Social Inclusion
Even in a booming economy, many Australians are being left behind economically and socially. Addressing disadvantage and creating a society of inclusion and opportunity is at the core of the Labor movement.
FAQ
- What is Labor doing for social inclusion?
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in the new Labor Federal Government has a Social Inclusion Unit. This organisation will coordinate Government efforts both to help the disadvantaged back into the mainstream labour force, and ensure that children and young people get the best start in life. Labor’s approach to social inclusion is not just about welfare, though welfare is important—investment in people through skills training and concrete assistance to enter the economy is critical.
In another move to help young people, the Federal Government has committed to providing an additional 430,000 skilled training places from July 2008.
- What is Labor's plan to help social inclusion?
In NSW, Labor’s emphasis has been on providing early intervention and prevention programmes for at-risk individuals and groups; including children, new parents, those with a disability, and sufferers of mental illnesses. The recent State Plan has specific and measurable concrete targets in this regard.
The Government has developed a draft Prevention and Early Intervention Policy Framework which will be trialled over the next 12-18 months, to carry out the requirements of the Plan, which will embed the principles of prevention and early intervention into all Government agencies.
The Federal Government has commissioned a White Paper to investigate new approaches to homelessness, which will report by August 2008.
More generally, Labor’s approach to helping the disadvantaged is, as the Minister for Social Inclusion Julia Gillard has described, “replacing a welfarist approach to helping the underprivileged with one of investing in them and their communities to bring them into the mainstream”.
- What has Labor achieved in social inclusion?
In 2006 the NSW Government launched Stronger Together: A new direction for disability services in NSW 2006-2016, a ten year plan for disability services, which contains more than a billion dollars worth of funding over five years.
The Family Assistance Fund allocation for 2006/2007, which is only a small part of this plan, involving over $3.1 million, has helped over 1,500 families make important one-off purchases they would not have been otherwise able to afford.
In 2008, the Federal Government has commenced a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy, bringing together different Commonwealth Departments, States and Territories and partnership with employers and the community sector, to tackle systematic alienation and disadvantage.
In NSW, the Department of Housing operates a yearly Community Development grant program for public housing tenants, with grants of up to $5,000 to to work together with tenant organisations, housing providers and other agencies to address local housing issues and needs. Last year’s round of grants involved nearly $200,000.
- How can I be involved?
The NSW Department of Community Services operates the communitybuilders website, with many resources for volunteering, and for information about community building.
- Where can I get more information?
http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/
http://www.alp.org.au/download/071122_social_inclusion.pdf (Minister Gillard’s policy speech)
http://www.socialinclusion.sa.gov.au/