Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, $1,157,391,000

Administered Items for the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, $196,289,000

Department for Health and Ageing, $3,748,814,000

Membership:

Mr Goldsworthy substituted for Mr Tarzia.

Ms Redmond substituted for Mr Speirs.

Minister:

Hon. Z.L. Bettison, Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr T. Harrison, Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms L. Boswell, Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms F. Mort, Director, Office for Women, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms A. Chooi, Director, Strategic Finance, Financial and Business Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms N. Rogers, Director, Office of the Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Mr S. Bucsai, Manager, Strategic Coordination, Office of the Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

The CHAIR: Minister, you are now appearing as the Minister for the Status of Women. I declare the proposed payments open for examination and I refer members to Agency Statements, Volume 1. I now invite the minister to introduce any new advisers and to give a presentation if she wishes.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Thank you, Chair. To my left is Tony Harrison, Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion; to my far left is Angela Chooi, Director, Strategic Finance, Financial and Business Services; and to my right is Fiona Mort, Director, Office for Women.

I have an opening statement. I am very pleased to be here in my capacity as the Minister for the Status of Women. In 2016-17, a range of initiatives have been supported or undertaken in this portfolio. They aim to support the full and equal participation of women in the social and economic life of the state, as well as enhance their safety and wellbeing. I would like to take the opportunity to advise the committee of a number of these. 'Investing in women's futures: South Australia's women's economic empowerment blueprint' continues to be the basis for strategies to support economic wellbeing and equality.

In 2016-17, these included undertaking the state public sector gender pay gap audit, with results to be released shortly; a new collaboration between the Office for Women and the South Australian music industry organisation, Music SA; a new guide on gender neutral recruitment practices; supporting Equal Pay Day; developing a women's financial literacy web resource; and various initiatives to promote the uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related study or careers among women.

Promoting women's and girls' participation in STEM is particularly important if we are to address inequality in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated field. During National Science Week 2016, the Office for Women, in collaboration with Microsoft South Australia, held a women in STEM Wikibomb to highlight outstanding women in STEM and inspire young women to consider a career in this field. This was supported by a campaign encouraging women working and studying in STEM to post a photo of themselves on social media using the hashtags #STEMSelfie and #WomenInSTEM thus challenging stereotypical conceptions of what STEM professionals look like.

Building on this important work, the Office for Women is currently working on a strategy to support women and girls along the STEM pipeline as part of the Change the Equation strategy. This will include initiatives at crucial transition points, with the aim of increasing both participation and retention. I would also like to note work that supports Aboriginal women. During 2016-17, the Office for Women coordinated four State Aboriginal Women's Gatherings in Coober Pedy, Yalata, Ceduna and Whyalla. The gatherings are an important connection between community and policy. For example, the Ceduna and Yalata gatherings provided important information to the Office for Women, which has informed work to address domestic and family violence.

With financial support from the commonwealth, we are now implementing new measures in Ceduna and surrounding areas, including Yalata and Oak Valley, undertaking significant work in the NPY lands in collaboration with the Northern Territory government and introducing the SA Far North Legal Services Collaboration Forum. Violence against women continues to be a shared priority across Australia and for the South Australian government, as outlined in our policy A Right to Safety.

The third action plan of the national plan to reduce violence against women 2016-19 was launched by the Prime Minister, premiers and first ministers at the COAG national summit on reducing violence against women on 28 October 2016 in Brisbane. Two round tables were held in South Australia to inform the priorities and actions in plan—one for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and one for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. I would also like to note funding to the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service, which was doubled in October 2016, and the ongoing excellent work which continues through initiatives such as the Multi-Agency Protection Service and the Family Safety Framework.

Finally, I would like to mention the Women's Information Service (WIS), which will celebrate its 40^th anniversary in 2018. To commemorate this event, a history project has begun, collecting oral histories from former staff and volunteers. This builds on the digitisation of key documents, which have been made available on the social media platform Pinterest. This ensures the history of this Australian-first service and the inspirational women who were pivotal in its establishment and development are remembered. I am proud of the achievements made under the Status of Women portfolio in the past 12 months, and I look forward to continuing to work towards equality and safety for all women in South Australia.

The CHAIR: Excellent. Thank you, minister. Member for Adelaide, I presume you are the lead speaker for this section. Before we go on, I should clarify that we, by agreement, are looking at the Office for Women until 11.15, and then until 11.45, Office for the Ageing and then until 12.15, Office for Youth.

Ms SANDERSON: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 111, regarding domestic violence. How much funding did this state government contribute to programs in 2016-17 and 2017-18?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Let me run you through the summary of the state government investment initiatives to combat and prevent violence against women. It is a broad and varied span of initiatives across government portfolios, so we do not just add up the figures and produce an estimate of total funding, but I can go through the areas that we do. Some of the measures funded under the women's portfolio include:

ongoing commitment of $104,707 per annum for the position of the Senior Research Officer (Domestic Violence) in the Coroner's Office;

$176,639 per year for the Family Safety Framework, of which $126,000 is from the Victims of Crime Fund;

approximately $706,000 per annum for the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service;

approximately $108,000 per annum for the Domestic Violence Response Review, otherwise known as the Early Warning System;

$7.8 million over four years for the implementation of the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009, which was introduced in 2010-11, including $470,500 in 2016-17 for the Women's Safety Contact Program;

$102,500 2016-17 for the Aboriginal men's violence intervention program delivered by Kornar Winmil Yunti;

$40,000 in 2014-15 for the establishment and $11,000 per annum for the maintenance of the Domestic Violence Serial Offender Database;

an additional $683,000 over four years, which commenced in 2015-16, to extend the Multi-Agency Protection Service to include non-government women's domestic violence services. Of course, there is significant support under the specialist homelessness support and family violence services, which are under the social housing portfolio;

$14.4 million in 2016-17 to provide support to 20 specialist domestic and Aboriginal family violence services;

$614,000 allocated by the South Australian Housing Trust for the Kurlana Tangkuinya New Dreams program, which provides a specialised response to Aboriginal women and children experiencing violence;

$100,000 provided to the Department of State Development for a range of community-led initiatives focused on primary prevention and education to address domestic and family violence across the NPY lands. The Northern Territory government provided a $50,000 contribution to these initiatives; and

$143,000 provided to the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement to administer the funds to progress the Far North legal service collaboration forum.

The 2016-17 state budget for the South Australia Police in relation to the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme included $1.3 million to implement the IT system. Across multiple departments, we are contributing to the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. This follows initiatives under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children, including a contribution to Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS). That is an annual funding of $121,730. Our Watch receives $83,000 per year through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Of course, even as I read out this area as the Minister for Social Housing, we contribute $64 million per year for homelessness response, which we have just talked about. Not all of that is related to DV, but there is a considerable amount that goes from that in relation to DV. That is just a snapshot of those programs we have; I do not have a definitive figure for you at this point to compare year upon year. We do know that our Premier has led the nation in these discussions, whether it be including DV leave schemes for the public service or introducing White Ribbon accreditation. I am very proud of the work we have done in this area.

