The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 

27 January 2010

Announcement of extra funding to assist local residents in WA who are experiencing financial hardship.

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, has announced an extra $20,000 in emergency relief that will be available to existing service providers in Laverton and the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia.

Up to $25,000 has also been allocated for extra financial counselling services in and around Laverton and Kalgoorlie.

• Emergency relief and extra financial counselling for Laverton region

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 3

21 January 2010

Announcement that the new national standards to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of children living in foster homes in all States and Territories will be developed by the middle of the year as a key measure under the Australian Government's National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020.

• National Standards for Children in Care

Supporting Outcome 4

20 January 2010

Announcement by Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek and Member for Kingston Amanda Rishworth that the National Rental Affordability Scheme will deliver 83 new affordable rental homes in Adelaide's southern suburbs.

Ms Plibersek said that the National Rental Affordability Scheme was created to increase the supply of affordable housing low and moderate income earners.

"The Scheme will help to build up to 50,000 new affordable rental properties across Australia by 2012”.

• 83 new affordable rental homes in Adelaide's south

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 3

19 January 2010

Announcement by The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Northern Territory Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, of more than $5.4 million over two and a half years to provide much needed services for people seeking alcohol rehabilitation.

People at risk from alcohol abuse will receive intensive support through a new Safe and Sober Program under the $150 million Alice Springs Transformation Plan.

• Additional services for a safer Alice Springs

Supporting Outcomes 2 and 3

14 January 2010

Announcement of $2.25 million for a new integrated childcare centre for Bendigo.

The Australian Government is investing $1.6 million, the Victorian Government is contributing $500,000 and the Greater Bendigo City Council is providing $150,000 to build the new centre.

The new Bendigo centre is one of 11 Early Learning and Care Centres in Victoria, designed to provide high quality, affordable and accessible services to all Australian families.

The Early Learning and Care Centres are part of the Australian Government’s $114.5 million investment to establish 38 new Early Learning and Care Centres across Australia.

• New $2.25 million childcare centre for Bendigo families

Supporting Outcome 1

• Extra help for young people in out-of-home care

• Speech to the 2009 National Investment For The Early Years and Centre for Community Child Health Conference

• $1.3 million to improve child protection data

• National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children
• Council of Australian Governments' Communique
• A national approach to protecting children at risk

The Australian Government is providing $37.8 million over four years to enhance access to quality child care for Australia's most vulnerable children through increased take-up of the Special Child Care Benefit.

From 1 July 2009, the Government will increase the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) for young people leaving care from $1,000 to $1,500 at a cost of $5.3 million over four years.

• Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)

Communities for Children Plus - the Australian Government has committed an additional $10 million to establish up to eight innovative integrated service delivery sites across Australia.

The Australian Government is providing $10.0 million over four years for key national leadership projects to support the development of the evidence base and continuous improvement in services to protect children.

This includes:

• The development of ambitious National Standards for Out of Home Care.
• A National Research Agenda for child protection.
• Improved information sharing and data consistency.
• Workforce development projects.

Extension of funding to all current National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS) Strengthening Families service providers to 30 April 2010 and refocusing the $3.1 million program funding so that it better supports at risk children and their families.

• National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS) - Strengthening and Supporting Families Coping with Illicit Drug Use

• Time for Action to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children
• The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women - Immediate Government Actions April 2009

• $1.9 million to tackle child abuse

• $100 Million for Family Relationship Services

• Early intervention learning centres for children with autism

The Australian Government has introduced legislation to create the statutory office of Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services to drive the implementation of major reforms in housing, infrastructure and employment in remote Indigenous communities.

• Office of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services

The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland announced funding for fifteen regional services to provide support for families experiencing relationship and separation issues.

• Further Support for Regional Families

The Australian Government will invest $48 million over the next two years to continue to support young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, through the Reconnect program.

• $48 million to Reconnect Homeless Youth

Housing stability for families: The Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) is a $672 million joint Australian and Northern Territory Government housing program that represents the largest investment by governments in Indigenous housing in the Northern Territory.

• SIHIP Works underway in NT

The Sydney City Family Relationship Centre will become an important resource for the local community, helping families when they are going through tough times and helping parents reach arrangements that are in the best interests of their children.

