JobSaver payments will now be available to businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $250 million, up from $50 million, which have experienced a revenue decline of 30 per cent or more. The maximum weekly payment has also been substantially increased, with employing businesses that maintain their employee headcount now able to receive between $1,500 and $100,000 per week, up from $10,000, with payments based on 40 per cent of their weekly NSW payroll.

Businesses can expect to receive funds in their accounts within five to ten business days from their approval date, and the arrangements announced will be backdated, so businesses that have already received a first payment on previous settings will be topped up when their next payment is made.

JobSaver payments are available from week four of the lockdown. Non-employing business remain eligible for a maximum of $1,000 per week.

Businesses have also received much needed support from the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant to cover the first three weeks of lockdown, with more than $118 million has been paid to businesses so far from more than 56,000 applications received.

For more information on COVID-19 support available, visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/2021-covid-19-support-package.

Support for individuals impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at home orders is also available through Services Australia. For more information visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19.

Young people in our Upper Hunter electorate will have the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to support future employment, education and training opportunities through a NSW Government grant program which has recently opened.

I urge local not-for-profits, community groups and councils are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000 as part of the NSW Government's Youth Opportunities program.

These grants will help young people develop tangible skills to support future employment, education and training opportunities.

They will also support young people's participation, engagement, and inclusion in the community.

The Youth Opportunities grants provide one-off, time-limited grants between $10,000 and $50,000 for programs targeting children and young people aged 12-24.

Since the program began in 2012, Youth Opportunities has provided $13.3 million to 282 projects across NSW.

The focus this year will be on organisations delivering programs that build tangible skills or qualifications that will help with future job opportunities.

We want young people to be engaged in their local communities and participate in grass-roots programs that will provide them with a platform to gain meaningful employment and learn new skills.

For more information, or to apply, visit www.youth.nsw.gov.au/youth-opportunities/.

The technology upgrade for all regional schools in NSW is ahead of schedule, with stages two and three of the historic $365.8 million Rural Access Gap program underway.

Following a successful pilot program in the Dubbo, Narrabri and the Northern Border regions, 1000 rural and remote public schools are now receiving a top-to-bottom digital upgrade.

The program will ensure students living in the bush have the same access to technology as their city counterparts.

The Rural Access Gap Program will provide our rural and remote schools with superior connectivity, unparalleled in the country. This means that teachers in our regions have the tools, training and support they need to deliver lessons in ways not possible before. This is about ensuring students have access to an education without boundaries.

The Rural Access Gap program connects students and teachers to the best educational resources available through cutting edge learning and teaching technology. More than 30,000 devices, including laptops and video-conferencing facilities, will be added to the network as part of the first round, with more to follow.

Along with internet enhancements, the program will provide learning space and platform upgrades, more external and on-site tech support, simplified admin processes, targeted training, better tools and more time to focus on students.

All public schools, secondary and central schools within the Upper Hunter electorate will benefit from this wonderful technology upgrade.