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Edith Cowan University has revealed its new branding ahead of students starting back for 2025 – the first time it has been updated in over two decades.
Their decision to go for a simpler palette and a “subtle gum leaf motif” has also been timed for the launch of the new CBD campus opening in 2026.
Signage updates will be focused on the city campus followed by a phased implementation across Joondalup, South West and Sri Lanka campuses over the next 12 months.
ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Clare Pollock said it was the perfect time for a refreshed look.
“The subtle gum leaf motif pays tribute to Edith’s ‘Tough Nut’ brooch which she gave to her supporters when she was first elected to parliament, in 1921,” she said.
“Edith was told at the time that the electoral seat of West Perth was a ‘tough nut to crack’ and this became her iconic symbol. Now, it’s our celebration of courage, creativity and optimism.
”This is a powerful visual statement of our innovation, ambition and dedication to empowering future generations through education.”
Some more news from the election trail this morning and the WA Liberals have also announced a significant funding promise aimed squarely at young families.
Mettam joined her early childhood education spokeswoman Donna Faragher at the Ngala parenting support services headquarters in South Perth this morning to announce $33.6 million to open the charity’s residential parenting service to all parents.
Currently, Ngala can only offer the parenting service for mums at their wits’ end with their newborn to those with private health insurance, or who are sent there by the Department of Communities.
Mettam said the money would allow them to open the service to everyone.
“The perinatal period is a time of great adjustment and change for families, with some experiencing significant stress which requires greater support and intervention,” she said.
“This funding will allow Ngala to recruit additional nurses and to engage with more families with no out-of-pocket expense. It will be a service that 100 per cent of families can access if they need further assistance during this critical period.”
Ngala chief executive Michelle Dillon said the organisation had 10,000 calls a year, but had to send the vast majority away if they didn’t have insurance.
She said the money would allow them to open up their 11 adult and 12 child beds seven days a week so they could see about 1000 more families a year.
Faragher took the opportunity to lash Labor’s early childhood announcement by criticising its lack of detail.
“Is it compulsory? Is it not compulsory? Is it going to be for a full five days? Or will parents be given the choice for three days. If so, how will that impact teachers and the learning in the classroom?” she asked.
It’s good news for footy fans – particularly those who support the Fremantle Dockers.
Alex Pearce will lead Fremantle in the 2025 season – his third as captain – after being voted in by his teammates and coaches.
The 29-year-old defender will continue to be supported by co-vice captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
There is one change to the leadership group, with young key forward Josh Treacy included for the first time.
“Alex’s leadership continues to grow and his values, work ethic and ability to inspire his teammates shows why he should continue to lead our Club,” football executive general manager Joe Brierty said in a statement on Monday.
“Alex embodies our trademark and the respect he commands among his peers and the coaching group was once again reflected in the voting process.
“In addition to Alex, it’s great to see his deputies Andy and Caleb continue to grow as leaders and be acknowledged by their peers for the dedication and commitment they display in all aspects of their football.”
Sticking with this morning’s press conference with the premier, where he was asked about the antisemitic graffiti painted on a Dalkeith home at the weekend.
A swastika next to the words “f— Jews” was spray-painted in black paint on the Viking Road home sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Roger Cook said he wouldn’t be surprised if the culprit behind the graffiti was a copycat emulating similar attacks on the east coast, but said he hoped police “get them and … throw the book at them.”
“I’m sure that there are some young thugs out there that are picking up on east coast media and might simply be responding by saying, ‘Let’s get a rise out of and attract some attention to our activities by putting a swastika up on a wall’,” he said.
“Others are motivated by much more sinister intent and WA Police are right on top of this matter.
“Our State Security Intelligence Unit has got deep insights into these incidences, and we hope, and we know that they will stop at nothing before until someone is apprehended, apprehended for these vile acts.”
If the culprit is arrested, it could be an early test of the state government’s Nazi hate symbol laws that passed parliament last year.
The laws ban the display of Nazi hate symbols and the performance of the Nazi salute in public and could attract a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment.
To state politics again, and we have just learnt a little more about Labor’s planned expansion of early childhood learning at 10 schools across the state from 2027.
For parents a little underwhelmed with the full-time free kindy promise – given it is two years away – the Minister for Early Childhood Education Sabine Winton was grilled on this at a press conference this morning.
Winton said the new early childhood education office established to coordinate the trial needed the time to find the 10 locations, hire the staff and get the curriculum sorted.
When asked when the changes could be rolled out across the state she said that may take up to 10 years.
