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Maroubra Locals Raise Concerns on Randwick Parking Changes

Families, tradies and long-time residents in Maroubra rely on beachside street parking, but a proposed shift to paid parking is raising concerns about rising daily costs and whether some can stay in the suburb.

Plans aim to shift cost burden from locals to visitors

The proposal, established in March 2026, plans to introduce paid parking in the beach areas around Randwick, but residents will still be able to apply for permits to park for free. According to the consultation page on Visitor Pay Parking, the move is intended to ease pressure on locals who currently fund the bulk of beach maintenance through rates.

Consultation on the proposal ran from early March to mid-April 2026, with Council indicating a revised version is now being prepared following community feedback.

Maroubra households say limited permits could strain daily life

Many Maroubra households have more than one vehicle, but concerns have centred on how a permit system would work in practice. Council information outlined in its proposal FAQs initially suggested a single free permit per household, prompting feedback from families, carers and share houses who said that would not meet their needs.

For residents who depend on their vehicles for work, including tradespeople, the possibility of paying for street parking near home has been described as impractical. Some have indicated they may need to reconsider living in the area or look for alternatives such as off-site storage.

Small businesses fear fewer customers if parking comes at a cost

Local operators in Maroubra have also raised concerns about the effect on foot traffic. Businesses that rely on nearby residents and visitors driving in for appointments or classes have said that added parking costs could deter customers, particularly for small-scale services.

Community feedback gathered during the consultation period shows strong interest from residents worried about how accessible local services will remain if parking becomes more expensive or harder to secure.

Rising costs and high visitor numbers

Randwick has stated that maintaining its coastline costs about $23.5 million each year, covering services such as lifeguards, waste collection, stormwater management and coastal infrastructure.

In a statement on its website, it said a large share of beach users come from outside the area, with research suggesting visitors make up the majority during peak periods. Council argues that introducing paid parking for non-residents would help fund these services while improving parking turnover, making it easier for locals with permits to find spaces.

Reports cited that similar systems already operate in other Sydney coastal areas.

Thousands respond as consultation draws strong community input

Council meeting documents from April 2026 show that more than 7,000 online submissions and thousands of paper responses were received during consultation, making it one of the largest engagement processes undertaken.

Community campaigns have also emerged, including a petition hosted on Change.org, where residents have expressed concerns about affordability, access and the potential flow-on effects to surrounding streets.

Randwick City Council has indicated it is reviewing feedback and plans to release an updated proposal that may include more flexible permit arrangements. Details on pricing, permit numbers and rollout timing are expected to be clarified once the revised plan is presented to councillors.

Published 27-April-2026

Saved by the Bra Boys: A Maroubra Man’s Story of Recovery

Side-by-Side

Troy Reardon was 23, weighed 65 kilograms, and was using ice every day when a friend knocked on his window one night and told him there was a rehab centre waiting for him. That moment, and the community that made it possible, is why the 33-year-old Maroubra landscaper and youth mentor is still alive today.

Reardon has been sober for nearly a decade. He is now a homeowner, a business owner and a father. He runs a fitness and mentoring programme called Side by Side at Maroubra Beach, has spoken at schools including Waverley College, and is launching a gambling support group that drew 100 sign-ups within 24 hours of being announced.

The through-line connecting all of it is a single group of people: the Bra Boys, the Maroubra surf community whose unwavering support, in his telling, is the reason he is here at all.

“Without some of my Bra Boy friends, I would not be sober today,” Reardon says. “They would drive me to rehab. They took me to detox. They answered the call every single day.”

Growing Up in Maroubra

Reardon grew up in public housing near Maroubra Beach, in a suburb that has always meant something particular. For those who know it, Maroubra is not just a beach. It is a community with a deep, sometimes complicated identity, shaped by generations of working-class families, a fierce local loyalty and the kind of bonds formed when people grow up in proximity and necessity.

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That environment, at its best, produces exactly the kind of connection that saved Reardon’s life. At its most difficult, it was also the context he was navigating as a child.

“I’d come home at the age of 8 and have to resuscitate people who had overdosed in the hallway,” he recalls. His father was largely absent. His mother, who worked three jobs to provide for him, was dealing with her own addiction. Born with a rare birthmark on his head, Reardon was also a target for bullies from a young age, and by 16 he had found a temporary solution in gambling.

