Table of Contents
Overview
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are working together to make fundamental and lasting improvement to the lives and opportunities of the residents of the Alice Springs town camps, and for homeless Aboriginal people in and visitors to Alice Springs.
The Alice Springs Transformation Plan (ASTP), announced on 2 May 2009, aims to expand social-support services and reduce homelessness through housing and infrastructure upgrades.
Governments are working in partnership with the corporate and community sectors, particularly Aboriginal organisations, to achieve the transformation and deliver sustainable improvements in service delivery.
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have established an Alice Springs Transformation Plan Joint Steering Committee (JSC) to oversee the implementation of the ASTP.
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Key Strategies
The Alice Springs Transformation Plan has three key strategies.
1. Enhance Social Support Services
The ASTP includes funding of over $25 million to enhance social support services. Gaps in service delivery are being identified and social support services in the community strengthened.
Social-support projects are focused across areas such as:
- early childhood services
- family support services
- family violence services
- life-skills support
- tenancy management support
- alcohol rehabilitation
- intensive case management
- safety and security, and
- community connections.
A new Communities for Children site is being established in Alice Springs to provide support for vulnerable families. This project will use a community-development approach and provide prevention and early-intervention programs for families with children aged from newborn to 12 years. It will run in collaboration with the community and local service providers to develop and implement services specifically tailored to the needs of vulnerable children and their families.
Anglicare Northern Territory will receive $3 million to lead the new Communities for Children initiative.
2. Improve Housing Opportunities and Standards
$100 million has been allocated through the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) for new housing and upgraded infrastructure in the Alice Springs town camps. Transforming town camps will help create safer and healthier environments for families and children.
Eighty-five new houses will be built in town camps in Alice Springs. Houses will be durable and appropriate for local conditions and all new houses will have a five-star energy rating. Refurbishment and rebuilding of existing houses will also occur across 18 Alice Springs town camps.
Housing Reference Groups have been established in each town camp so community members can have their say on housing matters.
3. Reduce Homelessness
The Alice Springs Transformation Plan includes almost $25 million to address homelessness. This will be achieved through:
- additional short-term accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting Alice Springs, or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and
- transitional accommodation for people waiting to access public housing.
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Monthly Updates
- February 2011
- December 2010-January 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
Joint Steering Committee
The Australian Government Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Northern Territory Chief Minister established a Joint Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the plan.
The JSC also includes: Alice Springs Town Council, Tangentyere Council and Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation.
The committee meets once every two months to provide strategic advice on the design, development and implementation of the plan.
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Key Contacts
If you have any questions or want more information on the ASTP contact:
Mark Coffey, Executive Director
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Phone: (08) 8959 4231
Samara Hanley, Government Business Manager
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Phone: (08) 8959 4273