matching contributions from local philanthropic organisations and a foundation."The $500,000 we raised in itself wasn’t sufficient to get the job done. We needed a cooperative approach from various local organisations and businesses to effectively undertake the repairs."We were fortunate to have the full support of Joel Jensen Construction and his crew of workers. In addition, Resilient Lismore played an important role in arranging and selecting residents who needed assistance with repairs and the Lismore Soup Kitchen support group assisted in coordinating many of the smaller repair projects."Many of the flood-impacted residents in and around Lismore are still living in partially restored homes. There is still much to be done."The success of this project certainly required a coordinated approach with various groups with specific skills. The Rotary Club of Goonellabah was very much hands-on in ensuring that the day-to-day coordination was carried out in an effective and timely manner.The Repair to Make Liveable Flood Project carried out 64 repair projects of which 10 were significant, aimed at restoring a major room, such as a bathroom or kitchen at an average cost of $32,500 each.(Before)(After)The vast majority of the significant projects were located in the South and North Lismore area, together with a couple of rural homes at Dungarubba (between Wardell and Coraki) and one in the river town of Woodburn."Whilst we will investigate the opportunity to raise further funding, we believe this will be difficult given the demand for flood assistance around the Taree area and the fact that the Lismore flood occurred over 3 years ago," Brian said."Regardless, the club has made a donation to the flood-impacted residents on the Mid North Coast through the Rotary Club of Wingham. Interestingly, it is now recognised and officially stated that Lismore will more likely take 10 years of restoration and redevelopment for the town to fully recover."The Rotary Club of Goonellabah would like to thank their sponsors, who included:Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Community Enterprise FoundationRotary Foundation AustraliaRotary 9640 Flood Relief FundRotary Australia World Community ServiceLismore Soup KitchenTwo local philanthropic organisationsBehind the scenes supporters, such as Joel Jenson Constructions Resilience LismoreAnd last but not least, the members of the Rotary Club of GoonellabahTo fully understand and appreciate the significance of what the Rotary Club of Goonellabah has achieved, take a close look at the images below. They tell the full flood story of a house on Phyllis Street, South Lismore, to make it liveable.

Wondering when and if your bus will arrive to take you to your destination is a thing of the past as, for the first time, all NSW regional bus passengers can access real-time bus travel information from their smart devices – the same smart technology Sydney commuters have enjoyed for years. All 3,010 contracted buses across rural and regional NSW, which collectively cover more than 3,880 routes and around 316,000 kilometres per day, are now fitted out with GPS and automatic passenger counting technology. The upgrades give rural and regional communities more reliable trips, with passengers now able to:  Track their bus in real-time using any travel app, including Opal Travel or via Transport for NSW’s Trip Planner website Get accurate arrival times and capacity information  Access interactive maps, digital timetables, and route information  Plan smoother journeys through Transport for NSW's Trip Planner (The technology in each contracted bus. Image: supplied)The smart technology system brings rural and regional NSW in line with Greater Sydney and Outer Metropolitan areas. It means the state’s entire fleet of contracted buses, both on regular and school services, can now be tracked by their passengers. As well as benefiting passengers, this data gives Transport and bus operators the tools to improve operations management to help keep services running on time. The technology was also used by bus operators on the NSW North Coast to cancel trips promptly and consistently during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The Transport Connected Bus program was the result of collaboration with 451 contracted bus operators, ranging from large fleet companies to small mum-and-dad businesses, with the fit-outs completed ahead of schedule. More about the Transport Connected Bus program can be found at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/transport-connected-bus-program.  Learn about using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner tool at transportnsw.info/trip or other apps at transportnsw.info/apps. Minister for Roads and Minister Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said, “As someone who represents a regional community, I know how frustrating it is for regional commuters and public transport users who feel left behind when it comes to accessing real-time data. No matter where you live in NSW, you deserve the same quality public transport experience.  “The Minns Labor Government isn't just upgrading buses – we're leveling the playing field and building stronger, more connected regional communities. "With more than 40 million regional bus journeys every year, every passenger deserves a smooth, reliable trip. These upgrades eliminate the guesswork, now you'll know exactly where your bus is and when it will arrive. "This is the Minns Labor Government building better communities and a better NSW, ensuring regional areas aren't left behind but are equipped with the same world-class transport technology as our biggest cities." 

