Page 1610 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010

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(2) Did the ACT Government make a commitment to multicultural children and young people in the Multicultural Strategy 2010-2013; if so, how closely is the ACT Government liaising with Multicultural Youth Services (MYS) to meet the objectives and their implementation.

(3) What are the campaigns promoting programs available to multicultural children and young people across the ACT Government.

Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) During 2009, a process was undertaken to refresh the ACT Children’s Plan and to develop a new ACT Young People’s Plan. The Young People’s Plan was launched in December 2009, and the ACT Children’s Plan is anticipated to be launched in April 2010. Both plans share the vision that:

Canberra is a child and youth friendly city that supports all children and young people to reach their potential, make a contribution, and share the benefits of our community.

Other specific initiatives to become a child friendly city include:

• establishment of a Child Friendly City Sub-committee of the ACT Children’s Plan Interdepartmental Committee to explore options for building Canberra as a child friendly city. This Sub-committee has representatives from ACTPLA, ACT Health, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, the Department of Education and Training and the Chief Minister’s Department;

• consultation with children, parents and professionals who work with children during August and September 2009 to find out how to make Canberra more child friendly as part of the process to refresh the ACT Children’s Plan;

• the ACT Children’s Plan Interdepartmental Committee is being restructured into the ACT Children and Young People’s Taskforce in 2010. The Taskforce’s role is to oversee the implementation of the ACT Children’s Plan and the ACT Young People’s Plan;

• ACTPLA has committed to implementing child friendly planning principles into the development of the new suburbs of Wright, Sulman and Coombs in the Molonglo Valley. Achieving excellence and best practice in sustainable design and development outcomes in new urban areas, including the Molonglo Valley is an ACTPLA priority; and

• ACTPLA prepared a concept plan for Coombs and Wright, which commenced in the Territory Plan on 22 January 2010. This will ensure that the development of these suburbs adheres to the principles of a child friendly city promoted by UNICEF, and will set the standard for future suburbs for Molonglo Valley. The detailed design and implementation is a matter for the Department of Land and Property Services / Land Development Agency.

(2) Focus Area Two in the ACT Multicultural Strategy 2010-2013 makes a commitment to provide children and young people of multicultural backgrounds with access to age

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