Ms REDMOND: Supplementary, please, Mr Chairman. Minister, in that answer you mentioned an amount that I think in your overview you said was put towards domestic violence, which was from the Victims of Crime Fund. Could you explain how that works? Are you saying that is money that is taken from the fund to put towards domestic violence programs, or are you counting money from the fund that is paid to women or men who are victims of domestic violence and saying that is part of the government overview as to what the government is contributing?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As I am advised, the Victims of Crime Fund is used to support programs in this space. It provides a general grants stream operating to improve overall community safety to address criminal reoffending and offending. This can include programs increasing the safety of women and their children. Victim Support Service received $97,000 for counselling and therapeutic services for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence.

The City of Salisbury received $99,000 to deliver a whole-of-community approach to DV. Helping Young People Achieve (HYPA) received $80,000 to deliver an early intervention program addressing domestic violence in relationships. If you have further questions about the Victims of Crime Fund, I recommend they should be directed to the Attorney-General.

Ms REDMOND: I want to ask you, minister. You have raised it, and I want to be very clear about what it is that the Victims of Crime Fund is being used for because my understanding is that when an offender goes into court, or even if you have a traffic offence, there is an element in the payment of your fine that goes to the Victims of Crime Fund, which is specifically set up to compensate victims of crime.

Compensating victims of crime after the event is a very different creature from prevention. I am not suggesting that prevention is not a worthwhile thing, I am just puzzled that the government is (a) taking the money, or (b) claiming the credit for using money that is actually paid by offenders and not provided by the government.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I understand your point, but the money I have spoken about is supporting people who have been victims of crime.

Ms SANDERSON: On that point, you have listed quite a few initiatives for the victims of domestic violence. I was recently in Berri at a domestic violence refuge where eight women and their children who had come into that service had come in as a result of one male perpetrator. More needs to be done, so what is the government doing for the perpetrators?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: This is not only a concern for South Australia but also nationally, about perpetrators and how we prevent them from continuing to reoffend, how they address their actions. One of the things we do is this domestic violence serial offenders database, so we capture that information as well. I think some of the things you would be interested in include supporting these perpetrators and acknowledging the work they have done. I will get you some details on that.

In 2015, the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 was amended to include a provision that offenders who breach an order to attend a treatment program can be made, by the courts, to pay for the treatment, and fined if they do not attend. Those who perpetrate domestic violence can be required by the court, after an assessment process, to undertake a rehabilitation program, and if the person breaches this order they may be required by the court to pay for the cost or part of the cost of the program, and fined if they do not attend. These government-funded perpetrator programs are currently available in metropolitan Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta, with the Attorney-General's Department leading this work.

There are also a number of other rehabilitation programs for perpetrators offered by non-government organisations. We have actually taken on some work and were funded, through the commonwealth, for the National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions; South Australia was funded to do this work. So, as I said, we have those rehabilitation programs and we will continue to do that work with ANROWS, through the Australian national research organisation, to build an evidence base that contributes to policy and practice development, and participating within that.

As I said, we have this funding agreement for the implementation of the COAG-endorsed National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions; that was $230,000 and $252,000 in 2015-16, $98,675 in 2016-17. That is so that we can develop a statewide framework using the standards to inform the development of future responses. This is an area I have particular interest in, and I think it is really in the beginning stages of how we address the perpetrators.

With many of the government responses we are responding after the event, so one of the things you see with the national plan is raising issues about equality between boys and girls and men and women to try to stop it before it starts. We have also spent a lot of time supporting people who have experienced domestic violence. Equally, I would like to have some focus on those who are perpetrating the violence because, as the member for Adelaide has expressed, these are often not just one-off events with one individual and a partner but are often repeated events. We need to stop them as soon as they come to our attention and support that person to acknowledge what they have done and try to turn that around.

There has been considerable work done in many different areas on this. I am very proud of the work that the Office for Women has done in regard to these national standards, and I congratulate them on their work. However, we are just at the beginning here, and we need to continue that work.

Ms SANDERSON: You mentioned registration of offenders. In America that registration is actually available publicly so that women are kept safe and, say, eight women might not fall into the same trap. Is that publicly available?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That is not publicly available at this stage, but there have been some discussions about various types of programs or disclosure schemes, one referred to by the Chair, who raised this about Clare's Law. That was raised recently in the DV discussion paper. It is called the DV disclosure scheme and I expect that in the near future we will be making some announcements around that. That would enable people to ask about the history of that person. It involves the police and any records they might hold.

I look forward to providing more details in the near future. The Attorney has the lead on that. While we have the DV serial offenders database that is not publicly available, my understanding is that those working in the domestic violence services do have access to that, but we are looking at other areas through this DV disclosure scheme. Once again, I thank the Chair for raising this. He saw what happened in the UK and he suggested that we could have that in South Australia.

Ms SANDERSON: How many perpetrators were ordered to attend treatment, how many attended for the 2016-17 year and how many fines were collected from those who failed to attend?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The projection is that we would expect that about 50 per cent of defendants will complete a program. The estimated results were 437 of the assessments undertaken, and 308 is the number of offenders accepted onto the domestic violence perpetrators group.

Ms SANDERSON: So, 308 were ordered to attend and 50 per cent attended. How many fines were received for non-attendance from the 50 per cent who did not attend?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We would have to seek that information from the courts. We can take that on notice. I think that is a very interesting question.

Ms SANDERSON: Previously, the commonwealth government funding has provided $1.19 million for the Keeping Women Safe in their Home program. How many applicants were there for this service in the 2016-17 year?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Are you talking about the Staying Home Staying Safe program?

Ms SANDERSON: It has been named different things in different portfolio areas.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That is funded through my other portfolio of social housing, which obviously we have already discussed, but as this is a very important program, I will get an answer before the closure of this session because I have my staff here from the department who will find that. Can I clarify that there has been some crossover because we had a program and then there was some support from a commonwealth-funded program as well. There is Staying Home Staying Safe and then there is also—

Ms SANDERSON: That is okay; we have Housing—no, we have already had Housing.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I have just been given some information about this. There is $617,000 in this year's budget for 2017-18. It is part of Staying Home Staying Safe, which is funded through the commonwealth Department of Social Services under a keeping women safe program and they deliver domestic violence safety packages. That provides a safety package and an audit. The safety packages provide up to $2,000 per person for security measures, including security screens, new locks and personal alarms.

