If you haven't already heard, parking at Lismore Base Hospital is now free in the 10-hour zones.If you are now asking where the 10-hour zones are, then the new handy parking map is what you need to navigate your way to parking bliss.Lismore City Council has produced the parking map to help residents with the introduction of free parking and changed parking restrictions around Lismore Base Hospital.This map can be found at: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information-updatesLismore City Councillors voted last month to introduce free parking in the 10-hour zones on Hunter and Dalziel streets for the next six months and waive parking restrictions on Weaver Street, Laurel Avenue and Mckenzie Street to enable all-day parking for the same six month period. Mayor Isaac Smith said at the time that this was done in recognition of the critical and selfless role our local health care professionals in caring for our community during this pandemic. Lismore City Council’s Manager Development & Compliance Chris Watts said street signage around the hospital precinct has also been amended to reflect the changes. “Council staff have also been educating drivers about the changes to on-street parking around the hospital precinct over the last couple of weeks to ensure people are aware of the changes,” he said, adding that parking patrols re-commenced this week. The parking map can be found on Lismore City Council’s COVID-19 webpage http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au

While cannabis reformers met online to discuss all things hemp, a quiet, socially distanced MardiGrass protest took place on Nimbin’s main Street last weekend.The virtual forum was a first for Nimbin’s MardiGrass, which took all the usual components of the annual cannabis law reform protest - like the HEMP Olympix joint rolling and pot poetry - and brought them into an online environment. Nimbin Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone said the usual protest - which would normally have hundreds of people crowding the streets of Nimbin - was reduced to a few dedicated Nimbin locals. Social distancing“Everyone was conscious of coronavirus social distancing,” Michael said. “We didn’t promote the rally because prohibition has created disrespect for good laws too.“Aboriginal Elder Auntie Linda appeared and led the march in the traditional way and there was a dig player at front.“It was one of the nicest marches in years - peaceful and with no crowds – and 1000 or more people watched it online.”A scene from the MardiGrass protest in previous years...PoliceOther elements of the annual protest also still happened at a small scale, such as the interaction with the local police force.“We walked to the Nimbin cop shop and when we got there, they weren’t there,” Michael said. “When we left, they drove up.“The police were good this year. They came and saw the Hemp Embassy on Friday and left us to it.”Hemp Embassy raidLouise from the Hemp Embassy said the police raided the embassy last year just before MardiGrass got underway.“Last year, they barged in and it was a bit traumatic at first, but it melted away,” Louise said.“I work in the medicinal cannabis area and left our medicine alone and were only interested in green material lying around.“When they pulled up people on the street and they had our medicine, they left it alone – the police were not interested in medicinal cannabis. It was a good clarifying moment.”Luddite to Zoom roomMichael, a self-confessed luddite, said by the end of the virtual MardiGrass weekend, he knew a lot more about the Zoom platform and found it a great way to engage in in-depth talks with small audiences. “Some people logged into Discord and Zoom and we could talk as long as we liked,” he said. “It was good to watch everyone choofing at home – it was a lot of fun for people.”“John Teh was a great speaker about medical cannabis and we had good information about hemp plastics on the Sunday.Michael said numbers were not huge in the online forums, but some of the talks were recorded on Facebook and YouTube.“But what happened in the Zoom room stays in the Zoom room,” he said.Micheal said the HEMP Olympix was funny, with people sending in videos of entries and in the usual Kombi convoy, a solitary Kombi came through."Smoke at home"“We only postponed MardiGrass, but by the sound of the government, it could be a long time before big gatherings can happen again,” he said.“If we can go ahead in May next year, we will incorporate some virtual forums from now on – it could save money flying people from California to speak.“We know people just want to smoke at home and with the road blocks and saliva testing, the crowd numbers have been reducing anyway. “It’s killed the crowd – so if we have it live online, they can it watch from anywhere.”Read more: No police, no saliva tests at virtual MardiGrass this weekend

