Steph Cooke | 22 Feb 2023 | Community Roads and Transport Services
Regional apprentices and trainees in the region can now apply for the NSW Nationals in government’s $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card is a budget-boosting initiative to help ease cost of living pressures in the bush where young people face long distances to get to and from work or training.
“I’m pleased to announce that from today, more than 51,000 regional apprentices and trainees, aged between 16 and 66, can save apply to save $250 on fuel and public transport to help with the cost of travelling to work or study,” Ms Cooke said.
“From today, if you’re an apprentice or trainee, you can get down to your local Service NSW centre and apply for the $250 Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card and it will be sent to you within weeks.
“If you’re a parent or partner of an apprentice or trainee and you take them to their work or study, encourage them to apply to help towards fuel costs.
“This initiative follows a recent announcement which will see young drivers able to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to get into a safer car.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the card was a win for apprentices and trainees hard at work in restaurants, childcare centres, and on farms and construction sites across regional NSW.
“It’s a $250 boost that will ease the cost of filling up the tank or catching transport to work or class for thousands of people working towards their future career,” Mr Toole said.
Applications for university students will open from the end of April when enrolments are confirmed. Apprentices and trainees have until 30 November to apply for the 2023 card.
The initiative will run as a two-year trial until the end of 2024.
Seniors living in the region will save $250 on travel costs thanks to the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Regional Seniors Travel Card.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said applications are now open for a fourth year, and she is encouraging seniors to take advantage of the initiative now.
“The NSW Nationals in the State Government are cutting the cost of living to make daily life easier thanks to our Regional Seniors Travel Card,” Ms Cooke said.
“The $250 pre-paid Visa card can be used on fuel, electric charging stations, pre-booked NSW TrainLink regional trains and coaches, helping those eligible with the cost of getting from A to B.
“I know how much seniors value this card – it can mean a few extra visits to the grandkids, catching up with family and friends within NSW, getting to the shops, or attending medical appointments much easier.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said he wanted the number of cards issued this year to break the 2022 record, when 362,000 cards were issued.
“I really encourage all eligible seniors to get their applications in and save themselves $250 on travel costs for this year,” Mr Farraway said.
The Regional Seniors Travel Card has injected $196 million into regional economies, with more than one million cards issued since the scheme started in 2020.
Applications are now open and will close on November 30, 2023.
Seniors can apply online at service.nsw.gov.au, by visiting their local Service NSW shopfront or calling 1800 569 070.
Steph Cooke | 23 Jan 2023 | Education Roads and Transport Services Weddin Shire
Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Inc Centre have been awarded $142,934 thanks to the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure that all parents with children at public primary schools have greater access to Before and After-School Care.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the latest round of the NSW Government’s Transport Grant Program to support Before and After-School Care (BASC) has been assessed and awarded to services in Weddin Shire.
“I’m so pleased that Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Inc Centre are among the beneficiaries of this funding,” Ms Cooke said.
“This funding for the purchase of a bus will increase the viability of the service, which currently has a bus hire arrangement in place.
“By providing a transport service for school-aged children means an increase in enrolments and access for parents and families within Grenfell and surrounding villages.”
“I’m proud to be part of a government that is providing funding to ensure that all parents with children at public primary schools have access to Before and After-School Care (BASC). These services support students and their families.”
Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Centre Director Wezley Makin said this funding will enable their service to create a dedicated program for their Before and After School Children when travelling between their local primary schools.
“This will also allow us as a service to provide a better connection with our local community within the Weddin Shire to allow students and children of our service to easily get out and about through excursions through Vacation Care and even branching out into surrounding communities,
“By enabling deeper community engagement and improving accessibility for our parents, families, and children for our service,” Mr Makin said. Grants worth a total of $3.9 million were awarded to 33 applicants spread across the state. BASC service providers were invited to apply for grants of up to $160,000 to support transport solutions to increase access to BASC services, with priority given to students in small, regional and/or remote public schools who do not currently have access to these services.