In South Australia, this program is delivered by the victim support services in partnership with Housing SA. During 2016-17, the program was expanded and an additional funding of $1.2 million was provided by the commonwealth, enabling the program to increase the number and type of security items fitted to properties. Eight hundred and eighty-eight women accessed and benefited from the Staying Home Staying Safe program in 2016-17.

Ms SANDERSON: Can the minister list all metropolitan and regional services for domestic violence and detail what types of services are provided, such as legal services, and which of these have crisis accommodation?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That is quite a lot. We will talk about the domestic violence support services. I am happy to run through and look at the differences we have here. These are domestic violence specific specialist homelessness services. Statewide we have:

Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Gateway Service (the provider is the Domestic Violence Crisis Services) and for 2016-17, $610,700 and in 2017-18, $634,200;

Statewide CALD Domestic Violence Service through the Migrant Women's Support Services, $567,000 in 2016-17 and $588,800 in 2017-18;

Statewide, Staying Home Staying Safe, which I have spoken to you about, is a partnership with the Attorney-General's Department and Victim Support Service, $606,800 in 2016-17 and $617,100 in 2017-18;

Metrowide, the Adelaide Domestic Violence Crisis Accommodation Service, Bramwell House through the Salvation Army, $265,700 in 2016-17 and $275,300 in 2017-18;

Eastern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, the provider is the Central Domestic Violence Service, $1 million in 2016-17 and $1,078,200 in 2017-18;

Western Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, also provided through the Central Domestic Violence Service, $1.1 million in 2016-17 and $1,103,800 in 2017-18;

Southern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, run by the southern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, $995,700 and $1,034,000 in 2017-18;

Southern Regional Aboriginal Domestic Violence and Family Violence Service, run by the Southern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, $732,700 in 2016-17 and $750,400 in 2017-18;

Northern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service, run by the Northern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service Incorporated, $1.5 million in 2016-17 and $1,515,900;

Northern Regional Aboriginal Domestic Violence and Family Violence, Nunga Mi:Minar, $733,900 in 2016-17 and $760,400;

Eyre and Western, which is the Ceduna Regional Domestic Family and Violence Aboriginal Service, the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie, $881,400 in 2016-17 and $913,300 in 2017-18;

Eyre and Western Port Lincoln Regional Domestic Violence Service, Yarredi Services, $543,600 and this year $564,500;

Eyre and Western Whyalla Regional Domestic Violence Service, run by Centacare, $434,600 in 2016-17 and $450,400 this year;

Coober Pedy Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service, run through the Uniting Care Wesley Country SA, $571,200 last year and $591,900 this year;

Far North the NPY Women's Council Domestic and Family Violence Service, run by the NPY Women's Council, $483,000 last year and $500,400 this year;

Port Augusta Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service, run through Uniting Care Wesley Country SA, $458,700 last year and $475,300 this year;

Mid North Domestic Violence Service, run by the Uniting Care Wesley Country SA, $434,700 and $450,000 this year;

Murray Mallee and the Adelaide Hills Domestic Violence Service, run through Centacare, which I think would be accessed by the member for Heysen and the other member's electorate through Centacare, $688,300 and $713,200;

Limestone Coast Domestic Violence Service, run by Centacare, $519,200 last year and $538,000 this year; and

Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Domestic Violence Service, run through Junction Australia, $241,800 last year and $250,600 this year.

Ms REDMOND: Supplementary, minister. In all of the domestic violence facilities through the state, and taking into account where there are accommodations provided, are there any accommodations provided for men who are the subject of domestic violence from their female partner?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Men experiencing that would access the general specialist homelessness services.

Ms REDMOND: It is just that yesterday on Radio National there was specifically a discussion on this point, and one particular man rang in to say that there is nowhere for him to go without having to leave his children in the situation where they are then left in the care of the abusive partner, and the children may therefore be at risk. Is that issue being addressed by this government?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We would treat that person as someone experiencing homelessness who has responsibility for children. One of the things we have just done is run a tender about emergency housing, and what that tender focused upon is the fact that it is often not single individuals but is parents with children. That new tender would be a panel of crisis accommodation, usually hotels and facilities, and we would be able to accommodate them through that.

The CHAIR: By agreement we move now onto ageing. I refer members to the Agency Statements, Volume 3.

Membership:

Mr Knoll substituted for Ms Sanderson.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr D. Frater, Deputy Chief Executive, SA Health.

Ms Skye Jacobi, Executive Director, Policy and Governance, Department for Health and Ageing.

Ms J. Walters, Director, Intergovernment Relations and Ageing, Department for Health and Ageing.

Mr J. Woolcock, Chief Finance Officer, Department for Health and Ageing.

The CHAIR: I would like to welcome the Minister for Ageing to the table. Would you like to introduce your new advisers, minister, and then if you have a statement?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I certainly would. To my left is Don Frater, Deputy Chief Executive, SA Health; to my far left is Skye Jacobi, Executive Director, Policy and Governance; to my right is Jeanette Walters, Director, Intergovernment Relations and Ageing; and on the second table is Jamin Woolcock, Chief Financial Officer.

The CHAIR: Thank you. Do you have an opening statement?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes, I do. We all know that South Australia's population is ageing. Not only are the numbers of older people increasing, but their diversity is also increasing, with the definition of 'older' now spanning multiple decades and generations. Whilst older people have diverse life experiences, levels of health, education and wealth, the importance of feeling valued, maintaining independence and staying connected is common to all.

The Office for the Ageing leads the state government's work in supporting South Australians to lead productive and active lives as they age, in line with the state ageing plan and its strategic priorities: health, wellbeing and security; social and economic productivity; and all-ages-friendly communities.

In May, I launched the Age Friendly SA Strategy to set the direction for building South Australia's capacity as an age-friendly state. Shaped by the voices of over 425 older people who contributed to the first Statewide Conversation with Older South Australians late last year, the strategy focuses on five key priorities that serve as enablers to ageing well:

ensuring our home, communities and environments are inclusive, accessible and designed to support independence and active participation;

creating opportunities for older people to make a contribution to their community, feel heard and engage in lifelong learning;

making it easier to get around by promoting safe, reliable and accessible transport options, including opportunities for walking and cycling;

creating environments and communities that bring together people of all ages and support intergenerational connectedness; and

delivering age-friendly services that are inclusive of and respectful to the needs and wants of older people.

An early action under the strategy was the establishment of an Age Friendly SA Grant Round, offering grants of up to $25,000 for projects that contribute to an age-friendly South Australia. Grants totalling $150,000 were awarded to eight local governments and community organisations in the inaugural round, which was announced at the launch of the strategy in May, and included a specific northern suburbs grant in support of the Northern Economic Plan.