Tough times don’t excuse tougher times at home: that’s the message from the Federal Government as Covid-19 restrictions bring a heightening of violence within people’s homes.  A new Help is Here campaign is now being rolled out to make sure people know that there is free, confidential help available for anyone experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.The campaign will include advertising across television, digital, social media, radio, magazines and newspapers as well as in shopping centres, hospitals and GP surgeries.Since the coronavirus pandemic began, calls to helpline numbers have increased - and many of the calls have been coronavirus specific.More than 15% of contacts for the MensLine Australia number have been Covid-19 specific. The help number 1800RESPECT has also seen an 11% increase in people accessing support compared with the same time last year.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said “for many women and children, home is not a safe place to be”.“For many weeks, Australians have been heeding the Government’s call to stay at home to control the spread of COVID-19,” Mr Hogan said.“I want our community to know, including those at risk of using violence, there is free and confidential help available at all hours, every day. “Increased stresses at a time like this are understandable, but they are not an excuse for causing physical or psychological harm. “You can get help and talk directly and confidentially with trained counsellors via online chat or phone.” The new Help is Here awareness campaign promotes the two national helplines - 1800RESPECT and MensLine Australia, as part of the Federal Government’s $150 million Domestic Violence Support Package to help support services meet demand during these unprecedented times. Further information is available at http://www.australia.gov.au/dvsupportIf you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic, family or sexual violence contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) 1800respect.org.au or MensLine Australia (1300 789 978) mensline.org.au

Those that drive on Ballina Road and pass the Rochdale Theatre would have noticed building scaffolding all around the building.Publicity officer Jenny Dowell said planned work to replace the roof and install insulation is going ahead. This is part of the cultural grant money received by the Lismore Theatre Company in 2019. "The works were planned for this time of the year but with the coronavirus pandemic, the timing makes doing the works easier", Jenny said, "when we finish we will have a sparkling old building that will look really good""Now we just need restrictions to lift so people can come back to the theatre", she added.Educating Rita was to be the first play for the 2020 season on March 20 before the coronavirus crowd gathering restrictions delayed the start. This is still the plan when restrictions are eased."The set is as it was so gathering dust", Jenny mentioned, "it will add atmosphere to the professors office when we get underway".The children's pantomime show "Puss In Thongs" has also been postponed and was scheduled for the first school holidays will be moved to the first available school holiday period.In the meantime new plays are starting their audition process so it will be a busy theatre season when it can get underway.At least the Rochdale Theatre will look better as well as be more comfortable with the roof and insulation adding to the already painted exterior and air conditioning installed in 2019.

Councillors approved the 2020/21 draft budget for public exhibition at last nights council meeting but it was a close vote 6 for and 5 against.All councillors ,whether they voted for or against the draft budget, said that this was a "tough budget" for the community to swallow and it would be unpopular.Unpopular because a number of projects that councillors had committed to in their four year term have had to be shelved again as council tries to get their financial situation under control then build some reserves for the future. It was acknowledge that this will take a few years.Projects like the beautifying the Lismore Lake area or upgrading footpaths in the CBD will now be deferred and included in the next Community Strategic Planning document for public submissions.The cause of this "Back to basics with no lollies for the community" budget as Councillor Neil Marks called it, was due to an initial cashflow deficit of $2.3 million. After the numbers were re-crunched using the zero based modelling process that deficit has been cut to $282,000. This meant the removal of non-essential community projects.Of the $2.3 million deficit, $1 to 1.5 million was estimated to be caused by the coronavirus pandemic.Those Councillors against the draft budget mentioned lack of time to read and understand the document fully, lack of detail, lack of involvement in the budget process and the continued operations of loss making facilities like GSAC, the Quarry and the Airport.Councillor Guise said "I have no confidence in this budget......the airport will lose $750,000 and the Quarry 450,000.....how can we continue to operate these loss making assets".While Councillor Lloyd said "there has not been accurate reporting systems on our financial position" and Councillor Bautista said "we need to stop looking back and stop wasting money".Those Councillors who voted for the draft budget acknowledged that they too are "unhappy" with some projects being taken off the table but the measure suggested by council staff were necessary to return this council back to a sound financial position, something that can built on for the future.Councillor Bird saying "it will be a bumpy and difficult road to get there" and Councillor Ekins saying that "it is just not us but other councils too (that are in this financial position)". Councillor Cook said "no one is happy with this budget.....it is up to us to shoulder these tough decisions.......it will cause a lot of pain". What was acknowledged is that Lismore has suffered through a number of extraordinary circumstances in the last few years with the flood, the drought, the tip fire and now COVID-19. Can we liken it to the Paul Keating comment in 1990 when he said "this is the recession we had to have". Is this the budget that LCC need to have?Now the draft budget for 2020/21 has been approved for public exhibition, it is up to you to take the time to read it, understand it and make comments.The draft budget will be live on the Your Say Lismore website ( https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/) from next Wednesday May 13.

