Photo Caption: As DonateLife week 2020 kicks off, Federal Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton is urging everyone to register as a donor with the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).

Help save lives this DonateLife Week

As DonateLife week 2020 kicks off, I’m urging everybody to discuss organ and tissue donation with their families and to register as a donor with the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).

DonateLife Week runs from 26 July to 2 August and is a key part of the Government’s national program to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes.

With around 1,700 Australians on the waitlist for a lifesaving transplant at any time and a further 12,000 on dialysis, the demand for donors has never been greater.

It takes less than a minute to sign up and give yourself the chance to save a life; less time than it takes to make a cup of tea. Head to donatelife.gov.au to register today.

Creating connections with FlatTrack

My travels throughout the Parkes electorate continued last week, and I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to meet with constituents and councils in Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Cobar, along with a visit to Moree for the FlatTrack opening day.

FlatTrack aims to educate and prepare disengaged youth for potential jobs. The program was inspired by Bernie Shakeshaft who joined us on the day – Bernie founded the successful BackTrack program. Other communities in my electorate, such as Broken Hill and Lake Cargelligo, have worked with Bernie to develop their own successful programs.

Well done to Krist Grasnick (founder and director) and to all the boys and girls at FlatTrack – you are achieving great things every day.

Economic lifeline continues

The Nationals in Government will continue to deliver the economic lifeline households and businesses need to ensure regional Australia comes through the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong position.

Last week’s Economic and Fiscal Update showed the full scale of how COVID-19 has impacted Australia’s finances, but also how regional Australia has remained front and centre of the Government’s response to the pandemic

The JobKeeper Payment will be extended by six months to 28 March 2021 and the temporary Coronavirus Supplement for those on income support will be extended until 31 December 2020.

This will help those in my electorate who are without work due to the pandemic. Our economic recovery is still in its early stages with many people still significantly affected.

We have extended the Coronavirus Supplement, announced a new skills package and introduced JobMaker to help people transition from welfare to work.

We are also increasing the income free area for the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (other) to $300 a fortnight to encourage recipients to take up job opportunities as businesses reopen. Please visit treasury.gov.au for further details.

Scholarships for local students

I’d like to share a big congratulations to the 37 students across my electorate who have received a Government-funded scholarship to assist with the costs of their tertiary education, under the most recent round of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships program.

These students will benefit from up to $18,000 towards the cost of their studies at higher education providers, to help ease some of the financial burden at what has been a very difficult time for many.

Scholarships are offered throughout 2020. For more information and to apply, visit www.qtac.edu.au/scholarships