Page 4304 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011
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core reference document for applying triple bottom line to the policy development process in the future.
Health, Community and Social Services—Standing Committee
Report 6—government response
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs), by leave: I want to make a statement relating to unmet need and recommendation 4 of report 6 of the Standing Committee on Health, Community and Social Services entitled Report on annual and financial reports 2009-2010.
In the 2011-12 budget, the ACT government provided an additional $10.3 million over four years to address unmet need. On 5 May 2011, the Standing Committee on Health, Community and Social Services tabled its Report on annual and financial reports 2009-2010. Recommendation 4 of the report requested the government to provide further details on work being conducted to address unmet need for people with a disability.
On 18 August I responded to recommendation 173 of the Select Committee on Estimates 2011-2012 report in relation to community access hours and what the government is doing more broadly to access the issue of unmet need. If I may, for the benefit of members, I will just recap some of that commentary.
In the most recent budget, the ACT government provided an additional 29,000 hours of community access services for people with a disability. This commitment is about increasing the opportunities for people with a disability to use and strengthen their ability to enjoy social independence and to participate in the community.
On 21 June this year, the estimates committee asked for additional information. I was able to provide feedback on that. The 29,000 additional hours of community access is based on service modelling. The respective components that make up that 29,000 hours are 14,000 hours of support for 2012 school leavers, based on each school leaver receiving an allocation of 12 hours per week for community access; a further 2,000 hours for community access for school leavers with exceptional needs; 9,000 hours for a new after-hours school care and holiday program, which will commence next year; and an additional 4,000 hours associated with increased commonwealth funding and ACT commitments under the disability assistance package.
The additional 29,000 hours will bring the 2011-12 target to 233,000 hours of community access service, with a total growth of 140 per cent since 2003. This significant investment in community access services will address unmet need among many young families who require ongoing support in their caring role and will provide their children with meaningful participation in activities that enhance their skill and development and grow their independence.
Those elements that I provided in August also included the fact that the Productivity Commission acknowledged that all jurisdictions face greater demand than can be met
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