Over the next three years, the South Australian government has committed $600,000 to Age Friendly SA grants, which will enable local governments to continue their important work in developing age-friendly communities across the state. The second Age Friendly SA Grant Round will open in August.

The Retirement Villages Act: the critical reform of this sector will be achieved with the planned commencement of the Retirement Villages Act 2016 on 1 January 2018. The commencement of this new legislation is a final step in a series of reforms for retirement villages, which also includes the introduction of better practice guidelines for retirement village operators and an advocacy service for retirement village residents.

The new act is the result of over three years' significant consultation, and successfully balances increased consumer protection with the interests of operators across the diversity of retirement village operations. It will deliver greater transparency, greater certainty and some much needed protections for current and future residents of villages in South Australia.

It introduces a disclosure statement that makes clear the fees and charges for which a resident will be responsible on entry, whilst living there and on leaving a village. The act also introduces an 18-month buyback provision, giving residents certainty on arrangements should they want or need to leave the village.

Education of the sector and residents about the changes will commence in August, following publication of the regulations. The commitment to safeguarding the rights of older South Australians stretches beyond the retirement villages sector. Over the last two years, the South Australian government has done much work to raise awareness about elder abuse, recognising the signs, knowing how to respond and strengthening measures to support prevention through the implementation of the Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians and Action Plan.

This year, the state government launched its third awareness campaign, a new look Stop Elder Abuse media campaign, which ran for six weeks over June and July. It focused on raising awareness amongst volunteers and carers, as well as the general community. In particular, the campaign promotes the Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line and referral service. It is funded by the South Australian government to provide free confidential information and support to older people experiencing abuse, or concerned family, friends or service providers.

However, awareness is only the first step. There is still much work to do in this space, and that is why in 2017-18 the Office for the Ageing will undertake a review of the implementation of the safeguarding strategy, as well as the development of a whole-of-government elder abuse prevention policy to further protect older South Australians.

Significant economic opportunities arise from our state's ageing population, which is not only growing in size but changing in terms of expectations about how older people can and should live. We know that people are living longer than ever before, but they are also living better, maintaining activity and continuing their involvement in all aspects of life.

Social and economic productivity is an area of particular focus, and housing and urban design are being increasingly recognised as critical enablers to people being able to maintain independence and remain connected to their communities as they age. The need to better understand the housing needs of an ageing population, the economic opportunities generated by unmet need, have been the motivating factors for the Design Innovation in Social Housing 90 Day Project, which the Office for the Ageing led this year in partnership with industry, government and the community.

The opportunity to trial innovative, age-friendly housing through co-design was offered through Renewal SA's urban renewal program, with Renewal SA keen to better understand and respond to the needs of Housing SA tenants as they grow older so that new homes can be designed for purpose to meet diverse support, care and lifestyle needs now and in the future.

This work continues with a housing industry briefing planned in the next few weeks to build on this initial work, recognising both the economic opportunities for industry and also the importance of the co-design process for ensuring that a product is fit for purpose and meets the needs of its intended end user. These initiatives provide an insight into the important work that is underway to ensure South Australia remains responsive to the needs of older people and is a great place to spend a lifetime.

The CHAIR: Thank you. Member for Schubert, do you have an opening statement?

Mr KNOLL: No.

The CHAIR: Any questions?

Mr KNOLL: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 33, sub-program 1.2. We notice that there is a reference to aged care in there, in the description/objective, so we will take that as being where we should start. Can the minister confirm that the Office for the Ageing is funded for 2017-18 and each year of the forward estimates?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes.

Mr KNOLL: Can you confirm what the budget or the expected result was for 2016-17 for the Office for the Ageing?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The estimated result in 2016-17 is $3,793,000, and the original budget was $3,780,000. The budget for the following year is $4 million.

Mr KNOLL: The budget for the following year. So, you are saying for the 2017-18 year it is $4 million. Do you have the other years of the forward estimates there as well?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The forward estimate budgets?

Mr KNOLL: Yes.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: No.

Mr KNOLL: Can you commit to providing us with that information?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Certainly.

Mr KNOLL: Thank you. How many FTEs are there in the office currently, let's say for 2016-17 and budgeted for 2017-18?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: There are 24 budgeted for 2017-18, and 24 currently there.

Mr KNOLL: Is that expected to change over the forward estimates?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I do not have the forward estimate plan in front of me. There was an increase, though, from 2016-17 to 2017-18 of six FTEs, which was associated with the continuation of the commonwealth government-funded Aged Care Assessment Program. That is funded through to 2017-18.

Mr KNOLL: Sorry, you said that in 2016-17 there were 24, and you then said that in 2017-18 there were 24?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: In 2016-17, the actual was 24, but we estimated that there would have been 18, but with the continuation of the ACAP program. I guess one of the questions you are talking about is the future of the Office for the Ageing. One of those conversations would be around the continuation of the commonwealth Aged Care Assessment Program. I think our current contract goes to 2017-18, so depending on where the commonwealth goes with that, that would have an impact on the Office for the Ageing.

Mr KNOLL: If I can move on now to the Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line that you talked about in your opening statement, what was the operating cost for the phone line in the last financial year?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We give the money to the Aged Rights Advocacy Service to run that. I will just get that amount for you. It is $80,000.

Mr KNOLL: Is $80,000 the allocation for the 2017-18 budget as well?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes.

Mr KNOLL: Is this phone line budgeted out towards the forwards?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: It currently is how we distribute the Office for the Ageing budget, but our agreement with the Aged Rights Advocacy Service is annual.

Ms REDMOND: Can I just clarify? When you say that there is $80,000 to the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, is that just for that particular aspect, or does that include the phone line for the retirement village advocacy service?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The retirement village advocacy is a separate program. I can get a figure for that as well.

Ms REDMOND: So, what is the total paid to the Aged Rights Advocacy Service?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We fund them for three different programs: obviously, The Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line, the retirement villages advocacy, and I think we give them some money for some advocacy work. I will just get you that figure.

Ms REDMOND: What sort of advocacy work is that, apart from elder abuse and retirement villages?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That enables them to support the wider South Australian community who are older and have questions about that advocacy area.

Ms REDMOND: Advocacy regarding what?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Around elder abuse.

Ms REDMOND: So, it is part of the elder abuse advocacy?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The phone line itself has a direct funding component and then there is some more funding that is around the advocacy, and I will just get that figure.

Ms REDMOND: So, your initial response to the member for Schubert's question about the $80,000 is not the entire story as far as the elder abuse aspect and the advocacy service go?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: He asked me about the phone line and that is the money for the phone line, but there is some additional money.

Ms REDMOND: No, I asked about the Aged Rights Advocacy Service and how much money they got.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That was not his question, Chair.

The CHAIR: Are you still seeking some advice?