• Rudd Government Opens Sydney City Family Relationship Centre

The Australian Government will provide over $52 million to 139 family services providers as they transition to a new, more flexible service delivery model - the new Family Support Program.

• $52m for children and parenting services

The Australian Government has announced a new four-year funding agreement for the Child Support Agency. The agreement provides an extra $223.2 million to maintain customer service standards and address the build-up of child support debt.

• 12 May 2009 - Extra $223.2 million in supporting separated families

12 May 2009

The Australian Government is investing $204.3 million in improved health care for Indigenous communities, helping to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• Over $200 million for closing the gap in Indigenous health

Supporting Outcome 5

The Australian Government is investing $12.8 billion over the next four years to help 800,000 Australian families with the cost of child care.

• BUDGET 2009-10: $12.8 billion to help families with child care costs

The Australian Government has committed $1 billion since the last Budget specifically to close the gap in educational attainment and employment participation of Indigenous Australians.

• BUDGET 2009-10: $1 billion to address Indigenous disadvantage

The Australian Government is strengthening its commitment to people with disability and carers by providing extra support through a range of initiatives in the 2009-10 Budget.

• Extra support for people with disability and their carers

The Australian Government has committed $731 million over five years to introduce Australia's first comprehensive, statutory Paid Parental Leave scheme.

• Rudd Government delivers Paid Parental Leave

The Australian Government has committed an additional $1.3 billion to continue driving its national reform agenda to Close the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• $1.3 billion towards closing the gap

The Australian Government will invest $148.9 million in a range of new measures to help re-set the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• Re-setting the Relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

The Australian Government will invest $26.8 million to improve participation arrangements for parents and carers of children that will give them the opportunity to gain more skills and improve their job opportunities.

• Budget 2009-10: Improved participation requirements for parents and carers

The Australian Government is providing $4.4 million to the Raising Children Network's website expand it to include parenting information on pre-teen and teenage years.

• $4.4 million for parenting website

The Australian Government will reform its $618 million investment in transition programs to ensure that young Australians at risk of falling through the cracks get the support they need to get into training and work.

• Ellis announces reforms to help young Australians at risk into training and work.

Counselling and support services for vulnerable youth will be boosted in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria with a $90,000 Australian Government grant to Youth Insearch.

• $90,000 for Youth Insearch

The Australian Government has announced a Youth Advisory Group as one part of the Government's $125.8 million cyber-safety plan announced in May 2008.

• Youth to advise Government on cyber-bullying and cyber-threats

Midwives and GPs, particularly those in rural and remote Australia, will get more support under a Rudd Government initiative to provide safe, quality maternity care to Australian women. The Rudd Government is providing $8 million over four years for two scholarship schemes.

• More GP and midwife training support means more choice for Australian mothers

An extra 19,000 carers of children with severe disability are expected to qualify over the next 12 months for Carer Payment (child) as legislated reforms come into effect from 1 July. The Australian Government is committed to supporting carers of children with disability or medical condition, and is actively developing and implementing child-centred family policies.

• Key reform for carers of children with disability starts tomorrow

An additional $11 million will be injected into the Alice Springs Transformation Plan for managed accommodation, bringing total funding for the plan to more than $138 million. The Australian Government recognises the pressing need to provide additional accommodation to combat homelessness and house the large transient Indigenous population in Alice Springs.

• $11 million for Alice Springs managed accommodation

Funding boost to help people in crisis. More than 700 non-profit organisations across Australia will receive a funding boost to deliver emergency financial assistance to families in crisis, as part of an $80 million Australian Government assistance package.

• Funding boost to help people in crisis

The Australian Government is providing more than $100 million for prevention and early intervention programs to support children and families in 46 communities of high disadvantage across Australia.

The existing Communities for Children (CfC) sites will be extended and expanded for another three years to build on the success of the program.

• $100 million to help families and local communities

As part of the $53.5 million National Binge Drinking Strategy announced last year, the Australian Government has signed a funding agreement with the Victorian, South Australian, Tasmanian and Northern Territory Governments to operate pilot programs to teach young people about the risks associated with underage drinking.