Covid-19 has taken its toll on The Ulysses National Rally.The Ulysses Club has announced that the event, which was to be staged in Lismore this month, will now be held in 2023.Lismore City Council’s Events Officer Leanne Clark said "we are obviously disappointed that the rally cannot be held next month because of the COVID-19 pandemic"."But we are over the moon that the Club’s National Committee has decided to hold the event in Lismore in 2023,” she said“It is a vote of confidence in our city and our community.”The Ulysses Club is a social club for motorcyclists over the age of 40.In August 2017, Lismore was awarded the 37th Annual rally, which was to be held this year.“I would like to thank the club’s National Committee, the Northern Rivers Ulysses Committee and Lismore City Council staff who have been working through the process of the cancellation of the rally and its impacts,” Mrs Clark said.“It really is a great event with more than 2000 motorcycle enthusiasts from across Australian converging for six days of fellowship and celebrations.“The Ulysses Club and Lismore City Council staff are now working through all of the logistics of this amazing event to ensure it is safe for all of those who attend.”The date and venue for the 2023 event will be announced once arrangements are in place.

Popular Australian author Sandie Docker will present an exclusive online interactive talk tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6 at 10am for Richmond Tweed Regional Library members.To join the interactive talk which will be screened live via Youtube, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mXifCmV890gSandie grew up in Coffs Harbour and is the author of The Kookaburra Café and The Cottage at Rosella Cove. Her latest novel The Banksia Bay Beach Shack was released in March. Sandie’s love of fiction began when she first read Jane Austen for the HSC, but it wasn’t until she was taking a translation course at university that her Mandarin lecturer suggested she might have a knack for writing.Sandie first decided to put pen to paper when living in London. Now back in Sydney with her husband and daughter, she writes every day.The Banksia Bay Beach Shack is a heartwarming family saga. A year is a long time in the memory of a small town. Stories get twisted, truths become warped and history is rewritten. When Laura discovers an old photo of her grandmother Lillian with an intriguing inscription on the back, Laura heads to the sleepy seaside town of Banksia Bay to learn the truth of Lillian’s past. But, when Laura arrives she finds a community where everyone seems to hiding something.If you want to read some of Sandi’s books, you can find them in the Richmond Tweed Regional Library catalogue. You can click here to reserve Sandie's books. Pick them up with your next Click and Collect!

Through decades of changing fashions, Lismore's go-to place for a formal dress - Tahiti Hut - has finally closed.A shop that was once filled with racks of women’s clothing and accessories is now reduced to just a few piles of dismantled shelves and clothes racks. Tahiti Hut owner Reg Bailey said after 45 years in business, the process of packing up the shop was an important one, as he processed so much time being in business.“It’s been good to pull down the shelving and racks because there’s a lot of grieving and sadness in closing the shop,” Reg said.“So, as I pull it all apart, I’m able to process and let it go.“It’s been a great business and a great shop. But after the floods, drought, fires and then the virus, I knew it was time to close.”Roy has seen a lot of changes in fashion - and in the Lismore CBD over the decades – from the early days in the 1970s, when his brother Roy opened the shop, right through to the Covid-19 crisis.While there are more women’s clothing boutiques in Lismore now that there used to be, once Tahiti Hut was the main place you would visit for a new dress if you had a special occasion or a formal coming up.“That’s why we survived so long,” Reg said. “We were unique in what we sold.”Reg said that when he announced on Facebook that the shop was closing, loyal customers came down to the shop and bought up most of his stock.“I’m ready for retirement now though,” Reg said. “I plan to travel to Europe once travel opens up across the world again.”Read more business news: More smiles, less fear, as more shops open in the CBD

