From 11:59pm Sunday 2 August all Victorians must wear a face mask or face covering when leaving home.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent reminded residents of the importance of wearing a face mask or face coverings when leaving home from midnight on Sunday.

“While the requirement to wear a mask might feel like a significant change to our daily lives at first, wearing a face mask plays an important role in reducing the spread of the coronavirus and further protecting our community.

“We are fortunate in Gippsland that our local cases of coronavirus have remained so low compared to metropolitan Melbourne.

“However, we cannot become complacent and need to remain vigilant in maintaining good hygiene and adhering to the health directives from both our Victorian and Commonwealth health departments, including the wearing of face masks,” Mr Broadbent said.

A face mask includes any paper or textile covering designed or made to be worn over the nose and mouth to protect the wearer. It does not have to be medical grade and you can make your own.

“Across my community I am seeing many creative and decorative face masks being made and I encourage everyone to look local when purchasing your face mask to wear.

“A face covering on its own is not enough to slow the spread of the virus and locals are reminded that keeping 1.5 metres between yourself and others and washing your hands are still the best defences against coronavirus.

“Remember if a face mask is not available other forms of face covering may be used such as a scarf or bandana.

“Thank you to all those in our community doing great work at keeping our local case numbers low, keep looking out for one another and remember to adhere to social distancing measures and continue to practice good hygiene by regularly washing your hands,” Mr Broadbent said.

Applications for the Australian Government’s $53 million Regional Connectivity Program are now open.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the opening of applications to the program, and encouraged regional development organisations, telecommunications providers, as well as government organisations in Monash to collaborate on projects and apply for funding.

The Program will provide targeted investment in local telco infrastructure projects to maximise economic and social opportunities in regional and remote communities across the country.

“We are taking a ‘place‑based’ approach to investment through the program because we recognise that regions such as West and South Gippsland, Bass Coast and the Latrobe Valley have distinct digital needs and in some cases require customised solutions to complement existing infrastructure,” Mr Broadbent said.

Examples of projects that could be funded under the program include upgrades to mobile infrastructure to improve community access to telehealth, remote education and retail internet and phone services, or the development of enterprise-grade broadband networks to support local agricultural, manufacturing and tourism businesses to increase their online presence.

“Collaboration is the key to this program. We are looking for projects that will provide the most profound benefit to local communities and by joining forces, I’m confident we will see many great solutions come from our rural communities to improve services our people need.

“I encourage applicants to use the Program Noticeboard to share ideas and work together to develop proposals that will improve connectivity for our region and drive benefits for our community,” Mr Broadbent said.

The online Program Noticeboard provides a portal for collaboration where applicants can find and register potential projects, linking regional communities and industry providers.

Applications are open until 20 October 2020 (5:00pm AEDT). The guidelines and application process is available on the Government’s central grants website: www.grants.gov.au

The Australian Government is committed to helping young Australians gain employment with $10 million dedicated to assist in connecting those looking for work to jobs.

The new PaTH Business Placement Partnerships program aims to connect young job seekers to employers with significant workforce needs in growing industries.

This program will trial government and industry co-designing employment pathways for young workers using elements of the Youth Jobs PaTH Program and other existing programs and training services.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said that working with industry to connect people with opportunities was imperative to help people to gain employment.

“Partnering with industry to get our youth into work is essential so that young people are not left behind during the recovery from COVID-19.

“As a former small business owner I know just how important it is that we continue to support our young people in entering the workforce.

“We know from past experience that young people wear a greater risk of unemployment when the labour market contracts and even as it recovers.

“By working closely with industry during the recovery, the Government is delivering on creating more employment pathways to real jobs for young people.

“Through this trial program, the Australian Government will work with industry to co-design youth employment pathways, using elements of the Youth Jobs PaTH program and other existing Government-funded employment and training services,” Mr Broadbent said.

PaTH Business Placement Partnerships will test the effectiveness of youth employment pathways designed by industry and facilitate access to jobs for young people in those industries.

A range of industry partners will be approached through a limited tender to establish a panel to respond to emerging opportunities and forward plan through the next two years.

The aim is to link with the Youth Jobs PaTH, which helps young people learn skills that employers need and gives them a chance to demonstrate those skills in the workplace.

Through Youth Jobs PaTH, businesses can also receive a wage subsidy of up to $10,000 for eligible participants to help settle them into the workplace.

At the end of June 2020, 98,472 young people had participated in at least one element of Youth Jobs PaTH with 60,980 obtaining a job placement.

