Page 1108 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The growing healthy families program specifically seeks to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young children. It uses a community development approach to engage, support and link children and their families to services. In the process, it has built stronger ties and better understanding between services, which is critical to the development of an integrated human services sector.
The number of students accessing special education programs has increased by 22 per cent since 2012, and the positive trend of increasing visits to our neighbourhood parks by families and young people also continues. This reflects the importance of education for all and livable spaces for children and young people to support them to grow and develop.
I am pleased to report that there has been a steady decrease in the proportion of secondary students who report current use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. For example, the number of secondary school students who have ever smoked has decreased from 26.4 per cent in 2008 to 18.9 per cent in 2014. The harm to individuals, families and our community from alcohol, tobacco and other drug use is well known, so this is a positive outcome for our young people.
While many indicators show signs of improvement, there is still work to be done. For example, it is imperative that we continue to work to reduce smoking rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and young people. The Health Directorate continues to fund the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service to provide a tackle smoking program as well as continuing to fund Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation to provide the street beat youth outreach network, which includes provision of information on smoking cessation, education and referral to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
ACT Health has also committed to support the implementation of the towards zero growth: healthy weight action plan, with health promotion grants providing over $2.7 million for 39 community organisations in an attempt to tackle the risk factors associated with chronic disease. Some excellent examples of programs being funded to address this issue include the ride or walk to school program and the kids at play—active play—program.
The rate of young people charged with a criminal offence in the ACT continues to decline and has halved in the past five years. This trend is also reflected in the rate of young people who were on supervision orders, including the number of young people under community-based supervision.
Keeping children and young people safe and protecting them from harm is a key priority area for the commitment. The ACT government continues to work to reduce the number of young people engaged with the youth justice system through activities guided by the blueprint for youth justice in the ACT 2012-22, an award-winning 10-year strategy focused on improving outcomes for young people at risk and in contact with the youth justice system.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video