When Lismore was invaded by the pesky Yellow Crazy Ants (YCA) last year, experimental water crystal baits and a retrained koala odour detection dog were two of the innovative techniques used to eradicate them.The successful experimental techniques have brought recognition to the North Coast Local Land Services in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries at this year’s Australian Biosecurity Awards.The Yellow Crazy Ant response was the recipient in the Government Category which recognises individuals, groups or organisations within the government that have demonstrated a significant contribution to maintaining Australia’s biosecurity integrity.North Coast Local Land Service general manager Louise Orr said the award was a credit to everyone involved, including many dedicated and determined community members. “This award recognises the enormous effort made by our community, including staff. Together, we all play a vital role in helping to protect against pests, and support biosecurity in our community,” she said. “YCA are highly destructive environmental pests that can impact on human amenity, agricultural production and the horticultural industry."When YCA were detected on the NSW north coast, a well-executed and coordinated response plan helped control and eradicate this significant invasive pest.Following a report from a member of the public, established infestations were identified at Lismore and Terania Creek. The detection was especially significant, given Terania Creek is the location of a rainforest protection campaign that helped shape the modern Australian environmental movement. Various innovative approaches were used, including experimental water crystal baits the use of a retrained koala odour detection dog to detect YCA. “The response plan was a success, with proof of freedom confirmed at both sites and statistical modelling indicating that it is highly unlikely that other infestations remain undetected nearby,” Louise said.“The response plan was widely promoted, with significant local engagement undertaken by Local Land Services. “As a result, the aim to eradicate Yellow Crazy Ants gained excellent and broad support from the people of Lismore and Terania Creek.”North Coast Local Land Services and NSW DPI were nominated by Invasive Species Council chief executive, Andrew Cox.

Our roads have been eerily quiet in the mornings lately. Depending on your garbage collection day, the sound of council garbage trucks have been missing.Facebook groups have been asking the question "why"?The Lismore City Council offered this explanation."Lismore City Council has experienced some issues with kerbside waste collection last week. A combination of a number of factors has resulted in collection trucks being unable to complete daily bin collections.With some staff on overdue leave, an unexpected truck break down, combined with unplanned leave and issues with extended overtime periods being accrued resulted in a several hundred bins not being collected last week. Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services Peter Jeuken said: “We have experienced issues that normally we would be able to roster around, but when we have multiple issues impact our collection service there is not a lot of spare capacity in our resourcing to cover a large gap in this service.”“The garbage truck is currently being repaired and will be back on the road in several days, collection truck drivers are doing additional hours and shifts and we are looking at external resources to help us catch up on our missed bin collections.”Residents with missed bins have been asked to leave their bins out for collection and it is expected Council staff will be able to get all the missed bins from last Thursday and Friday collected by the end of this week.It is also important to make sure people put their bins out the night before collection, because Council will need to do some bin collections in the early hours of the morning because we are down one collection truck".This response may not satisfy some residents but at least we all know what's going on.

We certainly cannot complain about this amazing autumn weather, even with Friday's southerly change the cooler temps did not last for long.This weeks weather will remain warm with some rain expected tomorrow from offshore but Helen Kirkup from the Bureau of Meteorology says we can only expect a couple of mills to hit our rain gauge because the trough is not deep enough to get into Lismore and Nimbin. The most rain will be on the coastal fringes.The same conditions will remain into Wednesday with slightly less rain expected before a return to the warm temperatures that we have been experiencing throughout April. Temps in the mid twenties.This time next week we can expect the next southerly front to come through an kick us back down to the 20's.Until then, enjoy the outdoors.

If you have cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma then the federal Government will save you some cash with new and amended medicines listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from last Friday.Te PBS listing of Repatha® (evolocumab) will be extended to include:Patients with abnormally high cholesterol who have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and meet certain conditions.Pateints with genetic high cholesterol.Hypercholesterolaemia results in abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to blockages in the arteries, hardening of the arterial walls, and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke without proper treatment.Repatha is a breakthrough new medicine that can dramatically lower cholesterol levels which can reduces a person’s risk of a heart attack or stroke.Patients might otherwise pay over $5,400 per year for Repatha. With the PBS subsidy, they will only need to pay $41 per prescription, or $6.60 with a concession card.Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia, with 43,477 deaths attributed to it in Australia in 2017. It is estimated cardiovascular disease kills one Australian every 12 minutes.Also from today, Australians with rheumatoid arthritis will benefit from the listing of Rinvoq® (upadacitinib) on the PBS.Patients might otherwise pay more than $16,000 per year for Rinvoq but with the PBS subsidy will only pay $41 or $6.60 with a concession card.Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease affecting about 458,000 Australians. It attacks the body’s healthy tissues, targeting the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage.It can cause significant physical disability, pain, fatigue and mental health issues.Currently, there is no cure, but rheumatoid arthritis medicines can reduce pain and stiffness and prevent long-term joint damage.Rinvoq® will be a new treatment option for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis providing them with more choice in how they manage this painful condition.Around 5,000 patients per year already access a comparable treatment, and may benefit from this new treatment option.Australians with uncontrolled severe asthma will now have access to Fasenra Pen®.Fasenra® (benralizumab) is currently listed on the PBS as a syringe for injection for the treatment of uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma.This new pre filled pen will allow patients who choose to self administer Fasenra to be treated at home, rather than attend a clinic to access the medicine through a syringe injection administered by a health professional.Over 1,000 patients per year access Fasenra through the PBS and may benefit from the listing of Fasenra Pen®. Without the PBS subsidy, patients might otherwise pay up to $23,000 per year.Each of these listings has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Officers from Richmond Police District were patrolling Union Street, South Lismore, about 11.25pm last night, when they noticed a man knocking on doors of houses and speaking with the resident briefly, before moving on to the next house. When police stopped and spoke to the 46-year-old man, he stated he was looking for a friend. During a subsequent search, police located cannabis and more than $800 cash in his backpack. The man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for supply prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime and custody of knife in public place to appear before Lismore Local Court on Monday 29 June 2020. As checks revealed he had previously been issued a warning for breaching Ministerial Directions, he was also issued a $1000 PIN for not comply with noticed direction (COVID-19). 

