Youth Coalition for the ACT makes its pitch for more funding

Had a media release in from the Youth Coalition for the ACT.

“Youth services continue to face increased and more complex client loads as well as insufficient funding for training, recruitment and retention of workers within the sector”.

The full media release is below.

So dear reader, which services should be dropped to allow for more funding for our youth?

MEDIA RELEASE

15 November 2005

CRISIS POINT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
YOUTH COALITION CALLS ON ACT MINISTERS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES

ACT’s peak body for youth affairs, the Youth Coalition of the ACT, delivered their Budget
Submission for 2006/07 to Ministers yesterday (14 November 2005).

The Youth Coalition’s submission focuses on unmet need in the critical areas of youth
homelessness, youth mental health and the viability of the community sector.

Ms Meredith Hunter, Executive Officer of the Youth Coalition, reported that “the youth
sector in the ACT has reached a point whereby the ACT Government must acknowledge
and address youth homelessness and mental health issues, as well as the viability of the
community sector”.

“Youth services continue to face increased and more complex client loads as well as
insufficient funding for training, recruitment and retention of workers within the sector”.

“Homelessness and housing affordability remains a huge issue in the ACT. The current
housing situation in Canberra is that even those people on the early allocation list cannot
access public housing for at least nine months”.

“The ACT Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008 estimates that
approximately 24% of people experiencing a mental illness in the ACT will be under 19
years of age. It is therefore critical that funding is directed to youth specific mental
health and dual diagnosis services and initiatives in the 2006/07 budget”.

“The youth sector in the ACT has reached a point whereby the ACT Government must
acknowledge and address these issues”, Ms Hunter said, “as the lack of these services
is greatly impacting on young people in the ACT, including in terms of poverty,
homelessness and involvement in the juvenile justice system”.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ms Meredith Hunter, Executive Officer
Tel: 02 6247 3540 Mob: 0400 088 904