• New Intervention Strategy to Target Underage Drinkers In Victoria - 22/06/2009
• New Intervention Strategy to Target Underage Drinkers in SA - 22/06/2009
• New Intervention Strategy to Target Underage Drinkers in Southern Tasmania - 22/06/2009
• New Intervention Strategy to Target Underage Drinkers in NT - 22/06/2009

In the two years since the Northern Territory Emergency Response began, there have been significant improvements in the services delivered in the 73 prescribed communities, town camps and associated outstations across the Northern Territory.

• Northern Territory Emergency Response progress

NSW Attorney General, John Hatzistergos and Commonwealth Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek today launched the Mortgage Stress Legal Support Program to assist people who are in danger of having their homes repossessed.

• Boosted services for people at risk of homelessness in Western Sydney

The Australian Government will tighten requirements to ensure that child care providers write to parents to inform them of a decision to close a centre. The changes will flow from the Family Legislation Amendment (Child Care) Bill.

• Families set to be better informed under new child care closure requirements

Work has started on development of a common tool to support a consistent national approach to identifying and protecting children at risk of abuse or neglect.

• Taskforce begins work on a common national tool to prevent child abuse

Appointment of Mr Brian Gleeson to Coordinator-General for remote Indigenous Services.

• Appointment of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services

Protecting Australia's Children funding. Fifty projects across each state and territory will share in $3.1 million in Australian Government funding to deliver projects which will help protect Australia's children.

• Protecting Australia's Children funding.
• Further $3.1million to Protect Australia's Children.

As part of the Australian Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform, around 19,000 extra carers of children with profound disability are expected to qualify for Carer Payment (child) of up to $569.80 a fortnight for singles from 1 July 2009, following passage of legislation in the Parliament last night.

• Double win for carers: $600 Carer Supplement begins today and more carers to receive Carer Payment (child)

$19.4 million in Australian Government funding over the next year will enable 205 community organisations to deliver 234 local projects across Australia under the new Community Investment Program.

• $19.4 million to support Australian communities

The Australian Government, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, will provide $3 million over three years to establish a new Communities for Children site.

• $3 million to help families and children in Alice Springs
• Family Support Program

Online tool to protect children designed by Microsoft and the Australian Federal Police to be rolled out across Australia from 2010.

• thinkuknow
• Australian Communications and Media Authority

An Australian National Victim Image Library is being planned using technology designed over the past four years by Microsoft, with the help of Queensland police.

• Database rescue at hand for children.

Thirteen disability advocacy providers of will have their Australian Government funding increased to $100,000 to allow them to provide increased disability advocacy support for people with disability, their families and carers as part of the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP).

• New funding for 13 disability advocacy providers

The Bega Reconnect service is being offered $499,000 over the next two years to continue supporting local young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

• $499,000 to continue addressing Youth Homelessness in Bega

The Australian Government is investing $130,000 through the Respectful Relationships program to build upon South Australia's successful Keeping Safe program. Through its new Respectful Relationship Program, the Australian Government is investing $9.1 million over five years to test and evaluate best practice respectful relationships education programs with school-aged young people across the country.

• Helping Improve young people's relationship skills.

Australian schools are being offered free e-security resources to help students to stay smart online. 'To help kids to be aware of how to be smart and secure online, we've launched new interactive learning modules, available free for all Australian schools.'

• School Students Stay Smart Online

The Australian Government is providing an additional $16.7 million over three years for community mental health carer respite and increased family support services for people with a mental illness.

• Mental health respite and carer support services

From 1 July, around 800 000 Australian families will receive more help with child care costs following the indexation of child care rates and changes to income thresholds.

• Increase to Child Care Benefit and Child Care Tax Rebate from 1 July

Over the next three months, meetings will be held with representative groups including major employers, unions, small business groups, self-employed people and tax and payroll professionals to finalise implementation arrangements for the Paid Parental Leave scheme .

• Working with business to deliver paid parental leave

The Australian Government will provide $30 million for the expansion of the Innovative Community Action Network (ICAN) across South Australia. ICAN provides support for young people across the state to get back into education or employment.

• ICAN Initiative to go State Wide

The Child Support Agency (CSA) have extended their services to include regular visits to areas with a higher density of child support cases to continue to provide excellent local service to separated parents in regional areas.

• Visit the CSA website for further information.

