Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

​​Wednesday, 31 August 2022​ Pensioners and other concession card holders in the region can now pick up free rapid antigen tests (RATs) from any Service NSW Service Centre, Mobile Service Centre or Disaster Recovery Centre. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said eligible customers in NSW will now have access to up to 10 free RATs through Service NSW Centres, in addition to existing distribution points at more than 200 neighbourhood and community centres located across the S

​​Monday, 13 December 2021​ Young people living in the Cootamundra electorate will be able to enjoy school holiday activities with their friends thanks to the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the $10 million to expand the popular Holiday Break program will give back the fun, care-free experiences our kids missed out on during the lockdowns. “COVID-19 has been incredibly tough on everyone but particularly our you

​​Tuesday, 16 November 2021​ The NSW Government will invest more than $8 million in a suite of grant programs to accelerate the recovery of the NSW visitor economy as the state reopens to visitors. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the funding was great news for the local visitor economy and would support tourism businesses across the Cootamundra electorate as life after COVID-19 restrictions resumed. “More than ever, our visitor economy needs support to build on th

​​Friday, 15 October 2021​ Customers in the Cootamundra electorate will have more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with two additional Dine & Discover vouchers up for grabs for NSW residents. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the expanded program will support residents across the community and encourage economic activity as part of the government’s economic recovery strategy. “This is about encouraging people to get out and have a m

​​Wednesday, 13 October 2021​ Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has announced new funding is available for organisations providing critical grassroots support to the community in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I am encouraging eligible organisations to apply for the second round of funding to support grassroots responses and solutions for vulnerable people and multicultural communities across our electorate,” Ms Cooke said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible w

​​Friday, 1 October 2021​ People in the Cootamundra electorate will soon benefit from the NSW Government’s new $130 million package which will provide immediate access to help for anyone whose mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Cooke said the funding boost will work to cut headspace waitlists, provide more access to psychology, psychiatry and other allied health services, and introduce community led wellbeing programs and events. The investment will

​​Tuesday, 28 September 2021​ Families in the Cowra and Hilltops LGA’s can now enjoy a new website – Family Project – that provides fun COVID safe ideas for families to connect during lockdown including rock art, backyard movies, building herb gardens, creating chalk art and meditation. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke MP said the safe online portal will provide a new project daily to help support the mental and physical wellbeing of NSW families. “Family Project will have

​​Thursday, 23 September 2021​ NSW Health today announced that due to the evolving risk to the community in rising case numbers, the stay-at-home orders for the Hilltops local government area will be extended for another seven days from tomorrow, until Friday 1st October. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said although these are challenging times, the community’s response has been outstanding. “I know this is disappointing news but I would like to praise the community for

Thursday, 23 September 2021 The Western NSW Local Health District has today confirmed that 5 residents from the Cowra LGA have tested...

Monday, 20 September 2021 Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is urging residents in the Cowra district to come forward for testing as...

​​Friday, 17 September 2021​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is urging residents in the Young district to come forward for testing as the Hilltops local government area returns to stay-at-home orders for seven days from 6.00pm today, Friday 17th September. Stay-at-home orders mean you can only leave your place of residence for a reasonable excuse, including to: obtain food or other goods and services locally leave home to go to work if: you cannot reasonably work from hom

​​Friday, 17 September 2021​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is urging residents in the Young district to come forward for testing as the Hilltops local government area returns to stay-at-home orders for seven days from 6.00pm today, Friday 17th September. Stay-at-home orders mean you can only leave your place of residence for a reasonable excuse, including to: obtain food or other goods and services locally leave home to go to work if: you cannot reasonably work from home

​​Friday, 3 September 2021​ The NSW Government’s Suicide Prevention Fund has given a boost to mental health services in regional NSW as they continue to experience high-demand during the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the funding will improve access to mental health support for people living in the electorate. “Our regional communities are among the identified at-risk groups known to have higher rates of suicide,” Ms Cooke said. “As

​​Friday, 27 August 2021​ Today the NSW Government announced a return to school plan for students and staff. The plan included a staggered return to face-to-face learning from October, the delay of HSC exams until November and the introduction of mandatory vaccinations for school staff. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the development of proactive plans to get students within the electorate, back into classrooms as soon as it is deemed safe to do so will give teacher

​​Friday, 27 August 2021​ In light of the extension of stay-at-home orders and the impact on businesses across the Cootamundra electorate, Steph Cooke, Member for Cootamundra is hosting a virtual Small Business COVID-19 Support Forum from 6-7pm, Wednesday 1 September 2021. “I acknowledge some small businesses are doing it tough due to the current COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions”, Ms Cooke said. “I sought the support of the Minister for Finance and Small Business, Damien

​​Thursday, 26 August 2021​ The NSW Government announced today that the Stay-At-Home Orders currently in place for regional NSW will be extended by two weeks, until at least 11:59pm on 10 September. “I acknowledge that the announcement of the extension of the Stay-At-Home Orders for regional areas, including the Cootamundra electorate, was not the news many people wanted to hear.” Ms Cooke said. "Rising case numbers and sewerage detection remain a concern in several regional

​​Wednesday, 25 August 2021​ The NSW Government has announced an additional 3000 training places for people across NSW to skill up at home during lockdown. An extra 60 short courses are now on offer to study for free including business skills, mental health, marketing, finance and IT skillsets. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said there has never been a more crucial time to upskill or reskill through the pandemic. “The NSW Government is here to support the people of the

​​Monday, 23 August 2021​ There is now an easier option to check-in safely to businesses without a smart phone. Service NSW is issuing the COVID-19 Check-in cards which can presented to a staff member at COVID-safe businesses who is able to scan it to record your visit electronically. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke says this system removes the struggles of checking in for those who don’t own a smart phone. “Now every person has the opportunity to check-in to businesses

​​Friday, 20 August 2021​ The NSW Police Force has welcomed 182 police recruits after they were sworn-in as probationary constables at a private attestation ceremony, held in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, in Goulburn last week. The new probationary constables have been assigned to police area commands and police districts across the state. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is eager to welcome the new police officers to both the Cootamundra and Gundagai Police Stati

​​Friday, 20 August 2021​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, is encouraging locals to take advantage of new fee-free TAFE NSW courses to build their skills during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health, digital security, business administration and construction industry skill sets are just some of the 10 COVID rapid response courses on offer to people through the lockdown. Ms Cooke said the free training had come at the right time. “Training will be delivered through