From September, general practitioners in NSW will be able to resupply ADHD medication to their patients, marking the first phase of landmark reforms by the NSW Government to make ADHD care cheaper and accessible.To support the rollout, the state government is today inviting GPs to express their interest in undertaking the required training by completing an EOI form on the NSW Health website.These reforms will ease pressure on families who currently face long waits and high out-of-pocket costs to access life-changing ADHD care.Once training is completed, GPs will be able to manage resupply prescriptions without needing a formal arrangement with a psychiatrist or paediatrician. This means faster access to care and fewer financial barriers for families.For the first time, thousands of people will be able to have their ADHD medication resupplied by their regular doctor.Currently, most people seeking ADHD care must navigate a costly and overloaded specialist system, experiencing long wait times and high fees, which could delay treatment and cause harm, particularly for children. These delays can have a significant impact on their development, such as poorer academic progress, employment opportunities and mental health.That’s why the initial rollout will prioritise children on stable doses of medication to ensure early and consistent access to care.By the end of the year, further training to enable GPs to diagnose and initiate medication will begin.NSW Health is paying for GPs to complete this training and access to resources so that as many people as possible can benefit from these changes.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The beginning of this training is a welcome milestone because it means people, especially children, with ADHD are one step closer to having their condition managed by a GP.“These reforms will have a positive impact on patients both in terms of saving them time and money while accessing care that they need, but we also know the flow-on effects will be huge.”Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said, “Since our announcement last month, we’ve seen an overwhelming outpouring of support for these reforms, from women, parents, teachers and people with ADHD who know just how broken the old system was.“Women, especially those who were undiagnosed as children, often face stigma and financial barriers when they finally seek support for ADHD. Giving GPs the ability to resupply is a simple, practical step that will make a real difference.“We are building a system where ADHD care is based on need, not income. No more waiting lists just to refill your script. No more reaching for your credit card to access essential healthcare.“These reforms are about fairness. Your ability to get help for ADHD shouldn’t depend on how much money you have or whether you can afford a specialist appointment.”NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said, “NSW Health is proud to have worked on these reforms that create another avenue for patients to receive the care they need.“We look forward to supporting doctors who make the decision to complete this training.”RACGP NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said, “The new training program empowers GPs to expand their scope and ensure more equitable access to ADHD treatment across NSW, particularly for children and families in regional and rural areas.“GPs are experts in long-term, holistic, complex and chronic care. This reform recognises our role and strengthens the continuity of care for people living with ADHD.“We welcome the government's commitment to upskilling and supporting GPs, and we look forward to seeing these changes improve lives from September. No longer should ADHD be stigmatised, doing this brings it into mainstream care, and ensures all patients will be able to access the care they need”

As sales of illegal tobacco increase due to rising prices, NSW retailers and wholesalers who wish to sell tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products now must apply for a licence as part of the NSW Government’s Tobacco Licensing Scheme.Applications will be screened to check if the applicant has been found guilty of an offence relating to the sale or supply of tobacco or vaping goods under any relevant state, territory, and Commonwealth legislation, which could see them refused a licence to sell these products.Businesses can apply for a licence online using their MyServiceNSW account via the Service NSW website.Applicants will be required to complete an online application, provide a recent criminal records check and pay the yearly licence fee.Businesses can get support to submit their licence application by calling the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412.The new Tobacco Licensing Scheme, which has come into effect today, will give retailers and wholesalers a grace period until 1 October 2025 to apply for a licence. Retailers must display their tobacco licence at the point of sale.In NSW, vaping goods can only be purchased from pharmacies. It is illegal for all other retailers to sell any type of vaping good, regardless of its nicotine content. Pharmacies do not need a tobacco licence to sell vaping goods.New penalties have also been introduced for anyone caught selling products without a valid licence.The maximum penalties will be:For individuals - $11,000 for a first offence, and $44,000 for a second or subsequent offenceFor a corporation - $220,000NSW Health is doubling the number of authorised inspectors from 14 to 28 to strengthen compliance efforts across the state. Recruitment of the additional 14 enforcement officers is currently underway, and these officers are expected to be onboarded throughout July. These new staff are in addition to existing authorised inspectors across NSW Health Public Health Units.From 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025, NSW Health inspectors conducted about 400 retailer inspections and seized more than 3.2 million cigarettes, 700 kg of other illicit tobacco products and over 55,000 illegal vaping goods with an estimated combined street value of around $5.5 million.In 2024, NSW Health inspectors conducted over 2,000 retail inspections and seized more than 13.5 million cigarettes and over 3,100kg of other illicit tobacco products, with an estimated street value of over $15.1 million; and more than 295,000 nicotine vapes, e-liquids and pouches, with an estimated street value of over $9.5 million.More information on the new Tobacco Licensing Scheme, including how retailers and wholesalers can apply for a licence can be found on the NSW Health website: NSW tobacco licensing schemeMinister for Health, Ryan Park said, “The NSW Government’s tobacco licensing scheme will help clean out bad actors in NSW’s tobacco market and level the playing field for small businesses who do the right thing. “Labor is getting on with the job of delivering what the Liberals failed to do, and what small businesses have long been calling for - a tobacco licensing scheme.“Their failure to implement a tobacco licensing scheme ushered in a tsunami of bad actors into the tobacco market.“It used to be the case that regardless of your history, you’d just need to let the NSW Government know of your intention to sell tobacco.“Under this new scheme, you’ll need to actively seek permission, and if we find you’ve got a history of doing the wrong thing, the government’s got the power to say no.” NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said, “The new Tobacco Licensing Scheme will enable us to better monitor retailers and wholesalers to ensure they are doing the right thing and to take appropriate action if they are not.“Tobacco use remains one of the biggest factors contributing to premature death. I acknowledge it’s not always easy, but I encourage people who smoke to think about quitting both for themselves and for their loved ones. “Quitting smoking remains the most beneficial thing an individual can do to improve their health.”“If you need support to quit smoking or vaping talk to your GP or call the NSW Quitline on 13 7848. The Quitline is a free and confidential telephone counselling service that provides customised assistance to help you quit smoking.”  

