Page 843 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015
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employment. If we are doing this well, education should also be about encouraging lifelong learning.
This government recognises that every student has a right to receive the best possible education, inclusive of their ability, behaviour, background or the challenges which they face. This is why we have a focus on culture and identity in our schools. Our schools provide students with access to learning programs that provide an opportunity to use their unique talents and abilities and that recognise individual learning styles and different needs. Families can be confident that their children and young people are learning in a culturally safe and inclusive environment.
We also know that having a roof over our head is critical to increasing a person’s chances to participate at every level in a community. This is why this government has made unprecedented investment since 2001 to assist Canberrans who are doing it tough. I include here significant reform of public housing and homelessness services where we have refocused efforts to revitalise our ageing housing stock and to support people to maintain their tenancies. We have collaborated with the housing and homelessness sector so that innovation and new thinking in policy and practice are being realised. The common ground supportive housing project that is now operating is just one example.
We would all agree that feeling healthy, mentally and physically, significantly increases the ability of people to learn, work, engage and to have a voice. I am sure that my colleague Minister Corbell will talk more about what this government is doing to ensure that Canberrans have access to quality health care. I would, however, like to reflect on my previous career and mention oral health.
I think we all know that good oral health is absolutely integral to a person’s overall health, wellbeing and quality of life. This has actually been quantified in the recorded increase in risk of cardiovascular disease for people with unhealthy gums. A healthy mouth means that people can chew, eat their food, speak, smile and socialise without pain or embarrassment.
The ACT government places great importance on this by ensuring that the dental health program has memorandums of understanding with external agencies to prioritise patients who have high clinical needs, financial difficulties, who are experiencing mental health issues or homelessness, or who are undergoing drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Transport disadvantage can affect the ability of people to engage with their community. It is a key factor in social and economic isolation and we must ensure that public transport services reach those with the highest social needs. The ACT accessible public transport action plan is continuing to be implemented.
The government is also acting on these issues with the establishment of the community transport coordination centre. This centre provides one point of contact to access information on transport options and to book bus travel. Early reports on the operations of the community transport coordination centre are positive, with improvements in community transport coordination being achieved to ensure that the Canberra community have appropriate transport access.
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