Forum on COVID-19 support for small business
I invite Upper Hunter electorate small business operators impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown to participate in a support forum being held this week.
The online event will be attended by Minister for Finance and Small Business, the Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC, and NSW Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont.
The NSW Government has implemented several types of financial support to help businesses across the state as part of the COVID-19 support package, which Minister Tudehope will outline.
The Small Business Commissioner will focus on the role and services available through the NSW Small Business Commission.
The forum is being held on Thursday 16 September from 6pm for approximately one hour.
To secure your place at the virtual forum email upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au
A Service NSW representative will be available to answer questions. Written questions are encouraged and should be emailed to my office prior to the meeting.
Full HSC to go ahead
All HSC students will get the opportunity to complete their studies in 2021, with the full complement of HSC exams to go ahead from 9 November 2021.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has issued a revised timetable, with 118 exams taking place over 19 days, ending on 3 December.
Students will receive their ATARs on 20 January 2022, with their HSC results released on 24 January.
Strict COVID safe protocols supported by NSW Health will be in place to protect students, exam supervisors and school staff when HSC exam start on 9 November 2021.
The protocols for a COVID-safe HSC require exam supervisors to be fully vaccinated and strongly encourage eligible HSC students to receive two vaccine doses before exams start.
Other safety measures include:
Mandatory face masks for students and staff, indoors and outdoors
Check-in and health screening protocols for students and staff
Physical distancing between students and staff at all times
Minimising mingling of student groups
Keeping exam group sizes as small as possible
Desks spaced a minimum of 1.5 metres apart and exam rooms well ventilated
Hygiene marshals and regular cleaning of exam rooms.
An illness and misadventure process is available for students who are unable to attend an exam due to having a positive COVID-19 test result, or being a close contact.
2021 Anzac Community Grants
The Anzac Community Grants Program provides small grants for a range of projects that commemorate and educate New South Wales communities about the service and sacrifices of current and former military servicemen and women.
Projects which support activities benefiting the NSW veteran community are also eligible for funding.
Grant categories include local community historical research and education, preservation or display of war memorabilia, public commemorative events, arts and culture and providing support to members of the NSW veteran community.
Applications are to be lodged online via the NSW Office of Veterans Affairs SmartyGrants platform by 5pm on 11 November 2021.