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The CHAIR: No, the minister does not need my protection.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We will come back to you before we close today.

Mr KNOLL: Was the elder abuse phone line operational for all of 2016-17, and how many phone calls did the abuse line receive?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am advised that the Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line and referral service continues to provide free confidential advice, information and support, receiving over 490 calls since October 2015.

Mr KNOLL: Is that October 2015 until the end of FY 2017?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Probably until 31 May 2017, I propose.

Mr KNOLL: What hours does the telephone line operate?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: From 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, I am advised.

Mr KNOLL: Given the fact that that is quite a limited time frame, would it not be helpful for those operating hours to be publicised online somewhere?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We advertise the line on the website and have advertised it on the Stop Elder Abuse campaign. Sorry, I think your question was about opening hours.

Mr KNOLL: Sure, except that on the SA Health web page it only indicates days and not times, and given the fact that it is only open six hours a day, it is probably a bit difficult for people to know when to call.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I will take your—

Mr KNOLL: Suggestion, help.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: —free advice.

Mr KNOLL: Do you have an understanding of how many people call outside of the operating hours, as in leave a message on the—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I guess we are a little in the weeds here, but I will find out if they have an answering machine. They do have an answering machine.

Mr KNOLL: They do.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: When I next have some time with them, I will talk to them about whether these operating hours need to change. I am assuming that the reason it is nine to three is that that is when the majority of calls have been received. If not, I suspect there would be different times.

Mr KNOLL: What is the protocol for when a call comes in outside of operating hours?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I think what I am hearing from you is that your concern would be if this was an emergency situation.

Mr KNOLL: Sure.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: In that case I would expect someone to ring an ambulance or police, and that advice is given to people on there. At this point, it is open from nine until three. It seems to me at this point that that feedback has been the appropriate time for them to give that information.

Mr KNOLL: Do you have any visibility of what proportion of callers to the phone line identified themselves as victims of alleged abuse?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I do not have that detail with me today.

Mr KNOLL: Would you be able to get back to me with some detail? What proportion, for instance, were third parties?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: My understanding is it is mainly family, friends or service providers who have been calling up. We did this as a pilot phone line and it was evaluated by an independent evaluator to ensure it was meeting its need. We implemented a number of quality improvement measures, enhanced referral pathways, caller outcome monitoring, and we did add additional phone line service hours to that. It did begin as a pilot. We have added to it and obviously looked at the review of how it is, and we will continue to work on that. The other funding, which obviously is part of that referral service work, is $52,000.

Ms REDMOND: Can I ask a supplementary, please, to the minister? Is there any breakdown in terms of calls to the elder abuse phone line as to whether the complaints are about sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse or financial abuse, and what is the ratio of those various sorts?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I do not have that information today.

Ms REDMOND: Of course you do not; you have only got 20 advisers present.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Okay, of those 490 calls that we have received, obviously when the review happened I would expect that would have provided some breakdown and some themes around that.

Ms REDMOND: Surely, with all the time that is put into preparing for estimates—

The CHAIR: Member for Heysen, this is just commentary.

Ms REDMOND: It is a question about the legitimacy of the minister's answer, given the amount of time and public service—

The CHAIR: I understand your commentary, but the minister is going to answer the question now.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As I am advised, the vast majority of concerns are about financial and psychological/emotional abuse. Of course, sometimes people are very reluctant to talk about the concerns they have, but that is the majority of their area of concern.

Ms REDMOND: Surely, minister, it is pretty basic information to classify in terms of phone calls. You know there have been 490 phone calls. Surely, someone knows how many of those were about financial abuse, how many about sexual abuse, how many physical, how many emotional and how many a combination.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Member for Heysen, you and I are in furious agreement. I understand that the information is collected. I do not happen to have it with me here today.

Ms REDMOND: That is what estimates is for.

The CHAIR: So, the minister has undertaken to seek information; excellent. Let's move on.

Mr KNOLL: The same budget line. In reference to the Oakden hotline, did the number of calls to the phone line increase in the first quarter of 2017? When in response to events at Oakden the issue of elder abuse was very much public, did we see a spike in calls to the Oakden hotline?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I will ask Don Frater, the Deputy Chief Executive, to speak.

Mr FRATER: The Oakden hotline was run by Mental Health and Health itself, not part of Ageing. I am sure we can look at the question when we get to that minister.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Perhaps I can add that we did run a campaign about Stop Elder Abuse, phase 3 of our campaign, in June and July. I understand there was some increase in calls. From my point of view as the Minister for Ageing, the campaign that we ran, the third campaign we have run about Stop Elder Abuse, did produce some more calls.

Mr KNOLL: I understand that the elder abuse hotline, which obviously was given over to the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, is staffed by people with a level of professional experience. Why was a separate hotline set up specifically for Oakden as opposed to having this referred to the Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line?

Mr FRATER: Yet again, I am sure that is matter that we will be exploring in tomorrow's estimates hearing. The decision to set up a phone line for Oakden was in relation to letters that we had sent out to all of the families of patients asking them if they had any concerns or issues to contact us direct.

Mr KNOLL: Was there any consideration given for the existing abuse prevention phone line being used? Was there any discussion with the Office for the Ageing and this existing service about whether or not it would be appropriate in this circumstance?

Mr FRATER: We did not discuss that with the Office for the Ageing because we wanted those people to contact us direct rather than through a third party so that we could actually provide them with responses to their concerns that they had raised with us direct about the services that were provided at Oakden.

Mr KNOLL: In the instance of the elder abuse phone line, if a call was made in relation to a government-run facility, what would the protocols have been for correspondence or interaction between, in this case, Health and Ageing and the Aged Rights Advocacy Service?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As I mentioned before, this was a pilot phone line initially, and then we had this independent evaluator. One of the things was some enhanced referral pathways. So, I think that would be the clarity around the question you are asking. If someone rings up that phone line and asks for help, how are they assisted and what are they given? Obviously, the enhanced referral pathways was something that, after the evaluation, needed to be strengthened, and that was strengthened then.

Mr KNOLL: At what point, would you say, were those strengthened enhanced referral methods put in place?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: My understanding is that it was at the beginning of 2016-17, after the pilot Aged Rights Advocacy Service phone line was up.

Mr KNOLL: If you say the connection is between the public-run facilities and the referral service by the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, the question remains as to why there was a need to set up a separate phone line, as opposed to utilising the existing service.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That has been answered.

Mr KNOLL: If I can move on to the UniSA elder abuse prevalence study. Has a report for that study—that the Office for the Ageing funded UniSA to undertake—been completed?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes.

Mr KNOLL: Is that report available?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: It has recently been provided to the select committee chaired by Nat Cook. I also spoke about it on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, as did Professor Wendy Lacey at the conference. We talked about it then.

