Sobering news coming out of Victoria last week with WorkSafe Victoria calling on its state comrades to take greater care at work following the deaths of 65 Victorian workers in 2020.”
“These are not numbers or statistics, they are loved members of our families and communities,” as spokesperson for WorkSafe said.
But what sent PS-sssst!’s eyebrows heading for the ceiling was the category of workers who returned the highest number of deaths in the year: The public Administration and Safety Industry!
“There were 12 deaths in the Public Administration and Safety Industry in 2020, which was the most dangerous industry in the State” WorkSafe reported
They said the industry lost four police officers killed on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway in April and five emergency services personnel who died from the effects of diseases contracted at work.
If that’s not a powerful reason to take our jobs seriously, nothing is.
“Most dangerous industry in the State!” – indeed!
Live giveaway!
To Rama’s amazing giveaway now in which another lucky PS News reader gets to add another highly-regarded book or DVD to their collection simply by answering Rama’s giveaway quiz question (which is usually a ‘giveaway’ itself) and then being first out of the highly popular PS News Barrel of Booty.
This week Rama’s riddle called on readers to win a DVD by naming the year the high-powered media classic movie Absence of Malice was made starring Paul Newman and Sally Field.
The correct answer was 1981 and the correct entrant first to greet the judges came from Yusuf K of the National Measurement Institute in NSW.
Congratulations to Yusuf who has won a DVD of the very same movie which will be on its way very soon.
A big thanks to everyone who took part in the challenge.
For another chance to join Yusuf in Rama’s Army of winners simply sign on for her freebie Book The Healthy Skin Kitchen available at this PS News link and/or her other freebie Book Kid Reporter: The Secret to Breaking News at this link.
And jolly good luck to all who do…..
The Kitchen calls
And while we’re still bathing in the sunshine of Rama’s charitable generosity, she has declared that her fabulous freebie on offer this week is well worth recommending to her retinue of resolute readers and following of faithful fans.
“The Healthy Skin Kitchen is a giveaway book that rates a mention”, the normally reticent Rama remarked.
“It costs a whopping $37.99 and we’ve been given two to give away”.
So to be in it to win it, simply visit Rama’s review of the Healthy Skin Kitchen and join in the giveaway fuss and frenzy at this PS News link.
PS of the PAST
Once again a nostalgic trip down PS Past lane as the policies, preferences and predilections of the public sector from 10 years ago this week come to educate us.
So sit back, relax and soak in how much has changed in your slice of the PS today compared to what was making the news in the last week of March 2011.
Unreleasing the PS Past: 22 to 28 March 2011
1. In a move to leap into the future, Medicare announced it would be offering an online claims service for patients to be reimbursed for doctors’ fees electronically.
Minister for Human Services, Tanya Plibersek welcomed the service saying it would provide greater convenience and followed a trend away from manual claiming.
“Claiming online is a great alternative for people who are unable to lodge their claim at the doctor’s or visit a Medicare office,” she said. Customers would now be able to claim their benefits from the comfort of their own home.
2. Continuing with the health theme, the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas announced a National Disability Strategy to improve the lives of Australians with disability, their families and carers.
She said the strategy set a 10-year reform plan for all Governments to address the barriers faced by Australians with disability and to ensure that mainstream services including healthcare, housing, transport and education addressed the needs of people with disability.
3. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) was also feeling helpful, launching a website to help people manage their personal finances.
ASIC Chairman, Tony D’Aloisio said the MoneySmart site would help people make good financial decisions by providing free, independent and unbiased information and motivation.
He said the website included 26 calculators and tools to help people take simple steps to get quick answers to their questions about money.
4. In the wake of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Victorian Public Servants were among the 20 names added to the State’s Honour Roll of Women.
Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge said the Roll celebrated the achievements of inspirational women in Victoria.
The inductees included one of the State’s first women school principals, Cecilia Conroy; the first female Director of a TAFE Institution in Victoria, Virginia Simmons; and Chief Executive and Chief Conciliator of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission, Diane Sisely.
5. Honours were also being handed out in Queensland with Brisbane’s Gateway Upgrade Project judged the country’s best for its “iconic status, its engineering brilliance and sheer scale” by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA).
The award was considered the most prestigious for infrastructure projects in Australia and Chairman of IPA, Mark Birrell said the $2.5 billion Gateway Upgrade was also Australia’s biggest road and bridge project.
6. Meanwhile in Western Australia, the first stage of the National Broadband Network in the State was completed.
The 449-kilometre Perth to Geraldton fibre-optic link formed part of the Australian Government’s $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program, delivering 6,000 kilometres of fibre backbone across regional Australia, benefiting around 400,000 people.
Till next week…..
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