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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2246 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

I had the pleasure of launching - you could not come, Ms Tucker, but Ms Horodny came - the Belconnen youth unemployment task force, which has done some excellent work with a wide range of people in the Belconnen area in terms of youth unemployment. Often it has been difficult getting some of these kids actually involved; but, when they do get involved, they get a lot of benefit out of it. I have spoken to several of them who have actually now got themselves into some form of employment as a result. That task force, of course, continues; it reassesses what it is going to do; it will come back in September with some more ideas after it gets people commenting on a number of its very wide-ranging recommendations; it is working actively in the community. Those are the sorts of initiatives we have funded to again give some of the youth who might be classed as marginalised and in real need of assistance confidence to get out and do something positive with their lives. In that instance, the thing that is a great fear to all young people is this: "Am I going to get a job at the end of my schooling or at the end of my course of education?".

You mentioned early intervention. We have done a fair bit there, too. Our Youth Connection program has some very positive feedback from young students in Years 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, especially those who get into trouble as a result of truancy and who are starting to show signs of antisocial activity at that age. Getting in early there with that service has proved to be quite successful indeed. I have some very good feedback from a number of people in relation to that.

You mentioned consultation on mandatory reporting. One of the things that actually does is that it often enables early intervention to assist families before a situation gets to a stage where mandatory reporting becomes a necessity. I think things like that have greatly assisted the process. One thing in terms of mandatory reporting which is relevant to what you both said is that, by staging the training through various areas, we have been able to monitor it. There were additional staffing requirements. We have provided money for additional staffing now. I think the Chief Minister, when we first said we would introduce it, said that we would continue to monitor it and look closely at it; and, if need be, if actual staff were needed, we would provide that funding as the need arose. She is nodding her head. That still goes, of course, Ms Tucker and Ms Reilly. The careful monitoring, the careful training and the staging of the introduction of mandatory reporting - and I think that has gone very well - have enabled us to introduce it with some additional funds, but in such a way that it is manageable. You indicated we have increased funding for substitute care by $600,000. I think that is a very significant step.

I have probably addressed a few of the points Ms Reilly made. In relation to Gugan Gulwan, Ms Reilly, as a result of funding cuts to ATSIC by the Commonwealth, ATSIC cut their funding by $135,000. Whilst we did our best to try to get that decision reviewed, that was not possible. ATSIC, however, have continued, with some support, to assist them. We have maintained our support to Gugan Gulwan. We provide half a teaching position; a further youth services grant of $12,850 for holiday programs; a youth development initiatives program grant of $10,000; and some one-off funding for a number of youth sector initiatives as a result of the delayed implementation of the youth support program. Those initiatives are of assistance to Gugan Gulwan, Ms Reilly. I understand that they are currently in the process of also negotiating with ATSIC in relation to a number of matters.

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