NSW Government Update

 

See this message in your language: العربية •  Tiếng Việt •  繁體中文 •  简体中文 •  한국어 Get SharkSmart Hello John The recent shark incidents in NSW are a tragic reminder that ocean swimming comes with risk. While it’s not possible to eliminate that risk entirely when swimming, surfing or snorkelling, there are ways to reduce it.   Before you next head for the coast: take a look at these tips, and the situations in which to take extra care check your SharkSmart app for recent sightings, alerts and tagged shark detections. Mitzvah for Bondi To honour the victims of the Bondi terror attack in December, people across NSW are invited to come together and do a mitzvah – a good deed or act of kindness. When these small acts are done by many, they strengthen the entire community by bringing light to darkened times. Your community good deed could be to check on a sick friend, offer to care for a busy neighbour’s pet, do a chore for an older relative, or make time to chat to someone who’s often alone. How you help is up to you. Take control of your energy bills If you want more say over how much energy is costing you, here are 3 quick actions that can make a big difference: Check your energy plan to make sure it’s the best fit for your household. See if you qualify for government energy support. Start simple, energy-saving habits at home to cut down on unnecessary usage.  Do all 3 and you could save over $200 on average per year on your energy bills. New $50 Active and Creative Kids vouchers now available Help your kids to keep doing their favourite activities by applying for the latest round of $50 Active and Creative Kids vouchers for 2026. If you have an unused $50 voucher from July 2025, you can combine it with a new voucher. This will give you $100 to spend before July 2026 on sporting, creative or cultural activities your child enjoys. Even flat batteries have enough charge to spark a fire The worst way to dispose of any battery is to toss it in with your regular household rubbish or recycling. Batteries have started fires when crushed in garbage trucks and waste centres. Never bin a battery. Instead, take it to one of the drop-off points in your area so it can be safely recycled. Every vape is a hit to your health The toxic chemicals in vapes can cause damage to the body. And the nicotine in vapes is addictive. In NSW, 1 in 5 people aged 16 to 24 vape daily or occasionally. Quitting vaping isn’t always easy, but the health benefits are worth it. Need help starting a conversation about vaping? Find support and hear real stories on the Cancer Institute NSW website. Help improve the Working with Children Check in NSW Tell us what you think about the current rules and how they could be changed so children and young people are better protected. Individuals, groups and organisations are all welcome. You can share your ideas by doing a short survey or providing feedback on the discussion paper. The closing date to have your say is 27 February. Staying safe online Is it really 50% off? A big discount can be hard to resist – and scammers know it. They’ll set up fake shopping sites that look real to trick you. If the prices seem way too good, be very suspicious, especially if you’ve never heard of the store. Stick to well-known retailer websites with online histories you can check before you pay. service.nsw.gov.au 13 77 88