Snippets

Micro Grants For Creative Sector Impacted By Floods

Arts OutWest are offering micro grants to arts, heritage and creative industries practitioners, groups and businesses impacted by floods or other natural disasters.

The Arts OutWest Rescue Restart Micro Grants are to help affected artists and creatives to re-open doors, restart regular activities, reach new audiences or continue trading as creatives.

The funding comes from the NSW Government as part of a broader package to the arts sector to support audience development and recovery.

Grants are for up to $1000 each, open to those in the Arts OutWest service area. Grant applications are now open and close on Monday 5 June 2023, with ap-plications assessed regularly throughout this period.

There is a very simple application process. Details on the Arts Out-West website at https://artsoutwest.org.au/pf/microgrants2023apply/ or call Arts OutWest on 02 6338 4657.

NSW Government To Investigate Strict Penalties For Violent Behaviour At Sports Events

With a huge number of people in NSW regularly participating in organised sport, the need for volunteers and referees has never been greater. The Minister for Sport Steve Kamper reiterated his support for volunteers and referees, highlighting the ongoing need to treat these grassroots sporting heroes with the respect and appreciation they deserve.

The NSW Government is exploring stricter policies to punish violent or abusive behaviour, including lifetime bans from all sporting venues, sanctions against teams or clubs where individuals are allowed to be involved after being suspended, and a greater campaign to en-courage respectful behaviour.

These mechanisms and sanctions will be tailored to individual sports and will be developed through deep consultation to ensure their effectiveness.

The NSW Government has begun working with major codes, venue operators and community groups to investigate new penalties aimed at protecting sporting volunteers and referees.

Statewide Pharmacy Prescribing Trial To Begin

Women across NSW will be able to access treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections from community pharmacists from Monday, 15 May 2023, as the NSW Government’s state-wide community pharmacy prescribing trial gets underway.

Mr Park said under the trial, the NSW Government has committed to covering the $20 patient consultation rebate, even if no medicines are dispensed, meaning the only out-of-pocket costs for women seeking treatment should be for the medication they need.

Starting from July, the trial will also be extended to include the resupply of the oral contraceptive pill.

Women aged 18-65 will be eligible for UTI treatment, while women aged 18-35 who have been prescribed a low risk contraceptive pill by a GP or nurse in the last two years, and who are only using it for contraception, will be eligible for the oral contraceptive pill.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said around 100 community pharmacies across the state will participate in this first stage of the trial. More community pharmacies across NSW will be included in the trial after the middle of the year.