The cost and availability of insurance have been in the Top 5 talking points for home and business owners since the 2022 big flood.The Business Beyond Disasters program discusses all aspects of insurance, as well as participants learning how to prepare for disaster, trade during tough times, and gain strategies for recovering quicker when disaster strikes. It’s free to all businesses and not-for-profits in Lismore and the Northern Rivers until December 2025. Launched in March by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, the Building Beyond Disasters program was developed and delivered by credited social enterprise Resilient Ready, which specialises in business and community risk reduction and resilience. Ten online learning modules help your business plan effectively for disasters, build essential business continuity capabilities and work together to overcome future challenges. Topics covered include operating through disasters, financial viability, understanding insurance, evacuation triggers and how disasters can bring opportunities. You can choose one of five specific programs that best align with your business, including: Retail, professional services and educationAgribusiness and aqua businessTourismHealth and social servicesConstruction, trade and manufacturing  Participants can share experiences in online weekly catch-ups and learn the resilience initiatives adopted by other businesspeople across the region. Resilient Ready CEO Renae Hanvin says the “understand insurance choices” module was specially created given the challenges in the Northern Rivers. “In fact, the whole Business Beyond Disasters program has local people just like you to help as they share their experience.”Business Beyond Disasters is a Disaster Ready Fund project funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government. Ms Hanvin said, “We know from examples around the world, including Australia, that businesses and not-for-profits that are prepared for disaster have a better chance of surviving disaster and thriving afterwards.” Each module in the Building Beyond Disasters takes about five minutes, and you can do it at your convenience.“It’s not a boring online program – it’s one that has videos to watch, worksheets to print out and talk with your team or business friends next door and online check-ins to ask your questions to experts. “The best bit is, it’s free – but the lessons you learn and the small actions you take now are priceless for the survival of your business.”  Go to https://resilientready.org/project/business-beyond-disasters-northern-rivers/ to register.

One of Lismore's long-established businesses, Bolt Barn, has been the subject of confusion since the for-sale sign went up at the building at 183 Union Street.A number of people, including tradespeople, mistakenly thought that the Bolt Barn business was closing along with the sale of the property.This is definitely NOT the case. Bolt Barn has been a constant sight in South Lismore for many years and will be for many more years to come, according to new manager Ash Waring.Ash Waring's surname is familiar to everyone who has done business with Bolt Barn since 1991, as he is the son of former owners Chris and Linda Waring.(From left: Peter Wooldridge, Ash Waring, Michael Eyles, Joseph Valentine)“I’m looking forward to meeting our loyal customers and hoping to see some new ones," Ash said."The Bolt Barn is a great business with great people working in it. We’re looking forward to continuing to offer our service and selling quality Bolts, of course, as well as specialty fasteners, tools and general associated gear you may need.”"If you haven’t shopped with us at all, or not for a while, I encourage you to come and see us and the range we offer. We’re backed by the Construction Supply Specialists buying group, which gives us access to almost anything available in the industry at competitive prices."If we don’t stock it at our Lismore or Grafton branches, we can get it for you."When the building does sell, Bolt Barn is committed to Lismore and will continue to service the community and its businesses as normal.Bolt Barn is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.

