This facility is a terrific win for the Dubbo community, as well as the wider western region of NSW, and having heard some of the stories of people who have needed emergency accommodation with a loved one in hospital, it is going to be a godsend for so many people.

This project was the brainchild of Rod Crowfoot, and the State Government has provided significant financial assistance to make it come to fruition.

But this is a real community effort. So many people have put in hours and raised money to help it become reality, and that will continue to be the case with future stages.

It filled me with great pride that I was able to see stage one opened before I finished my time in politics, and I wish Rod, his family and those involved all the best with it going forward.

NSW families simply love the NSW Government’s $100 Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers, with 1 million downloaded since the rebates went live.

Following on from the success of Active Kids, from January 1, families have been able to use Creative Kids vouchers for structured activities such as dancing and music lessons, languages, coding, drama and theatre, photography and graphic design.

So far, 38 providers have registered for Creative Kids and 1573 vouchers have been downloaded in the Dubbo electorate. Active Kids and Creative Kids are both part of the Cost of Living measures put in place by the NSW Government, and more information on both schemes can be found by visiting the Services NSW website.

Once again this week we saw just how dangerous life on the thin blue line can be for our police officers.

The death of NSW Police Force Probationary Constable Tim Proctor is yet another confronting reminder of the unpredictable perils of policing, and the horrific trauma we sadly continue to see on our roadways.

P/Cst Proctor was a recent recruit from the Goulburn Academy and had begun a promising career at Liverpool City Police Area Command.

It’s the worst call that a police minister can get, to be told that one of our own has been injured or killed in the course of their duties.

P/Cst Proctor will be deeply missed by his young wife and family. We cannot imagine their grief for a life lost far too soon. Every day our police and emergency service officers put themselves in danger to help keep us safe. Thanks to all of the men and women who make that sacrifice, especially those in our own area of the Orana Mid-Western Police District.

From Monday, victims of forensic patients will have a greater opportunity to be heard in Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) proceedings following the commencement of new laws which allow submissions to be made outlining the impact a forensic patient’s leave or release would have on a victim.

The new laws will enable victims to have their say in MHRT hearings for people who are detained after being found unfit to be tried, or not guilty of a crime by reason of mental illness.

A new Specialist Victims Support Service (SVSS) will also officially begin operating, providing dedicated support to victims of violence committed by people with cognitive and mental health impairments.

The SVSS will provide, among other things, a victims register through which registered victims can request to be informed of key hearing dates and case developments and private rooms where.

To find out more about the changes, visit: www.victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au