Steph Cooke | 19 Jan 2023 | All LGAs Community Health News Services
Members of the community considering a career as a nurse or midwife are being encouraged to choose a rewarding career with NSW Health, with support available through cadetship and scholarship programs this year in 2023.
“There is no doubt that our community stands to benefit from more people taking on the vital skills of nursing and midwifery, and there is no better place to learn and work than in our public hospitals,” Ms Cooke said.
“These cadetship and scholarship programs will help further boost and upskill our nursing and midwifery workforce to meet the growing demand in our public hospitals well into the future.”
The programs are available to people across the state, not just for recent school leavers but also for people considering a career change.
The cadetships and scholarships will provide professional and financial support to those interested in taking on these rewarding careers in our world-class health system.
The Enrolled Nurse Scholarships offer a position in the Diploma of Nursing program, cover course fees and lead to employment as an enrolled nurse in a NSW Health facility, following standard recruitment and registration processes.
The Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship Program, and Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships provide Aboriginal people with the opportunity to receive financial and professional support during their university studies.
The NSW Government announced the largest workforce boost in the nation’s history in the 2022-23 Budget with a $4.5 billion investment over four years for 10,148 full-time equivalent staff to be recruited in hospitals and health services across NSW.
The NSW Government is also incentivising hard-to-fill, critical roles in hospitals and health facilities with an $883 million investment targeted at recruiting and retaining staff in regional, rural and remote areas.
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2022 | All LGAs Community Services
Seniors across the electorate can take advantage of thousands of discounts with the release of the 2023 NSW Seniors Card Directory.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said seniors can unlock more than 6,000 discounts across the state.
“The Seniors Card program was developed to encourage older people to enjoy a more active and healthy retirement and feel valued as a senior member of the community,” Ms Cooke said.
“With the release of the 2023 Seniors Card Directory, seniors will nab significant savings on an array of items, activities and services to help them do just that.”
The 2023 Seniors Card Directory is available in five regions, including Sydney and Surrounds, Central Coast and Hunter, Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Western NSW.
Free copies are available in print and online.
Minister for Seniors Mark Coure encouraged more businesses to sign up to the NSW Seniors Program and open their door to more than 1.9 million seniors across the state.
“The more businesses that sign up can potentially get more people through their door and seniors have more choice to shop and use services, so it is a win-win,” Mr Coure said.
Seniors Cards are available for permanent NSW residents who are 60 years of age or over and are working no more than 20 hours per week in paid employment.
“Businesses are encouraged to sign up to the free service and access the more than 1.9 million seniors in NSW,” Mr Coure added. For more information on the 2023 Seniors Card Directory or to apply for a NSW Seniors Card visit www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au
Steph Cooke | 07 Dec 2022 | Community Education Grants News Services
A prestigious NSW Coalition Government scholarship program will lend a helping hand to five Cootamundra apprentices facing hardship in their study, boosting their budget to ensure they complete their trade and add to the State’s skilled workforce.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships provide first-year apprentices with up to $15,000 over three years, as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to strengthening pathways to vocational education and training.
“The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships program is about backing apprentices in the region by giving them a helping hand to complete their training, gain a qualification and secure a brighter future,” Ms Cooke said.
“I had the opportunity to catch up recently with one of the successful recipients Joshua Karchinsky who is at the end of his first year as an apprentice electrician.”
Joshua Karchinsky from Boorowa is one of five local recipients under this program employed by Spectrum Solar and Electrical.
“This scholarship helps me purchase the tools and equipment which is needed for my trade and I am very grateful,” Mr Karchinsky said.
The NSW Coalition Government launched the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships in 2014 to support apprentices who demonstrate a high aptitude for vocational education and training and are committed to their on the job and formal training.
The scholarship program is named in honour of the late Bert Evans AO, a passionate advocate of vocational education for more than 30 years.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said this year’s program would provide assistance to 146 apprentices from all walks of life so that they can ply their skills and trade in the workforce.
“Apprenticeships are a critical part of ensuring NSW has a pipeline of skilled and job-ready workers, but we also understand the financial challenges that can arise for apprentices while completing a trade,” Mr Henskens said.
