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A new voucher scheme to help NSW parents with the cost of out-of-school care will help families "balance work and family life", the premier says, as classes resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Dominic Perrottet unveiled the $155 million scheme on Monday, saying parents of primary school students will get access to $500 vouchers to help with the cost of before-and after-school care.

Mr Perrottet said the vouchers would be a boost for families with kids in public primary schools due to start this week.

"We know that for parents, this pandemic has been incredibly tough, balancing homeschooling with work, we want to do whatever we can to improve the daily juggle," told reporters on Monday.

"This $500 voucher will put a downward pressure on family budgets (and) importantly, help mums and dads balance work and family life."

The government says the vouchers will be available through Service NSW, from February 28, via the same app used to distribute the Dine and Discover vouchers rolled out last year.

It is the latest in a series of moves to ready the state for the new school year, including the government distributing around eight million rapid antigen tests in preparation for classes.

Strict anti-virus protocols have also been implemented including improved ventilation, vaccinations, mask wearing, twice weekly RATS, and the segregation of year groups, it says.

Catholic school children returned to school on Monday, with state school pupils starting the year on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, deaths caused by COVID-19 fell back on Monday, with the state recording 27 fatalities in the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday -- down from a record 52 deaths the previous day.

Positive COVID-19 tests were also lower at 13,026, down slightly from the 13,524 in the prior reporting period.

There are 2779 COVID patients currently in hospital, 185 of whom are in intensive care, NSW Health said.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said nearly 40 per cent of adults have now received a booster shot, which was vital to protect against the Omicron strain.

Across NSW, more than 95 per cent of people over 16 have received one vaccine jab, and 94 per cent have had two doses.

"Two doses against the Omicron variant are not sufficient," Ms Chant said.

"I can't be clearer, please get the booster dose and get it as soon as possible."

Also on Monday, Treasurer Matt Kean reiterated his plea for the federal government to provide further COVID-19 assistance for NSW businesses hit by Omicron over summer.

The state government has announced a $1 billion support package for businesses hit by the Omicron outbreak, but Mr Kean wants the federal government also to pitch in.

He said he has written to his federal counterpart Josh Frydenberg about the "huge burden" of Omicron on the state.

"The NSW government is doing its bit and will continue to call on the Commonwealth to stand by small businesses," he said.

The new business support includes a payment of up to $5000 per week, or 20 per cent of payroll, for firms with a turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who suffered a 40 per cent downturn in January, and project to do the same in February.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns described the business package as "too little too late" for struggling NSW firms.

"It's very very slow, business applications don't open for another 15 days and payments won't be paid for another 15 days after that," Mr Minns said.

"You've got seven weeks since the Omicron wave smashed the NSW economy and some businesses will have to wait an extra month until money is in their account, it's just not good enough."

© AAP 2022

A "physically destroyed" Rafael Nadal is savouring the "greatest comeback" of his incomparable career after staging an epic Australian Open final fightback to claim a record-setting 21st grand slam singles crown.

Nadal recovered from two sets to love down for the first time in 15 years to defeat second seed Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 7-5 in a drama-charged climax to the Open at Melbourne Park.

The landmark victory in a five-hour, 24-minute war of attrition that finished past midnight on Monday morning vaulted the Spaniard one slam clear of great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the all-time major titles leaderboard.

"If we put everything together - the scenario, the momentum, what it means, yeah, without a doubt (it's) probably the biggest comeback of my tennis career," said an overjoyed but exhausted Nadal.

The sapping encounter was the second-longest final in Open history, behind only Nadal's five-hour, 53-minute loss to Djokovic in 2012 and left the 35-year-old admitting he was feeling "destroyed, physically".

In raising the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a second time, 13 years after his first triumph, Nadal also joins Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Djokovic as only the fourth man in tennis history to win each of the four grand slam titles at least twice.

"Without a doubt, it's one of the most emotional moments in my tennis career," Nadal said.

"The most unexpected, without a doubt, and most surprising I think for everyone."