The Australian Government will invest $5.1 million over three years to provide better support for women with post and antenatal depression.

• $5.1 Million for Better Support for Women with Post And Antenatal Depression

A joint investigation into the harmonisation of domestic violence and family law report will be conducted by the Australian and New South Wales Law Reform Commissions in consultation with other jurisdictions.

• Review of Laws to Protect Women and Children

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Hon Jenny Macklin MP announced $4 million for a new autism care centre in Brisbane.

• $4 million for new autism care centre in Brisbane

National Stepfamily Awareness Day on 26 July 2009 is an opportunity to recognise the support that is available to make family transitions as smooth as possible.

• Supporting Australia's many stepfamilies

The Child Support Agency (CSA) and Kids Helpline have joined forces to support kids who are having trouble coping when their parents break up.

• SA: CSA and Kids Helpline have joined forces to support kids

A new Centrelink division has been established to focus on the needs of Northern Australia, strengthening the Australian Government's commitment to servicing remote and rural communities, assisting our commitment to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

• New Centrelink division helping 'close the gap'

A new website has been launched, aimed at keeping Australian children safer online and providing teachers with cyber-safety education resources.

• cyber[smart:]
• Helping keep Australian children safe online

The Australian Government will invest $785,000 to implement the South Australian Government's Keeping Safe child protection curriculum in 40 schools across the Northern Territory.

• Respectful Relationship Program to begin in 40 Northern Territory Schools

Launch of the National Early Childhood Development Strategy (NECD) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), following their endorsement by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The Strategy builds on around $4.4 billion of Australian Government investment over the next five years, which has already been committed to directly improve the life opportunities of children.

• Ellis to officially launch the first National Childhood Strategy and Early Childhood Education Teaching Guide

The Australian Government has provided over $9 million to establish the five new early learning centres in Queensland which are due to be operational from 2010.

• Over $9 million for five early learning and care centres in Queensland

By the end of 2009 the Australian Government will issue a formal statement of acknowledgement and apology, on behalf of the nation, to Forgotten Australians and former child migrants.

• Australian Government to apologise to Forgotten Australians and Lost Innocents

The Australian Government announced three new Children and Family Centres to improve the quality of life for Indigenous children and their families in the Northern Territory.

• Three new Children and Family Centres for the NT

• Digital Education Revolution delivered in NSW

• Hector's World™ helps children tackle cyberbullying

• New mobile playgroup for fire-affected communities

• New Indigenous Parenting Support Services across Australia

• $7 million to help close the gap in literacy and numeracy in remote WA

• Updated modelling on child support reforms

In an address at the National Press Club the Minister for Youth the Hon Kate Ellis released a snapshot of the upcoming inaugural State of Australia's Young People Report. The Report will highlight the issues that impact on young people and also provide key statistics about the current generation of Young Australians.

• International Youth Day 2009

Jeans for Genes Day is an important annual fundraiser of the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI). The CMRI is continually working to prevent diseases before they occur in Australian children. Between 2005 and 2009 the Australian Government, through the National Health and Medical Research Council, provided $7.8 million in funding to the CMRI, with at least a further $1.5 million over the next three years.

• Jeans for Genes Day 2009

• Helping families to get their kids school-ready

• Comprehensive vacancy information to go online

• Supporting Children and Families in ACT

2 August 2009

The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth the Hon Kate Ellis announced $3 million for a new national pilot to increase Cyber-Safety in schools.

• $3 million for National Pilot to increase Cyber-Safety in Schools

Supporting Outcome 1

The Australian Communications and Media Authority today launched Let's Fight It Together, a new teaching resource to combat cyberbullying that will be available free to all schools in Australia. The program aims to equip young people with strategies to avoid, get out of or help others deal with cyberbullying behaviour and to show adults how they can help.

• Cyberbullying-Let's Fight It Together-the ACMA launches new Cybersmart resource

The Australian Government has announced changes to the Helping Children with Autism package that will allow around 1,400 children easier access to early intervention services. The changes will increase the number of service providers and allow families more time to use the $12,000 over two years available under this package.

