Latest news with #JessicaStojkovski
West Australian
17-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Free Perth zoo and museum passes: WA foster families given free tickets during Foster and Family Carers Week
Free family tickets to Perth's zoo and museums are on offer again, but only for a few and only for a limited time. Passes are being offered to the State's 3,300 foster carer households as a show of appreciation, during Foster and Family Carers Week that starts on July 28. Minister for Child Protection Jessica Stojkovski said eligible families will save more than $300, while enjoying a day out. 'Families can apply for vouchers for either of the two museums and for the zoo, so, potentially, they could have three days out,' she said at the Boola Bardip museum on Thursday. 'These free passes are just one way that the Cook Labor Government is helping to support these families and giving them a little bit of joy.' The Minister said a permanent increase to the foster carer subsidy, that is currently up to $607.33 per fortnight for teenagers, is also being considered, as the Government launches a campaign to boost recruitment. 'It is certainly something that we're open to looking at,' she said. 'It's not designed, obviously to cover everything and as a foster family you do it for the passion and for the love of opening your home to somebody who really, really needs a safe place.' Every West Australian was eligible for up to four free tickets to Perth Zoo last year, as part of a major cost-of-living package, that was taken up by more than 215,000 people. Ms Stojkovski rejected the description of free zoo and museum tickets as 'bread and circuses' to distract voters from the long-term impact of cost of living issues on families and children. 'I don't think that's the right kind of characterisation of what this is,' she said. 'This is actually acknowledging that foster cares and families do a lot of great work for the most vulnerable people in our State, and this is just a way that we're celebrating them.' Louise and Rick Pekan currently have nine children in their home and wouldn't have it any other way, but admitted the helping hand does require a financial sacrifice. 'You're not in it for a profit at all, you're generally in it for a loss,' Ms Pekan said. 'We have extended a house, put on a $200,000 extension to be able to care for the children in our home. It's larger cars, its birthday parties and presents and things like that. 'So to be able to go to the museum, to the zoo, to take those family outings, particularly as a large family . . . it's really important to have these little opportunities for connection.' 16-year-old Nevaeh has grown up as a foster sibling, and described helping new members of the family as a rewarding experience. 'For me, it's normal. It's being able to be that sense of support and to support kids that are going through tough times. Our family really just strives to be that safe family for them in that time,' she said.
Perth Now
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
New Driver and Vehicle Services centre confirmed for Perth
A new licensing centre will be built in Perth's south-east in an attempt to reduce customer frustration and wait times at other metropolitan centres, such as Cannington. Ahead of the State Budget being handed down tonight, the State Government confirmed $4 million would be set aside for a new Driver and Vehicle Services Centre in Armadale or Byford. The busy Cannington centre will also have its hours extended through July and August, as part of a two-month trial to provide more before and after-work opportunities for people to attend. The Cannington, City West and Mirrabooka centres will all be open from between 7.15am and 5.30pm rather than the normal 8.15am to 4.30pm timing. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Department of Transport customer support services assistant director Chad Simeons said wait times were already more than 6.5 minutes quicker now compared to 12 months ago and the latest trial could help even more. 'It's going to be really good for our customers and it's going to give working people more of an opportunity to come in before or after work,' he said. 'We're hoping to smooth out the transactions and that will hopefully lead to reduced wait times. 'It is a trial so we aren't certain what the outcomes will be but the idea is we're pulling some levers to make it easier for customers.' One in five visitors to the Cannington and Success centres are driving up to 40 minutes from the fast growing City of Armadale, City of Gosnells or Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale suburbs. Assistant Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski said community and stakeholder consultation would help pick the most appropriate location. 'The Department of Transport has recently experienced rapid growth in demand for its services, particularly in the thriving south-east metro region, which is putting pressure on existing DVS centres and increasing wait times for customers,' she said. 'The Cook Government's election commitment of a new licensing centre in the Armadale/Byford area will provide better access to DoT services. much closer to home for those residents currently driving 30 to 40 minutes to attend another centre, such as Cannington or Success.' The services on offer at the new centre will include learner permit applications, theory and hazard perception tests, practical driving assessments, overseas driver's licence transfers and boat registrations.
