Mr Jenkins asked the Minister for Health and Family Services, upon notice, on 26 June 1997:

(1) Were organisations funded under the Community Sector Support Scheme in 1996-97; if so, (a) which organisations were funded, (b) what sum did each receive and (c) for what purpose was each funded.

(2) Have organisations been given approval for funding under the Community Sector Support Scheme in 1997-98; if so, (a) which organisations have been approved, (b) what sum will each receive and (c) for what purpose is each to be funded.

Dr Wooldridge —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Yes

(a)& (b) Funding is provided under the Community Sector Support Scheme (CSSS) to enable national secretariats of community organisations to represent the views and interests of their constituents that are of relevance to the policies and programs of the Portfolio, and to consult with the Department about issues of mutual relevance.

26 community organisations received the following amounts under the CSSS in 1996-97:

(c) The purpose of funding applicable to all 1996-97 national secretariat contracts was to undertake the following activities:

Contribute to public education, public debate, and community consultation on issues of direct relevance to the organisation's constituency, through:

.   maintenance of a basic representation mechanism to facilitate efficient and effective consultation between the Commonwealth and the organisation's constituency;

.   analysis and review of the implications of Commonwealth policies for the organisation's constituency, and communication of these findings to the Commonwealth and the constituency; and

.   policy development and direct communication of policy ideas to the Commonwealth, the organisation's constituency, and other interested parties.

Represent the organisation's constituency and promotion of the interests of the constituency.

Facilitate information exchange on issues relevant to the organisation's constituency.

Undertake forward planning, including maintenance of an effective organisational structure, and planning for income generation.

Increase the organisation's membership, and development and maintenance of a breadth of membership where possible.

Develop and maintain effective links with other organisations of relevance to the organisation's constituency.

(2) Yes.

(a) and (b) Funds have been approved to 28 community organisations for part or all of the 1997-98 financial year as follows:

(c) Contracts for 1997/98 have the same purpose of funding as the contracts for the previous financial year. However, the Department will shortly begin working with organisations to develop individual outcome based contracts for all organisations (other than seed or interim funded groups). This process will result in the addition of a 1997-98 Funding Schedule to each contract which will be more specific about outcomes to be achieved by the organisations.