Feb 1 newspaper standard

Single-use plastics ban THE Andrews Labor Government will introduce the next phase of the landmark ban on single-use plastics.

From today, Wednesday February 1, single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene food and drink con tainers will be banned from sale and supply in Victoria. Single-use plastics currently make up a third of Victoria’s litter, pollute precious wa terways and harm wildlife. These items are often only used for a few minutes yet generate a significant amount of waste – and can be easily avoided or re placed with reusable alternatives that save plastic, and save families money in the long run. This builds on the Labor Government’s ban on plastic shopping bags in 2019, and a $515 million investment to transform our waste and recycling system and divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030. Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt said that her government was taking action to protect Victoria’s environment and reduce pollution by banning single-use plastic items and supporting businesses to switch to reusables instead.” “Plastic pollution has significant impacts on our health, wildlife, and the environment. VICTORIA has achieved a record low unemployment rate in regional areas as more than 7,000 new re gional jobs were added across the state in December. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) fig ures show that Victoria’s strong economy is continuing to grow jobs in towns and cities and on farms as the regional unemployment rate fell to 2.8 per cent – the lowest in the

Remote monitoring connects 100th patient Angela Aitken and Haseeb Ahsan from Gippsland PHN’s Digital Health and Inte gration team.

This single-use plastics ban is a crucial step to protect Victoria’s rivers, waterways and oceans from plastic pollution,” she said. Last year, the Government invested $1 million towards new technology that will turn hard-to-recycle materials like cartons and coffee cups into sustainable building products. As part of this transformation, Victoria will move to a standardised four-stream bin system – supporting households to easi ly sort their waste and recycling to reduce landfill – and have access to a container de posit scheme which will maximise the return of used drink cans, bottles and cartons for recycling. For more information, resources and translated materials to assist businesses and organisations to understand the ban, visit vic.gov.au/plastics. country. Latrobe-Gippsland and Geelong record ed the biggest jumps in employment in De cember – with thousands of new jobs being created in each region. Victoria’s overall unemployment rate sits at a historically low 3.5 per cent. More than 370,000 new jobs have been created In Victoria since the height of the pandemic economic shock in September 2020, the largest increase of all the states over the same period.

GIPPSLAND Primary Health Net work (Gippsland PHN) has been working with general practices across Gippsland to establish a Re mote Patient Monitoring program that has now connected its 100th patient. General practices are remotely monitor ing patients in their home using Lifeguard. Lifeguard’s LifeguardMobile™ platform is a digital health solution featuring a web por tal and mobile app for health providers, and a mobile app for patients. It allows GPs to maintain continuity of care for people and provides real-time data from patients about their health. “Remote Patient Monitoring is used to support patients with chronic health con ditions in between visits to their GP to pro vide additional clinical information that can be used to identify early deterioration,” ex plained Gippsland PHN Acting Chief Execu tive Officer, Angela Jacob. Patients check in via a mobile app that

registers their symptoms and vital signs. General practices then receive this re al-time data that helps build a picture of the patient’s health over time, which general practitioners can use as part of their consul tations to build a fuller picture of a patient’s condition and aid clinical decision making. “Patients and GPs are seeing the bene fits of remote patient monitoring with 100 patients now staying connected to their general practice remotely using Lifeguard,” Mrs Jacob said. “Gippsland PHN, Gippsland General Practices and Lifeguard Health Networks are working closely together to establish this care model and we are proud to have reached this milestone that shows growing interest in the program and the innovation of Gippsland general practitioners in support ing patient care.” For more information about Remote Patient Monitoring, visit https://gphn.org. au/what-we-do/programs/lifeguard-re mote-patient-monitoring/ or email digital. health@gphn.org.au

New record low regional unemployment rate

New service to streamline kindergarten registrations YOUR WEEKLY COUNCIL UPDATE WELLINGTON Edit

Phone survey happening now

Council is taking part in a local government community satisfaction survey - designed to assess our performance across all departments; identifying ways to improve and provide more effective service delivery to our communities. The survey has now commenced and will run until mid-March this year, conducted by independent market research agency National Field Services. Please be assured that if you receive a phone call, it is legitimate, and we would appreciate your time and honesty when taking part. Your individual responses will be kept confidential and you will never be asked to provide any passwords or other details that could prove your identity online. Only the overall results will be shared with our team. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service team on 1300 366 244. Similar phone surveys will take place across all Victorian councils. Don’t miss Day @ The Port this Saturday 4 February at the Port of Sale. Pack your picnic blankets, round up your family and friends and get ready for a day of jam-packed FREE entertainment. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and it’s a great excuse for a day out in Sale! There’ll be local food vans, kid’s carnival rides, performances, Art Bar and live music all day. Plus movies on the big screen, kids activities, lawn games, over 30 market stalls and heaps more. Day @ The Port will open at 10.30am and run until 9.30pm, when the The Middle of Everywhere fireworks will close out the evening. Follow the official event page on Council’s facebook page or visit the Port of Sale website for more information. We can’t wait to see you there! Day @ The Port this Saturday!

Council has introduced a new Kindergarten Central Registration Service to improve the kindergarten registration process across Wellington. The new and more convenient system will be administered by Council on behalf of participating kindergarten services, making registering children for kindergarten quick and easy, and ensuring the allocation of kindergarten places is always fair and transparent. Kindergarten registrations will open from 1 May - 30 June 2023, for children who will attend kindergarten in 2024.

Parents are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest form online by scanning the code provided. By completing an EoI, Council will record your details, and you will be notified when registrations for your child’s kindergarten year opens. An EoI can be submitted at any time after your child is born. To learn more, please visit www. wellington.vic.gov.au/community/early years or contact our Early Years team on 1300 366 244 or email earlyyears@ wellington.vic.gov.au for advice or assistance.

Council does not manage or coordinate kindergarten programs. Kindergarten services are delivered by private and community-based Committees of Management and early years managers. This new process is to improve the current registration service for parents and carers with children who are entering kindergarten in 2024 and beyond.

Imogen, Glassford Kindergarten in Maffra.

IMMUNISATION SESSIONS

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 February at 3pm. COUNCIL MEETINGS Wellington Shire Council meets at 3pm on the first Tuesday of each month and 6pm on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings may be watched live (or afterwards) on Wellington Shire Council’s YouTube Channel at youtube.com/wellingtonshire. Please visit wellington.vic.gov.au/meetings to find out the best way to watch and participate, including how to submit a question or comment regarding an Agenda item.

Council’s next free monthly immunisation sessions for all eligible infants, school children and adults will be held at: Yarram - Wednesday 1 February, 11am to 11.30am Yarram District Hub, 156 Grant Street Heyfield - Tuesday 8 February, 9.30am to 10.15am Heyfield Library, 42 MacFarlane Street Maffra - Tuesday 8 February, 11.30am to 12.15pm Geoff Webster Hall, Maffra Anglican Church Sale - Wednesday 9 February, 9.30am to 10.30am Wellington Centre, Port of Sale (Carang Carang Room) Please note: The COVID-19 vaccine is not available at Council Immunisation Sessions.

To find out more, visit www.eprocure.com.au/ wellingtonshirecouncil TENDERS

To find out more, visit www.wellington.vic. gov.au/careers CAREERS

Connect with us Email enquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au Web www.wellington.vic.gov.au

Sale Service Centre 18 Desailly Street, Sale. Phone 1300 366 244 Business hours 8.30am to 5.00pm

Yarram Service Centre 156 Grant Street, Yarram. Phone (03) 5182 5100 Business hours 10.00am to 2.00pm (closed Wednesday)

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