Page 2279 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 August 2022
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Parts 3(a) (i), (ii) and (iii) of the resolution called on the ACT government to table the Independent Review of Investment in ACT Community Language Schools report and the ACT government response. Members will be aware that the report and ACT government response were tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 2 December 2021, and work to progress the recommendations is continuing.
The Community Services Directorate; the ACT Community Language Schools Association; the Education Directorate; CIT; and Libraries ACT are working together to develop a new funding model to explore ongoing access to venues and to establish professional development support for community language schoolteachers.
I am pleased to share today that the 2022-23 budget has committed an additional $513,000 over four years to support our ACT Community Language Schools. This means that, in 2022-23, we will start work on a new model of funding for Community Language Schools. That will include a Community Language School grant fund, a teacher professional development program, and a new school and teaching resources development fund.
Part 3(b) of the resolution is to ensure that the ACT, via both government and community services, meets National Settlement Outcomes Standards published by the Settlement Council of Australia. The terms of reference for the National Senior Officials Settlement Outcomes Group, of which the ACT is a member, reflects the National Settlement Outcomes Standards. The standards, in turn, inform and guide the settlement planning and program delivery at national and local levels. The ACT government, with community organisations, through the Refugee Asylum Seeker and Humanitarian Coordination Committee, has developed a fact sheet of services for asylum seekers and humanitarian migrants. This is based on the standards and is available on the Community Services Directorate website.
Part 3(c) (i) and (ii) of the resolution called on the ACT government to commit to increasing the accessibility of grants to multicultural community groups through increasing the ability for peak bodies to auspice small grants programs and by running sector specific information and training sessions for grant applications.
The Community Services Directorate grants programs and CMTEDD’s Capital of Equality Grants Program allow, and have funded, small groups through auspice arrangements with larger organisations and peak bodies. The Community Services Directorate and CMTEDD also run information sessions for individuals and organisations on how to apply for a grant. I acknowledge the officials involved last night in the National Multicultural Forum grants information session. They also run information sessions on how to use the SmartyGrants management system and feedback sessions for unsuccessful applications. Support is also available where there are difficulties applying for grants by phone and in person.
Additionally, CSD grants processes are continuously being streamlined to enhance accessibility. An example of this is a single application process for different National Multicultural Festival grant programs and the ability for organisations to apply for grant extensions to enable grant activities to be completed while applying for another grant at the same time.
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