Australia Post has released its new ANZAC Day 2020 stamp collectables - and they feature two Lismore war heroes.The stamps, released on April 14, celebrate two official Australian war artists, William Dargie and Stella Bowen.One stamp in particular has a strong local presence. The stamp that features the 460sq RAAF Lancaster Bomber crew which included two Lismore men, Hector Harrison and Gordon Jackson.(the Bomber crew stamp with Hector Harrison, second from right top, and Gordon Jackson bottom right)Stella Bowen sketched the Bomber crew before they left England on a bombing mission into Germany. She began painting from the sketch, which was to be her most famous. Unfortunately, the Bomber was shot down on April 28, 1944 with only one surviver, Thomas Lynch. The paintings were completed based on her initial sketches.Hector Harrison is the cousin to the Trevan and Bostock families, Bob Trevan tipped the Lismore App off about this story. They are proud of his war service with Robert Trevan in the process of writing a historical account for the War Department about the crews journey from Australia to the fateful night over Germany in April, 1944.Gordon Jackson was the son of Francis and Leila Jackson and worked in a Lismore accounting firm before joining the RAAF.They are buried in the Dürnbach War Cemetery in (just south of Munich) in Germany.The stamps are available from Australia Post and called ANZAC DAY 2020.

In good news for Lismore, Regional Express (Rex) has announced it will resume flights to Lismore airport.The resumption of flight services comes as a result of the Federal Government’s Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) funding program, which will see Rex also resume flights to other regional airports in Ballina and Grafton.  Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the program provides assistance to maintain a minimal weekly schedule to regional areas. “Rex was eligible to receive funding to operate two to three return services a week to all destinations on the Rex network.” Mr Hogan said. “This includes three return services to Grafton and Lismore and two return services to Ballina.” “These flights will ensure essential air links to the capital cities for medical, professional and other essential travel needs. “Without Federal Government funding, many regional communities would risk not having any air services at all for at least six months.”

We go into this weekend with our first real cold snap following the arrival of the southerly front last night. The doonas are on the bed and it's jumpers to start your day each morning with minimum temperatures hitting 7 or 8 degrees. The good news, we have blue sky and plenty of sun over the two days and into next week.It is also day two of being able to visit another household with your family, so take the opportunity to say g'day to friends you haven't spent a lot of time with over the weekend. As always, be responsible and practice social distancing in those circumstances as wellThe annual Nimbin MardiGrass event has gone online and is now the Virtual MardiGrass, this kicked off today. The annual cannabis law reform protest has had to adjust to the coronavirus restrictions and still get their message across plus have some fun. The Pot Poetry, Pot Art, HEMP Fashion Parade, Weed Laughs and Music Awards can be viewed online here https://virtualmardigrass.com/.There are social distancing and cleanliness rules in place at the Lismore Farmers Markets and the Blue Knob Community Markets tomorrow morning and as always, there is loads of fresh farm produce to buy as well as seedlings if you are into growing your own fruit and vegetables. Coffee is being sold too to ward off the cold start. Lismore is on from 8am and Blue Knob from 8:30am.I was hoping to give you some good news about petrol prices being under $1 a litre somewhere in town but as I write 101.9 is still the cheapest at United on Ballina Road with Nimbin sitting at 118.9. Maybe next week?To finish the Weekend Wrap, here are some more Corona Jokes. Sometimes we just need a laugh. Have a great weekend.