ABC News
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
WA government to spend $4 million on new driver licensing centre to reduce significant wait times
It's hoped the construction of a new driver's licensing centre in Perth's south-east can make a dent in the significant wait times for people obtaining their permits across the city. The state government will spend $4 million on a new centre to service growing demand in the Armadale and Byford areas as part of an election commitment, but it is yet to determine the exact location. Locals must currently travel 30 to 40 minutes to access licensing services at centres in Cannington or Success. Driving services in WA have come under fire in recent years, following reports of participants having to wait months to sit a driving test. The Department of Transport was also forced to tighten security around test booking systems, following reports of people bulk booking and reselling test appointments. Assistant Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski said progress had been made to address the concerns. 'One of the issues that we were finding were essentially bots were going on and booking up a lot of the driver assessment time slots,' she said. 'There's been a lot work done by the Department of Transport to stop that practice. 'We have actually seen really good availability around the metro area and into the regions for those driver assessments.' The Department of Transport's Chad Simeons agreed, saying it was possible to find test appointments within a week of booking. 'We've opened the Joondalup Centre which is a driver assessment centre, so that's helped a lot,' he said. 'We've put on new driver assessors as well, and in fact if I was to log on now and try and get a practical driving assessment, I can get one within a week, permitted I want to travel anywhere in the metropolitan area.' It's in addition to extended trading hours at the Cannington, Mirrabooka and City West centres, which will be open from 7.15am to 5.30pm on weekdays during an eight-week trial. No additional staff will be employed to accommodate the two-hour extension, but about 40 new positions have been created to assist with the increase in service demand. The same three centres last year completed a six-day trading trial with more than 12,800 people making use of the weekend hours. Mr Simeons said measures to relieve pressure on the industry have reduced average customer wait times from 26 minutes to 19 minutes in the past 12 months. Ms Stojkovski said an increase in interstate migration had contributed to the boom in demand. 'When somebody comes here from interstate they do actually need to transfer over their driver's licence,' she said. She said the state government would consider implementing extended hours elsewhere in WA as part of the trial evaluation. A construction or project completion date has yet to be set for the new licensing centre.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘We want women to defend their rights in court:' Minister defends coercive control law plan
The newly minted minister tasked with addressing Western Australia's record rates of family and domestic violence believes the state is on track to improving women's lives, but has resisted giving a date for criminalising coercive control. Responding to the 9 News Perth special series Turning Point: Lessons from Floreat, which highlighted the issue of family and domestic violence, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski said talking about these crimes shouldn't be taboo. 'There is a lot of work that is happening that is improving the lives of women. It's not a perfect solution, nothing is in a community, but I think the things that our government has been doing is implementing those incremental steps,' Stojkovski said. 'Every time we open up conversations, it's a good thing … it's a responsibility of everyone in our society to look after people.' One woman in Australia loses her life to domestic violence every nine days, while Western Australia has the second-highest rate of the crime in the country. In her first sit-down interview since taking on the portfolio, Stojkovski said the damning statistics were due to a number of factors. 'We have started these conversations and these conversations have led to more awareness about family and domestic violence, and awareness ultimately leads to more reports,' Stojkovski said. On the opening episode of Turning Point, harrowing audio of a triple-zero call from a nine-year-old child to WA Police revealed the trauma of family and domestic violence. 'Hello, police emergency? Yes, my mum, my dad is beating my mum up … can you be quiet? My mum is hurt, please help … my dad hit my mum in the stomach or in the head.'
The Age
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘We want women to defend their rights in court:' Minister defends coercive control law plan
The newly minted minister tasked with addressing Western Australia's record rates of family and domestic violence believes the state is on track to improving women's lives, but has resisted giving a date for criminalising coercive control. Responding to the 9 News Perth special series Turning Point: Lessons from Floreat, which highlighted the issue of family and domestic violence, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski said talking about these crimes shouldn't be taboo. 'There is a lot of work that is happening that is improving the lives of women. It's not a perfect solution, nothing is in a community, but I think the things that our government has been doing is implementing those incremental steps,' Stojkovski said. 'Every time we open up conversations, it's a good thing … it's a responsibility of everyone in our society to look after people.' One woman in Australia loses her life to domestic violence every nine days, while Western Australia has the second-highest rate of the crime in the country. In her first sit-down interview since taking on the portfolio, Stojkovski said the damning statistics were due to a number of factors. 'We have started these conversations and these conversations have led to more awareness about family and domestic violence, and awareness ultimately leads to more reports,' Stojkovski said. On the opening episode of Turning Point, harrowing audio of a triple-zero call from a nine-year-old child to WA Police revealed the trauma of family and domestic violence. 'Hello, police emergency? Yes, my mum, my dad is beating my mum up … can you be quiet? My mum is hurt, please help … my dad hit my mum in the stomach or in the head.'
