NEW Australian research finds students’ sense of belonging and relationships at school are more strongly linked to future wellbeing than a range of other school characteristics. School connectedness refers to how strongly a student feels connected with other people within their school community, including their sense of belonging and relationships with peers, teachers and others […]

LEGISLATION giving law enforcement stronger powers to investigate and disrupt organised crime, and increasing penalties for those who facilitate serious offending, have passed NSW Parliament. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crime Reforms) Bill 2026 includes new powers for the NSW Crime Commission and NSW Police to combat organised crime. It also introduces […]

MOTORCYCLISTS on NSW roads are at far greater risk of being killed in a crash than other motor vehicle users, according to the NSW Government’s Towards Zero campaign. Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 20.7 per cent of all road fatalities and nearly 4,500 injuries in 2024 despite motorcycles making up only 3.7 per cent of registered […]

THE NSW Government has launched the first major review of the NSW Community Transport Program in more than a decade, as the 40-year-old program continues to connect people across NSW with essential services and their communities. Each year, the NSW Government invests $13 million in the vital program, which helps eligible people who may not […]

ANIMAL rescue and rehoming organisations across NSW can now apply for a share of $1.5 million in NSW Government funding to help care for vulnerable cats and dogs and find them safe new homes. Round 2 of the NSW Government’s Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grant Program is now open. “I encourage every eligible rehoming […]

MEMBER for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer MP has condemned the NSW Labor Government for not doing enough to support regional drivers. Mr Dwyer welcomed the recently announced $100 rego discount, saying it was a NSW Liberals commitment adopted by the state government. “Any cost-of-living relief is welcome,” Mr Dwyer said. “I’m glad local families will […]

LICENSED venues across the Mid North Coast Police District have joined forces to bar troublesome patrons from every licenced venue across the region under an expanded multi-venue barring policy. The unified initiative sees the Nambucca, Hastings, and Macleay Liquor Accords working in direct partnership to ensure troublemakers barred in one town can no longer simply […]

SCREEN time in all NSW public schools will be capped from the beginning of Term 1, 2027, as the NSW Government takes action to help curb excessive screen use, improve students’ attention, and lift educational outcomes. Public schools will limit Kindergarten to Year 2 students to 15 minutes a day on laptops, tablets or desktop […]

IT’S time for aged care workers around the country to strike a pose, because Ageing Australia is looking to showcase photographs of the best in the sector. So many people contribute in positive and amazing ways to the care of older Australians, and Ageing Australia is holding a Humans of Aged Care photo competition to […]

THE Mid North Coast has recorded another positive test result for the deadly H5 bird flu virus in one of five new detections announced today across NSW. Locally, positive test results were all returned from samples of terns and included birds at Bonny Hills, in the Camden Haven; Boomerang Beach, on the Mid North Coast; […]