Young Australians forced out of work by COVID-19 face the prospect of long-term unemployment as the pandemic halts economic growth. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show youth unemployment (15-24 years) surged from 11.5 per cent in March to 13.8 per cent in April. The national average unemployment rate jumped from 5.2 per cent to 6.2 per cent in the same one-month period. Young Australians have been faring worse in unemployment since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008. University of Melbourne economics professor, Jeff Borland said high youth unemployment stems from slower economic growth…
Author: Sarah Harvey
The Illawarra District Rugby League’s (IDRL) 2020 season remains uncertain despite the state government announcing junior sport can recommence next month. The announcement made on Tuesday confirmed restrictions on under 18 community sporting competitions would be lifted from July 1. The news was welcomed by New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) who yesterday announced plans to restart junior competitions from July 18. IDRL manager, Chris Bannerman said there are a number of hurdles to overcome before the season can restart. “Before any training can take place, clubs have to appoint a COVID-19 safety officer and they have to submit a…
A new report is calling for an overhaul of Australia’s palliative care system after research revealed $464 million could be saved each year if at-home end-of-life services were better funded. The KPMG report released yesterday found an additional annual investment of $365 million would allow more patients with life-limiting conditions to access palliative care at home, reducing broader healthcare system costs. It comes one day after the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck announced the federal government will invest $57.2 million to improve palliative care in aged-care facilities nationwide. Released as part of National Palliative Care Week,…
New Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 58 per cent of businesses in arts and recreation services have reported employees do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper scheme. The sector was one of the first to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with venues forced to close across the country in mid-March. Since then, the multi-billion-dollar industry has seen a 27 per cent decrease in jobs, and many employees have found themselves unable to access financial assistance. Music venue, La La La’s, is one of many local businesses to have struggled amid the pandemic. The venue…
A local quilting group is calling on the community to support their ongoing efforts to create quilts for people affected by the Black Summer bushfires. Members of the Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild began the ‘bushfireblocks – Quilts for Australia’ campaign in January and have spent the past three months producing handmade quilts for bushfire victims across the country. Guild member, Fiona, said the group was inspired to help after they watched bushfires tear through communities on the NSW south coast earlier this year. “We felt the need to do something, so we put a call out for people to create…
The cruise ship at the centre of Australia’s coronavirus outbreak will be subject to a special commission of inquiry. The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today an inquiry to investigate why the Ruby Princess was allowed to dock and passengers disembark in Sydney last month. Esteemed barrister Bret Walker has been appointed to lead the inquiry that will run alongside a criminal investigation into the ship’s deadly COVID-19 outbreak. Labor Shadow Minister for Health and Member for Keira Ryan Park welcomed the news. He hoped the investigation would uncover who was responsible for the cruise ship “disaster”. https://twitter.com/sarah_harvey99/status/1250205985571885056?s=20 Image: AAP
Australian Year 12 students have been assured they will receive an ATAR university rank and graduate at the end of the year, despite COVID-19. The Federal Minister for Education, Dan Tehan yesterday announced that the Commonwealth and states have agreed that all Year 12 students will finish high school this year. “For all those students out there, for all those parents out there, there will be no year 13, there will be no mass repeating. You will get your leaving certificate this year,” he said. The announcement comes after the national COAG Education Council met on Tuesday to discuss the…