The state government is backing Victoria’s small business sector by re-establishing the Small Business Ministerial Council – ensuring small businesses are heard, consulted and engaged.

Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman today appointed a Chair and members to the recently re-established Council, who will advise on key issues affecting the sector, including government policies, programs and services designed for Victorian small businesses.

Dr Suji Sanjeevan has been appointed as the new council Chair. Dr Sanjeevan is the Founder and Director of a multi-award-winning business creating boutique candles in Melbourne, Light & Glo Designs. Dr Sanjeevan is also the Co-Founder and Director of scent marketing company BrandScent.

The council members bring a mix of skills, business experience and perspectives, which will drive stronger outcomes for the sector. The other members are:

• Dr Michael Akindeju – Principal Consulting Process Engineer at MKPro Engineering
• Susan Benedyka – Founder and Managing Director of The Regional Development Company
• Niti Bhargava – Founder and Principal Broker of GB Financials
• John Burgess – CEO of Little Rocket and Director of First Nations Network
• Orianna Edmonds – dairy farmer and Founder and CEO of Naturally Goat
• Claire Elkin – Founder of Engineering Equilibrium.

Together with the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council, which advocates for the needs of culturally diverse business owners, the Small Business Ministerial Council helps ensure all Victorian small businesses have a voice.

Victoria is proudly home to more than 718,000 small businesses, employing over 1.3 million Victorians and contributing over $417 billion annually to the state’s economy. More than 113,000 new businesses have been created in Victoria in the past five years – an 18 per cent increase, the largest percentage growth of any state.

For more information about the ongoing support for small businesses, visit business.vic.gov.au.

The best young dairy cattle paraders in Australia have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia and will compete in the national finals next month.

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted by the SA Country Shows at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025 and includes paraders of beef and dairy cattle, young judges (beef and dairy cattle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry), the Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state will gather to compete in the annual competition. Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions.

Meet the six finalists in the Dairy Cattle Parading final.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Murray Findlay, 22, Albany

Murray Findlay grew up on and around farms and spent school holidays working on a local dairy farm where he met Russell Hall who introduced him to the world of cattle showing. After a gap year on the farm, Murray moved to Perth to study a Bachelor of Agribusiness, graduating in 2024.

“Since 2019, I have shown for multiple exhibitors at the Albany Show, Harvey Show/WA Autumn Fair and the Brunswick Show as well as showing beef cattle while I was at ag school. I have competed in a number of state finals and last year I competed in the National Dairy Paraders competition representing Western Australia in Melbourne. My show highlights are winning the Highest Dairy Achiever at Cattle Camp and my first handlers class at the Brunswick Show.”

QUEENSLAND | Patrick English, 20, Malanda

Patrick has been hands-on with the preparation and presentation of his family’s large show teams from a young age. He works full-time at the Mareeba Saleyards and part-time on the family’s dairy farm. A standout moment in his show career was the Royal Queensland Show when his family claimed both Supreme Intermediate Female and Supreme Champion Cow in 2019.

“My family are multi-generational dairy farmers and have exhibited dairy cows at every Malanda Show since 1916. Our family has always been competitive – with six siblings there is always competition – and I have enjoyed parading animals since I could walk.”

NEW SOUTH WALES | Lilly Eagles, 15, Forbes

Lilly was born into dairy life and now co-owns Savvy Ayrshires with her two sisters. She proudly parades her own Ayrshires – Savvy Deluxe Blossom and her dam Paschendaele Ash Blossom – and has been showing cattle since she was little.

Currently in Year 9 at Forbes High School, Lilly is a regular on the show circuit, helping clip and prepare cattle for her school and family friends. Her favourite event is International Dairy Week in Victoria, where she and her sisters show their cattle and lend a hand to other exhibitors. She also enjoys getting involved with beef cattle at local shows like Trundle, Grenfell, and Eugowra.

“My two best moments at a show would have to be winning Junior Champion at the Forbes Show with my Ayrshire, Ash, when she was a heifer – and then taking her to  International Dairy Week where she won Reserve Junior Champion. The other was at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year – I won my paraders class with my heifer Deluxe, then went on to be named Reserve Champion Parader. Now, I get the amazing opportunity to represent New South Wales at the Adelaide Royal.”

VICTORIA| Sienna Ross, 17, Katamatite

Sienna is a proud first-generation dairy farm kid growing up milking cows, rearing calves, and driving tractors. Now in Year 12 and School Captain at Sacred Heart College Yarrawonga, Sienna hopes to one day become a qualified embryo technician.

