Steph Cooke | 07 Jun 2022 | Employment Health News Uncategorized
The NSW Government has today announced a new public sector wages policy to provide increased pay for public sector employees including nurses, teachers and paramedics.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the new two-year policy will provide among the highest public sector wages growth in the country with employees offered a 3.0 per cent remuneration increase per annum in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with a possible further 0.5 per cent on offer in 2023-24 for employees that make a substantial contribution to productivity-enhancing reforms.
“This provides for remuneration increases of up to 6.5 per cent over two years under the new policy,” Ms Cooke said.
The policy will apply to new industrial agreements that are struck from 1 July 2022.
The NSW Government announced an additional one-off payment of $3,000 to be provided to employees in the NSW Health Service in recognition of their work on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The payment covers paramedics, midwives, cleaners and all other permanent staff employed by the NSW Health Service.
“The $3,000 one-off payment to health workers recognises the contribution of a workforce that went to extraordinary lengths during the pandemic,” Ms Cooke said.
“The new wages policy continues the NSW Government’s record of strengthening frontline services and ensuring that NSW can continue to deliver the best services in the country.”
Ms Cooke said that in the current economic climate, the increase in wages was a fair and sustainable policy decision.
“NSW is currently enjoying the lowest unemployment on record. To attract and retain the best talent, it is important to maintain competitive wages – and in the context of a strong and growing economy this two-year increase to wages is an affordable and sensible policy.”
The new wages policy has been developed to support productivity-enhancing reforms and modernisation of the public service.
Additional pay increases are available for workplace reforms that deliver better outcomes for the public.
Further details will be announced in the June State Budget.
Steph Cooke | 06 Jun 2022 | Employment Health News Uncategorized
The NSW Government has announced a $1.76 billion boost to frontline emergency care to deliver 2,128 new recruits and 30 more ambulance stations as part of the NSW Government’s 2022-23 Budget.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the record investment will ensure the community has access to a quality Ambulance service for years to come.
“With ambulance services across the country experiencing unprecedented demand, the NSW Government is ensuring our communities and our paramedics are well placed for the challenges ahead,” Ms Cooke said.
“In addition to 30 new ambulance stations, this record funding will deliver extra paramedics, ambulance support staff, nurses and doctors, increasing capacity from call centres to call outs. NSW Ambulance will have the largest paramedic workforce in the country.”
“This is great news for our community. We rely on our local paramedics and now they’ll have additional support to continue the invaluable work they do for us.”
The $1.76 billion over four years will provide NSW with 1,857 extra paramedics, 210 ambulance support staff, 52 nurses and eight doctors.
In this Budget, the NSW Government will deliver 30 new stations including at Warilla, Kincumber, Lisarow, Gateshead, Swansea, Cherrybrook, Raby and Narellan in the coming year, with 22 more stations to come over the following three years.
Local first year apprentices facing financial or personal hardship will be supported with a $15,000 scholarship to undertake their trade and study through a NSW Government scholarship program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said applications are now open for the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarship which will support 120 people to either start, change, or further their career.
“This scholarship program offers a great incentive for eligible locals to kick-start their career. Whether you need to purchase new tools, cover fuel or car maintenance, or pay for additional study, these scholarships have helped people overcome personal barriers to finish their apprenticeships and follow their trade calling,” Ms Cooke said.
“We have seen a lot of success from the program in our region, with residents being able to upskill and gain employment, whilst also boosting the local workforce of our small businesses.”
“Under the last round, five scholarships were awarded to students across a number of industries including hairdressing and electrotechnology.”
The NSW Government will invest $1.8 million in the program, which provides $5,000 over three years to support apprentices who demonstrate a high aptitude for vocational education and training and are committed to their on the job and formal training.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said there were more than 107,000 people in-training across NSW, a 29 per cent increase on the year before.
“Apprenticeships are a critical part of ensuring NSW has a pipeline of skilled workers, but we also understand the financial limitations and challenges that arise for apprentices while completing their trade,” Mr Henskens said.
“As NSW has seen through bushfires, floods and the pandemic, apprentices remain a vital part of the economy and make a strong contribution to local businesses and communities.”
“The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships are in addition to the 100,000 fee-free apprenticeships and 70,000 fee-free traineeships and other low-fee courses funded by the NSW Government.”
The scholarship program is named in honour of the late Bert Evans AO, a passionate advocate of vocational education for more than 30 years.
Applications are open and will close Friday, 27 May 2022.
