Page 3149 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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This budget responds by providing for a growing demand for disability and therapy services, with almost $14 million of additional funding over four years. It is worth contemplating that since we have come to government, funding for disability programs has increased by over 100 per cent, from $41 million in 2002 to over $83 million. This is a very considerable increase. The budget also provides $10.3 million over four years for additional supports and services to people with a disability.
Of that, $5.7 million will go to providing sustainable community-based accommodation and support arrangements. Also in the budget is capital expenditure for an intentional community. We have a project in play at the moment looking at additional after-school and holiday care for teenagers with a disability. Hopefully that will come to me and it can be brought online. I have indicated that I will report here in August.
The budget also allocates a further $2.8 million for school leavers with high and complex needs who require alternatives to employment. We will see expansion of existing programs and create an additional 15 places over the next two years with community access programs such as LEAD and Sharing Places.
In Therapy ACT the budget provides for new ways of delivering services. This includes the pilot of therapy system programs. The pilot will provide for students with a disability in schools to deliver tailored programs developed by allied health professionals. There is also an increase of $396,000 over two years for the children and young people’s equipment loan scheme to repair, replace and refresh the loan pool.
The current debate about a national disability insurance scheme does present an opportunity to deliver significant reforms and benefits for all people with a disability. This government will continue to advocate for such a scheme. In the meantime, this budget demonstrates that the government has an ongoing commitment to people with a disability and has responded to the demand with an additional $14 million over four years.
Turning to children and young people, the government is continuing to deliver services to improve outcomes for all children, young people and families in the ACT. We are improving access to childcare by funding the construction of two new childcare centres, funding the expansion of existing centres and providing funding for childcare staff to increase their qualifications.
The supporting quality early childhood education and care initiative assists families to access affordable quality care. The investment provides the potential for significant additional places across Canberra. We are investing $7.5 million to build a 125-place community-based childcare centre in Holder. The government is also releasing five sites for childcare in Macarthur, Holt, McKellar, Gungahlin and Giralang. I can report that the market has shown a strong interest, with the Giralang and McKellar sites already sold.
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