For those playing at home there’s a vast shadow arm of Government called the “community sector” the vast majority of its funding comes from Government payments to deliver programs the Government wants, but is unwilling to deliver directly.
With that in mind the Greens have announced their plans to “reform” this murky area:
ACT Greens have started the work to rebuild a youth and family support sector in disarray, due to a flawed reform process, and to abolish the ‘tax’ on community sector organisations to pay for Government reforms.
Greens spokesperson for Children and Young People and Community Services, Meredith Hunter MLA, outlined $6.5 million dollars of direct service funding, but stated that this was just the beginning of a longer journey to fix the system.
“Since April 2011, I have said that the new Service Delivery Framework for the Children, Youth and Family Sector will do immense damage to youth services, in particular early intervention services,” Ms Hunter said.
“Community service agencies have been telling me that the realignment of these programs have created a significant gap in services, in particular for young people and those who are not yet in crisis but clearly at-risk.
“Despite this, Minister Burch has continued on, ignoring the advice of Families ACT – the peak for family support services, together with the Youth Coalition of the ACT – the peak body for youth affairs in the ACT, and dismissing the broader sector’s concerns.
That is why the ACT Greens will immediately allocate $1.2 million per year to youth engagement programs, in line with the recent urgent request from the Youth Coalition of the ACT and Families ACT. These funds would go towards supporting youth engagement programs such as youth centres and outreach.
“I was further disappointed at the mean spirited approach of the Minister when it was announced in May this year that at least $1.4m over the next 3 years will be taken away from vital community services in order to fund projects that include reducing government imposed red tape.