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The early childhood workforce is set to boom with the NSW Government committing 25,000 fee-free training places to bolster the pipeline of skilled and job-ready workers for the early learning and care sector. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said fee-free courses will help people upskill and boost budgets by removing barriers to accessing quality vocational education and training. “This investment in fee-free courses enables you to get a job in an incredibly rewarding industry, study for free, and earn while you learn,” Mr Saunders said. “There’s never been a better time to access fee-free courses to get skilled […]

Dubbo electorate councils and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for a share of $600,000 to run programs aimed at reducing social isolation among seniors. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grants Program can provide a social lifeline for seniors who live alone. “This funding is about helping foster environments where people can come together, meet new people, and enjoy themselves in their local community,” Mr Saunders said. “Across NSW, there were 50 projects in the previous two rounds that successfully promoted social inclusion, reduced seniors’ isolation and loneliness, and provided meaningful

Mudgee is set to welcome a new Rural Crime Investigator as part of the largest increase in police numbers in more than 30 years. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the new position creates a unit of two specialist investigators in Mudgee, in addition to the existing two specialist investigators already based in Dubbo. “Our farmers have been through enough in recent years without having low-life criminals trespassing and stealing or destroying the fruits of their labour,” Mr Saunders said. “Rural crime doesn’t only hurt our farmers, it impacts entire regional communities, and the confidence in the sector

Local artists and organisations that shine a light on innovation, vibrancy and creativity in the Dubbo electorate arts and cultural sector can benefit from funding available from the NSW Government. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said applications are open for the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) for projects that will increase access and availability of arts and cultural experiences across NSW. “I’m calling for our local arts and cultural organisations, professional artists at all stages of their careers and across all artforms – as well as arts and cultural workers – to apply for funding

This National Stroke Week (8-14 August 2022) Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is recognising the successful rollout of the NSW Telestroke Service at Dubbo. Mr Saunders said the NSW Telestroke Service is an important weapon in the fight against stroke. “Stroke is a time critical medical emergency that can kill up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute, so every second counts,” Mr Saunders said. “Having access to Telestroke is a huge boost for our local patients and clinicians. “The innovative service provides 24/7 access to life-saving stroke diagnosis and treatment, connecting patients and local doctors with specialist

Australia’s iconic Midnight Oil will headline the Mundi Mundi Bash near Broken Hill in the only outback performance of the band’s final ever tour, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund.   Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the support would bolster tourism in the region with the three-day festival to draw an estimated 9,000 visitors to western NSW.  “Catching one of the country’s greatest bands play on the red dirt for the final time, against one of the most spectacular backdrops regional NSW has on offer, cements the outback as

Seven young people from Dubbo are one step closer to becoming police officers following their graduation from the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program (IPROWD). Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the IPROWD program is designed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed in emergency services.  “The program not only opens opportunities for employment in the NSW Police Force, but in other emergency and public service areas,” Mr Saunders said. “Police go above and beyond to protect and serve our community each and every day, and this program engages locals to continue

A memorial garden to commemorate the lives and sacrifice of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and support personnel, killed in the line of duty, has been unveiled at Dubbo today. Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke, Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders and RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers officially opened the memorial garden, which contains the names of nearly 100 personnel who have lost their lives protecting others. Ms Cooke said it was important to commemorate the fallen RFS members and support personnel, who bravely stepped up in some of the State’s

Regional communities across western NSW will be better protected during emergencies with a new multi-purpose NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) helicopter unveiled at Dubbo. Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke and Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders joined RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers at the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Dubbo base today to launch the $6 million helicopter. “This is the first time the RFS has permanently based a helicopter in Dubbo, representing a significant boost to emergency response capabilities across the Central West of NSW,” Ms Cooke said. “The RFS responds to

Community organisations can now apply for their share of $400,000 to help bring the state’s road toll towards zero as part of the latest round of the Community Road Safety Grants program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said applications opened today for grants of up to $5,000 for smaller projects, or up to $30,000 for more substantial projects. “The aim of the program is to support not-for-profit groups to deliver targeted programs that can directly address road safety issues at a grassroots level,” Mr Saunders said. “There are a range of community groups in the Dubbo electorate that