• Autism services expanded across Australia

The Australian Government announced the completion of completion of the first stage of data collection for the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI). The AEDI will help paint a better picture of the health and development of Australian children by the time they start school. The Australian government is investing $21.9 million in rolling out the Australian Early Development Index nationally as part of the Education Revolution.

• First ever national measurement of early childhood development

The Australian Government is investing $970 million over five years in early childhood education through the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education. Of this major investment, $955 million will go directly to the states and territories to achieve universal access to early childhood education. This initiative will ensure that by 2013, all children will have access to 15 hours a week of quality early childhood education delivered by a university-trained early childhood education teacher for 40 weeks a year, in the year before they start school.

• Government invests $970 m in high quality early childhood education
• $ 13.2 million for preschools in the ACT
• $252 million for kindergartens in Queensland
• $15.9 million for preschools in the NT
• $210.6 million for kindergartens in Victoria
• $20.4 million for kindergartens in Tasmania
• $98.4 million for kindergartens in WA
• $278.6 million for preschools in NSW
• $65.4 million for preschools in SA

The Australian Government has launched an online support tool developed by the Department of Human Services to assist separated families in navigating their way through the Family Law System. My family is separating - what now? was developed to help guide families through the complex maze of legal, financial and emotional issues associated with separation.

• Clearing a path through the fog of family separation

The Australian Government today announced funding for a new early learning and care centre in Broadmeadows, Victoria. The $3.1 million project includes $1.6 million from the Australian Government provided through the Early Learning and Care Centre initiative and about $1.5 million from the Victorian Government.

• Over $3 million for new Broadmeadows early learning and care centre

The Australian Government is providing $17.4 million, over four years, to establish eight Communities for Children Plus sites in communities of high disadvantage. The first Communities for Children Plus sites will be established in Launceston in Tasmania, Cardinia in Victoria and Ipswich in Queensland, from early 2010, providing children and parents with intensive early intervention services.

• First Communities for Children Plus sites

The Australian Government has committed $475,000 to help fund this year's National Child Protection Week and deliver the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) national survey of community attitudes to child abuse. The online survey and community engagement strategy will assist the Government to gain an insight into child abuse and neglect, and assist in developing prevention strategies.

• NAPCAN launches child protection survey

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, today launched White Balloon Day to raise awareness of child sexual assault in our community. The Australian Government has provided almost $150,000 to support White Balloon Day.

• White Balloon Day raises awareness of child sexual assault

Medicare Australia can now provide information to state and territory child protection agencies to help protect and support children at risk of abuse or neglect.

• Sharing information to protect Australian children

A new Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre in Perth will give young West Australian children with Autism Spectrum Disorders access to specialist early childhood services to help them reach their full potential.

• New early learning centre to support children with autism

South Australian children with Autism Spectrum Disorders will benefit from specialist care and attention following the opening of an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre in Prospect, Adelaide.

• New early learning facility open in Adelaide for children with autism

Five representatives of the Government's 300-strong Youth Advisory Group met the Minister in Canberra today at Parliament House. They also met the Consultative Working Group on cyber-safety and its Sub-Committee on Cyber-Bullying. The Youth Advisory Group is one component of the Government's $125.8 million cyber-safety plan.

30 October 2009

Announcement of three new Children and Family Centres for South Australia. The Federal Government, in partnership with the South Australian Government, is investing $25.22 million over six years for new centres at Christies Beach/Noarlunga, Whyalla and Ceduna. The centres target the needs of Aboriginal families and their young children, but all families will be able to use the service.

• Support for Aboriginal children and families in SA

Supporting Outcome 5

27 October 2009

Announcement of a formal apology to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants at a special remembrance event in Canberra on 16 November 2009 in the Members' Hall in Parliament House.

Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants are more than 500,000 Australians, many of whom suffered abuse and neglect while in out-of-home care last century. They include more than 7,000 child migrants who arrived under historical child migration schemes and who were often subsequently placed in homes and orphanages.

• National apology to the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants

Supporting Outcome 4

27 October 2009

Announcement of more than $9 million over the next three years to recognise the particular needs of children living in households where alcohol and drugs are misused. Kids in Focus - Family Drug Support: specialist intensive parenting services such as in-home parenting support, intensive aftercare support for parents who have left rehabilitation services and ante-natal and post-natal support for pregnant women with dependency problems.