Mr KNOLL: That is fantastic for those who were there, but is the study available publicly?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That will be happening in the near future.

Mr KNOLL: According to the study, what percentage of elderly South Australians have experienced one or more forms of elder abuse?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: One of the key things about the study was the focus around current data collection points. Actually, this is one of the areas that needs more work. When we did some work through ARAS, the figure was one in 20 older South Australians. As the member for Heysen raised, elder abuse is quite wide: it can be physical, psychological, financial or chemical. One of the things we need to do is look at the different data collection points, for example, GPs, emergency departments and different service providers. So, that was some of the focus of that report. It is work we have been doing for some time.

We have also worked on understanding the data collection practices of the different organisations. They all collect data, but it is about having data that can be useful for all. This was also confirmed by the national inquiry of the Australian Law Reform Commission that says there is a lack of prevalence data nationally and internationally. I understand the Australian Institute of Family Studies is undertaking some scoping work for a national study, which we will also contribute to from the Office for the Ageing.

Mr KNOLL: When will the study be released publicly?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: There is no particular delay; I expect it to be up in the next week or two. It has been released, obviously, at this annual conference we hold. Wendy Lacey spoke to it at length. We did actually have some media coverage at the time, and, of course, the select committee operating at the moment has access to that report. We will be putting it up shortly.

Mr KNOLL: Has there been any change to any of the existing programs in light of the findings or in light of the study?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As I said before, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), which put out significant work in regard to this, is likely to lead some national work in this area. While we have done this prevalence study, we are going to see what they do in the very near future and add to the work they have done. As I said in my opening statement, the safeguarding of South Australians is an area that we will be reviewing, so prevalence will be looked at there. As far as the next stage of that study goes, we would expect there would be a national lens amongst this.

Mr KNOLL: In relation to adult protection legislation to protect the rights of vulnerable adults, including older people, is the government going to move to enact legislation to safeguard at-risk adults?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That is something I am interested in looking at, obviously in looking at the prevalence of elder abuse. There was a Closing the Gaps report in 2011, and we have instituted awareness about elder abuse into different acts when they have come up. I think the next stage will probably be looking at reviewing our safeguarding strategy and moving towards that. That was a request through the Australian Law Reform Commission, that all states and territories review the legislation around this area.

I have had some pretty important conversations with people who are very involved in this. The conversation is probably not just about older people but about vulnerable people in general who are often open to these kinds of areas, and—

Mr KNOLL: When are you looking to enact something or to bring something to the parliament?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am actively looking at what our next stage will be, and that will start with the review of our current safeguarding strategy.

Mr KNOLL: When is that review going to take place?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: It is happening now.

Mr KNOLL: Is there an expected time line for completion of that?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am working on that as we speak, and I will continue to look at where we go. Legislation is one tool we have but there are lots of other areas, and that is why our elder abuse awareness strategy has been really important. You might recall a book called Knowing Your Rights, which was produced with the Legal Services Commission. We are working with the Italian, Greek and Polish communities to raise awareness regarding that Knowing Your Rights book, because one of the important things is about people having the confidence to know what their rights are as well.

The CHAIR: We have already run over time, so by agreement I declare the proposed payments for the Department for Health and Ageing be adjourned until tomorrow. The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion is still open so I call on the Minister for Youth to come to the table.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I have an advisory group working on that.

The CHAIR: Thank you, minister.

Membership:

Ms Sanderson substituted for Ms Redmond.

Mr Speirs substituted for Mr Goldsworthy.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr T. Harrison, Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms A. Chooi, Director, Strategic Finance, Financial and Business Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms S. Wallace, Executive Director, Community Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms N. Rogers, Director, Office of the Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Mr G. Myers, Principal Coordinator, Strategic Projects, Office of the Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms J. Kennedy, Director, Engagement and Grants, Community Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

The CHAIR: Welcome, Minister for Youth. Please introduce any new advisers to the table and then proceed with your presentation, if you wish.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Thank you, Chair. To my left is Tony Harrison, Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. To my far left is Angela Chooi, Director, Strategic Finance, Financial and Business Services, and to my right is Sue Wallace, Executive Director, Community Services. I have an opening statement.

Underpinning the work of our youth portfolio is the government's vision for a thriving South Australia where all people actively contribute to building the social and economic wellbeing of their communities. We recognise the importance of providing young people with both the opportunities and supports they need to succeed and become healthy, happy and prosperous. Increasingly, the youth portfolio is prioritising programs and initiatives that support the social and economic participation of young people, especially those who face disadvantage or exclusion.

Our 2017 youth strategy, youTHRIVE, is the third in a series of annual strategies which aims to provide timely responses to current issues and engage with young people in the sector to establish shared goals for long-term investment. Each annual strategy has built upon the last, developing focus and action around key issues, including participation of young people in earning and learning, youth homelessness, and the inclusion and resilience of our most vulnerable groups.

Through youTHRIVE, we are continuing to deliver the Successful Transitions program, which has demonstrated positive outcomes for young people who are disengaged from learning and earning. In 2017-18, we have expanded the employment focus of the program through a collaborative partnership with the Department of State Development. We are also working in partnership with the sector to co-design a youth safety strategy that will harness collective efforts to make an impact on specific issues related to young people and relationship, family and sexual violence. Engagement with young people is fundamental to this work.

We are also demonstrating our commitment to working in partnership through the Community of Schools and Youth Services pilot, an innovative homelessness prevention program being delivered in Mount Gambier by the University of South Australia in partnership with Uniting Communities, the Service to Youth Council and Swinburne University. In 2017-18, we are also extending the innovative Be a Job Maker program to southern and central Adelaide, connecting businesses and young people to entrepreneurial activities and opportunities.

We recognise the enormous diversity of experience, aspirations, circumstances, skills, interests and cultural backgrounds of young South Australians through a range of programs. Under the youTHRIVE strategy, we will focus on working with multicultural communities and young people around media and positive stories. We will also explore ways to build the capacity of groups representing the needs of LGBTIQ young people. We continue to support active engagement of young South Australians through opportunities such as National Youth Week and Youth Parliament.

Mr KNOLL: Referring to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 113. In regard to youth services, minister, obviously there is no FTE, so there is no government personnel allocation to the youth services program, but you are able to outline, I assume, the $1.8 million in spending and give a breakdown of which NGOs were given grant funding for the 2016-17 year.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Did you ask for 2017-18?

