Question On Notice No. 1090 asked in the Legislative Council on 28 March 2018 by Hon Nick Goiran
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Community Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the response provided to question without notice No.123 from the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Community Services, and I ask:
(a) with regards to the Government’s commitment to provide $24.6 million over ten years for the early childhood initiative, what is the total amount of this funding being provided by the Department of Communities:
(i) what is the breakdown of the quantum of funding provided in (a), by year over the forward estimates period; and
(ii) what is the breakdown of the quantum of funding provided in (a), across the ten years of the commitment; and
(b) with regards to the appropriation service summary on page 241 of Budget Paper 2, Volume 1, which service (or services) is the funding for the early childhood initiative being provided from?
Answered on 16 May 2018
(a) – (i - ii) The Department of Communities will not provide new funding to the Early Years Initiative. The State Government’s resourcing for the Initiative will consist of reviewing and repurposing current expenditure to better engage, empower and build capacity in the selected communities, and enable them to find local solutions for local issues. Resources allocated to the Initiative by year will depend on the support required in each selected community and what services, funded by State Government departments including the Department of Communities, are currently delivered in that community.
(b) The Initiative will address the multiple factors that affect the development of children from pre-conception to age four. The Department of Communities and its partners will work with families and communities to address factors, including housing, social isolation, home and community safety, and employment, that mean children do not develop as fully as they can and should. On that basis, and subject to the needs and circumstances of each community and family, and which communities are selected, Department of Communities support for the Initiative may come from Services such as Services 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 18.