The coastal low-pressure system over the southern part of NSW brought strong winds to Lismore and the Northern Rivers today, causing some tree damage and temperatures to feel like 8 to 10 degrees.The strong winds will continue into Thursday morning as a secondary lobe of the complex low will bring renewed rain and wind to southern NSW before tracking north and moving off the coast.The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for damaging south to southwesterly winds averaging 55-65 km/h with peak gusts to 100 km/h to the Northern Tablelands, around Tenterfield and Drake.Kristine McDonald, Acting Chief Superintendent, NSW SES Northeastern Zone, told the Lismore App that while we had very strong winds, they were not the destructive winds that were originally predicted."What we're looking at is these winds continuing through Thursday, and then hopefully that system will start to reduce as it moves offshore.Kristine said there were roughly 10 jobs in the Lismore area and 77 in the entire northeastern zone."They have mostly been trees down from that storm impact, so that wind has been bringing down trees and causing tree damage and dropping branches. There has been some minor damage to some houses through lifting roof tiles, but there has been no extensive damage so far."With further strong winds to come, the advice is to secure loose items if you haven't already."What you want to do is make sure that nothing becomes a projectile. If you have a trampoline, make sure it is secured. If you're working around or under trees, be very mindful that trees are being damaged, and if you find a tree down, please be very careful. We don't want anyone to be injured from any down powerlines or anything like that, so be very conscious of where you are and your surroundings."Essential Energy said there were 1,960 homes still without power at 4pm on the North Coast and hinterland due to trees falling on powerlines. 7,000 homes and businesses suffered loss of power today across NSW."Customers are reminded to keep at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines and to always assume that these powerlines are live and very dangerous. If you see fallen powerlines, please report the location to Essential Energy on 13 20 80," an Essential Energy spokesperson said.

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man who is being investigated by Richmond Police District.Mitchell McDuff, aged 22, last spoke with family members by phone at 5.30am on Sunday, 23 June 2025.When he failed to make further contact, he was reported missing to officers from the Richmond Police District who commenced inquiries into his whereabouts. Police and family hold concerns for Mitchell’s welfare as his disappearance is considered out of character.Mitchell is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 180cm tall, thin build, short brown hair and fair complexion.It is not known what he may be wearing.He is known to frequent the Lismore, Casino, Scone, Goulburn, Sydney metropolitan area and the NSW Central Coast. Mitchell may have interstate links to Melbourne, the NSW/Victoria boarder and to southeast Queensland.Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Lismore Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis.The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

The NSW Government has introduced a scheme to provide thousands of new, energy and water-efficient washing machines at a significantly discounted price for pensioners, veterans and social housing tenants. Up to 8,000 eligible households can get their hands on a brand-new front-loader washing machine for $250, thanks to a program to help low-income households with cost-of-living pressures, including water and energy bills. Eligible applicants can trade in their old, water- and energy-inefficient top loader machine for $250 and receive a brand-new, high-end Westinghouse 8kg front loader.  To be eligible for the program, you must:be a resident of NSWbe more than 18 years oldhold a valid Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card (a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is not sufficient for this offer) or Low Income Card from Centrelink or Department of Veteran Affairshave an existing top-loading washing machine to exchange.The NSW Government has teamed up with The Good Guys to provide the heavily discounted machines, with the fee covering delivery, installation and a two-year warranty as well as removal and recycling of their old appliance. Applications are now open online for all Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs-issued concession card holders in NSW.  The government encourages households to act quickly to snap up their machine, but advises applicants to check first if their laundry space can house the Westinghouse model, which is 850mm high, 600mm wide and 660mm deep. To apply and check if you are eligible, please visit: Washing Machine Exchange Program. Minister for Water Rose Jackson said, “This could not come at a better time, we know people are struggling with cost-of-living pressures and high water and energy bills are a huge part of that. “We’re not just talking about cost-of-living relief, we’re delivering it. This program will lower power bills, cut water use, and make life a little bit easier for thousands of people.“These new washing machines are not only good news to help people save, they’re better for the environment too, saving an estimated 20,000 litres of water each year.” Minister for Veterans David Harris said, “This is a fantastic initiative allowing veterans, pensioners and social housing tenants to get their hands on a great appliance valued at more than $650 for just $250, including installation and removal. “Veterans served in defence of this great land, so the least we can do to assist in lowering their energy bills.“This is just one of the ways the NSW Government is helping people every day with cost-of-living pressures.” Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said, “I encourage pensioners to apply for one of these new washing machines. At a highly discounted rate, this service will take your older machine away and replace it with a new and improved model.  “Not only will you end up with a brand-new washing machine at less than half price, it could potentially lower your utility bills, too.” Biag Capasso, Managing Director, The Good Guys said, “We’re delighted to be teaming up with the NSW Government to roll out these subsidised washing machines across the state to people who need them most. It’s one of many ways The Good Guys help families with their day-to-day needs.  “This program will be in high demand, which is why we have plenty of stock, and our delivery team is ready to help customers, in both regional and metro areas, by removing old top loaders and install the new Westinghouse machines.” 

