January 2026 column by Janelle Saffin MP
HAPPY New Year! I wish everyone a safe and good new year ahead. Summer is a wonderful time in our region, but it also brings risks. Please prepare for bushfires, heatwaves and floods. You’ll find helpful resources at nsw.gov.au/GetReadyNSW, and the Hazard Near Me app is a great way to stay informed.
Our waterways, pools, and beaches are popular during holidays, so keep water safety in mind. On the roads, extra care is needed as visitors may be unfamiliar with country driving. Awareness saves lives.
Over the past 12 months in my columns I’ve written about local events and statewide initiatives. The Minns State Government has continued to implement safe staffing levels in hospitals, to increase police numbers, has cut the number of teacher vacancies and properly fund TAFE as well as bringing in planning reforms for housing and the most significant rental reforms in a decade.
This month I wanted to highlight a couple of initiatives focused on the welfare of children that we introduced at the end of the year.
ADHD Care Reforms
We’ve made ADHD diagnosis and treatment easier by allowing GPs to prescribe
medication. Since September, 560 GPs statewide have completed training, and
more than 100 GPs on the north coast have applied for the training. Thousands
of GP prescriptions have already been issued, reducing delays and costs for
families.
Foster Care Support
We’ve increased foster care allowances and launched a landmarke recruitment
campaign for more carers. Foster carers provide safe homes for children who
cannot live with their families. The need is urgent, especially for sibling
groups and children with disability. Currently, 37 sibling groups in NSW need
carers. Foster carers can be single, partnered, renting or home owners, and
there are a range of arrangements, from crisis and short term care to long term
fostering. Find out more at fosteringnsw.com.au.
Let’s stay safe, look out for each other, and make 2026 a great year.
CAPTION: Janelle Saffin MP Housing Minister Rose Jackson MLC and Social Futures CEO Tony Davies turning the sod on a Lismore social housing project in December.
