Earlier this month, The Sydney Morning Herald's Jordan Baker wrote about schools across the state experiencing teacher shortages and how students spend a part of each day, sitting in the school's quadrangle instead of in classrooms.

Murrumbidgee Regional High School was identified as recording the highest number of uncovered classes for the term, in the state. This is why our teachers took industrial action last December. This is why more than 70 other schools, since December have taken industrial action.

We need more teachers. And we need Sarah Mitchell, NSW's Education Minister, to listen when we say that the government needs to look at finding ways to adequately staff our schools.

We wish we had the power to make teaching in regional areas more attractive but we don't. The NSW Government does.

It can provide incentives to teach in places like Griffith. It can make teaching more attractive by increasing teacher salaries. It can encourage teachers to stay in the job by making our workload more manageable.

Or it can continue to do nothing and the young people in Griffith will continue to spend their schooldays in the quadrangle instead of the classroom.

As people continue to suffer the mental health effects of the pandemic Red Cross is reminding readers there are things they can do now to regain a sense of control, and prepare for the inevitable disasters ahead.

New research by Australian Red Cross has found that two in five Australians' mental health has been hit by COVID, and a similar number say they feel less hopeful about the future. Some 37 per cent feel less secure and safe.

This week is our annual campaign to encourage people to prepare ahead for disasters, as the better prepared people are, the better their experience when a disaster inevitably hits. Better preparation also leads to a better recovery.

There are excellent resources on the Red Cross website www.redcross.org.au/prepare including steps to create your own emergency plan, to download the Red Cross Get Prepared App, a survival kit, emergency contacts list, keepsake list, information to help manage stress and more.

With disaster season almost upon us, we strongly encourage people to start thinking now about how they will manage. Your mental health will be better for it.

The number of Australians living with dementia is close to half a million - a number that is set to double in the next 25 years - with an estimated 1.6 million people involved in their care.

In NSW there are an estimated 157,000 people living with dementia.Many people living with dementia can continue to live well after their diagnosis, which is why the theme for Dementia Action Week 2021, 20 to 26 September, is 'A little support makes a big difference'.

The national awareness raising campaign will continue to lead the discussion about discrimination, which we know has a big impact on people living with dementia, their families and carers. This year Dementia Australia will provide information and tips to encourage all Australians to increase their understanding of dementia and learn how they can make a difference to the lives of people around them who are impacted - and to help eliminate discrimination.

The good news is that a lot can be done to improve the experience for people living with dementia and carers.To find out how you can make a difference visit www.dementia.org.au.

Email your letter to the editor to letters@areanews.com.au or post it to PO Box 1004, Griffith, NSW 2680. All letters will need a number (for publication) and a contact phone number (not for publication). Or use the form below...