“Whether it is to purchase new tools, cover fuel and car maintenance costs or pay for additional training materials, these scholarships have helped people overcome personal barriers to finish their apprenticeships and go onto rewarding careers.”
Steph Cooke | 18 Nov 2022 | All LGAs Education News Services
Aspiring early childhood educators are set to receive a financial boost as the NSW Government announces a new scholarship program.
Early childhood educators looking to complete a Certificate III or Diploma can now benefit from a $23.5 million investment by the NSW Government to deliver scholarships worth up to $3,000 or $5,000.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that the NSW Government are supporting aspiring educators to upskill with these new scholarships.
“Our early childhood workforce is critical to delivering quality early learning for our youngest learners, and these scholarships will help attract and retain this important workforce,” Ms Cooke said.
“I encourage anyone who is wanting to develop their skills in the early childhood and care sector to apply for these scholarships to assist with any financial cost associated with studying.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new VET scholarships are part of the NSW Government’s $281.6 million package announced in the Budget early this year to attract, retrain and support early childhood educators and teachers in NSW.
“Early childhood education and care professionals make all the difference to the lives of children and families in NSW, and this new initiative will help this critical workforce to grow and upskill,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The scholarships will work in conjunction with the 25,000 fee-free places for a Cert III or Diploma qualification, which means scholarship recipients will receive a cash boost to support their studies in addition to not having to pay course fees.”
The scholarship round will be open from 15 November 2022 to 15 January 2023.
The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschool funding, the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
Current and aspiring educators are encouraged to explore the new dedicated Early Childhood Careers section of the Department of Education’s website by visiting https://education.nsw.gov.au/EarlyChildhoodCareers
Steph Cooke | 17 Nov 2022 | All LGAs News Services
The NSW Government are boosting the budgets of regional apprentices and university students with a new $250 travel card to be rolled out to help with the cost of the commute to work, training or university.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the initiative will take the pressure off the hip pocket of apprentices, trainees and university students in regional NSW.
“We’re investing in tradies, teachers and technicians of tomorrow,” Ms Cooke said.
“We know apprentices and university students in the bush often need to travel long distances for work or between training, classes and practical learning – and this is about easing that burden,”
“It puts $250 in their pocket to help them cover the cost of filling up the tank or catching public transport to campus.”
“This builds on the Regional Seniors Travel Card, with more than one million cards making a real difference to the everyday lives of regional seniors living in the region and injecting nearly $200 million into the State’s economy.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said apprentices will be the first to access the card under the two-year trial which will open to applications from February next year with uni students to follow in April.
“Whether you’re a 16-year-old mechanic apprentice or a 60-year-old university student studying teaching, if you live in the bush you may be eligible for the travel card,” Mr Farraway said.
“The prepaid debit card can be used for taxi trips, fuel, Opal card top ups, public transport and privately-operated coaches, and electric charging stations,”
“Putting more money back into the pockets of apprentices and uni students is one way the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is securing a brighter future for NSW families,”
“We know supporting regional apprentices and university students through this initiative will make a difference.”
To be considered eligible a participant must:
meet relevant citizenship or permanent residency requirements
reside in a regional location outside Greater Sydney and the Newcastle and Wollongong City Council boundaries
be between the ages of 16 and pension age (currently 66 and 6 months)
be undertaking an active apprenticeship or traineeship registered with Training Services NSW or an undergraduate university course. Courses must be full-time and face-to-face
be enrolled in an eligible campus. (Select campuses are still being defined).
Steph Cooke | 29 Aug 2022 | All LGAs Community News Roads and Transport Services Uncategorized
Real time traffic information will soon be available for motorists using local roads across NSW with data from an initial 22 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs) to be available from October.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government is expanding the Live Traffic NSW website and app to provide more reliable information to drivers, especially during emergencies like bushfires or floods.
“The need for councils to feed information about local road conditions into a central hub has been raised with me by a number of constituents,” Ms Cooke said.
