Snippets…

Extra Help To Phase Out Single-Use Plastics: More than 40,000 businesses across NSW will be supported to phase-out single-use plastics in line with the NSW Government’s recently announced Plastics Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021. The NSW Government is partnering with the National Retail Association (NRA) to co-design and deliver a campaign to help businesses transition away from single-use plastics. Almost every piece of plastic ever made is still with us. More than 2.7 billion plastic items end up in NSW waterways each year – wreaking havoc on the environment and endangering wildlife. Over the next nine months the NRA will visit more than 650 retail precincts providing factsheets, signage and advice. The supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags will cease from 1st June, with the supply of single-use plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, plates and bowls, cotton buds, expanded polystyrene food containers, and products containing plastic microbeads ending from 1st November. The program will also focus on supporting distributors, importers, manufacturers and not-for profit organisations. The NRA has launched a free hotline 1800 844 946 to offer businesses, community organisations and consumers advice on the single-use plastic bans. For more information visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban

Representative Sport Returns: School representative sports events returned this week, allowing students to travel to compete after an almost year long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of school representative sport provides much-needed stimulus to regional communities with statewide championships and trials adding up to almost $20 million for local communities annually. More than 100 statewide championships and trials involving 28 sports are held across NSW each year.

Record Number Of Scholarships: A record number of scholarships have been awarded to early childhood educators in NSW to boost the availability, accessibility, and quality of early learning and care. More than 100 educators across the state will receive up to $20,000 each to support their study of a Bachelor-level Early Childhood Teaching qualification. The scholarship program is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to increase the number of early childhood teachers working in the sector in NSW. Further details are available on the department’s website 2021- 22 Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Scholarships and Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program (nsw.gov.au)

Upgrades For Men’s Sheds: The NSW Government will contribute $1.62 million to upgrading a significant number of Men’s Sheds across the state. The funding from the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus program will provide improvements to more than 20 Men’s Sheds in Sydney and regional areas. A study by Beyond Blue found Men’s Shed members can fare better with general health, vitality and mental health. Australian Men’s Shed Association NSW President John Sharples said the upgrades would empower men and create renewed interest in the initiative. “We have 377 sheds in NSW with about 20,000 members.”