• Kids in Focus: helping drug-affected families

Supporting Outcome 3

24 October 2009

Announcement of the providers of six new Early Learning and Care Centres in New South Wales.
Successful applicants:

Investment of more than $9.5 million over two years to build these new centres or expand existing premises. Together the six new centres will deliver at least 300 new childcare places and provide high quality early learning and care programs to children aged up to five.'

• Six new Early Learning and Care Centres in NSW

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 2

The Australian Government launched the Youth Development and Support Program, a new funding program to support the development and participation of young Australians, aged 12 to 25.

The Australian Government will provide $500 000 a year to eligible non-government, not-for-profit organisations through the Youth Development and Support Program.

• $500,000 each year to support young Australians

The Australian Government announced $5.8 million for three new Early Learning and Care Centres in Western Australia. The Australian Government will invest $5.8 million in building new centres at Karratha in the state's north-west, and Darch and Mirrabooka in Perth's northern suburbs.

• $5.8 million for new Early Learning and Care Centres in WA

The KidsMatter Primary initiative, which aims to promote mental health, prevent mental illness and initiate early intervention where necessary among primary school students, is being funded with an additional $12.2 million so that its initial pilot roll-out at 101 schools can be extended. Further, the Australian Government is committing $6.5 million over three years to develop and pilot a KidsMatter project for the early childhood sector.

• KidsMatter Mental Health Project Receives Extra Funding

The Australian Government announced the locations of five Children and Family Centres for Western Australia. The Indigenous-focused centres will be in Fitzroy Crossing, Kununurra, Roebourne, Halls Creek and the Swan region. The Australian Government is providing $42.35 million over six years to establish the five centres in areas of high disadvantage in Western Australia.

• Supporting children and families in Western Australia

The Australian Government is continuing its $16.2 billion commitment under the Building the Education Revolution program, which is investing in quality school facilities for the nation's future and the jobs of today. The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard announced $1.77 million for Cressy District High School and $3.2 million for Norwood Primary School modernise their school facilities.

• Building the Education Revolution at Cressy District High School
• Building the Education Revolution at Norwood Primary School

26 November 2009

The Australian Government tabled its response to the recommendations contained in the Senate inquiry report Forgotten Australians and Lost Innocents Revisited.

• http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/

Supporting Outcomes 4 and 6

25 November 2009

Announcement of a new income management scheme to protect children and families and help disengaged individuals.

From 1 July 2010, a new income management scheme will begin to be rolled out in vulnerable regions, targeted at individuals at risk.

The new scheme will commence across the Northern Territory - in urban, regional and remote areas - as a first step in a national roll out of income management in disadvantaged regions. The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of severely disadvantaged locations in Australia.

• http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/

Supporting Outcome 3

23 November 2009

The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, launched the Macquarie University Social Inclusion Forum, marking the start of Australia's inaugural Social Inclusion Week.
The week gives all Australians an opportunity to see the benefits of engaging with their fellow citizens and communities, and a chance to focus on what it means to be a part of a fairer Australia.
The forum brought together a panel of esteemed Australians to discuss community issues, such as the importance of social inclusion and community resilience.

• Social Inclusion Week Commences

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 3

20 November 2009

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, officially opened the new national premises of Australia's youth mental health foundation, Headspace.

Headspace was created to overcome the barriers that young people perceive in getting help for mental health issues from traditional medical services and now provides access to youth mental health services across 30 sites.

The official opening of the new national office came soon after the adoption of a new governance structure for headspace and the signing of a new three year $45.2 million funding agreement with the Australian Government.

• More Space for Headspace

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 3

19 November 2009

Announcement of additional funding of up to $1.5 million for the Nyangatjatjara College in the Northern Territory. Established in 1997, Nyangatjatjara College is an independent Aboriginal community secondary school operated by the Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (NAC).

• Federal funding for Nyangatjatjara College

Supporting Outcome 5

12 November 2009

Child Support Agency (CSA) investigations have resulted in a 50 per cent increase in child support payments during the 2008-09 financial year from parents who had understated their capacity to financially support their children. In the past financial year there has been almost $18.7 million in child support payments transferred which would have otherwise been withheld.