Coles is recalling Coles Smooth Peanut Butter 1kg and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kg, sold between 01/05/2025 and 30/06/2025 at Coles supermarkets and Coles Online nationally, with a Best Before date of 05/02/2027, due to aflatoxin contamination. The product is:Coles Smooth Peanut Butter 1kg and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kgBest Before date: 05/02/2027Dates sold: Between 01/05/2025 and 30/06/2025. Food products containing aflatoxin may cause illness if consumed. Any customers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Customers can return the product to any Coles supermarket for a full refund. Coles Online customers can receive a full refund or credit by contacting Coles Online Customer Care on 1800 455 400. Coles apologised to its customers for any inconvenience. Customers seeking further information can contact Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562.

People with Parkinson’s disease living in Northern NSW will continue to have access to specialist support, with Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD), with the support of Parkinson’s NSW, renewing funding for the region’s Parkinson’s nurses.Since 2020, the nurses have played a key role in meeting the needs of people living with Parkinson’s disease by liaising between patients and specialists, providing education in aged care facilities and for health care professionals, including pharmacists, as well as providing expert nursing care and support to patients and their familiesThe specialist nurses also offer weekly clinics across the Northern Rivers at a number of centres including Lismore, Grafton, Casino, Yamba, Ballina and Murwillumbah.The Parkinson’s nurses also form part of NNSWLHD’s Movement Disorder Neurology Service (MDNS), established in early 2024 to bring high-quality ambulatory care to people living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.This service is provided in partnership with Western Sydney Local Health District’s Movement Disorder Unit, Parkinson’s NSW and the Rural Doctors Network. It offers access to a specialist neurologist who travels from Sydney’s Westmead Hospital to Ballina District Hospital for monthly in-person clinics, in addition to weekly virtual clinics, to maximise access and outcomes for patients.Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system. Nerve cell damage in the brain causes dopamine levels to drop, leading to the symptoms of Parkinson's, including tremors, slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance. Also, fatigue, apathy, depression, disturbed sleep, loss of sense of smell, and issues with speech and swallowing. Symptoms can be managed with medication, exercise and other forms of therapy and support. Globally, disability and death from Parkinson’s is rising faster than any other neurological disorder. However, as yet, there is no cure. Parkinson’s nurses also provide support during hospital stays and help with referrals to complementary therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology.For further information on the Parkinson's Disease Nursing Service visit: https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services/movement-disorders/parkinsons-disease-nursing-service.Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said, “I want to thank Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin for her tireless advocacy in securing ongoing support for the Parkinson’s nurses in the Northern Rivers.“Janelle understands just how critical these roles are to the health and wellbeing of her community, and her leadership has helped ensure that people living with Parkinson’s disease can continue to access expert, compassionate care close to home.“The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease is higher in rural and remote areas, where access to specialist neurological support can be limited.“This service means Northern Rivers residents have access to the same specialist support available in city areas, improving their quality of life by allowing them to remain closer to home, independent, active and in the care of friends and family for longer.”Minister for North Coast and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said, “This is a cause that is very close to my heart as I lobbied hard to get these Parkinson’s nurses for our region a few years ago, to meet the growing demand from Parkinson’s support group members and those newly diagnosed with the disease”Parkinson’s nurses play a pivotal role in holistic care, improving access to services and reducing patient risk, morbidity and hospital admissions.“Their expertise supports people with Parkinson’s across all disease stages, promoting self-management and helping to prevent complications.”Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said, “Northern NSW Local Health District has become a regional leader in movement disorder care since establishing the Parkinson’s Disease Nursing Service in 2020.“This is particularly important in Northern NSW, where the number of people living with Parkinson’s is expected to double to 3,000 by 2030 as a result of our rapidly ageing population, where nearly one in three residents will be aged over 65 years by that time.” Parkinson’s NSW Chief Executive Officer Mary Kay Walker said, "We are delighted to learn that funding has been renewed for Parkinson's nurses in the Northern NSW Local Health District. Parkinson's NSW has been involved in co-funding this innovative care program since 2020."Parkinson's nurses are the glue which holds together the multidisciplinary care team required for Parkinson's patients. In this way they play a vital role in facilitating Parkinson's care in regional communities — including through telemedicine consultations." 