“My family definitely are the main reason I now have such a love for showing dairy. I have dad’s love of cows, mum’s support and her determination for me to succeed, my brother’s skills building all my new gear, and my sister by my side at all the shows to learn new things.”

SOUTH AUSTRALIA | William Phillpot, 19, Murray Bridge

Showing dairy cows has been a big part of William’s life since age 12, when he attended the SA Dairy Youth Camp and met mentor Bridget Liebelt. Today, William regularly shows top-quality stock alongside Bridget at local and interstate events, and works at Daish Irrigation and Fodder in his hometown.

“I started competing with dairy cattle at a young age, with what first started as a small hobby, quickly grew into a lifelong passion and skill. My dedication and willingness to learn, helped me progress my talent and skills into the show ring. I have had so many amazing opportunities to compete in handlers classes, with much success along the way.”

TASMANIA | William Dudfield, 22, Somerset

William Dudfield has been part of the show ring since he was three years old, and joined paraders competitions at just nine. Growing up on a dairy farm sparked his love for cattle, and even though he now works in civil construction, showing remains a big part of his life. He has been to several national championships and is a successful competitor at the highest levels.

Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia – the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy – describes the competition as a celebration of emerging talent in livestock judging across the country.

“This is an incredibly prestigious event, and earning a spot in the nationals is highly sought after,” Jac said.

“These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia’s food and fibre industries. The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best.”

The winner will also receive a halter from sponsor, The Cattle Shop. Based in Goulburn, NSW the store supplies and stocks cattle grooming gear. Owner Daryl Holder has been involved in the cattle industry for more than 30 years.

“As a business who deals with these young people I want to give back in some way to them. All these young people give up so much to be part of an industry that Australia needs. It is only a small part but hopefully goes a long way,” Daryl said.

The Dairy Cattle Parading final will be held at 12pm on Wednesday, September 3. More on the competition here.

In celebration of National Science Week, Agriculture Victoria’s Get into AgSTEM program has launched a new workshop exploring on-farm energy generation and cultivation of plants under solar panels.
Get into AgSTEM is a free curriculum-linked education program delivered by Agriculture Victoria and offered to secondary school students.
Agriculture Victoria Community Education Manager Anna Vietz said the new Energy Ag – Agrivoltaics workshop gives students the chance to use laboratory-scale solar panels and circuitry to generate power.
‘The workshop offers students the opportunity to get hands-on experience while exploring how global climate change is altering climate variables in Victoria and how this can impact farming.’
‘We are looking forward to rolling out this workshop and welcome any interested school teachers to get in touch with us to find out more,’ Anna said.
The Energy Ag – Agrivoltaics workshop was funded through the Agriculture Energy Investment Program and will be delivered to students across the state.
The innovative Get into AgSTEM program opens the doors to Agriculture Victoria’s state-of-the-art research facilities at AgriBio in Bundoora and the Hamilton, Horsham, Tatura, Mildura and Ellinbank SmartFarms.
Students work to complete practical activities based on current research projects run by scientists at Agriculture Victoria, learning molecular analytical techniques for on-farm efficiency improvements, through to digital data collection for precision agriculture.
By showcasing research and innovation, Get into AgSTEM links studying STEM at school, with high-tech, cross-disciplinary skills that are relevant to future careers in agriculture.
Teachers interested in the program can visit the Agriculture Victoria website for more information: agriculture.vic.gov.au/get-into-agstem

A major new study examining how safe Victorians feel in their homes has revealed an overall positive perception of home safety across the state, with residents rating their safety at an average of 7.66 out of 10 in 2024.

The Victorian Community Safety Perception report analysed 8,021 responses to Neighbourhood Watch Victoria’s ‘How Safe Is My House’ quiz collected between 2021 and 2024—the first Victorian-wide review focused not just on crime data, but on how safe people feel in their homes and what protective actions they take.

The report reveals significant regional variations in safety perceptions, with Western Regional areas consistently reporting the highest safety ratings, while Western Metropolitan areas recorded the lowest scores at 7.29. Despite this variation, all regions maintained ratings above 7 out of 10, indicating a generally positive outlook on home safety across Victoria.