• Child Support investigations uncover $18 million for kids

Supporting Outcome 1

12 November 2009

Announcement of 11 projects across Australia that will benefit from grants totalling $24 million under the second and final round of the Local Schools Working Together pilot program. This pilot program is a new approach to addressing the needs of our schools and their local community that broadens the benefit of government expenditure on capital infrastructure.

• $24 million for new shared school facilities, comprising:
  • $4.9 million for new shared school facilities in Victoria
  • $2.4 million for new learning facilities in the Great Southern
  • $4.4 million for new shared facilities for South Australian schools
  • $9.4 million for new shared school facilities in Queensland schools
  • $2.9 m for new shared school facilities in NSW

Supporting Outcome 1

5 November 2009

Appointment of the third Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council. The new Council will provide policy advice to the Australian Government on higher education, research and research training issues in relation to Indigenous higher education students and staff.

• Third Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council appointed

Supporting Outcome 5

4 November

Announcement of ten new Children and Family Centres for Queensland. Investments of $75.18 million in centres at Mt Isa, Cairns, Mareeba, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton, Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Marsden and Palm Island will target the needs of Indigenous families and their young children. All families to have access to the centres.

• Closing the gap for Indigenous families in Queensland

Supporting Outcome 5

24 December 2009

Announcement that voluntary income management has been expanded across the four Cape York Welfare Reform communities to help people better manage their budgets to meet the costs of everyday essentials such as food, rent, clothing and utilities.

There are 110 people on conditional income management in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge as part of a joint partnership between the Queensland and Australian Governments, and the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.

• Voluntary Income Management

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 3

22 December 2009

Announcement that at least 50 per cent of new social housing units delivered under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan will be provided to homeless Australians, or those at risk of homelessness.

In addition to the new social housing dwellings, there are 40 new specialist homelessness projects across the country including:

• Eight new facilities for single homeless people based on the Common Ground model that has been successful in New York
• Three facilities providing housing to young homeless people who agree to participate in education and training
• Two services targeting older homeless people including people who have been long term rough sleepers.
• New housing for women and children escaping domestic violence and a project to provide alternative accommodation for perpetrators of violence so that women and children are able to stay in the family home.

• Homeless Australians to benefit from social housing stimulus

Supporting Outcomes 2 and 3

16 December 2009

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will commence the formal process required under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the BSA) to impose a new condition on the broadcasting licence of 2DAY Sydney.

The condition is intended to provide increased protection for children participating in hosted entertainment programs broadcast by the licensee.

The ACMA's decision follows its investigation into the broadcast of The Kyle & Jackie O Show on 29 July 2009. This broadcast involved a 14-year-old girl being asked questions about her sexual history while attached to a lie detector.

• ACMA media release 178/2009 – 16 December

Supporting Outcome 1

16 December 2009

A 58-year-old McKellar man will appear in the Canberra Magistrates Court after being charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for grooming of a person under 16 years.

The investigation began when the father of a 12-year-old girl contacted the AFP concerned about conversations occurring online between his daughter and another online user, which led to the AFP taking over the girl's online identity.

National Manager High Tech Crime Operations, Neil Gaughan said this is a perfect example of the AFP's dedication to keeping children safe, both in the real world and the online world.

• Canberra man charged with online child grooming

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 6

15 December 2009

Announcement of the launch of a report into child health, development and wellbeing in far western New South Wales.

Prepared by Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation and the Far West Aboriginal Child Development and Wellbeing Management Group, the report measures the gap between child health and development for Indigenous children in the region compared to children across New South Wales.

• Minister launches Indigenous child health and wellbeing report

Supporting Outcome 2 and 3

15 December 2009

Announcement of further details of the Australian government's approach to improve safety on the internet for Australian families.

The cyber-safety measures announced today include:

1. Introduction of mandatory ISP-level filtering of Refused Classification (RC) -rated content.
2. A grants program to encourage the introduction of optional filtering by Internet Service Providers, to block additional content as requested by households.
3. An expansion of the cyber-safety outreach program run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Cyber-Safety Online Helpline - to improve education and awareness of online safety.

The Government will also add the specific internet addresses (URLs) of known child abuse material through sharing lists with highly regarded international agencies after an assessment of the rigour and accountability of classification processes used by these agencies.