“It numbed me. It was a sense of relief. I’d found the solution to my insecurity around my birthmark, my childhood,” he said.

The gambling gave way to cocaine and ecstasy. A first stint in rehab at 19 was followed by a turn to ice. The violence that ran alongside his addiction left him with serious physical injuries, including a stabbing to the jugular in an argument at the beach. He describes the hospitalisation visits across that period as simply “out of this world.”

The Community That Pulled Him Back

The Bra Boys were founded in Maroubra in the 1990s, cemented in the suburb’s surf culture and in the postcode pride that the name reflects. “Bra” is a shortened reference to Maroubra, and partly to the street slang for brother. Members tattoo “My Brother’s Keeper” across the chest, “Bra Boys” and the Maroubra postcode 2035 across their backs.

The Bar Boys — *Photo Credit: @kid_mac/Instagram*

The 2007 documentary Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water, written and directed by members including Sunny Abberton and narrated by Russell Crowe, introduced the group to a national and international audience, drawing on the stories of the Abberton brothers, particularly the surfing notoriety of Koby Abberton.

The group has never been straightforward. Its history includes serious criminal convictions, links to organised crime investigations and documented violence. Reardon does not pretend his years within that world were free of harm. “It was carnage,” he says simply.

But the Bra Boys are also defined by a code of loyalty and mutual support that is real and documented, and it was that side of the group that reached Reardon when he needed it most.

The friend who knocked on his window, who drove him to detox and answered calls during the darkest periods, embodied what the “My Brother’s Keeper” motto has always meant in practice.

“I was super-emotional but I told myself I was going to be OK,” Reardon said of the night he finally accepted help. “I stopped taking drugs but I was still so lost. I knew it was the right choice but the happiness wasn’t there straight away. I just had to go day by day and trust the process.”

From Surviving to Mentoring Hundreds

Nearly a decade of sobriety has given Reardon a platform and a purpose. He now runs a fitness and mentoring program at Maroubra Beach, using his story to connect with young people and steer them away from the path he once took. The program works alongside The 400 Club and other community based fitness groups.

Reardon also leads Side by Side, which builds on this work, and regularly speaks at schools including Waverley College, where his lived experience resonates with students from similar backgrounds.

Giving Back to the Community

He is preparing to launch a gambling support group, which attracted 100 expressions of interest in a single day. The response reflects both the scale of the issue and the trust he has built within the community.

Reardon continues to live in Maroubra by choice, staying close to the place that shaped his life and supported his recovery.

“I’ve broken the cycle,” he said. “My son will never go through what I did.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 (free call, 24 hours). For gambling support, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. For mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Published 26-April-2026

The Eastgardens Return and Earn Machine Is Getting a Smarter Upgrade

Westfield Eastgardens Woolworths Return and Earn Machine/Google Maps

The Return and Earn machine at Westfield Eastgardens will close temporarily from 8pm on Sunday 3 May for an upgrade to the latest “takes all” technology, with the machine expected to reopen at 7am on Thursday 7 May.

The upgrade is good news for local recyclers. The new technology means all eligible containers, glass, plastic and aluminium alike, can go into any of the machine’s chutes without pre-sorting. Previously, glass containers had to be separated before returning, so the change makes the whole process faster and simpler, particularly for anyone returning a full bag of mixed containers.

Return and Earn has been rolling out the takes-all technology across its NSW network as part of an ongoing upgrade programme, and the Eastgardens machine will join a growing number of sites across Sydney that now accept everything in a single, unsorted drop.

A Strong Recycling Culture in Bayside

Anyone needing to return eligible drink containers between Sunday 3 May and Thursday 7 May can use the following nearby return points. The Pacific Square Maroubra machine is at 737 Anzac Parade.

The machine at Westfield Eastgardens — *Photo Credit: Westfield Eastgardens Woolworths Return and Earn Machine/Google Maps*

A Community That Already Recycles Well

The Eastgardens upgrade arrives in one of NSW’s most active Return and Earn communities. Bayside residents have returned more than 457 million eligible drink containers through local return points since the scheme launched in December 2017, a figure that translates to tens of millions of dollars in refunds back in local pockets, and an enormous volume of material diverted from landfill and litter.