Key findings:

• Western Regional areas reported the highest safety ratings at 7.87, while Western Metropolitan areas recorded the lowest at 7.29.
• Active security adoption is rising – home security system use increased from 53 per cent to 63 per cent in Western Metropolitan areas between 2021-2024.
• The more protective behaviours someone takes, the safer they feel – participants with five or more preventative measures typically rated safety between 8 to 10.
• Knowing neighbours emerged as a key factor in feeling safe.
• Rural areas maintain higher safety confidence with less reliance on technology than metropolitan regions and reported higher safety ratings than metropolitan regions, with some areas recording scores above 9 out of 10.

Neighbourhood Watch Chief Executive Officer Bambi Gordon said this research provides invaluable insights into how Victorians actually feel about their home safety, not just what the statistics tell us.

“The data shows that while crime statistics are important, people’s perceptions of safety are shaped by many factors including their environment, community connections, and personal experiences,” Ms Gordon said.

The study found that safety perceptions are influenced by more than just crime rates or security infrastructure. Cultural background, socioeconomic factors, and community engagement all play significant roles in how safe people feel at home.

“Understanding how residents perceive their safety is crucial for developing effective community safety strategies,” Ms Gordon added.

“This partnership with RACV allows us to bridge the gap between objective safety data and the lived experiences of Victorians.”

Technology and traditional security

The research highlighted an interesting balance between modern security technology and traditional safety practices. While metropolitan areas showed increased adoption of CCTV, alarms, and sensor lights, rural communities maintained high safety ratings with less reliance on active security systems.

“We’re seeing urban residents increasingly turn to technology for peace of mind, while rural communities often rely more on community connections and traditional security practices,” Ms Gordon said.

The study identified several areas for future research, including the relationship between population density and crime perceptions, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on safety behaviours.

Researchers acknowledged limitations in the data, particularly lower response rates in certain Local Government Areas and potential barriers to participation among culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

“This is just the beginning, and we’re committed to expanding this research to ensure all Victorian communities are represented and their safety concerns are understood.”

The Victorian Community Safety Perception Report represents the first comprehensive analysis of its kind in Victoria, providing a baseline for future community safety initiatives and policy development.

The collaboration between Neighbourhood Watch Victoria and RACV has been strengthening community safety across Victoria for over five years. The partnership combines RACV’s safety expertise with Neighbourhood Watch’s deep community connections to deliver practical safety solutions and education.

The “How Safe Is My House” quiz continues to be available to Victorian residents, contributing to ongoing research and providing personalised safety recommendations.

The full Victorian Community Safety Perception Report is available at www.nhw.com.au. The “How Safe Is My House” quiz continues to be available to Victorian residents at www.howsafeismyplace.com.au.

The reed beds are back in Reed Bed Swamp in Guttrum State Forest, and the plan is to keep them there.

Like many wetlands in north central Victoria, Reed Bed Swamp near Koondrook has deteriorated over the past century on the back of climate change, river regulation reducing the frequency and duration of flood flows, and impacts of historic land management practices.

As its name suggests, Reed Bed Swamp was once home to beds of rushes and reeds, and other aquatic vegetation, providing a refuge, feeding, and breeding spot for frogs, turtles, and waterbirds, such as the endangered Australasian bittern.

However, the vegetation that gives Reed Bed Swamp its name has not been seen in the wetland since the height of the Millennium Drought.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been working alongside local Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wemba First Nations people since 2015 to reverse the decline, improve the wetland, and protect it for the future.

“Reeds and other aquatic vegetation such as old man weed are important culturally as well as ecologically,” North Central CMA Program Delivery Executive Manager Rachel Murphy said.

“So, to be able to get to the stage we are at now with vegetation doing so well out there, is a great result.

“We have managed water for the environment flows as well as constructed exclusion plots to give the vegetation the best chance at survival, and it has worked.

“We had a First Nations person tell us recently the wetland is starting to look like it did when they were young, with a green carpet of vegetation and stands of reeds. That was really lovely to hear.”

The next stage in the protection of that vegetation is follow-up water for the environment, which began flowing into Reed Bed Swamp from temporary pumps on the nearby Murray River in mid-August.

“Maintaining that habitat as we come into spring is really important for a whole range of animals,” Ms Murphy said.

“We’ll be aiming for a shallow fill, up to about 60 centimetres in the deeper parts, which is the right amount of water at the right time of the year to support native vegetation.

“Managing the flow this way with these pumps allows us to keep carp out, protecting the vegetation and helping it establish and set seed for future years.