Mr KNOLL: 2016-17.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The Be a Job Maker fund was granted $50,000 in the budget of last year; the cross sector round table for youth homelessness and relationship/family violence, $30,020; the northern Adelaide youth justice project, $67,490; Successful Transitions, $441,000; and the University of South Australia homeless early intervention pilot, $150,000. They were the new ones. Those that are ongoing are Community Voices, which was granted $56,342; National Youth Week, $127,950; the Port Augusta social vision, $245,510; sustainable online community, $57,196; the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, $354,177; Youth Network Grants, $80,000; Youth Parliament, $50,000; and Youth Volunteer Scholarships, $25,500. Then we have some sponsorships: SA Media Awards, $4,400; the SACE Board Art Exhibition, $1,000; some unallocated sponsorship funds, $5,100; and the Young Achiever Awards, $9,500.

Mr KNOLL: I do not need the names of all the groups. I was thinking about the Be a Job Maker program specifically. I have a series of questions. First, what was the breakdown of the $50,000, as to which NGOs got funding for that?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: For the Be a Job Maker program?

Mr KNOLL: Yes.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That was the New Venture Institute, part of Flinders University. I would like to talk to you about that program—

Mr KNOLL: Sure.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: —because that was something new in the youth strategy last year and we have expanded it. We delivered it in southern Adelaide. It is Flinders' New Venture Institute. I think you are probably familiar with their work. The Career BluePrint, Kiikstart and the Sammy D Foundation did some work there as well. We are harnessing the benefits of emerging technologies, the direction of the change in job market for young people to develop their own start-up microbusiness or confidently pursue further education, training and work in preparation for future entrepreneurial opportunities.

There were 14 participants in part 1 of the pilot program, with eight gaining employment or being self-employed. The second part of the pilot program was in northern Adelaide in May of last year, with some participants graduating initially and more to graduate in the next few months. There will be a regional version of this program delivered in Whyalla commencing in August of this year—Be a Job Maker Whyalla—and adapted to take advantage of local opportunities and resources. In 2017-18, this program will be available to young people living in southern and central Adelaide.

Mr KNOLL: In relation to the northern Adelaide program, how many participants were there as part of that?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Seven people have graduated and three have gained experience from that time. These were the initial pilot program outcomes.

Mr SPEIRS: Does that mean there were 21 across the whole program, 14 participants in the south and seven in the north?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As we mentioned, we expect more to graduate from the northern Adelaide program over the next six months, so I would not want to actually put that figure as the definitive figure because it has not been completed.

Mr SPEIRS: Do you know how many are within the program overall?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We will have to come back to you on that.

Mr KNOLL: If I could move on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 109 in relation to Youth Justice—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am sorry, but Youth Justice is actually part of Communities and Social Inclusion; it is not part of Youth.

Mr KNOLL: Okay.

Mr SPEIRS: You said that $354,000 from the $1.83 million, being the total value of the sub-program, goes to the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia. Is that an annual figure?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes, but they do have a—

Mr SPEIRS: So, obviously you provide them with peak body funding each year, year on year. Is that $354,000 over three years or just for the—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: That is the annual figure but we do have a three-year funding agreement with them as a peak body.

Mr SPEIRS: When does that funding agreement come to an end?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: This is the final of the three years, so we will be looking at that, but they do have a three plus three plus three agreement which is based on results-based accountability but to give people security of that going forward.

Mr SPEIRS: Which plus three are we? Are we at the beginning or the—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We have just completed the first three years.

Mr SPEIRS: The first of the plus three.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am not sure, member for Bright, if you have intentions about the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia but, yes, the first lot—

Mr SPEIRS: I have a lot of time for the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I just thought I would check.

Mr SPEIRS: In fact, I meet with them regularly. When was the last time you met with the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, minister? Do you have a regular meeting with them?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes. In my diary going forward, every three months we should have a time that we meet together. It was not as consistent last year and I apologise for that but it should be every three months.

Mr SPEIRS: When was the last time you met with the Youth Affairs Council?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Probably about a month ago.

Mr SPEIRS: Do you meet with the executive director, or do you meet with other staff members, or are they—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Generally, the executive director and the president—that is his role, I think? The chair, sorry. Two of them come to the meeting.

Mr SPEIRS: No worries. That is fine. I will hand back to my colleagues.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I guess there are quite a lot of peak bodies in regard to communities and social inclusion. My endeavour is to try to meet with them on a quarterly basis. Obviously, there are issues that come up from time to time, but that is my intention. My door is always open to them. They are a key provider of our services.

Mr SPEIRS: There was previously an organisation called the Minister's Youth Council. Does that exist anymore, or was that removed when a number of boards and committees were removed across government?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: It was removed as part of that, but since my time as Minister for Youth I have been very active, not only with this youth strategy, which is really focused on a year by year outcome basis; probably over the first two years I had individual youth forums, where I met with young people to talk about the issues of concern with them. The work of the Youth Safety Strategy is also having youth forums as part of that engagement as well. My preference is to talk about specific issues at a time of a youth forum. Of course, we can come together and talk about general issues, but usually I try to focus on an issue of concern and take that forward.

Mr SPEIRS: How many of those youth forums have there been in the last 12 months, for instance?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I have not had my individual youth forums probably in the last 12 months, but the Youth Safety Strategy did have some.

Mr SPEIRS: In the last 12 months, how many times would you have met with a group of representative young people, either on a specific issue or a broader group as used to happen with the Minister's Youth Council?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I would have to review my diary. Obviously, I am out there meeting South Australians day to day, particularly in my area of multicultural affairs. I think it was about three or four months ago that I met the governor of the Youth Parliament this year. We are trying to organise a time; she is going to track me for a day as part of her youth role, and we are trying to work out a good day.

The CHAIR: Not today!

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Today could have been the day! I think the engagement with young people is quite high across the portfolio, whether it be volunteers—as you know we have our volunteer traineeships and scholarships. Just a few weeks ago, I was up at Flinders University meeting with those media students who have put together our Community Voices online. That was all young people in general putting that together.

Mr SPEIRS: Would you say on average that you meet with groups of young people on a weekly or monthly basis, or less than that?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I would not say more specifically in my portfolio as Minister for Youth. Probably my greatest level of engagement is through my Minister for Multicultural Affairs role. This weekend I am going to a Kurdish youth event; they are very young people. I am constantly meeting young people who are involved in the management of those organisations as well.

Mr SPEIRS: That is all from me at the moment.

Mr KNOLL: Can I ask what the FTE level is within the Office for Youth, so the actual for 2016-17 and the budget for 2017-18?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: One of the things that we do is that we combined the staff through the Office for Youth with carers and Multicultural SA. There was an integration that was completed in 2015-16. It is an organisational structure that consolidates the salary budgets to better reflect the manner in which the portfolio responsibilities are supported. Staff are no longer allocated to offices but according to function, including event coordination, grant and program management, and policy. We found that this was a more efficient and effective approach than a number of small offices.

