Latest news with #LakeMacquarie
ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Lake Macquarie teacher accused of sexually abusing 15yo boy to stand trial
A high school teacher will stand trial after pleading not guilty to grooming and sexually abusing a teenage boy near Newcastle. Karly Rae appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where she pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual intercourse with a child in October 2024. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail. A second count of the same charge was withdrawn. Court documents allege that she communicated with the 15-year-old on social media. Ms Rae was arrested by the Child Abuse Squad in October last year, after an investigation into alleged child abuse. The teacher from a Lake Macquarie high school also pleaded not guilty to possessing child abuse material and grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity. She also denied allegedly intending to pervert the course of justice. Ms Rae wiped away tears as her brief committal hearing proceeded before Magistrate Ian Cheetham. Each charge was read out separately and Ms Rae replied "not guilty" on four occasions. Wednesday's committal hearing was uncontested and Magistrate Cheetham, satisfied with the evidence, committed the case to a higher court for trial. The case was adjourned to Newcastle District Court on July 3, when a trial date is expected to be set.
The Advertiser
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Alarming': hospital presentations for mental health hits all-time high
More than 21,000 presentations to Hunter New England emergency departments for mental health issues occurred in 2023-24. This was the highest number on record and a 70 per cent rise in a decade. The Hunter's rate per 100,000 people for these presentations was the third highest among the state's 14 health districts. Health data shows 4970 mental health hospital admissions in the district over this period. Bradley Dunn, CEO of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, said the figures were "alarming". "The fact that those numbers are climbing is concerning because it means there are simply more people unable to reach the level of care they need," Mr Dunn said. He said the data would include "repeat attendance". "You've also got a number who would never have required admission into hospital. They just don't know where else to go," he said. "This is part of the problem. People are attending emergency departments because they don't have the information at hand about where to go to seek the right type of support." Mr Dunn said this was "exactly why" the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub was established at Charlestown. The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that the hub was officially opened to honour the life of Kahi Simon, who took his life at age 20. More than 480 suicides occurred in the Hunter from 2019 to 2023, and 79 per cent of those who died were male. Mr Dunn had seen similar reports every year from government and mental health organisations recommending safe havens or hubs, but not enough funding for them. "That's why we took the initiative for the hub. We've had to come up with funding from the community. "When people attend these hubs and get the support they need, you're reducing the amount of people attending ED [emergency departments]. "Inevitably, people who attend ED for mental health concerns often sit and wait until there's time available to be seen." The Charlestown hub has information, advice, support and a referral program with psychologists, counsellors and follow-up support. It is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The NSW government runs a Safe Haven in Hamilton East three days a week from 4pm to 9pm, but there have been repeated calls for this to expand due to gaps in services. Dr Anand Swamy, mental health executive director with Hunter New England Health, highlighted the "Mental Health First Responders service". Dr Swamy said it provided NSW Police and NSW Ambulance with "priority, 24-hour access to specialised mental health triage services via virtual care". The service sought to help those in need and "avoid unnecessary transport and presentation to the emergency department". On Monday, the ABC's Four Corners reported that doctors and frontline health workers warned they were witnessing the collapse of public mental healthcare in NSW. This followed dozens of psychiatrists leaving the public system in NSW over pay, conditions and staff shortages. Eleven psychiatrists from the Hunter were among those intending to resign at the time. The Hunter Region previously had about 40 psychiatrists working in public hospitals and community mental health teams. The Minns government had since announced "35 new community mental health clinicians" across the state, with four in Hunter New England. More than 21,000 presentations to Hunter New England emergency departments for mental health issues occurred in 2023-24. This was the highest number on record and a 70 per cent rise in a decade. The Hunter's rate per 100,000 people for these presentations was the third highest among the state's 14 health districts. Health data shows 4970 mental health hospital admissions in the district over this period. Bradley Dunn, CEO of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, said the figures were "alarming". "The