*Photo Credit: Westfield Eastgardens Woolworths Return and Earn Machine/Google Maps*

Each eligible container, whether glass, plastic, aluminium, steel or liquid paperboard, earns a 10-cent refund when returned. Refunds can be collected as a printed voucher redeemable at Woolworths, transferred directly to a bank account or PayPal via the Return and Earn app, or donated to one of more than 500 charity and community partners listed in the app.

The Westfield Eastgardens machine will reopen at 7am on Thursday 7 May. For your nearest return point at any time, visit returnandearn.org.au or call 1800 290 691.

Published 26-April-2026

Maroubra Residents Invited To Have Their Say On E-Bike Parking Plan

Photo Credit: RandwickCouncil/YouTube

Maroubra residents are being invited to have their say on a proposed shared e-bike parking plan, with feedback open on new zones, designated parking areas and ‘no-go’ locations aimed at improving safety and access.

Maroubra Community Asked To Have Their Say

Maroubra Beach has been included as one of three key locations in a proposal focused on improving how shared e-bikes are parked in high-demand areas. Community members are being encouraged to provide input on the proposed changes, which also cover Coogee Beach and Randwick Junction.

The consultation centres on introducing mandatory parking zones supported by dedicated parking areas, along with ‘no-go’ zones where parking would not be permitted.

Maroubra e-bike feedback — *Photo Credit: RandwickCouncil/YouTube*

have your say

Growing Use Driving Community Input

Shared e-bike use has increased significantly across the area, with more than 628,000 trips recorded in 2025. The rapid growth has made the service a popular way to get around, while also leading to concerns about bikes being left in unsuitable locations.

Residents and businesses have reported bikes blocking footpaths, driveways and building entrances, creating safety risks and limiting access in busy areas such as Maroubra.

parking proposal — *Photo Credit: RandwickCouncil/YouTube*

What The Proposal Means For Maroubra

Under the proposal, riders would be required to park shared e-bikes within designated spaces shown in mobile apps to end their trips. If a bike is left outside these areas, the trip may not be recognised as complete, and additional charges or penalties may apply.

The proposed parking areas would be selected using a structured approach that prioritises on-street locations where safe, followed by alternatives such as verges, grassed areas and existing street furniture zones.

These measures aim to reduce the number of bikes left in unsuitable locations while maintaining access to key public spaces.

Roles And Responsibilities

Shared e-bikes are operated by private companies and are available for short-term hire through mobile apps. Riders are expected to follow standard road rules and park bikes appropriately, particularly in designated spaces where available.

Operators are responsible for maintaining their fleets and ensuring bikes are stored in a way that does not create safety or access issues, including repositioning bikes when required.

community feedback — *Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil*

Where And How To Share Feedback

Community members can take part by commenting on specific locations through an interactive map or by making a formal submission. Feedback is being sought on both the proposed parking areas and the criteria used to select them.

The consultation is open from 22 April to 20 May 2026, with responses expected to guide how shared e-bike parking is managed in Maroubra and other high-demand areas.

Published 23-Apr-2026

South Sydney High School Among Just Three NSW Schools to Make HSC Most Improved List Two Years Straight

South Sydney High School in Maroubra is one of only three schools in the entire state to land on the Education Department’s HSC Most Improved Schools list two years in a row, and the school community has been quick to share the news.

Read: Did You Know That Netflix’s Heartbreak High Was Filmed In Maroubra Bay High School?

“The Department of Education has released a list of schools with the most improved HSC results, and we’re thrilled to share that South Sydney High School is one of only three schools in the state to make the list two years in a row,” the school announced. “This incredible achievement reflects the hard work, dedication and determination of our students, teachers, and school community.”

The list, released by the Education Department, recognises schools showing the strongest growth in the number of students achieving results in the top three HSC bands. South Sydney High School joins just two other schools across New South Wales in earning that distinction back-to-back.

The result is the product of seven years of sustained effort. When principal Janice Neilsen arrived at the school seven years ago, lifting HSC outcomes was front and centre of her vision. What followed was years of consistent work inside classrooms, out in the community, and across the school’s culture.