The limited tender will be conducted in August 2020.

For more information about Youth Jobs PaTH, visit: www.jobs.gov.au/youth-jobs-path

The JobKeeper program and the Coronavirus Supplement have been extended for those in Monash under the next phase of our support for affected businesses and households.

This unprecedented economic support for local businesses and their workers is helping the Monash community through the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstering our economic recovery.

Under the Morrison Government’s next phase of support, the JobKeeper Payment will continue at its current level until 27 September, after which it will be extended for a further six months to 28 March 2021.

A two-tiered payment will also be introduced so as to better reflect the pre-COVID-19 income of payment recipients.

Specifically, from 28 September until 3 January next year, the two payments will be $1,200 and $750 per fortnight, with the lower payment for employees who worked less than 20 hours a week in the month of February pre-COVID-19.

From 4 January to 28 March next year, the two payments will be $1,000 and $650.

The temporary Coronavirus Supplement for those on income support will also be extended until 31 December 2020.  The $550 per fortnight Supplement will continue until 24 September.

From 25 September until 31 December, the Supplement will be $250 per fortnight, reducing by the same amount as the JobKeeper payment.

Mr Broadbent said “this continued support for Australians who are without work, and for businesses and their workers will help our community to not only get through this crisis, but recover on the other side.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the extension of support recognises that Australia’s economic recovery is still in its early stages and a number of local businesses and individuals remain significantly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Morrison Government’s focus remains on reopening the economy where it is safe to do so, but the extension of these measures recognises that some parts of the economy will continue to be affected and need continued support,” the Treasurer said.

“Sadly, as a result of this global health pandemic, businesses will close and people will lose their jobs, but that is why we have extended the Coronavirus Supplement and announced a new skills package to help people transition from welfare to work,” the Treasurer said.

Mr Broadbent said “We are extending the JobKeeper payment beyond September to help keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs as our economy reopens.”

“The program has made a difference to local businesses in Monash by keeping a connection between employers and employees to help them get to the other side of the crisis.”

For more information: treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

People living and travelling through Berrys Creek will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay connected with family and friends.

The new mobile base station is now switched on and will significantly improve phone service in Berrys Creek as well as the area between Mirboo North and Leongatha along the Strzelecki Highway.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said the switch on of the new mobile base station in Berrys Creek under the Mobile Black Spot Program reflects the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to further improving connectivity in regional areas.

“This significant investment as part of the Mobile Black Spot Program means that people living, working and travelling in across Monash will now have better mobile coverage.

“The Government knows how frustrating it is to be talking on the phone or browsing the internet and then lose service, so this new base station will be greatly appreciated by many travellers who have had their phone call drop out on the Strzelecki Highway at Berrys Creek.

The new mobile base station was completed by Telstra and is the latest of two new sites across Monash to receive new or improved mobile coverage under the program.

“By improving reception at Berrys Creek, more farmers will be able to utilise technology on their properties, students will have better access to the internet and families will be able to stay connected with their loved ones.

“I am pleased that with this new tower in Berrys Creek, and a second tower in Aberfeldy earlier this year, that local residents and businesses would now have better service in more locations.

“Our continued investment in mobile phone base stations is further proof of the Government’s commitment to connecting Australians, wherever they are, particularly in regional towns like Berrys Creek,” Mr Broadbent said.

More information about the Mobile Black Spot Program is available at www.communications.gov.au/mbsp.

The Commonwealth Government will invest $2 billion to give hundreds of thousands of Australians access to new skills by retraining and upskilling them into sectors with job opportunities.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister saying that the new JobTrainer skills package will also guarantee support for tens of thousands of apprentices in jobs across Australia, including the Monash electorate by subsidising their wages to keep them employed and their training secured.

The new $1 billion JobTrainer Fund will provide up to an additional 340,700 training places across Australia to help school leavers and job seekers access pre-apprenticeships, short courses and full qualifications to develop new skills in growth sectors and create a pathway to more qualifications.

Courses will be free or low cost in areas of identified need, with the Federal Government providing $500 million with matched contributions from State and Territory Governments.

“This package will be essential as the economy rebuilds so that people looking for work can reskill and upskill for in-demand jobs, provide school leavers with a pathway into their careers, and ensure businesses are able to get the skilled workers they need.

“2020 has been a challenging year for our nation, and it is critical that we keep our apprentices in jobs and help those looking for work and to reskill,” Mr Broadbent said.