fact that those numbers are climbing is concerning because it means there are simply more people unable to reach the level of care they need," Mr Dunn said. He said the data would include "repeat attendance". "You've also got a number who would never have required admission into hospital. They just don't know where else to go," he said. "This is part of the problem. People are attending emergency departments because they don't have the information at hand about where to go to seek the right type of support." Mr Dunn said this was "exactly why" the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub was established at Charlestown. The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that the hub was officially opened to honour the life of Kahi Simon, who took his life at age 20. More than 480 suicides occurred in the Hunter from 2019 to 2023, and 79 per cent of those who died were male. Mr Dunn had seen similar reports every year from government and mental health organisations recommending safe havens or hubs, but not enough funding for them. "That's why we took the initiative for the hub. We've had to come up with funding from the community. "When people attend these hubs and get the support they need, you're reducing the amount of people attending ED [emergency departments]. "Inevitably, people who attend ED for mental health concerns often sit and wait until there's time available to be seen." The Charlestown hub has information, advice, support and a referral program with psychologists, counsellors and follow-up support. It is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The NSW government runs a Safe Haven in Hamilton East three days a week from 4pm to 9pm, but there have been repeated calls for this to expand due to gaps in services. Dr Anand Swamy, mental health executive director with Hunter New England Health, highlighted the "Mental Health First Responders service". Dr Swamy said it provided NSW Police and NSW Ambulance with "priority, 24-hour access to specialised mental health triage services via virtual care". The service sought to help those in need and "avoid unnecessary transport and presentation to the emergency department". On Monday, the ABC's Four Corners reported that doctors and frontline health workers warned they were witnessing the collapse of public mental healthcare in NSW. This followed dozens of psychiatrists leaving the public system in NSW over pay, conditions and staff shortages. Eleven psychiatrists from the Hunter were among those intending to resign at the time. The Hunter Region previously had about 40 psychiatrists working in public hospitals and community mental health teams. The Minns government had since announced "35 new community mental health clinicians" across the state, with four in Hunter New England. More than 21,000 presentations to Hunter New England emergency departments for mental health issues occurred in 2023-24. This was the highest number on record and a 70 per cent rise in a decade. The Hunter's rate per 100,000 people for these presentations was the third highest among the state's 14 health districts. Health data shows 4970 mental health hospital admissions in the district over this period. Bradley Dunn, CEO of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, said the figures were "alarming". "The fact that those numbers are climbing is concerning because it means there are simply more people unable to reach the level of care they need," Mr Dunn said. He said the data would include "repeat attendance". "You've also got a number who would never have required admission into hospital. They just don't know where else to go," he said. "This is part of the problem. People are attending emergency departments because they don't have the information at hand about where to go to seek the right type of support." Mr Dunn said this was "exactly why" the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub was established at Charlestown. The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that the hub was officially opened to honour the life of Kahi Simon, who took his life at age 20. More than 480 suicides occurred in the Hunter from 2019 to 2023, and 79 per cent of those who died were male. Mr Dunn had seen similar reports every year from government and mental health organisations recommending safe havens or hubs, but not enough funding for them. "That's why we took the initiative for the hub. We've had to come up with funding from the community. "When people attend these hubs and get the support they need, you're reducing the amount of people attending ED [emergency departments]. "Inevitably, people who attend ED for mental health concerns often sit and wait until there's time available to be seen." The Charlestown hub has information, advice, support and a referral program with psychologists, counsellors and follow-up support. It is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The NSW government runs a Safe Haven in Hamilton East three days a week from 4pm to 9pm, but there have been repeated calls for this to expand due to gaps in services. Dr Anand Swamy, mental health executive director with Hunter New England Health, highlighted the "Mental Health First Responders service". Dr Swamy said it provided NSW Police and NSW Ambulance with "priority, 24-hour access to specialised mental health triage services via virtual care". The service sought