• Measures to improve safety of the internet for families

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 2

10 December 2009

Announcement that the Child Support Agency's (CSA's) Tax Refund Intercept Process (TRIP) has recovered more than $81 million in outstanding child support payments.

'Intercepting tax returns is one of several measures the CSA uses to recover outstanding child support for the benefit of children,' Mr Bowen said.

• $81 million in child support debt recovered

Supporting Outcome 1

10 December 2009

Announcement of the Government's $120.5 million package of measures to improve maternity services to improve choice and access to maternity services for women during this vitally important time. It will make historic legislative changes to give midwives access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the first time along with a government supported professional indemnity insurance scheme for eligible midwives, ensuring new mothers have greater choice in how they deliver their babies.

• More Services for more New Mothers

Supporting Outcomes 2 and 3

10 December 2009

Announcement of the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) to help Australian communities better understand how their children are doing by the time they start formal schooling.
These results will help local communities and governments provide better targeted services and support for all children in their early years and their families.

• Building a better picture of Australian children’s development

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 2

9 December 2009

Announcement of early intervention services, which draw on kinship ties of Aboriginal people to build strong families and protect children, are being established in the Alice Springs town camps and surrounding areas under the Alice Springs Transformation Plan.

Through the $980,000 Family Group Conferencing Program, families will be encouraged to work with teams of health and welfare professionals to develop their own plan to keep their children safe and healthy.

• http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/

Supporting Outcome 5

9 December 2009

Announcement that a new non-profit company, GoodStart, is the preferred purchaser for 678 of the remaining ABC1 child care centres. GoodStart has been established by four non-profit organisations; Social Ventures Australia, Mission Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Benevolent Society.

• New owners of ABC1 is good news for parents

Supporting Outcome 1

7 December 2009

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting has agreed on new compulsory national standards for child care and early childhood education services. This reform will deliver a higher standard of care for children, and clearer and more comprehensive information for parents.

• New Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care across Australia

Supporting Outcome 1

7 December 2009

Announcement of more than $6 million for 14 innovative job-generating projects which focus on helping up to 3,500 disadvantaged jobseekers.

• Innovation Fund delivers $6 million to create jobs

Supporting Outcome 3

4 December 2009

Announcement (and transcript) of the launch of the first report from the Coordinator General on the progress that is being made in delivering essential services across 29 remote communities in Australia - an initiative aimed at Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

• Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services (six monthly report)

Supporting Outcome 5

4 December 2009

Announcement that around 273,000 families will receive a letter from Centrelink to explain new requirements for Family Tax Benefit Part A for children aged 16 to 20.

Legislation passed by the Parliament last week will make participation in education or training a requirement for payment of Family Tax Benefits for young people aged 16 and over.

• New education requirements for Family Tax Benefit Part A

Supporting outcome 3

4 December 2009

Announcement of the release of a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW): Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: final report on results from the Child Health Check and follow-up data collections

• NT child health checks - many children benefit, some still need follow-up services

Supporting Outcomes 3 and 5

3 December 2009

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) now has responsibility for the international alliance of law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating child sexual abuse.

• http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/national/2009/

Supporting Outcome 6

3 December 2009

Child Support Agency (CSA) customers will be able to make personal appointments to talk to CSA staff in Tasmania - Smithton, Ulverstone, Sorell, Bernie, and Huonville.

• Tas: Child Support Agency visits Smithton
• Tas: Child Support Agency visits Ulverstone
• Tas: Child Support Agency visits Sorell
• Tas: Child Support Agency visits Burnie
• Tas: Child Support Agency visits Huonville

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 2

1 December 2009

Child Support Agency (CSA) customers will be able to make personal appointments to talk to CSA staff in South Australia - Whyalla, Bordertown and Noarlunga.

• SA: Personal appointments for separated parents in Whyalla
• SA: Personal apointment service for CSA customers in Bordertown
• SA: Separated parents can learn about child support services at the Noarlunga Community Information Session

Supporting Outcomes 1 and 2

By the end of 2009 the Australian Government will issue a formal statement of acknowledgement and apology, on behalf of the nation, to Forgotten Australians and former child migrants.

• Australian Government to apologise to Forgotten Australians and Lost Innocents