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Monday, 21 November 2011
Page: 13172

Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Trial Sites

(Question No. 547)

Mr Andrews asked the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in writing on 18 August 2011:

(1) What information did she receive from her department for the purpose of selecting the trial sites for (a) helping teenage parents to finish school and support their children, (b) the Local Solutions Fund, (c) helping jobless families prepare for work, (d) the extension of income management in five trial sites, and (e) supporting job seekers in disadvantaged communities into jobs.

(2) Did the information provided to her in part (1) include a broader list of local government areas, communities, electorates or localities; if so, what criteria were used by her to select the trial sites from this list for the programs in part (1).

Ms Macklin: The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

(1) (a) to (e) Joint advice from my Department, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Human Services was provided to the Government on potential trial sites. The information provided included:

unemployment levels;

skills gaps;

education levels;

the numbers of people relying on welfare payments as their primary source of income; and

the length of time recipients have been receiving income support payments.

(2) The selection of particular trial sites was based on a consideration of factors including:

the Local Government Areas being in the lower range of socio-economic advantage/disadvantage index (SEIFA);

lower median individual and household incomes than the national averages;

higher levels of unemployment;

higher proportions of people in receipt of Centrelink payments;

higher proportions of non-completion of secondary school;

higher proportions of teenage parents receiving income support payments and jobless families; and

availability of existing infrastructure and support services.