Eastern Freshwater Cod given a lifeline in the Clarence River

Innovative cod hotels or ‘nest’ boxes - frst trialled in 2022 - are continuing to demonstrate their success, helping produce a new generation of Eastern Freshwater Cod on the NSW North Coast for the second time in two seasons.

Following preliminary trials at the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Grafton Fisheries Centre last year, a partnership project developed a purpose-built ‘nest box’ with the goal to increase breeding sites for this iconic fsh.

North Coast Local Land Services General Manager, Louise Orr, said this project targeted the key recovery needs of the Eastern Freshwater Cod.

“The success of the cod nest boxes has been a step in the right direction for a species that is unique to our region,” Ms Orr said.

This project is supported by North Coast Local Land Services and NSW DPI Fisheries through funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Bushfre recovery package for wildlife and their habitat.

Eastern Freshwater Cod are currently only found in the Clarence and Richmond River Catchments in Northern NSW. They are listed as Endangered under both NSW and federal legislation.

Senior Land Services Offcer, Shaun Morris, said habitat modifcation had reduced river features such as bankside vegetation, in-stream woody habitat (snags), undercut banks and deep holes – all of which are crucial to this species reproduction and longterm survival.

“This project aimed to identify how this species is going following the bushfres of 2019-2020 and support their recovery with our successfully trialled nest boxes,” Mr Morris said.

NSW DPI Senior Research Scientist Gavin Butler said surveys supported by this project have revealed spawning sites are limited for Eastern Freshwater Cod in the Clarence River Catchment following years of drought, fre and food.

“These nest boxes mimic the preferred nesting habitat of Eastern Freshwater Cod, which is a dark cave where the father fans and guards the eggs and larvae during the springtime. It’s pretty much like a private room in a maternity ward - just for fsh,” Dr Butler said.

“We have designed these nest boxes to be easily transported and placed in the river where we know Cod persist, but suitable spawning habitat is missing.

“At the start of spring last year, we placed

30 nesting boxes in the upper Clarence catchment and obtained the frst defnitive evidence of a completely successful nesting event through to larval fsh.

“In an exciting development, we have confrmed that one more spawning event has taken place this breeding season in one of last year’s boxes,” Dr Butler said.

Using this concept, North Coast Local Land Services is also looking to install large hollow logs as part of their riverbank erosion control on the Orara River.

“We have engaged contractors from Victoria to trial an innovative drilling technique in large timber logs, which bores out suitably sized hollows in the woody habitats which are then placed in the river for Eastern Freshwater Cod to spawn,” Mr Morris said.

“We will be incorporating these hollow logs into our erosion control works as part of an ongoing partnership program with Coffs Harbour City Council to protect Eastern Freshwater Cod populations.” This project complements recent conservation and recovery stocking efforts by NSW DPI including the breeding and release of more than 5,000 Eastern Freshwater Cod fngerlings in the area. For more information on this project, visit the Local Land Services website and search for ‘Marine Estate Management Strategy’ www.lls.nsw.gov.au.

Higher proportion of Australians live with a chronic health condition, impacting employment opportunities atWork Australia

For the rising number of Australians living with a chronic health condition1, finding secure and meaningful employment opportunities can be challenging. During Social Inclusion Week (18-27 November), atWork Australia is shining a light on the importance of creating diverse, inclusive workplaces so people of all ages are given the opportunity to thrive.

The aim of Social Inclusion Week is to spread awareness to help Australians feel included and valued, giving everyone the opportunity to participate fully in society2.

In 2023, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that almost half of Australians (47%) were estimated to have one or more chronic health conditions3. Each year, atWork Australia works with tens of thousands of clients who are living with a health condition, and facing barriers to find work, gain access to the workforce.

Ashley, aged 33 from Pinjarra, WA, lives with a physical long-term back injury as well as an anxiety disorder.

The AIHW reports that 16% of Australians living with a chronic illness experience back problems4.

Ashley experienced atWork Australia’s support firsthand when he needed to upskill and manage his pain in order to re-enter the workforce. Ashley is one of 411,500 residents (16%) in Western Australia living with a disability5.