THE Northern Rivers region's Community Leaders Forum has welcomed the eagerly awaited state-of-the-art hydrodynamic model report from the CSIRO for the Richmond River catchment.While this is a very technical process, now it’s time for the community, particularly local councils, to be involved in charting a course towards better flood mitigation and adaptation for our region.The model implementation report from the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI) was released publicly through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) website yesterday (30 June 2025). It can be found here: https://www.nema.gov.au/our-work/resilience/northern-rivers-resilience-initiative.The Community Leader’s Forum has acknowledged that hydrodynamic modelling is the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of flood modelling, and that the release of this report now lays the foundation for the model to be used in flood mitigation scenario analysis and testing possible flood mitigation strategies across the region to better protect communities and infrastructure.The model (2D hydrodynamic model - MIKE21 FM) examines physical processes and creates a picture of the way water is moving in the river system. It uses data about rainfall, evaporation, soil and vegetation characteristics, LiDAR and Bathymetry datasets collected as part of NRRI project, and details of the landscape including the topography, streams, levees, and flow control structures such as bridges, culverts, and pipes.The model was then validated by comparing model-simulated flood inundation water levels against recorded data sets from five events in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022. This process reported a high degree of accuracy and seeks to demonstrate that the model is capable of reproducing flooding scenarios across the entire catchment.The model should now be used to investigate a variety of possible future scenarios, including the changes in flooding associated with a changing climate. This will help us to look at how we can better protect our communities and infrastructure from future flooding events, including testing structural and non-structural infrastructure options designed to mitigate flooding.In the coming months, CSIRO has committed to work with NEMA to undertake NRRI stakeholder consultations to develop these Richmond River catchment scale flood mitigation scenarios, and then scenario analysis.The Community Leaders Forum is looking forward to engaging in this process.The Forum includes Janelle Saffin MP (Lismore), Tamara Smith MP (Ballina), Geoff Provest MP (Tweed), and Richie Williamson MP (Clarence); Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot; Mayors Cr Steve Krieg (Lismore City), Cr Chris Cherry (Tweed Shire), Cr Danielle Mulholland (Kyogle), Cr Sarah Ndiaye (Byron Shire), Cr Sharon Cadwallader (Ballina Shire), Cr Robert Mustow (Richmond Valley) and Cr Ray Smith (Clarence Valley); NSW Aboriginal Land Council North Coast representative, Diane Randall, Business NSW Northern Rivers Regional Director, Jane Laverty, and Rous County Council CEO, Philip Rudd.

In a big win for NSW motorists, the NSW Government’s reforms to the parking fine system came into effect yesterday.It ends years of an unfair system, where hundreds of thousands of fines were issued to motorists as long as two weeks after they were booked by a parking officer.The previous state government implemented ticketless parking fines in 2020, even as advocacy groups and the community warned they were unfair and lacked transparency.The NSW Government’s series of reforms includes requirements for councils and other issuing agencies to:Attach a parking fine or notification to the vehicle (except in limited circumstances, for example where it is unsafe for the parking officer) Send to Revenue NSW images of the parking offence and the fine or notification, and make them available to the driver on requestIssue a parking fine no later than seven days after the offence, if a notification was not attachedCollate data on their use of parking fines and make it publicly available.Following passing of the legislation, Revenue NSW worked with councils, the NRMA, the United Services Union and advocacy groups to ensure issuing agencies had the technical capability to enable the reforms as soon as practicable. For many of NSW’s 128 councils this would have included purchasing new equipment, including handheld printing devices and cameras, as well as re-training officers and staff to understand the new requirements. Revenue NSW has established an internal taskforce to monitor implementation of the reforms, ensure compliance by councils, and invalidate fines which do not meet the new legislative requirements.The taskforce will also monitor exemptions to the requirement to provide an on-the-spot notification to ensure they are not used as an excuse to continue issuing unfair ticketless fines.Since the government placed a spotlight on the issue, the number of ticketless parking fines has decreased, with many councils already taking their own action.From 1 January to 30 June 2024, councils issued 435,363 ticketless fines. From 1 January to 20 June 2025, councils issued only 371,565 ticketless fines, a drop of around 15%.Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said, “Today marks the end of the previous government’s unfair ticketless parking fine system.“People shouldn’t be caught by a surprise parking ticket weeks later. Our commonsense changes bring fairness and transparency back to the system.“Motorists will once again benefit from on-the-spot notifications. New requirements that motorists are provided with photos of the offence will assist them if they wish to object to a fine.“Our new data requirements will ensure we can keep a close eye on the progress of these reforms.“I want to thank councils for their work over the last few months to take action on this legislation. I know for many of them it required a significant uplift in their processes to meet the new standards.”NRMA Spokesperson Peter Khoury said, “The NRMA welcomes the end to ticketless parking fines in NSW and commends the NSW Government for listening to motorists and making this commonsense reform.“Transparency matters. People deserve to know when and why they’re being fined—and to have a fair chance to challenge it if needed.“The Government has worked through the issues, consulted widely, and come to an appropriate solution. Today is a great day for NSW motorists.”