By 2025, nearly three quarters of the school’s Year 12 cohort achieved results in the top three HSC bands, a rise of 17 percentage points since 2019. Ms Neilsen has been clear about what drove it.

Photo credit: Facebook/South Sydney High School

She pointed to her teaching staff as the starting point. With more than 70 teachers on board, she said the team shared a collective drive to lift student outcomes and shift perceptions of the school in the wider community. From there, the focus turned to building a structured, consistent learning environment, one where behavioural expectations were clear and support for students was equally strong. Underpinning all of it was a framework of values: manners, respect, punctuality, attendance and citizenship.

Ms Neilsen said that once the right environment was in place, the school could properly turn its attention to the academic side of things.

The academic gains have come alongside a turnaround in enrolments. When Ms Neilsen first took the helm, the school had around 500 students. Today, that number is approaching 800. Her first HSC cohort numbered just 42 students; last year’s Year 12 group was around 120. Ms Neilsen said improving academic results, school culture and enrolment numbers is the goal of any principal.

Education and Early Learning Minister Prue Car acknowledged the achievement, noting that outcomes like these reflect what is possible when teachers are empowered to focus their skills in the classroom, delivering high-impact teaching that makes a real difference for students.

South Sydney High School’s Maroubra campus also has a well-known connection to Australian television. The original 1990s series Heartbreak High was filmed at the former Maroubra Bay High School, which previously occupied the same site before closing in 1990. When Netflix rebooted the series in 2022, producers returned to the very same grounds. Ms Neilsen said the decision came down to financial benefit for the school as well as arts and entertainment industry pathways for students.

Read: Four School Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades in Maroubra Completed

Ms Neilsen said the team has worked hard both inside and outside the classroom to improve the school’s reputation in the community, and the back-to-back recognition suggests that effort is paying off. She said she is proud of her team, and most importantly, the students who made it happen.

Published 10-April-2026

Shark Bite Kits Now Available After Hours at Maroubra Beach

RCC

Two new after-hours shark bite kits have been installed at Maroubra and Coogee beaches through a partnership between Randwick City and Surfing NSW, giving swimmers, surfers and beachgoers access to life-saving trauma equipment outside lifeguard patrol hours.

The kits sit alongside a newly installed rescue tube at each location, adding a practical layer of emergency preparedness to two of Sydney’s eastern suburbs’ busiest beaches. At Maroubra, the after-hours rescue tube and trauma kit are installed next to the Lifeguard Office, making them easy to locate for anyone familiar with the beach. For Maroubra’s large and active surf community, the addition means that critical emergency tools are now accessible around the clock, not just during patrolled hours.

What the Kits Contain and Where to Find Them

Each shark bite kit contains a tourniquet, dressings and bandages, a thermal blanket and a simple instruction card. The kits focus on controlling life-threatening blood loss in the crucial minutes between a shark attack and the arrival of professional medical help, and the simple instruction card empowers any bystander to provide immediate assistance, even without prior first aid training.

Installed alongside each kit is a rescue tube, a buoyant foam device designed to keep a person afloat in the water during a rescue. Together, the two pieces of equipment address both the in-water and on-shore phases of an emergency response, bridging the gap between the moment an incident occurs and when paramedics reach the scene.

The kits are a product of Community Shark Bite Kits, a not-for-profit initiative that has now placed kits at more than 120 beaches across Australia. The Maroubra and Coogee installations bring this proven national model to the Randwick City coastline for the first time.

After-Hours Safety on an Unpatrolled Beach

The kits are specifically designed to fill the gap outside lifeguard patrol hours, a period when beaches remain in constant use but professional emergency response is not immediately on hand. Lifeguard patrols at Maroubra operate from 7am to 7pm during daylight saving and from 7am to 5pm during winter and non-daylight saving periods. Outside those windows, the shark bite kit and rescue tube next to the Lifeguard Office offer a vital additional layer of safety for beach users, alongside existing emergency infrastructure.

That after-hours focus reflects a realistic understanding of how eastern suburbs beaches operate. Maroubra draws surfers before dawn and long after dusk throughout the year, and many of the suburb’s most committed ocean users are in the water precisely during the hours when lifeguards are not on patrol. Having trauma equipment permanently installed and accessible at any hour addresses that reality in a direct and practical way.

