Page 5949 - Week 14 - Thursday, 8 December 2011
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redevelopment, and consultation processes are outlined for that. So there is no proposal before the government. There are consultation processes underway.
Children and young people—care and protection
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Community Services. Minister, can you please provide an update regarding the children, youth and family support services tendering process, including whether or not the directorate has finally awarded the group engagement tenders?
MS BURCH: The youth and family support program tender has closed. Not all of the aspects within that tender were allocated under the tender process, and the directorate has engaged in direct negotiations with a number of organisations to make sure that those suites of programs are in place.
I am quite happy to take on notice a final update on where they are, but I certainly have met with one of the successful providers just recently, and they are quite excited about that. We know that there are transition processes that we need to get in place. 29 February will come around very quickly. But the final detail, I am not quite sure whether it has all been bedded down. If it has, I can bring it back to you.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, can you outline the transition plans in place for the children, young people and their families as new services start or change focus and other services discontinue?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Hunter for the question. Transition arrangements will be an important part of this. Existing clients may, by circumstances of the different purchasing of services, have a different provider. I know that the conversation has started across those that know they are in the place, in the game, of these new tender arrangements. But it is something I am very mindful of, and I certainly have had conversations with the directorate to make sure that we have enough information out in place as soon as we can so the service clients know of any changed circumstances and they are afforded those opportunities. The transition plans and the new arrangements could mean a change of site for them, it could be a change of worker. I understand and recognise that it is very important that we put that into place.
MS LE COUTEUR: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, can you tell me how many services that were not successful in their tender applications are closing down prior to March 2012 due to not being able to pay their staff redundancy payments?
MS BURCH: I am not aware of anyone closing down because of staff redundancy payments, Mr Speaker. But I am aware that some services were not successful and have moved to another provider. In conversation with those services, a lot of them are
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