Question On Notice No. 2159 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 May 2019 by Hon Jacqui Boydell
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Community Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 2825-
View tabled paper
Question
I refer to funding for community centres in the Pilbara region, and I ask:
(a) will the Minister provide a list of any community centres in the region, which received State funding in the last five years;
(b) for each of those in (a), will the Minister please outline the funding amount, timelines for disbursement and department responsible for administering the funds; and
(c) will the Minister provide any recent changes in the application and/or tender and administrations process for State Government funding of community centres?
Answered on 26 June 2019
(a-b) Yes Please see tabled paper no.]. The Department of Communities (Communities), including the former Department of Local Government and Communities, provided funding to four organisations through the Community and Neighbourhood Development Services Program in the Pilbara region over the last five years.
(c) In 2018, Communities undertook an open tender process for the Empowering Communities Program to invite innovative, flexible and value for money responses from the community services sector, to deliver the outcomes of the new program. The open tender process is consistent with State Supply Commission policies and the Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy and was deemed appropriate as it ensures a fair and equitable process.
In 2019, the Community and Neighbourhood Development Services Program will be replaced by the Empowering Communities Program. The Empowering Communities Program aims to empower communities to be connected and inclusive places where people feel they belong, are valued and can contribute. There is a stronger focus on building connections with neighbours and community, rather than simply connecting to a particular service or community centre. The shift in focus is towards a grass roots community development approach that empowers people to contribute to their community, rather than being passive recipients of services.
The outcomes of the Empowering Communities Program were developed in consultation with the sector and built on the strengths of the Community and Neighbourhood Development Services program. A new funding model was also developed for the Empowering Communities Program which incorporated regional differences, including population, social disadvantage, regional cost pressures and a baseline of funding to deliver a sustainable service.