Page 740 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 26 February 2013
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In 2012 more than 1,200 children were seen through drop-in clinics, with around half of these children being referred to Therapy ACT for further assessment or intervention. The government is committed to continuing to work with schools, teachers and families to provide enhanced services and improved support for students who need access to allied health carers and therapy services.
I look forward to further updating the Assembly on the outcomes of the therapy assistant program.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, could you inform the Assembly of any other measures the government is taking to improve services for children with disabilities?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her interest in that question. Very clearly, this government, Disability ACT and Therapy ACT have a range of programs to support young people and children with a disability and developmental delays. They run that through one-on-one clinical therapy services, group work, family support and a whole range of programs.
Just this morning I think I articulated, when I updated the Assembly on the national disability insurance scheme, our commitment to support young people as they transition out of specialist schools, and we have put on the table an additional $5,000 that will go to those children, with a focus on supporting them as they transition out of school into adult life and with a focus on access to vocational opportunities, recreational opportunities, enhancing engagement with community services and just being part and parcel more broadly of our community.
That has started. We will start to work with children, as I have said, that left school last year. We will go back and capture those. That is in preparedness for 2014, when the NDIS will be in its formal transition stage here in the ACT.
Health—drug rehabilitation facility
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, in the 2012-13 budget review released on 12 February the capital funding for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential alcohol and other drug rehabilitation facility has been reprofiled to include financing of $1.9 million in the 2014-15 year, when previously financing concluded in the 2013-14 year. Minister, what is the reason for this reprofiling?
MS GALLAGHER: This has been due to delays with the development application proceeding. There was a briefing on Monday—
Mr Smyth: How many years is that?
MS GALLAGHER: The delays with the development application—and I know it is unparliamentary to respond to interjections, but Mr Smyth insists—
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