“It is fantastic to see a platform created following representations made on their behalf, which will allow councils to share real time live traffic information, improving the timeliness and accuracy of information contained on the Live Traffic app and website, making travel easier and safer.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said feedback from communities and recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report were taken on board to develop ‘OneRoad’, a backend portal for councils to feed their data into Live Traffic NSW.
“The initial 22 LGAs have been chosen in consultation with the NSW Police, RFS and SES with the view to have all 128 LGAs across the state involved by 2024,” Mr Farraway said.
“LGAs will continue to come onboard in stages, with the priority given to the regional councils who have been impacted most by bushfires and floods.
“In the event of road closures through floods or fires, they will no longer have to piece together information from different sources to work out what roads are open and safe to use.”
The following local government areas are included in the initial rollout: Ballina, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Byron, Central Darling, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Gwydir, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Maitland City, Mid Coast, Moree Plains, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tamworth, Tenterfield and Tweed.
Steph Cooke | 21 Jun 2022 | All LGAs Bland Shire Coolamon Shire Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Cowra Shire Hilltops Council Junee Shire Local projects Narrandera Shire News Roads and Transport Services Temora Shire Uncategorized Weddin Shire
The NSW Government is setting the stage for the State’s prosperity, delivering a budget that secures a brighter future for the Cootamundra electorate.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the 2022-23 NSW Budget which sees continued investment in the seat of small communities, while also locking-in key projects underway across the region.
“This Budget is very welcome and builds on the significant investment we have seen in the Cootamundra electorate over recent years,” Ms Cooke said.
Local highlights include:
An additional $40 million for the redevelopment of Cowra Hospital, taking the total investment in this project to $110.2 million.
$1 million for a new CT scanner at Young.
$6.1 million for Aboriginal Housing.
$5.1 million for a social housing package, including $3.3 million for new supply, and
$80 million locked-in for the recently announced Temora Hospital redevelopment.
The Budget also sees continued funding of major works already in progress, including:
$6.4 million for the new joint-use library and community facility at Young High School.
$5.6 million for early works of the Wyangala Dam wall raising project.
$1 million for the Narrandera Fisheries Centre upgrade.
$5.6 million to commence planning for the upgrade of Sheahan Bridge on the Hume Highway at Gundagai.
$68.4 million for the planning and construction of overtaking lanes along the full length the Newell Highway, including 10 overtaking lanes in the electorate with four built, five in construction and one in development.
Highlights for regional communities more broadly include:
$1.3 billion to boost to the Regional Growth Fund, including $250 million to expand the Stronger Country Communities Fund, $220 for the Resources for Regions program and $100 million for the Regional Job Creation Fund.
$2.4 billion over 10 years to boost the rural and regional health workforce.
$210.2 million for the Fixing Local Roads and Fixing Country Bridges programs to better support regional councils.
$163.9 million to bolster biosecurity measures.
$149.5 million over four years to expand access to, and eligibility for, the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme.
$46.5 million over four years to substantially expand and enhance Headspace services, ensuring it can reach more young people across the State. This is on top of the $27.0 million previously invested in the service since July 2021.
$743 million over five years to ensure NSW residents have access to the highest quality care and pain management services for end-of-life care.
$5.8 billion over 10 years to introduce a high-quality universal pre-Kindergarten year for all children in New South Wales in the year before school by 2030.
$16.5 billion over 10 years to break the barriers to opportunity for women and help give our children the best start in life including by investing in affordable and accessible childcare and creating a universal year of prekindergarten in the year before school.
More than $7.2 billion in cost-of-living measures, including the Premier’s Back to School program and new Energy Bill Buster Program.
$2.8 billion to help more families find a place to call home, including $728.6 million for tax reform to help people own their first home.
$59 million to support Regional Youth including more Youth Community Coordinators and programs to boost youth employment.
“This is just a snapshot of the investment being made thanks to the NSW Nationals in government,” Ms Cooke said.
“I am very proud to be part of a team working hard to secure a brighter future for the seat of small communities, and I look forward to sharing more details about these Budget announcements over coming days.”
