APY LANDS, FAMILIES SA

In reply to Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (8 October 2010).

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability): Families SA provides outreach services on the APY Lands from its Coober Pedy Office. This includes the provision of child protection, youth justice and family support services.

In line with the recommendations of the Children on the APY Lands Commission of Inquiry Report:

Families SA have six Lands Based Worker positions assigned to Amata, Iwantja (Indulkana) and Kaltjti (Fregon), Pukatja (Ernabella), Pipalyatjara and Mimili who conduct work with a heightened focus on early intervention and prevention strategies.

Two Families SA Child Protection Workers have also been assigned specifically to the APY Lands to undertake specific investigation and assessments of child protection matters.

Funding for these eight positions for 2010-11 is approximately $1.5 million.

There are also a number of additional initiatives provided by the State Government and Commonwealth Government to the APY Lands. These include:

Ernabella Child and Family Centre: A central point for the delivery and coordination of early childhood and parenting programs in Ernabella. DFC provided funding of approximately $75,000 in 2009-10, with approximately $150,000 committed in 2010-11.

Relationships Australia Parenting Program: Delivers a parenting support program in Ernabella coordinated through the Ernabella Child and Family Centre. The program commenced in June 2010 with DFC providing funding of approximately $150,000.

DFC Family Centres: In Mimili, Fregon, Ernabella (Ernabella Child and Family Centre), Amata and Pipalyatjara, the centres provide an informal venue for parents and children to participate in a range of parenting support programs and a meals program for young children who have been identified as requiring additional nutrition. Family Centres cost approximately $800,000 per year to operate.

Cross Border/APY Lands Aboriginal Family Violence Service: Delivered by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, responds to incoming referrals, undertakes assessments, case work, case management, outreach support and respite support for women and children living on the APY Lands that are experiencing domestic/family violence. In 2010-11 the NPY Women's Council will receive $310,200 in funding, comprising $136,488 from the South Australian Government and $173,712 from the Commonwealth Government.

Home Living Skills Program: Delivered by UnitingCare Wesley on behalf of Housing SA to communities across the APY Lands to improve the ability of tenants to successfully maintain their tenancy and increase the household's knowledge about the nine Healthy Living Standards. The program commenced during 2010-11 in the communities of Amata, Mimili and Fregon, and will be moving to Pipalyatjara later in the financial year. The program is funded through the Commonwealth Government with $440,000 from the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing in 2010-11.