“Water for the environment is more than just about adding water. Managing a wetland like this shows how important on-grounds works can be in complementing flows.”

Reed Bed Swamp is one of the target wetlands for the proposed Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project, which aims to help restore key local floodplains while keeping vital irrigation water in the community.

“It means that if the VMFRP project is approved, we’ll have a head start on making Reed Bed Swamp a healthy, diverse wetland which, in turn, can provide crucial habitat for floodplain animals and act as a seed bank for the rest of the forest,” Ms Murphy said.

The Reed Bed Swamp flows are authorised by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan.

The Plan is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au, with regular watering updates posted on the North Central CMA website www.nccma.vic.gov.au.

The state government is strengthening planning rules to support and secure food production and protect our agricultural land and green wedge as Melbourne grows.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny and Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence has announced an amendment to the Victorian Planning Provisions to make it easier to establish micro-abattoirs where they are needed most.

Under the amendment, micro-abattoirs will be classified as a Section 1 use in the Farming Zone, Rural Activity Zone and Green Wedge Zone, which means they will no longer require a permit – making it faster and easier for projects to get off the ground and operate if they meet regulatory requirements.

This will make sure farmers and producers have better access to abattoir facilities closer to the farm gate subject to environmental, amenity and human health conditions – helping secure Victoria’s food supply.

Micro-abattoirs play an important role for farmers to secure Victoria’s food supply and enhance rural economies, and with these new planning changes, consumers, food providores and restaurants will have more opportunities to access meat.

Micro-abattoirs will be required to remain small, operationally contained, located on the same land as the animal production and away from neighbouring homes and other sensitive uses.

A responsible authority, usually the local council, will continue to manage abattoirs through planning and building permit approvals and enforcement, and their environmental health officers will continue to manage public health matters under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

This will protect Victoria’s farmland and the city’s green wedges from urban encroachment, and is critical for existing communities and generations to come, while also supporting our strong and diverse livestock sector.

The Minister for Planning has released a Ministerial Direction to guide local councils to develop strategies to protect the most important values of their green wedges and consult with Traditional Owners, the community and stakeholders.

Upgrades at two key venues in Bendigo are a step closer, with builders appointed to deliver works that will support the community and attract more sport and major events to the region.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos has announced AW Nicholson has been appointed to lead the upgrades at Bendigo Showgrounds and Fairbrother Pty Ltd will deliver the upgrades at Bendigo Stadium as part of the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

Both builders have experience delivering Bendigo projects ─ Fairbrother delivered the Bendigo Art Gallery and Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub while AW Nicholson was involved in the Bendigo Law Courts Development and Warracknabeal Education Precinct.

Works at Bendigo’s premier sporting venue will include two new courts, refurbishment to courts 9 and 10 and lighting upgrades to the 12 outdoor netball courts to ensure local players and visitors have the facilities they need to participate year-round.

Bendigo Stadium is home to the WNBL Bendigo Spirit, the Bendigo Braves in the NBL1, and the Bendigo Strikers in the Victorian Netball League. It’s also a thriving hub for community sport, as the home of Bendigo Basketball Association, Bendigo Volleyball Association, and the Central Victorian Netball Association.

Upgrades to the Showgrounds include the construction of a new multipurpose pavilion featuring an event space, improvements to the arena with upgraded lighting, and upgrades to entrances and fencing.

The Showgrounds development will ensure it remains a prime venue for community, cultural, and agricultural events, and support local jobs and businesses during the delivery of the project. Bendigo Agricultural Show Society are being involved throughout the project to ensure the best outcome for the community.

Works for both projects are due to begin in coming months and are expected to finish in late 2026.

For more information about the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, visit sport.vic.gov.au/rsip. 

Farmers, farm workers and agricultural business employees impacted by the ongoing drought conditions in the south west can now apply to be part of the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Drought Employment Program.

The Victorian government funded program, delivered in the Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins CMA regions, provides meaningful off-farm employment opportunities for people experiencing hardship because of dry conditions – either through reduced hours, profitability or loss of employment – to take on a role with their CMA over the next 12 months.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA CEO Adam Bester said the program enables not only drought affected workers to be employed but gives their usual employers time to get back on their feet.

The state government is extending support for regional families and businesses following Solstice’s decision to close its compressed natural gas (CNG) network across Victoria.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio has announced new support to help 1,183 impacted Solstice customers electrify their homes in Marong, Terang, Nathalia, Lakes Entrance, Heathcote, Swan Hill, Maldon, Robinvale, Kerang and Orbost.

