Page 3657 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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As you know, Madam Speaker, and as I well know, $200,000 has also been allocated to commission artwork by a female or non-binary artist about a female or non-binary artist to help us better celebrate and embrace diversity.
We are also continuing to prepare the annual women’s budget statement as an action under the ACT Women’s Plan. The women’s budget statement is an important way for the ACT government to demonstrate the work it is undertaking to address gender inequalities in the ACT. The statement ensures we continue to analyse and consider gendered impacts in our policy and our investment decisions.
Madam Speaker, I will now share some of the specific ways the ACT budget supports children and young people, building on other areas of investment in the education and early childhood education space. Minister Stephen-Smith has already shared plenty about this as Minister for Families and Community Services.
Early intervention continues to be an important focus of this government, with funding provided for project resources to support early intervention model design and progress government commitments in relation to the early support framework, the first 1,000 days strategy, the child and family network and the early childhood strategy.
As part of this budget, the government will continue to support a critical service for children with developmental delay and disability in the ACT community. Funding of $550,000 has been approved to support the Children and Young People Equipment and Loan Service operational and planning costs, and there is funding of $207,000 for the purchase of new equipment, such as standing frames and wheelchairs, to replenish old and outdated stock.
This service is the only paediatric equipment and assistive technology loan scheme in the ACT. It holds approximately 950 pieces of equipment to loan to children aged from zero to 16 years. It is located within the Child Development Service in Holder. Some of this equipment is lifesaving—for example, chairs that support children with feeding. Other equipment includes seating systems, wheelchairs and standing frames, which support children with a disability to be able to access and engage safely in activities at school and at home and with their peers.
This budget also funds priority repairs to the Child Development Service site at Holder to maintain an appropriate environment to be able to deliver these early intervention supports. Funding of $400,000 has been approved in this financial year and $50,000 in the following financial year to fund the priority repairs to the Child Development Service site. An additional $140,000 over two years has also been provided to undertake work to assess future accommodation options for this important service.
To conclude, Madam Speaker, this budget is a reflection of the ACT government’s strong and enduring commitment to supporting women and children and to building safer families. There will always be more work to do in this space. The government will continue to develop connected, inclusive, accessible and meaningful initiatives for women, children and young people and their families in the ACT.
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