Page 3067 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007

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2007-08. Responses will include the development of a tool kit for service delivery staff to develop skills and consistency in engaging and supporting children and young people. The tool kit will be developed in collaboration with the Institute of Child Protection Studies and its implementation will be accompanied by a training and awareness raising program.

In the 2004-05 budget, DHCS received $100,000 capital funding to undertake a feasibility study for a drop-in centre for people experiencing homelessness in the ACT. In December 2004, the Canberra City Uniting Church, in partnership with DHCS, received community inclusion funding of $254,000 over three years to establish and operate a small drop-in centre in Pilgrim Place for people experiencing homelessness. The drop-in centre is open from 7.00 am to 11.00 am on Monday to Friday and provides breakfast, office facilities, mail collection facilities, and general support and referral.

The operation of this drop-in centre provided the opportunity to test the demand for the service in the city centre. Currently, Purdon Associates are undertaking a feasibility study to identify strategies to ensure that the government is adequately responding to the needs of people who are homeless. It will include the development of a service model for addressing the needs of rough sleepers. This will include continued funding for the Uniting Church early morning drop-in centre under SAAP. A reference group comprising representatives of government and non-government organisations has been established to oversee the feasibility study. It is anticipated that the study will be finalised by November.

Reform of Housing ACT and homelessness services is creating an integrated service system that addresses clients’ needs along their pathway from homelessness to independent living within the community. The reform process identified the need for more exit points for SAAP so that clients could move through crisis accommodation as their circumstances improved. The transitional housing program utilises vacant Housing ACT stock to provide short-term accommodation for people exiting crisis accommodation. Properties are available for periods of three to six months, to encourage clients to achieve their goal of independent living. This requires better utilisation of the housing stock.

This innovative program contributes the equivalent of an additional $6 million of capital funding into homelessness service provision. The transitional housing program commenced on 1 October 2006. The Anglicare housing program manages 15 properties as part of its existing contract with DHCS. Clients in the program receive support from the homelessness service that referred them.

That is just some of the things we do. I also have some information about SAAP, but I do not have time for that. (Quorum formed.)

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (4.36): It is ironic that the government insisted on bringing this matter on today and then could not actually have any of their members present for the greater part of the debate.

Mr Corbell: The glass is always half empty for you, isn’t it, Mrs Dunne? It must be a miserable world.


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