In addition to small businesses already covered, the wage subsidy will now be available to medium businesses with less than 200 employees for apprentices employed as at 1 July 2020. Around 180,000 apprentices and 90,000 small and medium businesses that employ them will now be supported, with the program extended by six months to March 2021.

The initiative covers 50 per cent of the wages paid to apprentices and trainees, up to $7,000 per quarter.

“Backing training, apprentices, and jobs is an essential part of the plan to restore our economy after the coronavirus pandemic and keep Australians in our local area in work,” Mr Broadbent said.

As the economy recovers from COVID19, the Commonwealth Government is helping small businesses to lower their power bills.

From 6 July, small businesses across Australia can apply for a share in $9 million of grants under the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said the grants will help small businesses reduce their power bills, which will ease financial pressure during these tough economic times.

“As small businesses come out of COVID-19 hibernation, we want to help them lower their power bills so they can spend money on more important aspects of their business, or expand and employ more people.

“Small and family businesses across Monash are the lifeblood of our community and the backbone of the Australian economy and providing support to unlock energy savings in their operations will only add to the resilience of these businesses,” Mr Broadbent said.

Up to $20,000 will be available to small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption, invest in monitoring systems to better manage energy use and conduct energy audits to investigate other opportunities for efficiency.

The Energy Efficient Communities Program will deliver grants to help businesses and community organisations to improve energy efficiency practices and technologies, and better manage energy consumption to reduce their power bills.

To ensure an equitable distribution of funding across Australia, up to three grants per electorate will be awarded to eligible small businesses.

Small business owners who wish to apply for a grant can access the guidelines and application forms at business.gov.au, or by telephone on 13 28 46.

The Government is also offering free advice to help small businesses and their representatives get better energy deals and increase their energy efficiency through the Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP).

Further information on BEAP and the Energy Efficient Communities Program is available at energy.gov.au.

From 1 July, young people can access better mental health support with the opening of a new headspace satellite service in Pakenham.

The Pakenham satellite complements parent site Headspace Narre Warren and will offer services to support young people’s mental health, physical health and access to alcohol and other drugs services.

The site forms part of the Australian Government’s investment in 2019 of more than $111 million to increase the number of headspace sites from 115 to 145.

“I am pleased that this funding and Headspace satellite service in Pakenham will help young people access the services they need, assist in improving mental health outcomes and helping to ensure young people can find a clear way ahead”, Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said.

“The Pakenham centre will not only be of assistance to Pakenham residents but also a valuable service for our young people from Koo Wee Rup and further afield in accessing support services and integrated health services local to their community”, he said.

While we are currently going through a challenging period with the impact of COVID-19, this new service in Pakenham will provide additional services to support our young people.

Funded by the Australian Government through the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), Headspace Pakenham will be operated by EACH, which also supports young people’s mental health in south eastern Melbourne through Headspace sites in Narre Warren, Dandenong and Hastings.

“As a community mental health service provider with over 45 years’ experience in delivering a range of integrated health and support services, we understand the importance of these services being easy to access and delivered in a youth-friendly way”, EACH CEO Peter Ruzyla said.

“Headspace Pakenham will improve accessibility to services and improve mental health outcomes for young people, especially at this time. We know that young people are most likely to experience psychological, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic the most and so the opening of this new Headspace site is timely”, Mr Ruzyla said.

“EACH is proud to be a committed contributor to the Headspace initiative and delighted to have this opportunity to provide this vital service to the Pakenham community”, he said.

SEMPHN CEO Elizabeth Deveny said bringing services closer to young people is essential to providing accessible care.

“Reducing barriers to care is important, particularly for young people as they may not have navigated many health services before”, Ms Deveny said. “Services like Headspace encourage young people to reach out when they need support which we know is especially important during this pandemic.”

Headspace strongly encourages young people in the area to reach out when they may feel overwhelmed, particularly during times of uncertainty.

Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said, “We know with the right support we can help young people get through tough times and get back on track. It’s been a particularly tough time for young people recently and it’s great that Headspace, a service trusted by young people, will be able to provide support to the local community”.

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Headspace Pakenham will be delivering services to young people via phone and online rather than in-person, at this time.

The Headspace Pakenham site is located at the Corner Main St & McGregor Rd Pakenham.  Services are available remotely from 10am – 6pm, Tuesday – Thursday.

For more information, visit: https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/pakenham/ or call 1800 367 968 to make a referral.

Russell Broadbent MP
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