Page 3150 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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The government is investing $9 million in the budget to upgrade childcare centres and the community facilities owned by the Community Services Directorate. The government is providing early childhood scholarships to assist the children’s services sector in the ACT to transition to the national quality framework. This program will deliver supports in the two years before the new qualifications come into place in 2014. This initiative has been put in place to show support for the workforce that does a great job here for all families.
I make this comment in regard to the cost. A recent survey shows that there is no significant difference in centres that meet the proposed new ratios, do not meet the proposed new ratios, are in accommodation that they are paying rent for, or that they are paying a peppercorn rent for, Mr Speaker. Last month, the west Belconnen child and family centre was opened. This is the first to be built anywhere in Australia. It will provide targeted outreach programs to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.
On diversions from youth justice, the budget provides substantial funding to enhance ACT youth justice services. There is additional support for children and young people in foster and kinship care as well as those exiting care. The budget contains an investment of over $2 million over four years to establish an after-hours bail service. This is a major step in providing authorities and young offenders with greater diversionary options. It forms part of the government’s diversionary framework which is being developed within the community sector. It will consider youth parole as well as reforms to the Bail Act.
Mr Speaker, the budget also increases our support to the most vulnerable children. It will increase base funding by approximately $2 million to support the needs in children in out-of-home care. In addition to the measures the ACT government took in 2009 to support kinship carers, I am pleased to say that this budget will provide further support. There will be a dedicated team for outreach workers who will assist kinship carers with training and support to meet the needs of caring for children with complex and therapeutic needs.
Mr Speaker, we are investing in young people in an out-of-home care system which, in this budget sees an allocation of over $2 million over four years to further support young people who are transitioning out of care. This has been a priority of mine, so I am very pleased to see it in this year’s budget. We understand that not all young people reach self-sufficiency at 18. They require support during their transition to adulthood.
Funding will support young people to be self-sufficient and independent to the age of 25. This will include a dedicated life planning team to ensure that all young people are equipped to access their entitlements and benefits, access key support services, and education and training during this challenging time. We will also establish a brokerage fund to assist young people in kinship and foster care with one-off expenses.
Turning to the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, this budget provides an additional $1.4 million over four years.
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