May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22
INDIA NEWS
Palaszczuk Government fosters innovation for more Queensland jobs Brisbane, May 7: More manufacturing jobs are on their way for a Queensland business, thanks to Palaszczuk Government funding to help market a very clever Brisbane innovation. Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Brisbane firm Scott Airway Management had received $100,000 in Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding to scale up its SAM Safety Shield medical device and support 15 new jobs. “For medical staff, men with beards in need of lifesaving ventilation can present a challenge,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “When patients can’t breathe, first responders usually fit sealed Bag Mask Ventilation (BMV) to a patient’s face to push oxygen into their lungs. “BMV relies on a tight face seal and having a beard or a misshaped face makes that difficult. “The Brisbane-developed SAM Safety Shield solves the problem quickly, and we know in an emergency every single second counts. “Supporting local innovation and manufacturing is a key part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan for Queensland’s economic recovery and that’s exactly what this Ignite Ideas grant has done. “SAM Safety Shield has just been launched and with orders coming in, Scott Airway is exploring partnerships with local makers for the device to create Queensland manufacturing jobs.”
Photo Courtesy: IANS
“Given that many men have beards these days we estimate the potential global market to be about 80 million units per year. “Our aim is to achieve sales of 40 million units with the next five years, equating to about $50 million.
Dr Paul Scott from Scott Airway Management has 17 years’ experience in anaesthesia and critical care and came up with the device out of personal frustration. “The SAM Safety Shield provides a flexible and contoured surface to seal a BMV,” Dr Scott said. “Medical staff currently use wound dressing or cling film to attempt to improve the seal, but the application is time consuming, costly, complex and often ineffective.” Dr Scott said the company tested the device with clinicians at Ramsay Health Care Australia and Healthscope hospitals in Brisbane. “This has resulted in requests to stock the device in these hospitals,” Dr Scott said. “With the Ignite Ideas funding, we’ll look to go out more broadly to market. “Globally, there are about 350 million surgical procedures performed each year requiring patients to become unconscious and for clinicians to use BMV to breathe for them.
“In terms of jobs, we believe that we’ll need to put on 15 people, working across all aspects of the business, from marketing and sales to manufacturing.” Mr Hinchliffe said Scott Airway Management was one of 31 Queensland small businesses to share in almost $3.8 million from the latest round of the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund. “The fund is designed to support small-to-medium Queensland businesses to scale up marketready, innovative products or services to national and global markets to support local jobs,” he said. “Since the Ignite Ideas Fund launched four years ago, the Palaszczuk Government has invested more than $46.3 million to support 365 businesses. “Ignite Ideas is supporting over 3,800 jobs across Queensland’s key industries including tourism, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, engineering, renewable engineering and construction. “The SAM Safety Shield is just one example of local innovation and entrepreneurship supported by the Palaszczuk Government to drive the Queensland industries and jobs of the future.”
NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND
Queensland calls out government on working women Brisbane, 11 May: Queensland has called on the Morrison Government to restore financial support for services to help women with workplace issues, including sexual harassment. Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace committed almost another $800,000 over three years for Working Women Queensland, a free advisory and support service, and asked Federal Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash to reinstate their funding. “It’s time for the Morrison Government to walk the talk on supporting women,” Ms Grace said. “The Coalition cut funding to Working Women Queensland five years ago and has not paid a cent towards this vital service since this time. “The Respect@Work report recommends that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories on funding for working women’s centres. “The Morrison Government’s glossy roadmap says they are going to do that, but still the phone hasn’t rung, and the money hasn’t shown. “The Morrison Government must immediately reinstate funding to Working Women Queensland in its forthcoming Budget so this service can continue to provide information, advice and assistance to vulnerable workers who experience sexual harassment and other
discrimination at work.”
