Page 2261 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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To assist with the rapid growth of student numbers at the University of Canberra, the ACT government in this budget is providing the university with a loan facility of $24 million to provide additional affordable student accommodation. The government is also investing $3.5 million in the University of Canberra sports commons project. This will support community sports and provide opportunities for students studying various sport-related careers in terms of sport administration, and the grant will also assist the Brumbies in their relocation to the sports hub.
Turning again to health matters in Ginninderra, Belconnen residents and people working in Belconnen will be especially pleased to hear the new Belconnen health centre will include a nurse-led walk-in centre. The walk-in centre will increase the range of options for people seeking advice or medical assistance and take the pressure off other front-line services, which will improve their efficiency and effectiveness. The walk-in centre is just one of the benefits from the $9 million allocated for the nearly completed new Belconnen health centre to greatly expand the range of community health services available in Ginninderra.
This budget continues the major investment in Calvary hospital, with 16 new beds funded, to include 10 general inpatient beds opening in the near future and early next year, and another bed in a dedicated four-bed stroke unit. A new eight-bed rapid assessment unit at Calvary hospital will improve access to specialist services. Patients, visitors and staff at Calvary will welcome the allocation of $1.3 million for the design of a multistorey car park at Calvary. It will alleviate the growing demand for parking, allowing up to 700 vehicles to park onsite.
The government has allocated another $2.3 million for extending the Belconnen to city bus transit way along College Street and Haydon Drive in Bruce. This will make the public transport option on ACTION’s blue rapid route faster and more efficient for people travelling to and from the University of Canberra and Calvary hospital and, of course, beyond.
In the time remaining to me, I would also like to touch on the budget initiatives for first Australians in Canberra. Last year, the Productivity Commission estimated the ACT government’s total Indigenous expenditure at $131 million, of which about 24 per cent was provided through Indigenous-specific services. A new initiative for Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community amounts to nearly $2 million in new funding. The government is investing in key areas such as education, through the Indigenous scholarships program now with an extra $400,000. These, having successfully supported secondary students wanting careers and education, are now also extended to those students interested in careers in health. These scholarships will support students in year 11 and year 12 and at the start of their tertiary studies.
On employment, the allocation of $880,000 for the community helping Aboriginal Australians to negotiate choices leading to employment and success, the CHANCES program, builds on the success of a program first piloted in 2012. And in line with the recommendations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, there is
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