Why This Matters to Maroubra

Maroubra’s surf culture runs deep, and the beach attracts not just locals but visitors from across Sydney and beyond. The coastal safety infrastructure at the beach already includes CCTV, emergency response beacons and a publicly accessible defibrillator, and the shark bite kit and rescue tube now sit alongside those existing measures as part of a comprehensive approach to beach safety.

All beach users are encouraged to note the location of the shark bite kit and rescue tube next to the Lifeguard Office at Maroubra before entering the water. In any emergency, the first call should always be to 000.

Published 23-March-2026.

Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra to Open Purpose-Built Reformer Pilates Studio

RCC

Des Renford Leisure Centre at the corner of Robey Street and Jersey Road in Maroubra is getting a purpose-built reformer Pilates studio, with a $1.2 million investment set to deliver a 13-bed studio within the centre’s ground-level atrium.

The new Pilates studio will be constructed within the existing ground-floor atrium space at DRLC, with classes available through an all-inclusive DRLC membership or on a casual booking basis. The project was formally approved in early 2025, with construction beginning later that year. The 2026 announcement confirms the studio is coming to fruition, adding a dedicated reformer space to a leisure centre that already runs group fitness classes including yoga, Pilates mat sessions and Les Mills programmes across its existing studios.

For eastern suburbs residents who have been making their way to private studios in Randwick, Coogee or further afield to access reformer Pilates, the addition at DRLC puts a high-quality option inside one of the area’s most accessible and well-priced public leisure facilities.

What Reformer Pilates Is and Why It Has Grown So Fast

Reformer Pilates uses a sliding carriage machine fitted with springs and straps to create resistance and support during movement. Unlike mat Pilates, the reformer allows for a much wider range of exercises targeting strength, flexibility, balance and posture simultaneously, all within a low-impact format that suits people recovering from injury, older residents, pregnant women and serious athletes alike. Classes typically run for 45 to 50 minutes and are led by an instructor in small groups.

The format has become one of the fastest-growing fitness trends in Sydney over the past three years, driven by strong word of mouth, a surge in private studio openings across the eastern suburbs and growing awareness of its rehabilitation and preventive health benefits. Locals are flocking to private studios like KX Pilates and Platinum, and with CorePlus Randwick about to open its doors, it’s clear the area’s appetite for reformer shows no sign of slowing down. The arrival of a reformer studio at DRLC brings the option into the public leisure centre setting, where membership prices and no lock-in contracts make it accessible to a much broader cross-section of the community than private studio pricing typically allows.

DRLC’s Growing Suite of Facilities

Des Renford Leisure Centre has been expanding its amenity steadily in recent years. The splash park that opened in October 2023 added a family-focused outdoor water play space to a precinct that already includes three heated indoor and outdoor pools, one of Australia’s largest swim schools, a fully equipped upstairs gym with panoramic views, group fitness studios and an on-site crèche. The reformer Pilates studio continues that trajectory, bringing a genuinely in-demand fitness format into the centre’s programme for the first time.

DRLC currently offers Pilates classes through its group fitness timetable, but those sessions are mat-based. A dedicated 13-bed reformer studio is a significantly different offering, allowing for structured small-group reformer sessions that are currently only available at private studios in the area at considerably higher price points.

Why This Matters to the Maroubra Community

For Maroubra residents, the reformer Pilates studio at DRLC closes a gap that has sent locals elsewhere for a fitness modality that is now mainstream rather than niche. The eastern suburbs Pilates market is busy and well-served by private studios, but access is heavily influenced by cost. A session at a private reformer studio in the eastern suburbs typically runs between $30 and $45 casually, or around $25 to $35 per class on a membership. DRLC’s all-inclusive membership model and no lock-in contracts bring reformer access to a price point that makes it viable for families, older residents, students and anyone else who wants to take it up without a significant financial commitment.

The ground-level atrium location also means the studio will be easily accessible from the centre’s main entry, removing any barrier around navigating a large facility to reach a new space.

For more information on the upcoming reformer Pilates studio or DRLC memberships and casual access options, visit randwick.nsw.gov.au/drlc or call the centre on (02) 9090 3630. DRLC is located at the corner of Robey Street and Jersey Road, Maroubra.

Published 18-March-2026.

Maroubra’s Heffron Park Now Home to Alex Johnston’s Bronze Statue After Record-Breaking Try

The NRL Roast(Facebook)/Getty Images

A life-size bronze statue of South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston now stands outside the Rabbitohs’ training centre at Heffron Park in Maroubra, unveiled on Monday 16 March after Johnston became the greatest try-scorer in NRL premiership history just three days earlier.

Johnston crossed for his 213th NRL try in the first minute of the second half against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium, edging past Ken Irvine’s record that had stood for more than half a century. The try came from a brilliant set-up by Latrell Mitchell, with Johnston sprinting away from 40 metres to finish an 80-metre team movement that drew thousands of fans onto the field in celebration, a moment that the NRL had explicitly asked supporters not to create, but which produced one of the competition’s most extraordinary scenes regardless.

Three days later, Johnston stood in front of his bronze likeness at Heffron Park, surrounded by teammates, club officials, family and a delegation from the Randwick community, with local Bidjigal and Gweagal Elder Aunty Barbara Simms-Keeley welcoming the crowd to Country before the statue was officially unveiled. The statue, which depicts Johnston running with ball in hand, was created by artist John Cabellon and commissioned by club donor Danny Taibel.

A Record Years in the Making

The statue had been completed three years ago in Thailand and had been waiting for its unveiling as Johnston steadily closed in on the record. It will be the first statue in South Sydney Rabbitohs history.

Johnston’s path to the record is inseparable from Maroubra and the broader Randwick community. He is a South Sydney junior who grew up playing for the La Perouse United jersey, attended and graduated as dux from Endeavour Sports High School, and has remained a one-club player since making his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs on Anzac Day in 2014. His 213 premiership tries have all been scored in cardinal and myrtle, making the placement of the statue at Heffron Park a fitting permanence for a career that has never wandered from its roots.

Johnston is a proud Koedal Klan Saibai man of Torres Strait Islander and Papua New Guinean heritage, and celebrations of his record extended well beyond Sydney, with jubilant scenes reported throughout Papua New Guinea as the country’s rugby league community joined in marking the achievement. PNG Prime Minister James Marape joined Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in formally congratulating Johnston, and plans are underway to honour him when he returns to PNG later this year.

What the Moment Meant

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo described Irvine’s record as one that many had considered untouchable, given that it had stood for more than half a century, and said Johnston’s achievement made him one of the finest finishers the game had ever seen.

Johnston himself took the weight of the occasion in stride. He described the past few days as pretty crazy and called the statue the cherry on top of his celebrations, before joking that it would give the local wildlife the opportunity to have their say on his performances.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly credited Taibel for the statue’s existence, noting that Taibel never doubted Johnston would break the record and ensured the design, build and transportation were completed before the record was actually broken. Solly described it as a lasting tribute located in a sporting precinct that draws a million visitors a year, and expressed hope it would inspire the young athletes who train and play at Heffron.

Why This Matters to the Maroubra Community

Heffron Park is Maroubra’s sporting heartland. The precinct draws junior and senior athletes from across the eastern suburbs week after week, and the Rabbitohs’ move to the site has made it one of the most visited sporting facilities in the Randwick area. A permanent bronze statue at the entrance to the Rabbitohs’ centre of excellence gives the park a landmark that connects its daily visitors to one of rugby league’s greatest individual achievements.

For the Maroubra community, Johnston’s story is also a deeply local one. He grew up playing football in the streets and parks of the area, attended school in the eastern suburbs and has built his career in the community that shaped him. The statue at Heffron Park is not simply a monument to a sporting record. It is a marker of what the eastern suburbs, and Maroubra specifically, can produce when a young person grows up with the right environment around them.

The statue stands permanently outside the Rabbitohs’ training centre at the Heffron Centre, Heffron Park, Maroubra, and is accessible to visitors to the precinct.

Published 20-March-2026.

New Graduate Nurses Begin Work at Long Bay Correctional Centre in Malabar

Long Bay Correctional Centre in Malabar is among a network of NSW justice health facilities welcoming new graduate nurses this year, as 43 graduates join the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network through the GradStart program.

The new nurses are stationed across both metropolitan and regional centres throughout NSW, with Malabar joining locations including Silverwater, Werrington, Kariong, Windsor, Bathurst and Lithgow, among others. At Long Bay, graduates will work alongside the Forensic Hospital, which occupies the same Malabar precinct and provides specialist mental health care to patients within the justice system.

The intake represents a meaningful boost to health services across NSW correctional and youth justice facilities, where healthcare needs are frequently complex and the clinical environment demands a broad and adaptable skillset. Graduates in the program work as part of multidisciplinary teams alongside experienced clinicians, building practical skills across mental health, primary care, drug and alcohol services and public health.

The GradStart Program

The GradStart initiative offers newly registered nurses a structured year of hands-on experience within the justice health system. Instead of remaining in a single ward, participants rotate across several facilities, gaining exposure to clinical environments and patient populations rarely seen in mainstream hospitals.

New Graduate Nurses Begin Work at Long Bay Correctional Centre in Malabar — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Kaitlin Barnsley, who previously completed the program, recommends the experience to graduates seeking a rewarding start to their careers. Ms Barnsley said her two rotations across different centres exposed her to a wide range of clinical skills and gave her the opportunity to work in varied environments with diverse teams.

While the program pushed her outside her comfort zone, she said the professional rewards far exceeded her expectations. She said the experience built her confidence as a practitioner and strengthened her ability to advocate for patients while working closely with other healthcare professionals. Ms Barnsley added that the graduate year helped shape her into a safe, competent and compassionate registered nurse.

Justice Health NSW chief executive Wendy Hoey welcomed the new cohort, noting that much of the organisation’s clinical work takes place outside the public eye despite having a direct and meaningful impact on patients’ lives and health outcomes. She described the graduates as choosing an exceptionally rewarding career path and expressed gratitude to each of the 43 new nurses for joining the network.

Long Bay’s Role in NSW Justice Health

Long Bay Correctional Centre has been a significant site within NSW’s correctional system for well over a century, with the Malabar precinct evolving over time to incorporate both custodial and health functions. The colocation of the correctional centre and the Forensic Hospital on the same site makes it one of the most complex and clinically significant justice health locations in the state.

The Forensic Hospital, which opened in 2009, is a purpose-built secure mental health facility providing inpatient care to people within the justice system who have significant mental health needs. Nurses working at the Malabar precinct encounter a wide range of clinical scenarios across both the correctional primary care environment and the specialised forensic mental health setting, making it a particularly valuable placement for graduate nurses entering the justice health workforce.

Why This Matters to the Maroubra and Malabar Community

For residents of Maroubra and Malabar, Long Bay Correctional Centre is a longstanding and visible part of the local landscape. The precinct sits at the southern end of the Malabar headland, bordered by residential streets and coastal reserves, and has been woven into the fabric of the area for generations. The arrival of new graduate nurses at the facility is a reminder that the site functions as a significant healthcare employer within the local community, providing jobs and career pathways for people who may live nearby.

More broadly, the investment in graduate nursing at justice health facilities matters because the health of people in custody has direct flow-on effects for the broader community. Nurses who build strong clinical foundations in the justice health system go on to contribute those skills across the wider NSW health workforce, and the patients they care for are more likely to return to community life in better health. That outcome benefits everyone, including the suburbs closest to the facilities where that care is delivered.

Nurses interested in joining Justice Health NSW can find information on graduate and career opportunities through this link.

Published 16-March-2026.

Coogee Randwick Wombats Reach Vegas 9s Grand Final in Stunning Tournament Debut

Coogee Randwick Wombats/Facebook

The Coogee Randwick Wombats, a grassroots rugby league club from Marcellin Fields in Maroubra, reached the grand final of the Vegas 9s tournament in Las Vegas on Saturday 28 February 2026, falling 30-14 to the Titans of Coal in the decider.

The result capped a massive shift for the Maroubra boys, who fought through six matches in 48 hours, toppling five different opponents to earn their spot in the big dance.

What Is the Vegas 9s

The Vegas 9s is an open-registration nines rugby league tournament held in Las Vegas prior to the United States national team games and the main event at Allegiant Stadium. Teams from across the world compete across two days at New Silver Bowl Park, with the tournament designed to grow rugby league’s footprint in North America while giving community clubs access to an international stage.

The Coogee Randwick Wombats entered the 2026 tournament as part of their annual end-of-season trip, travelling from Sydney with 21 players after a vote in the squad’s group chat produced a unanimous preference for Las Vegas. Manager Geoff Tunks said the club had made previous trips to America, Canada and Thailand, and that preparation at training had been strong in the lead-up, with more than 30 players attending Wednesday night sessions.

Day One: Solid Foundation

The Wombats entered the tournament placed in a pool alongside the Brooklyn Kings, Atlanta Copperheads and Riverton Seagulls. Their opening game against the Brooklyn Kings produced a narrow 12-8 defeat, with Luke Hennessy and Lycolan Bakri crossing for tries. The squad responded immediately in game two, running over the Atlanta Copperheads 30-18, with Hennessy and Bakri again scoring alongside Jake Roberts, Jake Tobin and Tyrell Mayfield. A 30-6 win over the Riverton Seagulls to close out the pool stage gave the Wombats a favourable seeding heading into the finals.

Day Two: All the Way to the Final

Day two began with a 30-10 dismissal of the Toronto Saints, before the Wombats advanced to the final four with a tense 24-22 victory over the Rabbitahz. That semifinal win set up a rematch with the Brooklyn Kings, who had beaten them on day one. The result was reversed, with the Wombats winning 18-8 to book their place in the grand final.

Their opponents in the decider were the Titans of Coal, who had dominated the pool stage with wins of 50-0, 48-0 and 32-4. While the Titans of Coal ultimately took the chocolates with a 30-14 victory, the Wombats’ clinical run to the final exceeded all expectations. For a club making its maiden voyage to the Vegas stage, coming home with the silver medal is a massive result for the Souths Juniors nursery.

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The Squad That Made It Happen

The Wombats travelled with an 18-man playing squad plus two injured players. Captain Harrison Marsh led the side, with coach Anthony Marsh directing from the bench. The squad included Harrison Marsh, Luke Hennessy, Pat Rabbitt, Colan Bakri, Jack Hassanein, Joshua Chan, Cash Adams, Jono Bong, Eden Potter, Mikey Mitsias, Robbie Hunt, Jake Roberts, Costa Sanidas, Corey Stevens, Jake Tobin, Zach Kambos, Tahi Sue, Nathan Vigilante, Tyrell Mayfield and Tyler Melville. Officials were coach Anthony Marsh, managers Geoff Tunks and Nicole Tobin, and trainers Scott Bramham and Matt O’Shea. Lachlan Rabbitt played for Boston across the tournament weekend.

Eden Potter, aged 20 and returning from more than 12 months on the sideline following a knee injury, was one of the squad’s standout stories. Tunks said Potter had come back fitter than before and had been eager to prove himself throughout the campaign.

The Maroubra club was not the only local connection at the Vegas weekend. Former Wombats junior and current New South Wales State of Origin and international player Jess Sergis appeared for the LA Roosters, while Ethan O’Neill featured for Leeds in the Super League clash at Allegiant Stadium.

Why This Achievement Matters for Maroubra

The Coogee Randwick Wombats are a community club in the truest sense. They train and play at Marcellin Fields in Maroubra, draw their playing roster from the local area, and rely on volunteers, families and local sponsors including Julian Fadini Property 360, Command 51 Cleaning and Grounds, Mellick Wealth Management, NG Farah Real Estate and The Bay Hotel and Diner.

For a club of this size and resource base to field a competitive squad at an international tournament and reach the grand final demonstrates the depth of talent and commitment that exists within the Maroubra and Coogee rugby league community. The achievement gives local junior players a visible example of the pathway available through the Wombats and demonstrates what the club’s culture of commitment and community can produce at the highest level it has yet attempted.

The club has already signalled its intention to return for the 2027 Vegas 9s, giving this year’s campaign a lasting legacy beyond the result itself.

Published 9-March-2026.