Working Women Queensland is a not-for-profit employment advisory service that has offered practical, workplace-focused advice and information to Queensland women since 1995. The Palaszczuk Labor Government and previous Labor Governments have strongly supported services for women, including providing almost $6 million for this service. It was jointly funded by State and Commonwealth until 2016, when the Commonwealth pulled funding. The Newman LNP Government also pulled support during its term. Ms Grace said the Morrison Government had a record of failing Queensland working women on workplace support. “The overwhelming majority of Queensland women who seek help from Working Women Queensland are subject to Federal industrial laws, but Queensland has no Federally-funded local employment and advice service,” she said. “Instead, Queenslanders have to rely on a Melbournebased service, which told a Parliamentary inquiry that they don’t have the resources to help all of the Queensland clients who seek it. “It’s not fair, it’s not right and Minister Cash has to step up for Queensland women in next week’s Budget.”
Indigenous partnerships help keep kids at school Education Minister advises students to stay calm ahead of NAPLAN tests Brisbane, May 7: Hundreds of young Indigenous Queenslanders will continue to be supported to re-engage with school, thanks to a $17 million investment by the Palaszczuk Government.
Education Minister Grace Grace today announced continuing partnerships with the Clontarf Foundation, Stars Foundation, Brisbane Broncos and Netball Queensland to support their work in 42 schools from Far North Queensland to the south-east corner. “Partnerships like these are successfully mentoring and coaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to support them to attend school and participate actively in learning,” Ms Grace said. “This in turn expands the options for our young Indigenous Queenslanders in finding work and progressing to further training and education. “Investing in these programs is a no-brainer because they are making a big difference to the lives and futures of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.”
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The Government is providing a total of $16.9 million to the four organisations.
Clontarf programs started in Queensland with eight academies in the Darling Downs region in 2015 and now operate in 24 academies across the state, supporting more than 2400 young men, including 220 Year 12 students.
Clontarf Foundation’s CEO Gerard Neesham said the announcement was fantastic news for the young men currently enrolled in the program. “Additionally, it will allow the Foundation to explore potential new schools and communities who may benefit from hosting a Clontarf academy,” he said. “The program provides young men with access to full-time, locally based Clontarf mentors who run highly engaging programs of activity which focus on education, leadership, wellbeing, employment and sport.” Netball Queensland was equally pleased, with CEO Catherine Clark commending the Palaszczuk Government for the commitment to the Diamond
Spirit program.
“Through the support of Education Queensland and our partner schools, Diamond Spirit has already made a tangible difference to the lives of students within the program,” Ms Clark said.
“Since 2017, more than 600 students have received direct support, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across some of our most remote communities are afforded every possible opportunity on their learning journey.” CEO and Stars Founder Andrea Goddard said the organisation was grateful for the opportunity to continue providing intensive support to First Nations girls and young women. “We use a strengths-based model, specifically tailored to meet the needs of First Nations girls and young women, with the aim of promoting positive education, employment and life outcomes,” she said. Brisbane Bronco’s Chairman Karl Morris said the big winners from the announcement were young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the program.
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Brisbane, 10 May: “Stay calm” is the tip from Education Minister Grace Grace as thousands of Queensland students start to take part in NAPLAN this week. “Relax and do your best is the best advice - from me and from parents and carers,” Ms Grace said as schools across Australia head into online or written nationally-required tests up to May 21. “I send my best wishes to the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students in all of our 1700 state and nongovernment schools who will sit the tests this year.
“Everyone needs to remember that this is just one of the ways we can monitor students’ progress and work out how to channel resources and provide more targeted support. “We know from parents and teachers there are shortcomings with how it currently operates and we will continue to advocate
for improvements, noting that any future changes need to be agreed by all education ministers across the country. “Some form of standardised national testing is required, and for now that is NAPLAN. “It remains a national requirement and our hardworking teachers will ensure Queensland students are familiar with the test formats and provide appropriate support and guidance.” NAPLAN testing encompasses reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy and started across Australia from 11 May. The Education Council of all state, territory and Commonwealth education ministers cancelled NAPLAN last year nationally because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers also extended the national timeline for transitioning to NAPLAN Online until 2022.
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