A petition, that has already secured 20,000 signatures, has called for dance schools to reopen as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. The petition was launched by Benjamin Stokes, owner of Commotion Performing Arts and support network Studiosavvy, to highlight the impact of COVID-19 closures on dance schools. Mr Stokes said the wellbeing and safety of students was his primary concern, however, with other businesses allowed to reopen, he wanted dance schools to be considered. “It is merely holding up a big exclamation mark or a big arrow saying hey please don’t forget about us, and look at us over here, and…
Author: Savannah Meacham
University of Wollongong medical honours students have had to adapt and change their honours projects as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. UOW medical and health sciences honours student Lillian Rowland has changed her project because she couldn’t access a lab. Ms Rowland said she was asked to consider deferring for six months due to the impacts on the practical experiments required for her project. The impact of COVID-19 has seen economic consequences and the loss of research positions as the Rapid Research Information Forum revealed an estimated 7,000 research-related academic staff could lose their positions. Ms Rowland said she had…
New NSW Liquor and Gaming data has revealed an overall increase in the profit made by gaming machines in the Illawarra and Sutherland shire. The Wollongong local government area (LGA) showed a 14% increase in the net profit made by gaming machines between 2017 and 2019, and Sutherland saw a 16% increase in the same time period. The net profit of the gaming machines refers to the combined profit from electronic gaming machines for all hotels within the LGA for a given period. The data revealed only 30% tax was taken from the net profit made by electronic gaming machines…
Wollongong City Council has announced new funding grants to support creatives through the challenges of COVID-19. The council said the one-off $30,000 Creative Wollongong Quick Response Grants scheme was designed to support and showcase the development of new creative work in the Illawarra. “We’re introducing this grant program as a way to acknowledge, and support, the vital contribution artists, musicians, and performers make to our cultural landscape, and to assist in their creative processes,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said. UOW student and photographer Jasmine Tan welcomed the announcement and was excited to have the opportunity to showcase her…
The NSW Government has announced students will return to schools one day a week from the third week in Term 2. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced students would return to face-to-face teaching from May 11, and gradually increase attendance over the term until students return to a full timetable by Term 3. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said schools across the state would decide on how to logistically implement the change to ensure attendance remains staggered. Blue Mountains Grammar School teacher Dirk Weibye said the transition to face-to-face learning would be difficult due to inflexible school timetables. He said…