Page 3650 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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with a disability with increased funding to their relevant community organisations and emergency supports.
Mental health support will also receive an extra $7.5 million for a phased implementation of integrated face-to-face and digital mental healthcare for young people; $43 million over four years for up to 10 acute mental health inpatient beds at Canberra Hospital; and an additional high-dependency capacity in the adult mental health unit.
Regarding education, this budget provides an extra $200 million, of which students with a disability will benefit from a $5 million annual increase in funding for 42 full-time learning professionals and support staff. Also included in the additional $200 million is further recruitment of additional youth and social workers by 2025 to support teachers, students and families across ACT public schools, and $99 million over four years to improve the amenity, functionality and inclusivity of schools.
It is also important to note that Canberrans with disabilities and their families have access to physically and emotionally inclusive environments as early as possible. And prioritising teachers and support staff, youth and social workers and accessible spaces are material, necessary supports which, I am proud to say, this budget provides.
I am especially glad to note the government will provide $245,000 for a disability education review for students with a disability in ACT public schools to develop an inclusion strategy in consultation with the community, including the students and their families.
This government has dedicated $400,000 specifically for strengthening disability advocacy services. For instance, funding for the ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service and Advocacy for Inclusion, which the minister noted in her speech, has been provided to increase their capacity to provide targeted advocacy support and services to people with disability as well as an increase in funding to the Human Rights Commission. This increased capacity complements enhanced legislative protections, which now enable people to bring complaints of neglect or exploitation of people with disability to the commission.
Furthermore, this government will expand the Integrated Service Response Program to provide case coordination and emergency funding for people with disability with high and complex needs not met by the NDIS, which the federal government continually proves it cannot be trusted to manage.
This government will also be delivering significant additional public housing repairs and maintenance, including disability modifications, and undertaking work to improve safety and disability access at the Canberra Museum and Gallery.
I think it is clear from these commitments that have been put in place that the ACT government is very much committed to, and funding, a more inclusive Canberra for people with disability.
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