Page 3901 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
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in Victoria. Again according to the ABS, per person Canberra’s libraries and archives received more than three times the national funding levels, with $13.6 million being spent on nature parks and reserves, $3 million for other museums and $1.8 million on art museums. These are all important focal points in which communities come together.
The arts similarly play a vital role in creating a sense of community. In total the ACT government has contributed $15.7 million for arts activities in 2004-05. Performing arts venues received $5 million and the performing arts themselves $3.4 million. The level of arts funding per Canberran stands at $48.38—significantly higher than the rest of Australia, with the exception of the Northern Territory.
Involvement in organised sport and physical activity is another way in which community cohesion is created, and I understand there is a match coming up this Sunday between the politicians and the Canberra Times and media in the ACT. Mr Stefaniak, I understand, is playing on Sunday afternoon. In April 2004 the rate of regular participation in organised sports in the ACT was 32 per cent and well above the national rate of 27 per cent.
Volunteering, too, is both a strong indicator of commitment to a community and a means by which new communities, friendships and bonds are created. The ACT leads the way in the willingness of its people to undertake volunteer work, helping out their less fortunate neighbours. According to the ABS, 41.4 per cent of Canberrans regularly engage in volunteer work compared to 34 per cent nationally.
This government also funds a diverse community sector through a variety of funding programs. These include the community services program, the Canberra community grants program, the financial and material aid grants program and the community inclusion fund. The Canberra community grants program, in particular, funds community networking activities to enable neighbourhoods and groups in the community to get together and share common interests. $500,000 is provided annually for this program.
Neighbourhood centres play a critical role in helping the ACT government to implement its commitments, including its social policy agenda, which is incorporated in the Canberra plan. They provide a focus in the community for people to meet and develop networks as well as an opportunity to participate in activities of their own choice. Neighbourhood centres usually provide for occasional childcare and playgroups, vacation and after-school care, but also offer aid programs, support for families and seniors, and leisure activities.
Through building a number of partnerships with ACT government agencies and other service providers, neighbourhood centres build individual and community capacity to the extent that they help foster a safe, strong and cohesive community. They do this by responding to the causes and effects of social and financial disadvantage. Neighbourhood centres also play a critical role in building cohesion by facilitating links between individuals or groups with a broad range of community services. Support services are also provided to individuals who may require assistance in accessing a number of services, particularly women, young people and migrants.
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