This is a failed gas supply program, called Energy for the Regions, that was introduced by the former Coalition Government. At the time, the Labor government – then in Opposition – opposed it, warning it would unnecessarily lock regional Victorians into higher bills. Sadly, that has proven correct.

To support households through this, the government is delivering more practical measures through the State Electricity Commission, Solar Victoria and the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

Solar Victoria will temporarily remove the income eligibility cap for Solstice customers in the affected towns, making it easier for more households to get more discounts for solar PV and efficient electric hot water systems.

Households can receive $4,200 in upfront support through a $1,400 rebate for both rooftop solar PV and Australian made hot water units, plus the option of a $1,400 solar PV interest-free loan.

The government is also opening Expression of Interest (EOI) today to identify more electric appliance installers for the VEU program that can support households in these towns to go electric.  

Through the VEU households can get a discount of up to $560 and save up to $330 on their energy bills annually when they replace an existing gas hot water heater with a heat pump water heater.

Eligible households can save up to $1,630 off the cost of installing an energy-efficient hot water system with a Solar Homes hot water rebate plus a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount, with the opportunity to get a further $400 rebate if they choose a locally made product.

The SEC will have a presence through a combination of local community-group information sessions and webinars for Solstice customers in the ten impacted towns.

They will help impacted customers with the process of going electric and use the SEC electric home planner – a free tool to help design a personalised plan to go electric, showing indicative costs, rebates, and potential savings.

For more information on the hot water rebates visit solar.vic.gov.au/supporting-solstice-customers or for information on going electric contact the SEC on 1300 305 700.

For information on support provided by Solstice, call 1800 750 750 or email nextsteps@solsticeenergy.com.au.

Criminals who share their disturbing crimes on social media will face extra jail time under new laws passed by the state government.

The Crimes Amendment (Performance Crime) Act 2025 outlaws the cowardly behaviour of ‘posting and boasting’ about certain crimes on social media and messaging apps.

The new offence targets those who publish content bragging about their involvement in serious crimes such as affray, burglary and robbery, car theft, carjacking, home invasions and violent disorder.

This includes anyone encouraging or facilitating these crimes – so there is no room to hide behind the ringleader.

These laws respond to the dangerous trend among young people chasing clout on Tik Tok and Snapchat about their heinous crimes which encourages copycat offending, retraumatises victims and deeply disturbs the community.

Anyone found guilty of a specified serious offence who has also posted and boasted about it will face up to two years’ jail time on top of any other penalty imposed for the substantive offence.

Currently, posting and boasting can be considered as an aggravating factor in sentencing – but this new standalone offence will see offenders face tougher penalties, and sends a clear message that there’s no reward for crime.   

Third parties who are not involved in the offending such as witnesses, bystanders and journalists will not be captured by the new offence.

The laws will be in effect upon Royal Assent later this month. 

The Creativerse brings fun, wonder and play to Ulumbarra Theatre on October 11.
A brand-new children’s festival is coming to Bendigo – and it’s set to take over the Ulumbarra Theatre precinct with an explosion of creativity, curiosity and immersive play.
The Creativerse, presented by Arena Theatre Company, will debut on Saturday 11 October 2025, inviting children aged 3 to 12 and their families to enter an exciting universe of art, technology and playful storytelling.
Supported by the Australian Government’s Festivals Australia program and the City of Greater Bendigo’s Partnering for Impact Grant, this vibrant one-day festival features free and ticketed events, immersive installations, live performances, and creative zones where kids are the artists, makers and inventors.
“The Creativerse is our latest adventure: a place where young imaginations run wild.“ says Debra Allanson, CEO of Arena Theatre Company. “We’re not just inviting kids to watch – we’re inviting them to participate and play!”
“We’re excited to showcase amazing artists — both from around the world and right here in our region — for a day of fund and creativity the whole family can enjoy.”
Festival highlights include:
• POLITE MAMMALS – A totally wild variety show the whole family can enjoy.
• FINNEGAN THE FART DETECTIVE – The funniest whodunit ever heard, seen and smelled!
• KIKI AND ZUKI – This enchanting shadow puppet show explores what it means to belong in two worlds.
• SOMEONE IN THE DARK – An immersive adventure to face fears and discover bravery in the wild.
• Free Activities across the day: workshops, storytelling, pop-up performances, digital projections, 3D AR – all driven by the young participants.

Ambulance Victoria has won the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) Excellence in Clinical Practice award for 2025, announced last night at the annual Congress in Adelaide.

The award recognised the Safe Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in the CommunitY (STAY) trial – a groundbreaking program that could help thousands of Victorians with atrial fibrillation (AF) avoid unnecessary hospital visits each year.

The STAY trial allows paramedics to assess and treat eligible patients with low-risk AF in the community using beta-blockers and blood thinners before referring them to a specialist outpatient service, avoiding the need for emergency department (ED) transport.

The award comes as Ambulance Victoria and Monash University secured $1.5 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to lead the statewide rollout of the STAY model.

The expanded model builds on the success of the STAY trial, where paramedics collaborated with Austin Health cardiologists to safely treat patients at home and refer them to a rapid access AF clinic.

Executive Director Quality & Clinical Innovation, Dr Tegwyn McManamny, congratulated the Research and Evaluation team leading the initiative.

“This is a well-deserved win for the team who have not only been recognised with such a prestigious award but also secured funding to lead the program’s statewide rollout,” Dr McManamny said.

“The STAY model is absolutely incredible work with significant flow-on benefits for our health system in terms of ED avoidance and, most importantly, meaningful outcomes for patients with AF.”

The project will also see the creation of a new Victorian Virtual Cardiac Clinic (VVCC), leveraging existing virtual ED infrastructure to provide tailored outpatient care and follow-up for patients with cardiac concerns.

Ambulance Victoria will work in partnership with Alfred Health, Safer Care Victoria, the Heart Foundation, and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) to deliver the new model.

This model is part of a broader transformation in how ambulance services and health partners deliver care. Work is already underway to equip ambulances with point-of-care blood analysers, allowing paramedics to test and safely refer patients with low-risk chest pain to community-based care.

FAST FACTS:

• Over 4,500 Ambulance Victoria attendances for AF are recorded annually.
• More than 50 per cent of patients with AF and chest pain are found to be low-risk and are discharged from ED within hours.
• The expanded model is expected to significantly reduce ED demand and hospital ramping.

This year’s CAA awards attracted more than 45 submissions from ambulance services across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Biodiversity Strategy is due for a refresh, with feedback invited from environmental groups and the broader community on the native plants and animals important to them.
In a recent review of the 97 actions listed in the current strategy, which was adopted in 2018, almost all actions have been completed, reflecting Council’s strong commitment to biodiversity action. Achievements of note from the current strategy have included:
• the establishment of a Private Land Conservation Officer role and the roll-out of the ‘Healthy Landscapes’ regenerative agriculture program
• the shire-wide annual high-threat weed control program
• the writing and implementation of a Roadside Conservation Management Plan
• a busy year-round environment events calendar engaging with residents and community groups
• an annual biodiversity monitoring program.
Director Planning and Environment Rebecca Stockfeld said refreshing the strategy provided an ideal opportunity to better reflect policy and classification changes in the biodiversity space, to improve strategy outcomes, and to gauge any current preferences from the community.
“We’re so fortunate to have such an abundance and diversity of biodiversity within our shire – from unique animal species to our high-value conservation areas, our environment is what makes the Macedon Ranges a really special place to live, work and visit,” she said.
“A new strategy will ensure that our biodiversity information and approach is up-to-date, actions are evidence-based and informed through consultation with the community, and that the current progress of Council works is accurately reflected.”
Across the shire’s close-to-1,750 square kilometres, public land covers 10% and includes 517 hectares of Council-managed bushland reserves, plus various smaller conservation and waterway reserves.
The Macedon Ranges is also home to many threatened fauna species – such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale and Powerful Owl – and since 2018, an additional 60 species that are likely to occur in the shire have been uplisted to a threatened species, under either state or federal legislation.
Feedback is invited via a short survey until Saturday 20 September 2025. Visit yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/biodiversity-strategy-refresh to find out more and have your say online.

New science lesson plans are being released and rolled out across Victorian primary schools.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll released the first science lesson plans recently, coinciding with National Science Week.

The new lesson plans are available for Prep to Grade 2 teachers, providing them the tools they need to spark curiosity in science and improve learning outcomes, while saving them precious preparation time.

Packed with ready-to-use resources, the lesson plans include lesson sequences, slide decks, built-in assessments, and exciting practical experiments that bring the revised Victorian Curriculum in science to life. 

