Page 498 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 June 1989
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The report tells us that there are strong links between youth homelessness and family poverty, and that Aboriginal children and young Indo-Chinese refugees are over-represented in this group. Commissioner Burdekin has recommended a range of responses, particularly in income and accommodation programs.
He has also recommended better access to private rental accommodation; better and more accessible health services; more effective preventive and support services for families and adolescents; improved access to legal services and improvements in the legal system - I do not know that he mentioned move-on powers - an increased role for schools in preventing homelessness; development of programs to enable unsupported young people to continue with education; and special assistance programs in employment and training for disadvantaged young people, particularly those who are homeless.
As social welfare Ministers we have agreed that we broadly support the recommendations of the inquiry. At our meeting on 9 June 1989 we decided on a range of initiatives and directions that hopefully will lead to a better life for our homeless youth.
I am pleased to say that these initiatives were drafted against a set of guiding principles. The principles are good, and I will apply them within the ACT when considering issues relating to youth homelessness. The principles are:
Families provide the optimal setting for the care and support of children and young people -
I am sure that everybody here would agree with that first principle -
governments should assist families to carry out their child rearing and support responsibilities, and assist in maintaining young people in families, noting the particular needs of families with adolescents;
governments have a responsibility to protect children and young people from disadvantage, exploitation and abuse, and to provide appropriate support services to achieve this;
governments should provide an environment and the support that will assist children and young people to move towards independence and full citizenship;
where young people cannot live within their own family, governments have a particular responsibility - to provide specialised programs including income support, accommodation, personal support, education, training, employment, health and legal services - which will facilitate their transition to independence and to mainstream services;
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