There has been broad support for the commitments from groups like Minderoo and the WA Council of Social Services.
Minderoo Executive Director Communities Penny Dakin said the changes were a step on the path to putting children and families at the centre of government and community decision-making.
“As someone who has been working on improving outcomes for children for many years, these changes are a significant step-change for WA children and their families,” Dakin said.
In addition to the $33.8 million trial of a full-time kindy pilot, Premier Roger Cook has committed to $15 million to expand out-of-school hours care at more primary schools across the state.
First schools to get out of school care:
We’re back on the election campaign trail, this time with a push from the Nationals to keep the community of Kalbarri safe from natural disasters.
If elected, the party will deliver a $7 million multipurpose and evacuation centre for the regional town.
The centre would not only serve as a critical evacuation point, but would also be used for social events, performances, sporting activities, and community programs.
Nationals WA candidate for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr said the facility was long overdue after the devastation caused by Cyclone Seroja in 2021.
“Four years later, Kalbarri residents and visitors still have nowhere safe to go in an emergency, and it’s simply unacceptable,” she said.
“The $7 million commitment from Royalties for Regions will fully fund the project, ensuring Kalbarri gets the infrastructure it needs.”
Warr claimed the Labor government had pledged $104.5 million in disaster recovery funding, “yet less than 10 per cent of that money ever reached the people who needed it.”
And in other news, Resolute Mining chief Terry Holohan has stepped down just two months after he spent a fortnight being held by Mali’s military junta, forcing the company to hand over $247 million.
In a statement to the ASX on Monday, the gold miner confirmed it was negotiating a proposed settlement with Holohan to enable him to vacate the role immediately.
The move comes six weeks after the Australian-headquartered company confirmed Holohan would take a period of leave over the month of January.
Holohan was one of three employees who were detained in Bamako in mid-November after a meeting with mining and tax authorities regarding claims made against the company.
The detention followed the introduction of a new mining code by the military-led government to increase local ownership in an industry dominated by foreign companies and increase royalty revenue.
As the miner’s stock plunged, the company executed a deal to ensure the trio’s release, handing over more than $247 million and vowing to shift the company’s assets in the African country to the new code and settle all outstanding claims — including tax and custom levies.
Resolute holds an 80 per cent stake in the large-scale underground gold mine it operates in the country’s south-west, with the remaining 20 per cent held by the Mali government.
Acting chief executive Chris Eger will assume the role of chief executive.
A proposal to extend the life of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s ‘Super Pit’ has been recommended for approval by the Environmental Protection Authority, subject to conditions, after a detailed assessment.
The proposal to mine a cutback of the existing Fimiston Open Pit has been the subject of a two-year environmental impact assessment and four-week public consultation.
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines wants to expand mine tailings, waste capacity and infrastructure, as well as relocate and modify the existing noise bund.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh said recommended conditions addressed impacts to noise from blasting, and air quality from dust.
“The EPA has recommended that explosives should continue to only be detonated between the hours of 7am and 6pm and that mining operations are not undertaken within 400 metres of a property without consent,” Walsh said.
“The proponent would also be required to ensure blasting only occurred at surface level when wind direction favoured the carriage of dust away from residential areas.”
Walsh said the proposal was located within a brownfields site where existing mining and ore processing operations had been operating near urban areas for more than a century.
This might be an election-heavy blog today folks.
The Labor government has promised $8 million for upgrades at non-government remote schools across the Kimberley if re-elected.
The remote schools educate children in locations where there is no state school and cater to almost 700 students.
The funding will be needs-based, addressing the most critical projects first.
In addition, the government has promised to also provide an $89 million commitment for another round of the WA Student Assistance Payment.
Every parent with school-aged students in the state would be eligible for the payment, which provides $250 for secondary school students and $150 for those in primary school and kindergarten.
Education Minister Tony Buti said the commitment would provide students in remote communities with enhanced facilities and better learning outcomes.
Tame Impala have made their mark early to take home Australia’s first Grammy for the night.
The Perth band’s collaboration with French dance act Justice’s Neverender has won best dance/electronic recording. It’s the first-ever Grammy win for Kevin Parker’s band after previously being nominated four times.
In addition to Tame Impala’s win, Australian production duo FNZ won the best remixed recording Grammy for their collaboration with Mark Ronson on Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. The win marks FNZ’s first trophy at the Grammy’s after five nominations.
Unfortunately, there was no luck for our very own Troye Sivan. Got Me Started, was up for best dance pop recording, but Charli XCX won that category with Von Dutch. No shame in losing to the world’s favourite Brat.