The NSW government continues to push hard with its digital service delivery agenda, announcing on Monday that its Service NSW cost of living service is now live.
The cost of living service gives individuals access to ‘cost of living specialists’ who help do the heavy lifting when it comes to applying for any of the over 40 NSW government-led rebate and refund measures.
These include the My CTP Green Slip, My Active Kids, My Toll Relief, and My Family Energy Rebate.
Individuals can book online for a free one-hour face-to-face appointment with a specialist for personalised feedback and to identify what savings individuals can apply for, and to help make claims on the spot.
Finance Minister Victor Dominello said the move delivered on the NSW government promise to help ease cost of living pressures for individuals across the state.
“There are potential savings to be found on the FuelCheck app, Free Rego, Active Kids vouchers, the Family Energy Rebate and more, and a family with two children could save more than $800,” Mr Dominello said.
“This service provides families with access to an individually tailored one-stop shop service to help them claim NSW Government rebates and refunds.”
The roll out comes following successful pilots in Service NSW facilities located in Wynyard, Lismore, Parramatta, Taree, and Wetherill Park.
In addition to the service going live in these locations, it will also now be extended to regional and metropolitan Service NSW centres in Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Tweed Heads and Inverell, with plans for a statewide rollout by the end of the year.
The service is currently only available in-person at Service NSW centres, the state is building the service in digital form, available for self-service through the Service NSW website and phone app.
The NSW government is committing $19 million to deliver the cost of living service, which was a line item in the recent state budget.
The NSW government has been cranking up digital service delivery since 2015.
In May, the focus for Mr Dominello was digitising the services for businesses. He put the state’s 128 local councils on notice that they would in future be required to provide real time updates about property developments in their areas as part reforms in ePlanning.
“We are digitising the whole planning process – that will require councils to report in real time which DAs are going on, which certifiers are certifying where, which developers,” he said at the time.
“We need to see this information in real time so that we can make informed decisions not based on what took place two years ago or a year ago.
“This will make us agile in adapting to population pressures, to ensure that NSW caters for population growth but not at the expense of livability,” said Mr Dominello.
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