Laver, fittingly, enjoyed a front-row view in the arena named in his honour as his fellow southpaw pulled off one of the most incredible wins of his legendary career.

Seemingly on the canvas after dropping the second set from 5-3 up, then facing three break points at 2-3 in the third, Nadal somehow conjured his first escape from two sets down since beating another Russian, Mikhail Youzhny, in the Wimbledon fourth round in 2006.

Youzhny, though, wasn't the world No.2, reigning US Open champion and riding a 13-match grand slam winning streak like Medvedev.

Even more remarkably, Nadal had only played two matches between last June and January because of a crippling foot injury and remained an Open doubt until after Christmas.

"One month-and-a-half ago, I didn't know if I would be able to be back on the tour and now I am here sharing the trophy with all of you," he told his adoring fans.

It was 25-year-old Medvedev, a decade Nadal's junior, who imploded mentally and physically.

He remonstrated with his box and complained to Australian umpire John Blom about the ball kids and then heckling spectators who were disrupting his serving focus.

"Can you take control please? Medvedev pleaded with Blom after dropping serve to fall behind 3-2 in the fourth set.

"Step up, man, it's the final of a grand slam. Please step up. Please is not enough. They are idiots."

But Blom's more forceful intervention moments later couldn't save Medvedev from surrendering the fourth set and, as Nadal lifted, the Russian called for the trainer and needed pickle juice and his left thigh massaged to fend off cramping.

After Medvedev double-faulted on the opening point of the deciding set, Blom finally threatened offenders with removal if they continued to mock Medvedev.

Medvedev's last chance evaporated when he dropped serve in the 11 game and Nadal sank to his knees in exhausted elation after adding his second Australian Open title to his 13 French Open, two Wimbledon and four US Open successes.

Asked if he now felt he was the greatest men's player of all-time, Nadal was typically humble.

"No, I don't want to change my point of view. Honestly," he said.

"Of course, it's amazing to achieve another grand slam at this moment of my career. Just means a lot to me. Of course, I know it's a special number, 21.

"I feel honoured. I feel lucky to achieve one more very special thing in my tennis career. I don't care much if I am the one or not the one or the best of the history, not the best of the history.

"Honestly, I don't care much. Means even more to achieve the second Australian Open more than any other thing."

© AAP 2022

Tasmania JackJumpers have thumped the New Zealand Breakers 83-59 in a NBL blowout behind another impeccable performance by guard Josh Magette before home fans.

The competition newcomers kept up the momentum from their win over Adelaide on Friday, racing to a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, before adding 30 points in the second to take a commanding 26-point lead into halftime.

Although being outscored by six in the third, the damage was already done as the Breakers (2-8) simply couldn't find a way back into the contest late.

Shooting 50 per cent as a team from deep, the JackJumpers (4-6) were patient and clinical in their offence, finding mismatches in the pick-and-roll and exploiting slips in coverage on the perimeter.

Magette led the way, shooting 7-11 from three-point range and tallying 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Jack McVeigh added 17 points and five boards.

The hosts dominated the glass 49-33, leading to 26 points in the paint and 15 points from second-chance opportunities.

Coach Scott Roth said what impressed him most was the JackJumpers' aggression and intensity which they carried over from their last win.

"Our assistant coaches got them well, well prepared for this entire weekend, and so more it was just about the intent and the process of going through it," he said.

"It is a process and it's a long process - we're going to have a lot of bumps in the road, but we're going to cherish this weekend and the two games we've won."

With his team coming off a two-week COVID-19 break, New Zealand coach Dan Shamir made no excuses but inferred their slow start was due to a lack of recent game time.

"It's definitely a factor, we've seen more than one team struggling," Shamir said of COVID disruptions in the NBL.

"It's an unusual situation for everybody to be out - we had eight players actually sick, so they probably struggled with the process to get back.

"We're not the first team to struggle in the post-COVID break game, but I don't think about that at all. That's not my job to be thinking about.

"Today is obviously a day that it's very, very far from how we want to look."

© AAP 2022