Vaccine rollout continues, despite setback

It was great to catch up with Andrea and Rhonda from Associate Medical Practice in Moree last week to see how their COVID-19 vaccine rollout is going.

The clinic has been participating in Phase 1B of the vaccination program for two weeks now and by all accounts it’s going well and running smoothly.

It’s good to see people are stepping up and taking the opportunity to be vaccinated when they can.

Although we have faced a setback with the AstraZeneca vaccine now not recommended for people aged under 50, the vaccination program will continue, particularly for the most vulnerable Australians in Phase 1B, including those over the age of 70 who are not impacted by this revised advice.

The Australian Government places safety above all else, as it has done throughout the pandemic, and will continue to follow the medical advice in protecting Australians

Just over one million vaccinations have now been administered across Australia.

Vaccination is our greatest weapon to fight this virus, and it’s just as important for people living in rural and remote areas to be vaccinated as those in the city.

To find out when you’re eligible for the vaccine, or for the latest health advice visit www.health.gov.au

 

Indigenous rangers for Murray-Darling Basin

A new grant opportunity is available to establish up to four Indigenous River Ranger groups in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The new ranger program, part of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package, will deliver $3.1 million to allow Indigenous organisations to use their knowledge and connection to country to contribute to managing and restoring waterway health.

This funding will empower local Indigenous groups to make decisions on managing the country they know best and ensures more Indigenous Australians are actively involved in managing the waterway.

I look forward to seeing the proposals from any Indigenous organisation in the region that wants to establish a new river ranger group and take a leadership role in protecting and sustaining Australia’s valuable environmental assets.

The grant round closes at 8pm (AEDT) on 18 May 2021. Details on eligibility and how to apply are on the Grant Connect website, www.grants.gov.au

Enhancing research in regional areas

Students, universities, businesses, and communities in regional Australia will all benefit from a boost in research capability through the opening of the Federal Government’s Regional Research Collaboration Program.

This $48.8 million scheme will grow and strengthen research activity in regional Australia by linking regional researchers with businesses and universities outside the region.

Regional universities are perfectly placed to be at the forefront of critical research on issues like drought resilience, food security, new farming technologies, and regional health, but we know this can be challenging. Linking regional universities with other institutions and business will make this research more viable and increase opportunities to commercialise the results

The program will create more opportunities for Australians in regional areas to pursue post-graduate qualifications in their communities and is another important step in bridging the divide between city and country.

Eligible applicants will be assessed on research priorities of the Government, industry and university sectors, and the long-term benefits they bring to the institution and the region.

Applications for the RRC program are now open and will close on 18 May 2021. For more information, go to www.dese.gov.au/regional-research-collaboration-program