Lismore City Council has given households a Christmas in July gift with the announcement of two annual waste vouchers per year.For the last five years, households could apply for one of 5,000 waste vouchers, which had to be used within 30 days, although you could reapply if it wasn't used in that time. This was from approximately 18,500 households in the LGA. The benefit was $74.40. The new tip voucher system will be split into six-month intervals, and will be valued at $148.80 of free waste disposal at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre or the Nimbin Transfer Station per customer per financial year.Mayor Steve Krieg said the initiative was a first step in Council responding to the priorities listed in the recent Community Scorecard, which have now been reflected in the Lismore Community Strategic Plan.“The community told us we should focus on reducing illegal dumping by reviewing our bulk waste services. Doubling the number of waste vouchers available for each household annually demonstrates Council is listening and taking action,” he said.Individual waste vouchers will remain at $74.40 in value. Any unused funds from the first ‘Primary’ voucher (above $2.00) will automatically be transferred to the second ‘Secondary’ voucher. Any funds remaining on the second voucher will not be available after expiry.Both vouchers must be used within 30 days of issue. If the first voucher expires before use, residents will be eligible to reapply.Consistent with current practice, commercial customers and businesses are not entitled to apply. Applications for a waste voucher can be made on Council’s website. People who do not have access to a computer or email are welcome to apply in person at Council’s Customer Service Centre at 43 Oliver Avenue or by calling Council’s friendly call centre team on 02 6625 0500. Rates assessment numbers (property owners) or proof of tenancy (tenants) will be required.

Lismore’s laneways will be transformed into a celebration of music, art, food and creativity on Saturday, 23 August, for the inaugural LOLA: Laneways of Lismore Arts Festival. LOLA is a free, all-ages arts and music event showcasing both local and national talent.Running from 1pm to 9pm, LOLA will transform Carrington Street and its laneways into a vibrant festival precinct, featuring a dynamic mix of live music, visual art, lighting installations, vintage, art and vinyl markets, a dedicated children’s zone, food trucks and licensed bars.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said Lismore laneways are one of our most under-utilised assets."If you walk around the streets of Lismore and you walk down our laneways, in my opinion, they they they remind me so much of Flinders Lane in Melbourne and all these quirky little laneways in capital cities. To be able to get some funding to activate these laneways, even if it is for a day, it's a start of where Lismore is heading. Lismore is on the upw, we are growing, we are thriving, we're coming back bigger and better than ever.Mayor Krieg thanked Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, for giving $30,000 towards the LOLA Festival."I'm quite excited about this event," said Mr Hogan, "We've all travelled through a lot of regional centres throughout New South Wales and other states throughout Australia, but I think one of the really unique things Lismore have are these laneways and alleyways in the centre of the block. It's quite unique, and it gives the place, and always has, a lot of character."Anything that brings activity to this town and indeed, our region, I'm very supportive of. I'm sure this will be a wonderful day, a wonderful festival and a wonderful celebration. Any community day is about getting together to hang out with each other, which is a positive thing, but as part of that, to celebrate something, to acknowledge something that is quite unique about Lismore."Marty Baptist is one of the local visual artists, along with Paul McNeil, were invited to perform at the LOLA Festival."What we're basically doing is getting five plywood panels, so it'll be dismountable as well, but on the day, we'll be painting live. This one will be my sort of loose figurative work with a lot of text. And Paul McNeil is one of the old original Mambo artists, so he'll be doing his work, and then we'll be doing a collaboration together. The LOLA Festival will provide another boost for local businesses around the block as it attracts people into the CBD.Chloe Bolliger is the manager of 187 Cantina. She said the festival will be incredible, with the restaurant is looking to expand its licensing area."There'll be a pop-up bar on the outside, so it'll be able to feel a lot more inviting. We will incorporate the music, you can have takeaway drinks, you can wander around, see things, and then also help the businesses around Lismore that might go unnoticed, for their little beauties, if not for events like this. So we're really excited to be able to be involved in that. LOLA is a welcome addition to Lismore’s proud tradition of unique and much-loved events. Last week the state government announced funding for Lismore's iconic Eat The Street Festival for three years.“Lismore has always been known for its vibrant, creative community and its ability to deliver standout events that celebrate who we are,” Mayor Krieg said.“This event will activate our city centre and showcase Lismore as a vibrant destination. I’m really looking forward to seeing LOLA grow into a staple of Lismore’s annual event calendar.”"We're also talking with some other companies that do festivals and sporting events, and it's all about promoting Lismore as a destination now, and how we do that. "We've revitalised our sporting facilities. So let's get some baseball tournaments at Albert Park. Let's really activate our Oakes and Crozier Ovals, and get sporting events here, and especially in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics. Our new skating facility that we haven't yet opened, but won't be far away, is Olympic standard, so let's get Olympic teams from around the globe to use Lismore as a training hub. "It's very much integrated to making Lismore that destination again, that we sort of lost along the way. But with the music, the arts and the culture that we've got, the NORPA development, it's such an exciting prospect as well, Lismore is well on track to becoming that central hub again."Festival-goers can look forward to an exciting music line-up including acclaimed musician Mitch Tambo, high-energy sets from FLO DJs, and Melbourne indie favourites Cool Sounds and Eggy, presented by Jet Black Cat Music, alongside a vibrant showcase of local talent.Visual highlights include bold, immersive works from celebrated Australian artists Paul McNeil (Mambo, Deus ex Machina) and Marty Baptist, who will bring Lismore’s iconic laneways to life with colour and creativity.LOLA is proudly funded by Lismore City Council and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.For more information, visit www.visitlismore.com.au/lola.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed a total of over $1.27 million in funding for three new programs under the NSW Government’s Primary Prevention Multi-Year Partnerships Grant Program.Locally, the recipients are:$750,000 for the Men & Family Centre Lismore’s Accountable, Respectful, Connected Gender Relations Program, addressing the underlying causes of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence and promotes more accountable, respectful and connected gender relations in our local communities.$305,592 for Prosper (Project Australia) Incorporated’s Strong Safe Fabulous Program (in partnership with Rainbow Families), delivering in-person and online training, resources, behaviour change campaigns and individual/family/sector capacity building in Lismore, Sydney, Penrith/Blue Mountains and Wollongong.$265,907 for People With Disability Australia’s Healthy Relationships Program, updating and expanding training and resources about building and sustaining healthy relationships for people with disability, their families, and support networks in Tweed Shire, Sydney, Wollongong, Central West, Hunter, and Wagga Wagga.  Ms Saffin said the NSW Government was investing nearly $5.2 million in 11 new programs statewide in a whole-of-government, whole-of-community effort to change attitudes and behaviours that tolerate or condone violence against women.Programs will focus on men and boys, children and young people, multicultural and refugee communities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and those working with First Nations communities.The grant program is delivered under Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024–2028, the state’s first dedicated strategy for primary prevention.Primary prevention is part of a wider NSW Government effort to address domestic violence, which includes supporting victim-survivors, holding perpetrators to account and earlier intervention. 