to help those in need and "avoid unnecessary transport and presentation to the emergency department". On Monday, the ABC's Four Corners reported that doctors and frontline health workers warned they were witnessing the collapse of public mental healthcare in NSW. This followed dozens of psychiatrists leaving the public system in NSW over pay, conditions and staff shortages. Eleven psychiatrists from the Hunter were among those intending to resign at the time. The Hunter Region previously had about 40 psychiatrists working in public hospitals and community mental health teams. The Minns government had since announced "35 new community mental health clinicians" across the state, with four in Hunter New England. More than 21,000 presentations to Hunter New England emergency departments for mental health issues occurred in 2023-24. This was the highest number on record and a 70 per cent rise in a decade. The Hunter's rate per 100,000 people for these presentations was the third highest among the state's 14 health districts. Health data shows 4970 mental health hospital admissions in the district over this period. Bradley Dunn, CEO of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, said the figures were "alarming". "The fact that those numbers are climbing is concerning because it means there are simply more people unable to reach the level of care they need," Mr Dunn said. He said the data would include "repeat attendance". "You've also got a number who would never have required admission into hospital. They just don't know where else to go," he said. "This is part of the problem. People are attending emergency departments because they don't have the information at hand about where to go to seek the right type of support." Mr Dunn said this was "exactly why" the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub was established at Charlestown. The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that the hub was officially opened to honour the life of Kahi Simon, who took his life at age 20. More than 480 suicides occurred in the Hunter from 2019 to 2023, and 79 per cent of those who died were male. Mr Dunn had seen similar reports every year from government and mental health organisations recommending safe havens or hubs, but not enough funding for them. "That's why we took the initiative for the hub. We've had to come up with funding from the community. "When people attend these hubs and get the support they need, you're reducing the amount of people attending ED [emergency departments]. "Inevitably, people who attend ED for mental health concerns often sit and wait until there's time available to be seen." The Charlestown hub has information, advice, support and a referral program with psychologists, counsellors and follow-up support. It is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The NSW government runs a Safe Haven in Hamilton East three days a week from 4pm to 9pm, but there have been repeated calls for this to expand due to gaps in services. Dr Anand Swamy, mental health executive director with Hunter New England Health, highlighted the "Mental Health First Responders service". Dr Swamy said it provided NSW Police and NSW Ambulance with "priority, 24-hour access to specialised mental health triage services via virtual care". The service sought to help those in need and "avoid unnecessary transport and presentation to the emergency department". On Monday, the ABC's Four Corners reported that doctors and frontline health workers warned they were witnessing the collapse of public mental healthcare in NSW. This followed dozens of psychiatrists leaving the public system in NSW over pay, conditions and staff shortages. Eleven psychiatrists from the Hunter were among those intending to resign at the time. The Hunter Region previously had about 40 psychiatrists working in public hospitals and community mental health teams. The Minns government had since announced "35 new community mental health clinicians" across the state, with four in Hunter New England.
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Body found off Lake Macquarie during search for missing boater
A body has been found during the search for a missing boater off Summerland Point in the southeast corner of Lake Macquarie. Police were called to the area about 4pm on Thursday following reports an 82-year-old man had not returned from a fishing trip. A multi-agency search operation was quickly launched after the man's boat was found abandoned. Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District and Marine Area Command – with assistance from Marine Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW – searched the area for close to four hours. Just before 8pm, the body of the man was spotted in the water by a Surf Life Saving NSW helicopter. A report on the incident will be prepared for the coroner, and police have urged anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Advice - Lake Macquarie and surrounds flooding - Stay informed
The NSW SES advises people in the following area(s) to STAY INFORMED about predicted minor flooding on the rivers, creeks and low lying areas surrounding: Lake Macquarie You should stay informed by monitoring warnings issued by NSW SES on their website and Facebook page, listening to your local ABC radio station, and checking the latest weather information from the Bureau of Meteorology online.
