2. Compendium of Priorities and Initiatives (continued)
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children
Protecting Children is Everyone's Business: National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children (2009‑2020) (the National Framework) was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments on 30 April 2009. The National Framework demonstrates the Australian Government's commitment to working closely with state and territory governments and non‑government agencies to develop a national approach to tackling child abuse and neglect. Through the National Framework all agencies will be working collaboratively to build a system with a stronger focus on prevention, better collaboration between services and improved responses for children in care and young people leaving care.
In addition to the Australian Government's existing significant support for children and families — for example through income and family support payments, child care assistance, education, health, parenting support and family law — in the past six months the Australian Government, through COAG, has agreed to provide over $84 billion (over four years) to states and territories in the areas of health, disability, education, Indigenous reforms and housing. Many of these measures support families and children and will deliver improved outcomes for children at risk of abuse and neglect in line with the goals of the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children.
In recognition of the need for even greater effort to achieve better outcomes for our most vulnerable children, in the 2009‑10 Budget, the Australian Government has allocated $63 million over the next four years to achieve better outcomes for our most vulnerable children. Specific measures to support priorities identified in the National Framework are:
- ambitious National Standards for out‑of‑home care
- improved support for young people leaving care
- new demonstration sites in disadvantaged communities with enhanced service integration for children at risk
- better utilisation of early intervention and prevention services, including enhanced access to quality child care for children at risk
- national leadership projects to improve the evidence base and enhance national consistency, including
- a National Research Agenda for Child Protection
- information sharing and data improvement projects
- workforce development projects.
Family Support Drought Response Teams
The Family Support Drought Response Teams (FSDRT) initiative has been extended to June 2010. A total of $7.5 million will be provided to the 25 existing teams that operate in drought‑affected regions across Australia to continue to provide a whole‑of‑family approach to counselling individuals, families and small businesses affected by drought. Available services include early intervention, crisis intervention, case management, outreach and home visiting services. The services are free and help many families who would not otherwise have access to such intensive outreach support. The initiative will also result in greater support for families in crisis where drug and alcohol abuse, family violence and mental illness are affecting relationships.
Remote Indigenous Housing National Partnership
The Australian Government is providing $5.5 billion over 10 years to the states and the Northern Territory to lay the foundations for major reforms to Indigenous housing in remote Australia.
The funding is provided under the Remote Indigenous Housing National Partnership with all states and the Northern Territory and will mean up to 4,200 new houses are built and 4,800 major upgrades are made to existing houses to ease the housing shortage and improve living conditions for over 9,000 Indigenous families living in remote communities.
All governments are working together to improve housing delivery in remote Indigenous communities by developing better ways of managing new construction and by improving property and tenancy management practices.
Local people will be provided with training and real job opportunities, learning trades through construction work and working on property management such as ongoing repairs to and maintenance of the houses.
This package will also ensure land tenure arrangements are in place where new houses are being built and upgraded and is a critical first step for housing reform and for fostering economic development in Indigenous communities. Without long‑term tenure, ownership is uncertain and residents and tenants have no security or certainty.
The Commonwealth, the states and the Northern Territory will also work towards clearer roles and responsibilities with respect to the provision of municipal services and essential services in Indigenous communities.
Housing investment for the benefit of Indigenous people in remote Indigenous communities is a central plank in achieving the targets for 'Closing the Gap' on Indigenous disadvantage.
Funding of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool
Access to the government‑funded Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) will be indefinitely extended for Australian Disability Enterprises.
This will allow approximately 100 Australian Disability Enterprises lacking the infrastructure to administer internal wage assessments to continue to rely on the externally assessed BSWAT. Australian Disability Enterprises need access to this wage assessment tool to calculate pro‑rata award based wages for their supported employees.
Australian Disability Enterprises collectively employ around 10,000 employees with disability. They need ongoing support to continue employing people with disability who contribute significantly to the economic growth of the nation.
Smaller Australian Disability Enterprises in regional Australia will benefit from continued access to BSWAT assessments.
National Rental Affordability Scheme
The Australian Government is investing $623 million in the National Rental Affordability Scheme over four years to increase the supply of affordable rental dwellings by 50,000. The scheme, which offers investors annual tax offsets or payments every year for 10 years, has two components:
- an annual $6,000 refundable tax credit or payment for each dwelling from the Australian Government to construct new affordable rental properties and rent them at 20 per cent below market rents
- an annual contribution by states and territories of at least $2,000 for each dwelling, which can be provided through a direct payment or in‑kind, through, for example, reduced stamp duty or fast‑tracked development approvals.
Both components are indexed to the rental component of the Consumer Price Index.
From the first round of applications, incentives were allocated for almost 4,000 new rental homes. The second call for applications closed on 27 March 2009. Early assessment applied to applications received by 1 February 2009 for dwellings available for rent by 30 June 2009. Offers of incentives will be made to successful applicants once the assessment of each application is finalised. The outcomes of all other Round 2 applications will be finalised by mid July 2009.
Housing Affordability Fund
The Housing Affordability Fund is being established to provide assistance over five years to state and territory governments, local government, local government associations and developers to lower the burden of infrastructure and regulatory costs built into the purchase price of a new home.
The fund will address two significant supply‑side barriers to housing development: infrastructure costs (such as water, sewerage, transport, and open space) and 'holding costs' associated with the time taken in planning and approval processes. Grants will target greenfield and infill areas where high dwelling demand currently exists and is forecast in the next five years, as well as those demonstrating a lack of infrastructure.
Through the fund, the Government will invest up to $30 million to roll out nationally electronic development assessments of development applications and reduce processing times and holding costs associated with new developments.
Broadband for Seniors
The Government has committed $15 million (2008‑09 to 2010‑11), to establish free internet kiosks in approximately 2,000 community locations such as senior citizens centres, clubs and retirement villages. Broadband for Seniors has been created to address the issue of older Australians feeling isolated from and left behind the broader community as technology becomes more advanced and more widely used as a form of communication.
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has selected NEC Australia and its consortium members — Adult Learning Australia, the Australian Seniors Computer Club Association and the University of the Third Age Online — to deliver the Broadband for Seniors initiative nationally. NEC Australia and its consortium partners aim to assist community organisations to establish a supportive learning environment for seniors, provide tutor and student training materials, and provide a path for kiosk users to engage in their community, both locally and online.
More information on the Broadband for Seniors initiative is available on the Broadband for Seniors website www.necseniors.net.au or alternatively on the Broadband for Seniors Hotline 1300 795 897.
Volunteer Grants — helping volunteers
Volunteer Grants recognises the valuable work of Australia's volunteers and is part of the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to supporting volunteers and encouraging volunteering in local communities.
Funding is available to not‑for‑profit organisations to purchase small equipment to help existing volunteers and to encourage more people to become volunteers. Organisations are able to request funding to contribute towards reimbursement of their volunteers for fuel costs incurred in their volunteering work.
This funding is to assist volunteers who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.
Further information
Further information about these and other family, housing, community services and Indigenous affairs initiatives relating to rural and regional Australia is available at www.fahcsia.gov.au.
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