Page 1673 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 April 2009
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When it is finally produced, the plan should provide a whole-of-government framework. Such a framework is sorely needed. Youth matters are connected to all areas of government. They are not solely the responsibility of the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support. As Ms Bresnan will discuss later, the draft multicultural strategy appears to have neglected ongoing funding and support for multicultural youth services. This shows a disturbing lack of a whole-of-government approach that a properly developed young people’s plan should help to address. I call on the minister to let us know why the updated plan has been consistently delayed.
The evaluation of the youth services program, which many of our community-based youth services are funded through, is also something which is well overdue. There are dozens of youth services available in the ACT that are funded through this program; these services are facing increasing uncertainty in a period of increasing demand. The funding contracts are coming up for review; in fact, they are already in negotiation for new ones. The lack of independent evaluation has meant that there is little clarity and therefore great uncertainty about the types of youth services the government wishes to fund through the next triennial funding agreements. Nor do we know the services that are needed, what works and where improvements or changes should be made—because there is no independent evaluation to guide the negotiations.
The question remains as to the status of this evaluation. The government has advised that it has been put to tender twice and there have been no takers. What is the government’s next step on this matter? It has been suggested that contracts may be extended for a year to allow for the evaluation to be completed, but this has already been done and is not the best solution. It still leaves services and clients up in the air about what can and cannot be planned for and delivered. How do you plan long-term effective programs when you are just being given year-to-year funding?
Our young people and the dedicated services that work with them deserve far better. I call upon the minister to prioritise the issue and ensure that all organisations funded under the youth services programs and the young people who use their services are respectfully and meaningfully engaged in a process that identifies the types of services and programs that will meet the needs of young people over the next several years.
Youth Week and other youth events, the young people’s plan and the youth services program’s evaluation are all keystones for engaging our young people and providing them with opportunities to reach their potential. I look forward to the contribution of other members to this debate.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (3.23): The government has been strong in its commitment to improving youth participation and involvement in terms of both interaction with government and at the community level. In 2004, the young people’s plan was developed to align with the Canberra social plan. The social plan states that we will “invest in children and young people”, “increase education participation, engagement and achievement of children and young people” and “improve the transition between school, further study
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