Page 923 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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housing model which provides accommodation and additional support services for homeless people.
The ACT government also continues to lobby the federal government for both additional funding and funding certainty to address homelessness across all jurisdictions. We are now asking individual members of the Canberra community to assist. Helping vulnerable members of the community is everyone’s business; it is not something the government can fix alone. If you are concerned about someone you see sleeping rough, contact Street to Home or OneLink. It is important that you treat rough sleepers with dignity and respect.
On a broader front, the government is working towards a new ACT housing strategy which will include a focus on addressing homelessness. The housing and homelessness summit held in October 2017 was a critical step in the development of the strategy, and we continue to progress the strategy towards completion in 2018.
Today we have explored an issue that reflects the challenges faced by the government and the community. The government is achieving very positive outcomes for Canberra by reducing the prevalence of homelessness. We have worked in close partnership with the community sector and we have made a difference. I would like to thank the Assembly for the opportunity to bring this important information to its attention. I present the following paper:
Homelessness data—Ministerial statement, 22 March 2018.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Our Booris, Our Way—review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children involved with child protection
Ministerial statement
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (11.16): Before I make my statement I do need to clarify that I am actually presenting a statement in my role as Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, not as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. I am pleased to update the Legislative Assembly today on Our Booris, Our Way. Our Booris, Our Way is the review into the number of and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in contact with the child protection system in the ACT.
The review has been named by the wholly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander steering committee that is overseeing this important work and reflects the fact that the review is being conducted in accordance with the principle of self-determination. The
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