Hills District Independent August 2020 #62 August 2020 | Page 20

POLITICS
Leading the nation in virtual healthcare
with Ray Williams MP
COVID-19 – stay informed
As the coronavirus pandemic is
changing daily, it is vital that you are
aware of any changes to measures being
put in place to protect you, your loved
ones and the greater community.
For the most timely and accurate
advice, you can follow NSW Health, NSW
Government, NSW Incidents and Service
NSW on Facebook.
Student safety increased
Safety for students at Kenthurst
Public School and William Clarke
College will be strengthened as they
each prepare to welcome a new school
crossing supervisor, thanks to the NSW
Government’s $18.5 million commitment
to increasing student safety around
schools.
As a result of the NSW Government’s
plan to fast track the appointment of 300
new school crossing supervisors within
three years, we look forward to welcoming
our new school crossing supervisors over
the coming months.
Tackling congestion in Castle Hill
The Federal and State Governments
have committed $240 million to fix
congestion hotspots around Sydney.
The funding injection is helping deliver
improvements for motorists in Castle Hill.
Work on intersection upgrades to
Showground Road will: improve bus
priority and access at Showground
Road and Carrington Road; will improve
intersection capacity to ease congestion
and support the Hills Showground Metro
station with improved access; improve
traffic flow, safety and ease congestion for
all road users and improve bus travel time
and reliability.
NSW to lead the nation in virtual
healthcare
The NSW Government will investigate
a wider roll-out of virtual healthcare
services following the successful
expansion of the NSW virtual health
system during COVID-19. NSW patients
and clinicians have embraced virtual
healthcare, with a 700 per cent increase in
the use of virtual health services over the
four months from February to May 2020,
compared with the same period last year.
Have mild symptoms? Get tested
now!
Even mild symptoms like a cough can
be a sign of COVID-19. Get peace of mind
and help stop the spread by visiting a
local testing clinic immediately. COVID-19
tests are free and quick to perform. Find
your local testing clinic: www.nsw.gov.au/
covid-19/testing-clinics.
STATE NEWS WITH
DAVID ELLIOTT MP
In July, I welcomed eight new puppies to the
NSW Police Dog Unit. In 18 months, these little
crime fighters will be deployed to assist our law
en-paws-ment agencies with drug detection,
search and rescue and the bomb squad.
with David Elliott MP
Discount on senior pets for seniors
NSW Seniors Card and Senior Savers
Card holders looking for a canine
companion or feline friend in Baulkham
Hills can take advantage of a 50 per cent
discount on adoption fees for senior pets
(i.e. eight years or older) at RSPCA NSW
shelters.
Free delivery of the new pet can be
arranged for seniors living within 45
minutes of a RSPCA shelter. Seniors who
take up this offer will also receive a 10 per
cent discount on veterinary treatment at
RSPCA NSW hospitals.
If a senior is no longer able to
look after their pet, the animal can be
returned to RSPCA NSW or re-fostered
under the free Home Ever After (HEA)
program.
For more information, visit www.
seniorscard.nsw.gov.au/discounts/
homepageoffers/rspca-senior-pets-offer.
NSW leads the way to protect our
most vulnerable
The NSW Ageing and Disability
Commission, led by Robert Fitzgerald AM,
has handled more than 3,800 matters in
its first year, of which almost two-thirds
related to abuse, neglect and exploitation
of older people and adults with disability.
The Commission was established last
year to improve oversight, strengthen
safeguards, and fill a gap not addressed
by existing complaint and investigative
bodies. Since its inception, 65 community
engagement sessions have been held,
reaching about 200,000 frontline workers,
service providers and volunteers.
Anyone who suspects that an older
person or an adult with a disability is
being abused, neglected or exploited in
their family, home or the community,
should contact the Ageing and Disability
Abuse Helpline on 1800 628 221.
For more information about the
Commission, visit www.adc.nsw.gov.au.
20 ISSUE 62 // AUGUST 2020 www.hdinews.com.au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT