TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English. I'm Greg Dyett.
A man has been charged with raping an elderly woman in a nursing home on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Police allege the man carried out the attack after breaking into a facility in Bateau Bay on November 15.
The 90-year-old woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for serious injuries.
Detective Superintendent Jane Doherty says her heart goes out to the victim and the other residents of the aged care home.
"It's horrendous that someone - any person - in the safety of their home would be attacked like this. But to attack a very defenceless old lady is beyond belief."
A man has been taken to hospital in a critical condition after being shot in a clash between rival groups in regional Victoria.
Victoria Police say the 28-year-old was shot when two groups of men fought at a property in Moe, about 135 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.
Five men have been arrested over the shooting and are being questioned by police.
It is believed the groups know each other.
The latest COVID-19 vaccines targeting common variants of the virus will be made available to Australians from next month.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the government has approved the monovalent vaccines, which target Omicron variants, after taking advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.
Mr Butler says the new vaccines have been found to provide modest improved protection against the strains currently circulating in the community.
But authorities say people who have already had their 2023 vaccinations don't need to get jabbed again and remain well protected against severe disease.
Anglicare says essential employees have been priced out of the communities they need to work in.
Anglicare Australia executive director Kasy Chambers says their newest 'heat map' snapshot indicates that virtually no part of Australia is affordable for aged care workers, early childhood educators, cleaners, nurses, and many other essential workers.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the government needs to do more to help people with the rising cost of living.
"Inflation is fuelled by this government's reckless spending and by the fact that they've had two budgets to make it easier for Australians. Instead they've made it harder for Australians... The Prime Minister has been missing in action in relation to the cost of living crisis where he's made decisions in two budgets. They've been bad decisions and they've driven up interest rates."
For anyone who has ever wanted to live and work in Antarctica, there may now be an opportunity to make that dream come true.
The Australian Antarctic Program says recruitment has opened for around 200 roles for the 2024 financial year to help run Australia’s three scientific research stations in Antarctica, as well as one on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
Plumber Shawn Gillies says he doesn't regret applying for the job.
He says it's been a life-changing experience.
"Like a runner dreams of going to the Olympics, the best thing - or the biggest thing I could ever do as a plumber was be a plumber in Antarctica. I think until they put plumbing on the moon I think this is the furthest it will take me - and the coldest."
I'm Greg Dyett and that's SBS News in Easy English.
