2017 REGIONAL DENTISTRY SCHOLARSHIP
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Applications are now open for the 2017 Regional Dentistry Scholarship which is financially supported by the Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.
The scholarship will be presented to a person commencing dentistry studies next year and Senator Williams will contribute $4,800 towards their first year costs.
Applicants must have lived in regional New South Wales for at least five years from the age of 5 and must be commencing full-time study in an accredited Australian dentistry degree in 2017.
The successful applicant will be selected on the basis of the length of time they have lived in regional New South Wales as well as their financial need and their demonstrated commitment to living and working in regional New South Wales.
The scholarship is administered by the National Rural Health Alliance which offers support throughout the year and the successful student will have access to mentoring from an experienced dentist.
Senator Williams said the 2017 scholarship will be the 8th to be awarded.
Application forms and guidelines are available at www.ruralhealth.org.au and close on the 20th of February.
BACKPACKER TAX A WIN FOR COMMONSENSE, NOT POLITICS
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Tonight’s passing of legislation for a backpacker tax of 15% ends weeks of uncertainty for Australian farmers and small businesses, but it should never have got to this.
The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams said he could not believe that those who depend on backpackers to work for them would be treated as punching bags by the Labor Party, the Greens and some of the crossbenches.
Senator Williams said the Government had done the right thing in offering to reduce the tax rate from 19% to 15% even though it was a $120 million hit on the Budget, and said he and his Coalition colleagues were disappointed to see crossbench members vote it down on
BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
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The Australian Government has announced the new Building Better Regions Fund that will see major investment in projects that will create jobs and build stronger rural, regional and remote communities into the future.
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash has announced a $297 million fund to deliver infrastructure projects and community activities located outside the major capital cities, and Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams says it will be available in two streams.
He said the Infrastructure Projects Stream will invest in projects that involve the construction of new infrastructure or the upgrade of existing infrastructure.
GRANTS FOR RURAL GENERAL PRACTICE
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Teaching, training and retaining the next generation of health workers in rural, regional and remote Australia is a priority for the Australian Government.
The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams says the Coalition Government has moved to streamline the former Rural and Regional Teaching Infrastructure Grants programme to better respond to the needs of rural communities and support the work of rural general practices.
He said $13.1 million will be provided as infrastructure grants that can be used for construction, fit-out and renovation of an existing general practice building.
Senator Williams said the funding can also be used for the supply and installation of information and communication technology equipment or medical equipment.
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT HUNTER VOLUNTEERS
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Community organisations in Hunter are encouraged to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to assist the work of their volunteers.
The Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said the funding is being made available under the $10 million Volunteer Grant round to support volunteers who give their time and skills to their local groups.
Senator Williams said numerous organisations in Hunter benefited from grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 last year for such things as first aid training and equipment, computer and electronic equipment, and reimbursement for volunteers’ training and fuel costs.
Applications for Volunteer Grants close on the 20th of December 2016 and further information is available at dss.gov.au/grants.
The Editor Armidale Express
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Contrary to claims published on Wednesday the 26th of October (Plibersek visits Minimbah School, Indigenous education believed to be at risk) the Coalition Government cares more about needs-based funding to our students than Labor. We’ve made it clear that we want needs-based, sector blind funding that focuses on quality school initiatives and outcomes.
Some people may think that what we have now (as implemented by Labor) is needs-based funding as David Gonski recommended. It is not. Gonski review author Ken Boston said it is a ‘corruption’ of Gonski and what those experts tried to achieve.
Students in one State are getting different amounts to students in another State, despite their funding characteristics being the same.
Indigenous education policy has a better probability of success if ownership resides in the community. Indigenous students need to be able to see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority enables all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.