Ashley’s condition makes his employment journey look a little different to most. By getting to know Ashley’s goals, employment history and what his ideal workplace would look like (considering his chronic illness), atWork Australia supported Ashley to work through the skills needed for the workplace. Through resume and cover letter support, job hunting, various training courses (e.g. White Card course) and everything in between, Ashley was able to secure his ideal job that best suited his needs.

To progress his career journey, atWork Australia were able to financially assist Ashley and support him with the emotional toll that comes with the restriction of everyday activities due to his disability. Some of these include regular check-up calls with Ashley, various handson courses to enhance his skills, counselling services and support for his social anxiety.

“The fact that I can call the local team about anything, without being worried about being judged, gives me a strong sense of comfort. I truly think job providers are not given enough recognition for the important work they do,”said Ashley. atWork Australia provides tailored services to support a person in a way that encourages them to thrive. After all, the right person in the right job means lasting employment and transformed lives and businesses.

To find out more about atWork Australia’s support services, please visit: www.atworkaustralia. com.au

More than 400,000 complaints sent to AFCA in first 5 years

Australian Financial Complaints Authority

Australia’s financial dispute resolution scheme has reached a major milestone – five years of operation.

Consumers have taken more than 400,000 disputes to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) in that time, securing a total of $1.2 billion in compensation and refunds.

This was during some of the most trying times financial firms and their customers have faced, including a global pandemic, rising interest rates, a sharp escalation in scams activity and the financial impact of significant natural disasters.

Since starting operations in November 2018, AFCA has worked with more than 16,500 victims of scams, more than 7,500 people affected by natural disasters (excluding COVID), and more than 30,000 people experiencing financial difficulty. It registered more than 17,000 COVID-related complaints, helping to resolve disputes involving financial products such as travel insurance and superannuation.

In addition, AFCA’s systemic issues work –where it identifies wider issues than a single complaint – resulted in 4.9 million people receiving more than $340 million.

“We have dealt with hundreds of thousands of cases over the past five years, but we are fully aware that behind every complaint is an individual, a family or small business,” AFCA’s

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Ombudsman, David Locke, said. “We know how stressful a financial dispute can be, and how critical it is to help consumers and firms resolve their differences.

“An ombudsman service also plays an important role in supporting public confidence in engaging with the financial services sector, because we are here to help when consumers and firms can’t resolve disputes on their own. We work to contribute to a fair and efficient financial services sector.”

With complaints reaching a record 97,000 in the last financial year alone, AFCA’s services had never been needed more, Mr Locke added.

“But our hope is that, working with firms, we will see a significant improvement in their in-house complaints handling. Consumers shouldn’t have to be escalating this volume of disputes to AFCA.”

He congratulated the 70 per cent of AFCA Scheme member firms that have never had a complaint reach AFCA. “While we will always point out areas of concern, to help inform consumers, firms, regulators and government, it’s important for the community to understand that the majority of financial firm members do not generate any complaints,” Mr Locke said.

Mr Locke said AFCA continued to be a cheaper and more efficient alternative to a court process for both firms and consumers.

Over its first five years AFCA resolved 60 per cent of cases in less than 60 days – mostly by helping the two sides reach agreement. Only 6 per cent of cases needed to progress to a formal decision.

AFCA was set up after the 2017 Ramsay Review recommended the establishment of a single scheme to handle disputes formerly handled by the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Credit and Investments Ombudsman and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.

AFCA is a not-for- profit organisation funded by fees and charges paid by member firms. Its service is free for consumers and small business complainants.

A Treasury-led Independent Review in 2021 found AFCA was “performing well in a difficult operating environment and a changing regulatory landscape” and reaffirmed its impartiality and its fairness jurisdiction.

Key facts

AFCA was established on 1 November 2018. The following data is as at 31 October 2023.

• 402,346 complaints registered

• $1.18 billion in compensation or refunds for consumers and small businesses

• 68% of complaints resolved by agreement

• 6% of cases progressed to a formal decision

• 46,097 members of AFCA Scheme (10,494 firms plus 35,603 individual authorised credit representatives)

• 69% of financial firm members have not had a complaint made against them