Social Futures is proud to announce the return of its unique trauma-informed program, Strong Minds in the Early Years, thanks to new funding from the Waratah Education Foundation Ltd.Aimed at preschools impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred on the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, the program will commence 1 July 2025.It will also support early learning settings where trauma triggers have been heightened by more recent weather events.At the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference on the Gold Coast in March, Social Futures General Manager, Children Youth and Families, Melissa Gordon; Resilient Kids Counsellor Lisa Wilson; and program favourite Jack the Puppet presented findings from the original program.“Supporting young children to understand and manage big emotions after a traumatic event is essential — and we’re thrilled to continue this work,” Ms Gordon said.Strong Minds in the Early Years was initially designed in response to the Northern Rivers 2022 flood disaster and provided young children with practical strategies to understand and manage trauma.The program’s use of Jack the Puppet gave children a playful, safe and supported way to speak about their worries, nightmares and fears, in addition to their positive experiences.“Jack offers a comforting presence — for many children, he's a gentle way to share big feelings when they can’t quite find the words,” Ms Gordon said.“The program uses best-practice therapies such as play-based interventions, storytelling and engaging activities to help children aged zero to five build their natural coping skills.“We’re also equipping caregivers and early educators with insights into how trauma may be shaping a child’s behaviour — whether at home or in the classroom,” she explained.Children responded to Jack in meaningful ways, including comments like:“I love Jack, and I can talk to him about my feelings." "My brain feels calmer now." "I can take a deep breath when my feelings are mixed up." Strong Minds in the Early Years has been designed by qualified and skilled practitioners from diverse backgrounds including social work, early childhood education and parenting.Social Futures has been providing support services in the Northern Rivers for 49 years and understands the toll severe weather events can take on families with young children.“We understand that trauma from severe weather events can deeply affect children, unsettling their sense of security and disrupting healthy development,” said Ms Gordon.“We’re here to help families strengthen their children's natural coping skills and reduce the likelihood of lasting trauma.”Strong Minds in the Early Years is supported by the Waratah Education Foundation Ltd.Preschools and early learning centres interested in the program can contact Social Futures on 1800 719 625 or visit www.socialfutures.org.au/strong-minds-in-the-early-years/ for more information.