Mr ENTSCH (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources) (9:54 AM) —I would like to share with you in this place some wonderful work that is being done to strengthen my community through assistance and guidance to the young people in my electorate. The Cairns Youth Mentoring Program matches volunteer mentors with young people who are experiencing problems in school or at home. The program came into existence as a pilot program last year and had outstanding success in the first 12 months. Initially the program was looked at and it was decided not to proceed with it. I have to say that through the commitment of one of my officers, Yolonde Edwards—who actually retrieved this and said, `I want to use this as a program; I want to pursue it'—and through the vision of Senator Jocelyn Newman, we actually got the program up and running.

The program has been absolutely outstanding. It is now giving young people direct access to role models who will be there to support them, offer advice as they look towards their future goals and assist them in achieving their goals. A great example of this is a young lad who was having problems both at home and at school. He came from a single-parent family. Through the mentor program, his life was totally turned around. When this young fellow met his mentor once a week, they chose an activity that they would do together. The young man has attributed the change in his behaviour at school, his improvement in his school work and his general outlook on life to the skills he learned working with his mentor and the friendship that he now has with this gentleman.

Feedback on the program to the program director, Jeanette Harvey, has indicated that parents, teachers and, importantly, the young people of Cairns are finding the program extremely positive. Without the focus of people like the Cairns Youth Mentoring Program Director, Jeanette Harvey; Lifeline's Youth Support Coordinator, Margaret Vale; Cairns Centacare Director, Helen Biro, and others, this program certainly would not have got past first base. I was pleased that Senator Vanstone and Minister Anthony recently—after I approached them—re-funded the program for another 12 months. I see this as a very positive working model that will, I am sure, be able to be adopted into many other communities. Due to the success rate they are having with these young people, I think the program should be commended. (Time expired)