As part of a methamphetamine supply crackdown in the local area, Richmond Police District detectives arrested a Lismore woman and man today, both charged with supplying the prohibited drug. Local police reported that about 9am today, officers from the Richmond Police District executed a search warrant at a home on Ross Street, Lismore.At the location, police arrested a 30-year-old woman and took her to Lismore Police Station.She is in the process of being charged with supply prohibited drug.About an hour later, a 53-year-old man was arrested at another home in Lismore.He is currently assisting police with their inquiries at Lismore Police Station; he’s expected to be charged later today.The two Lismore arrests were part of the Drug Investigations Unit’s Strike Force Braunbeck, which has been investigating the supply of methylamphetamine in the Ballina, Lismore and Goonellabah areas over the past three months.As part of Strike Force Braunbeck, detectives also arrested a 30-year Lismore man on April 22. He was charged with seven counts of supply prohibited drug and is due to face Lismore Local Court on Tuesday June 23.A 21-year-old Alstonville woman was also arrested on March 4 and charged with supply prohibited drug and faced court last month.A 44-year-old Ballina man was arrested on March 25 and was charged with 53 counts of supply prohibited drug. he is due to face Lismore Local Court on May 27.Richmond Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Lindsay, said “this is another fantastic result for the Northern Rivers community”.“This extensive investigation by Richmond detectives has dismantled another drug syndicate within our community,” he said.“Methylamphetamine is an insidious drug which can tear families apart.“We will continue to work day and night to target the supply and distribution of illicit drugs in our community.“Everyone can play their part in targeting these crooks – if you see or hear something suspicious in your neighbourhood, please report it to Crime Stoppers.”

If you can provide emotional and spiritual support, the North Coast NSW Ethics Committee could be for you.The committee is now seeking expressions of interest from local community members with experience in a pastoral care role. Pastoral care is emotional and spiritual support that can be found in various cultures and traditions, including both distinctly non-religious and religious forms of support.A person with experience in pastoral care may include an Aboriginal elder or minister of religion.The Committee plays an important role in health-focussed research, assessing research proposals to make sure studies are designed with the wellbeing of patients in mind. Committee member, Robbie Lloyd, said the work of the Research Ethics Committee was critical in helping ensure consumers are at the centre of research proposals.“It helps empower people and improve the outcomes of the health system,” Robbie said.The Committee is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds including research, law, health and health care consumers.The Committee meets monthly by teleconference or video-link, and members are appointed for three years.Members volunteer their time and are not offered remuneration. To submit an expression of interest, email your CV to the Executive Officer, North Coast NSW Human Research Ethics Committee (NCNSW HREC) at NNSWLHD-Ethics@health.nsw.gov.auThe closing date for submissions is 4.30pm, Friday 29 May, 2020. Submissions will be considered by a selection committee. For more information, contact Rebecca Lavery, Executive Officer, NCNSW HREC on (02) 6672 0269 or visit https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/human-research-ethics- and-governance/ 

The day before Professor Julie Jomeen’s scheduled flight to Lismore from the UK, the Australian government introduced the mandatory two-week isolation for new arrivals.With Covid-19 forcing her and her family into the confines of their new home, Professor Jomeen said it was a surreal start to her new role as Head of School of Health and Human Sciences at Southern Cross University.The day Professor Jomeen emerged from quarantine was her first day on the job - in a strange new world of social distancing and meeting new colleagues over Zoom.The unusual welcome in the midst of a global health crisis hasn’t daunted the distinguished researcher and experienced Dean who has taken on the multi-campus role at Lismore, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast.“Every crisis creates and opportunity and the importance of the healthcare workforce has never been more dominant than it is right now on the frontlines,” Prof Jomeen said.“This demonstrates the value of University health research and industry-ready graduates to ensure the best possible workforce for the delivering the best possible care.”Professor Jomeen worked as a clinical nurse before becoming a midwife and completing a PhD. Her leadership roles at Hull University included Dean of Health and Social Care and Dean of Health Sciences, incorporating sports health and exercise science, psychology and biomedical science.As well as being Dean of Health at Southern Cross, she is also a Professor of Midwifery and brings knowledge from her research into the links between physiological and psychological health.Health courses at Southern Cross University include nursing, midwifery, sport and exercise science, biomedical science, clinical sciences, podiatry, pedorthics, speech pathology.“SCU has also been named as having Australia’s number one psychology degree - according to the federal government QILT data and the Good Universities Guide,” Prof Jomeen said.