They are designed to help teachers focus on what matters most while supporting consistency and quality across classrooms. 

From exploring plants, animals, the solar system, properties of materials, weather and sound – these engaging lessons are backed by the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 which emphasises evidence-based teaching practices.

Each lesson includes clear learning goals, step-by-step explanations and opportunities for students to practice new skills – ensuring all students are set up for success. 

The development and release of thousands of lesson plans complements the state government’s Independent Review into administrative and compliance activities in Victorian government schools, which recommended shared curriculum materials for teachers to reduce their workload. 

To find a National Science Week event near you, visit scienceweek.net.au 

Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can trigger a range of health changes including the increased risk of developing osteoporosis. While many women understand the importance of bone health, few are taking steps to actively reduce their risk.
Australians love their dairy – 98% of us have it in the fridge but when it comes to bone health, many aren’t getting enough. Just 7% of women over 50 estimate they’re reaching the recommended four serves a day, despite more than half having thought about their bone health recently.
Not getting enough calcium in your diet can increase the risk of bone loss and fractures. Calcium-rich dairy foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt are essential for maintaining strong, healthy bones. For women over 50, the recommended daily intake of dairy rises from 2.5 serves to 4 serves to support bone strength and reduce the risk of long-term mobility issues like osteoporosis.
Dairy Australia’s annual Healthy Bones Action Week returns 25–31 August 2025, to highlight this crucial stage in women’s health and encourage early action to protect bone health.
For many women in their 40s and 50s, life can be a constant juggle, between demanding careers, raising children, and increasingly, caring for ageing parents. With so much focus on others, their own health is often put on hold. In fact, the research revealed less than half of Australian women aged 40–59 feel they have enough time to dedicate to their own health and wellbeing.
Healthy Bones Action Week is a reminder to women that small daily habits such as enjoying milk with a coffee for breakfast, yoghurt as a snack, or cheese with lunch can make a meaningful difference to their bone health over time.
GP and women’s health expert Dr Ginni Mansberg says now is the time for women in midlife to refocus on their bone health, before problems arise.
“We don’t often think about our bones until something goes wrong, but the reality is that bone loss begins long before a fall or fracture,” says Dr Mansberg.
Often referred to as a “silent disease”, osteoporosis develops without symptoms and often isn’t diagnosed until after a fall or fracture. With 1 in 5 women over 65 affected by the disease, many women in their 40s and 50s may already have low bone density even if they feel perfectly healthy.
“However, the good news is, with early intervention, through a calcium-rich diet like consuming milk, cheese and yoghurt, doing weight-bearing exercise, and getting vitamin D through safe sunshine, women can slow the speed of bone loss and support long-term mobility, and quality of life later in life.” Dr Mansberg said.
Senior Nutritionist at Dairy Australia, Dr Rivkeh Haryono says she’s increasingly concerned that many women aren’t getting the dairy they need to protect their bone health.
“Despite dairy being in nearly every fridge, only a small fraction of women are consuming enough to support their bones,” Dr Haryono said.
“That’s a worrying gap—especially given women’s higher risk of osteoporosis. The good news is it’s an easy gap to close with simple, consistent habits.”
“Milk, yoghurt and cheese are the richest natural sources of calcium in the Australian diet and also provide protein, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc, all vital for strong, healthy bones.”
“Small changes, like adding yoghurt to a breakfast smoothie or cheese to a salad or sandwich, can significantly boost calcium intake and support bone health.”
Dr Haryono says it’s never too late to take action. “Even in our 40s and 50s, it’s not too late to start. Building these habits now is key to staying mobile, strong and independent as we age.”
To help Australians take control of their bone health, Dairy Australia is encouraging three simple steps:
1. Eat calcium-rich dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt – Adults aged 19–50 should aim for 2.5 serves of dairy each day, and women over 50 should aim for 4 serves. One serve = 1 cup of milk, ¾ cup yoghurt, or 2 slices of cheese.
2. Do weight-bearing exercise – Activities like walking, yoga, strength training, and even fun group sports like pickleball to help maintain your bone density.
3. Get safe sun exposure – Helps your body produce vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption. The amount of safe sun exposure needed varies depending on where you live and the time of year. Visit dairy.com.au/healthybones for more information.
For more information on this year’s Healthy Bones Action Week initiative, visit: dairy.com.au/healthybones