2010-11 Agency Budget Highlights

This year we will focus on supporting critical frontline services that will deliver improved and more targeted services for our key clients.

Ministers' messages

• Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
• Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs
• Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport
• Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services

• Working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, as well as the Australian Government, we will continue to work toward national reform agenda targets that will close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
• More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been charged with justice-related offences will receive access to alcohol treatment services, with increased funding of $2.2 million in 2010-11 to continue the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Pilot Program in conjunction with the Murri Courts. The program is also available to parents whose alcohol use adversely impacts on their ability to protect their children.
• Implementing the Queensland Urban and Regional Strategy to overcome Indigenous disadvantage and improve outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders.

Disability and Community Care Services

• An extra $72.5 million in funding for specialised disability support services over the next four years, including $12.5 million in 2010-11, will provide for a suite of early intervention initiatives for people with a disability, their families and carers.
  • The transition into adulthood for young people with a disability will be made easier with $4.4 million funding in 2010-11 for skills development, training and employment support to help young people achieve a greater level of independence.
  • People with spinal cord injuries will be supported through a $3.2 million expansion of the Spinal Cord Injuries Response initiative, which provides health, disability and accommodation support for people being discharged from hospital.
  • A further $2.9 million in funding will provide more early intervention and support services for the families of children with a disability.
  • A $1 million funding boost will provide for two specialist intensive early intervention services in the Bundaberg and Mackay regions to assist more children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • The Community Living Initiative will provide more support to people with a disability to live independently in the community, with increased funding of $1 million.
• Growing Stronger reforms will be implemented across the State, strengthening support for people with a disability by redesigning intake, support and service linking processes for mainstream and specialist disability services.
• State-wide consultation on a draft 10 year plan will develop innovative new ways to support Queenslanders with a disability.
• Implementation of an action plan for children with a disability aged 0 to 8 years will improve access to information, pathways and support for children with a disability and their families.
• In 2010-11, funding of $15.7 million and $0.5 million in equity funding will assist younger people with a disability to access appropriate supported accommodation under the Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiative.
• Through $528.7 million in funding, in 2010-11 the Home and Community Care Program will help people live independently for longer in their own homes and communities.
• Funding of $1.9 million in 2010-11 will provide the Housing and Support Program to support people with a mental illness living in the community.

Multicultural Services

• A review of the Queensland Government's multicultural policy will develop future directions, such as harnessing the economic and cultural benefits of diversity and improving access to services.
• A range of grants programs worth $3.4 million in 2010-11 will deliver events and programs that recognise Queensland's cultural diversity. This includes ongoing funding for 19 positions in non-government organisations, 15 positions in local government and one coordinator in the Local Government Association of Queensland to improve access to services for people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Child Safety Services

• $55 million over four years, allocated to Child Safety Services and Community and Youth Justice Services, will pilot a new early intervention and prevention initiative, Helping out Families, in Logan, Gold Coast and Beenleigh/Eagleby. In 2010-11 funding for this initiative includes $4.8 million for intensive family support services, in-home care and brokerage, $2.5 million to fund a health home visiting program for all children aged 0 to 3 years in these locations, $1.6 million for more domestic and family violence prevention services, $0.85 million to set up a Family Support Alliance and $0.2 million to streamline referrals for vulnerable families.
• A $3 million injection of recurrent funding from 2010-11 will provide additional frontline child protection staff in high demand areas.
• From 2011-12, $2 million in recurrent funding will provide therapeutic services for children and young people with complex and extreme needs.
• Eleven new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family support services will be implemented, with $8.5 million in funding identified by the department in 2010-11.
• A new therapeutic service at Morayfield will provide intensive therapeutic residential care for children and young people with complex and extreme support needs, including on-site clinical and education support.

Sport and Recreation Services

• A suite of sport and recreation funding programs, worth $138 million over three years from 2010-11, will create jobs, build infrastructure and deliver initiatives to get more Queenslanders active and involved in sport and recreation activities.
• In Townsville, $1.1 million over two years for Townsville City Council will improve facilities for the Townsville 400 V8 Supercar event.
• A newly-funded $4.6 million project (over two years) under the Sustainable Resource Communities Funding Initiative will refurbish Dalby's aquatic centre, including replacement of the existing pool with a 25 metre eight-lane pool, a 16 metre six-lane pool and amenities.

Housing and Homelessness Services

• In 2010-11, $674.9 million in funding will provide Government-managed social housing, including the commencement of construction on 927 rental units, completion of 1,992 rental units, purchase of 103 rental units, purchase and development of land and enhancements to existing social housing.
• A further $236.7 million will be directed toward community-managed social housing in 2010-11, allowing the commencement of construction of 565 rental units, completion of 1,098 rental units, purchase of 15 rental units, purchase and development of land and enhancements to existing social housing.
• Funding of $183.1 million in 2010-11 for the Indigenous community housing and homelessness programs will construct 151 new rental units, upgrade 984 rental units and maintain approximately 4,251 rental units, to improve the standard and supply of housing in Queensland's 34 Indigenous communities.
• Under the Homelessness National Partnership Agreement, in 2010-11 $48.7 million will be allocated to assist people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Community and Youth Justice Services

• As part of the $55 million over four years to pilot the Helping out Families initiative, in 2010-11 Community and Youth Justice Services will deliver the $4.8 million program for intensive family support services, in-home care and brokerage, and $1.6 million for more domestic and family violence prevention services.
• We will provide $83 million in 2010-11 to continue the expansion of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville to a 96-bed facility.
• As part of the Sustainable Resource Communities Funding Initiative, $3 million in new funding in 2010-11 will build the Moranbah Youth Centre, providing a safe and suitable location for youth services, activities and programs. A further $2.6 million in 2010-11 will replace Chinchilla's community centre, enhancing the provision of local community services.
• A new Seniors' Strategy and Action Plan will improve services for, and engagement with, Queensland's seniors.
• A review of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 1989 will ensure legislation is effective in protecting victims of domestic and family violence, and holding perpetrators accountable for their behaviour.

Women's Services

• In 2010-11, the Office for Women will focus on opportunities for women, particularly disadvantaged and Indigenous women, to join and remain in the workforce.
• Ongoing policy advice and coordination on women's issues will help promote opportunities for women's leadership and participation in community life.