Page 3678 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 20 October 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
PARTICIPATION
Recognition that young people are participants in society and as such have a role and responsibility in making decisions which affect their lives.
ACCESS
Access to adequate and appropriate programs and services for all young people regardless of gender, geographic location, social, cultural or economic circumstances.
Such words are indeed inspiring. They conjure up images of young people striding purposefully forward, with the support of governments and adults, to overcome any disadvantage in reaching their full potential. However, it can be argued that in particular circumstances the present reality is different and we need to work proactively to ensure that these principles are adhered to in the fostering of and delivery of services to our young people.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I do not intend or wish to criticise or disparage the Government's efforts with regard to young people. I feel that it has made progress in addressing the objectives of the national youth policy and needs to be encouraged to do more in this area. Many initiatives will have a financial cost. These will need careful consideration and planning over several years. But the Government, in its involvement and participation at a high level in development of the youth policy, has shown this commitment. It has taken many measures to implement facets of the policy and I recognise the importance that the Government has placed on this area of government activity in difficult economic times. When looking at the budget it is easy to see that the majority of new funding is going towards what might be seen as crisis and intervention services, and in times of economic restraint the Government needs to be congratulated for finding funds to do such things as expanding child-at-risk assessment, looking at youth and alcohol issues, and providing for youth who have special needs, particularly those young people with mental health concerns who need access to after-hours and crisis intervention services.
I also welcome the Government's moves to cater for the recreational needs of youth, with funding for a new youth centre in Tuggeranong, improvements to Civic and Belconnen youth centres, and the completion of the Fadden Pines skateboard park. Further initiatives will have an impact on young people but are not specifically targeted at young people, having a broader social application, such as the extension of concessions. This is a welcome move, as young people can be forgotten as being a very large proportion of those in our community on very low incomes. I do not, however, see the youth budget as all good news. I would like to see further development on, for example, the establishment of the adolescent ward - a subject this Assembly has debated already and agreed upon. I also note that the youth budget is a good news edition, not tackling or addressing areas where the budget may have a negative impact on programs affecting young people, such as in education.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in national terms, I am sure that in fulfilling the national youth policy's objectives we will see many responses from State and Territory governments, but I am sure that there will be as many approaches to achieving the objectives of the national youth policy as there are governments involved.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .