Page 1117 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 5 April 2016
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whose families need support to care for them safely at home or those who can no longer live with their birth families. That is why we are investing $38.9 million over four years in the out of home care system, including $16 million in new services and reforms through the implementation of a step up for our kids—one step can make a lifetime of difference.
A step up for our kids was developed in consultation with young people, carers, out of home care agencies and government and non-government providers. We want to make sure that children are given every chance to stay with their families, and, where that is not possible, they have all the support they need to build new lives. Indeed, today I had the opportunity to look at one of the outcomes of this investment when I visited the new site for Karinya House, which is being built with an ACT government investment of $4.45 million. This will allow Karinya House to support more pre and post-natal women who are experiencing parenting issues with their newborns. It is hoped that by providing this increased level of intervention it will allow us and Karinya House to reduce the number of children entering statutory care.
A step up for our kids is emphatically child-focused and recasts services around the needs of the child or young person, placing their voice at the centre of the care system. One way that we are demonstrating our commitment to achieving this focus is through establishing the children and young people engagement support service. In the way that we are able to articulate the voices of young people involved in the youth justice system through the independent roles of the official visitors, similarly, we want young people and children in care to have an independent person they can turn to.
Last month I was able to see how well the role of this independent voice can work, during a trip to the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre for Harmony Day. As well as enjoying a large and very tasty meal prepared by the Pacific Islander staff at Bimberi, I saw how well Narelle Hargreaves, the current Canberra citizen of the year and an official visitor, interacted with the young people. It was clear that she was trusted by the young people and the staff to respectfully listen to their thoughts and raise any concerns that they had. That is why the ACT government initiated these important positions.
Lastly, I would like to talk about our support for children and young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT. Our priority here is to encourage and support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to fulfil their potential as strong, proud community members and leaders. We want to equip young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the skills they need to realise this potential. With more than half of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the ACT under the age of 24, this potential is significant.
That is why, for example, we have invested $1.2 million to expand the growing healthy families program at the Gungahlin, west Belconnen and Tuggeranong child and family centres. This will support engagement, inclusion and access to culturally informed services by the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We also provide a range of grants programs that, although not restricted to young people, support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT to undertake study and training scholarships, leadership development and community programs.
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