Mr KNIGHT - 2005-08-17
During the Katherine by-election campaign, the Labor government outlined plans to improve services for young people in the area. Can you update the House on what progress has been made on these important initiatives?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know that he is passionate about the services we are delivering into Katherine and the Daly region.
Certainly, this government is extremely committed to supporting our young people. We have established more youth services, at record levels, than ever before in the Northern Territory. $1m has gone towards expanding youth centres across the Northern Territory and supporting services to youth. This has been additional support for young people with disabilities, with $340 000 each year to expand post-school options, something that had never existed in the past. It has included increases in Mental Health Services, with two child psychiatrist positions and three additional child and youth mental health workers. We have youth centre programs in Nightcliff, Borroloola, Central Australia, Belyuen, Gunbalunya, Nhulunbuy and Willowra.
The Katherine Youth Drop-In Centre is another election commitment delivered. Mission Australia is the successful tenderer. They will provide a service with $200 000 in funding from this government. It will operate late on Friday and Saturday evenings, and outside school hours, including weekends, or on an as-needed basis. The service will be flexible to the needs of the young people and the Katherine community. It will include: outreach services; crisis intervention; referral and follow-up; family contact and transport home; recreation activities; and accredited and non-accredited training opportunities for young people.
The service has been developed through broad community consultation - which is really important in getting a service right - by my department and included discussions with the Office of Youth Affairs. The service coordinator has already been employed and other staff positions are being recruited to now.
Mission Australia has already formed a partnership with the YMCA in Katherine, and some of the services will be delivered from the YMCA’s Henry Scott Recreation Centre, which I will be spending $1m on as Minister for Sport and Recreation, raising the roof so they can actually play basketball and other games inside. The roof is too low, evidently. I am looking forward to heading to Katherine in early September to officiate at the opening of this important new service for youth in Katherine.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know that he is passionate about the services we are delivering into Katherine and the Daly region.
Certainly, this government is extremely committed to supporting our young people. We have established more youth services, at record levels, than ever before in the Northern Territory. $1m has gone towards expanding youth centres across the Northern Territory and supporting services to youth. This has been additional support for young people with disabilities, with $340 000 each year to expand post-school options, something that had never existed in the past. It has included increases in Mental Health Services, with two child psychiatrist positions and three additional child and youth mental health workers. We have youth centre programs in Nightcliff, Borroloola, Central Australia, Belyuen, Gunbalunya, Nhulunbuy and Willowra.
The Katherine Youth Drop-In Centre is another election commitment delivered. Mission Australia is the successful tenderer. They will provide a service with $200 000 in funding from this government. It will operate late on Friday and Saturday evenings, and outside school hours, including weekends, or on an as-needed basis. The service will be flexible to the needs of the young people and the Katherine community. It will include: outreach services; crisis intervention; referral and follow-up; family contact and transport home; recreation activities; and accredited and non-accredited training opportunities for young people.
The service has been developed through broad community consultation - which is really important in getting a service right - by my department and included discussions with the Office of Youth Affairs. The service coordinator has already been employed and other staff positions are being recruited to now.
Mission Australia has already formed a partnership with the YMCA in Katherine, and some of the services will be delivered from the YMCA’s Henry Scott Recreation Centre, which I will be spending $1m on as Minister for Sport and Recreation, raising the roof so they can actually play basketball and other games inside. The roof is too low, evidently. I am looking forward to heading to Katherine in early September to officiate at the opening of this important new service for youth in Katherine.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016