The policy lead for each portfolio is now located within a consolidated policy team, enabling integrated policy and program development. As you know, a range of grant funding under Multicultural Affairs, Youth And Volunteers is now administered in an integrated manner through Grants SA.

Mr KNOLL: That is okay except you are saying that there is no specific FTE allocation for the Office for Youth, but you say there is a policy lead within there. So, you have no indication of what sort of FTE allocation, even if it is nominal, as people share jobs between different sub-programs?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: We have 120.9 FTEs within that division of community services, and within that 120-plus there are 107 FTEs who work in: grants management, 28; community sector capacity building, 14; policy development, 22; and place-based and Aboriginal programs, 43.

Mr SPEIRS: Would you be able to give a breakdown of what percentage of time those 120.9 FTEs would spend on youth-related activity?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I would have to take that on notice and come back. We felt that this was the best way to support the program. One thing in particular is the accessibility of the Grants SA program. You can apply for grants at the end of the month, every month, for grants up to $5,000. We have tried to look across that portfolio and gain some of those efficiencies, whilst also maintaining very high-quality policy programs and administration.

As Minister for Youth, I have been very pleased with the quality that we have. I think the Youth Strategy, which is updated year upon year, based on those significant programs, has given us really high engagement, and is particularly interested in the breadth of issues raised in regard to young people.

Mr SPEIRS: Minister, in the 2007-08 financial year, so 10 years ago, there were 30 FTEs in the Office for Youth, give or take. Obviously, that has diminished to zero specific FTEs now. I understand what you have just said, but we have gone from 30 in 2007-08 to zero specific FTEs now. Is that correct?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Member for Bright, you are not measuring apples with apples here.

Mr SPEIRS: Neither is the government.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: As I have just said, 120 FTEs are part of that, of which the 107 is detailed within that. We are supportive of young people in South Australia and we have been very proactive with the strategy. I think you are trying to make a point with which I disagree.

Mr SPEIRS: Fair enough. There is an Office for Youth insignia now, but there really is no Office for Youth anymore. The functions and roles of the Office for Youth—and let's not argue whether they are being done better or worse than they might have been in the past—are absorbed into the wider aims of the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. Is that correct? So, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion has a broad remit for youth issues—yes?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: In the opening statement, and in the first question I had, which was about grants, I outlined very clearly to you about our youth-specific programs through the Office for Youth. I am satisfied, and in fact I put great focus on this area as part of my portfolio. I think you are trying to make a point with which I completely disagree. Obviously, you have the opportunity in the near future to put forward your thoughts on how this should be administered. I am hearing that perhaps you would like to restart a separate area for youth—that is fantastic.

Mr SPEIRS: No, I am just wondering: is there a tangible Office for Youth anymore where a group of staff sit together with responsibility for youth and come up with ideas for the young people of South Australia? Do they sit in the same part of a building? Is there a sign? Is there an Office for Youth?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes.

Mr SPEIRS: So, it is a place? I could go there if I sought a ministerial briefing and a tour?

Mr KNOLL: Is it a physical office or is it a virtual office?

Mr SPEIRS: Or is it a figment of the government's imagination?

Mr KNOLL: An ethereal office.

Mr SPEIRS: Does the Office for Youth exist or is it simply a title on an organisational chart?

Mr KNOLL: Well, it cannot be on an organisational chart because there are no staff.

The CHAIR: Do we have any more questions?

Mr SPEIRS: I asked a question.

The CHAIR: We seem to be going round in some rhetorical circles here.

Mr SPEIRS: No, it was not rhetorical.

Mr KNOLL: If I wanted to go and visit the Office for Youth, where would I go?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: You would ring my office and you would ask to have a briefing with regard to youth activity.

Mr KNOLL: No, if I was a young person and I wanted to go and visit the office—

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion is based at the Riverside building and you could go there. I would suggest that you ring up and make an appointment to talk to someone who is within the Office for Youth, working on these programs that I have outlined.

Mr KNOLL: Do you have the budget allocation for the forward estimates for the youth services sub-program?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I have what we have before us here. I have no indication that we would not be continuing these programs into the future.

Mr KNOLL: Sorry, but that is not my question. Budgeted on a four-year program: we know that the government produces budget estimates over a four-year cycle. That is how you get to budget surpluses or deficits. Do you have what the budget is over the forward estimates for the youth services sub-program?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I have no understanding or would not expect there to be any significant change. As I continue in my role as Minister for Youth—and I look forward to doing that—I will continue to have a similar budget line or increased budget line to put forward these programs. I have no concerns that that would go forward in the forward estimates.

Mr KNOLL: Let me ask the question in a different way. Is the youth services sub-program funded for the out years, or is it the case that there is a budget allocation in the 2017-18 budget but there is not one in the out years of the forward estimates?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am advised that it will continue to be funded, with indexation. As you know—in fact, I am not sure if you were here before—we have done quite a bit with the non-government sector to look at that indexation upon grants. From 2017-18, that will be at 2 per cent, so those people delivering those services and grants for us will have that 2 per cent increase.

Mr KNOLL: Do you have a date on when the youth strategy for South Australia will be released?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Generally, I release it around Netfest, which is something that is run by the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA). In general, I have done it in late February or March, when they hold that.

Mr KNOLL: This is the 2018 strategy?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Yes.

Mr KNOLL: Who are you working on at the moment in developing the strategy?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: One of the key things that I would expect to come through that is about following on those programs that we are already doing. In particular, we would expect to take the work around the youth safety strategy to the next stage. I might ask Sue to detail any specific engagement that we are having.

Ms WALLACE: We have had some early discussions with YACSA on developing the options for the youth strategy for 2018.

Mr KNOLL: Are they the only body? Are they the only external organisation?

Ms WALLACE: That is the first discussion that we have had.

Mr KNOLL: Are there any other discussions that are likely to take place between now and February with other organisations?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Well, of course, particularly in the youth safety strategy, which will be a key focus in this next stage, I think we have multiple people as part of that engagement program. We have had several round tables on that. I did go along to the first round table. It is a cross-sector round table, obviously looking at homelessness, family relationships and violence, in relation to the development here.

Those round tables were in October and November last year and February this year. We had about 90 representatives, and also people from the peak bodies of DV Coalition, YACSA and Multicultural Youth South Australia. From that, we are doing a series of youth engagement forums that follow on from those round tables. We did some trials of that youth engagement process. They were completed on 2 June, and the strategy will be complete at the end of 2017. What we usually do when we come for a strategy is to go back with the final strategy and have that last engagement with people before we proceed that.

The member for Bright asked some questions previously about recent engagement. Of course, 34 young people attended that engagement process, supported by MY Health through SA Health, Multicultural Youth SA and Uniting Communities. We continue to do that work and I would expect in the next strategy that the work that we do there would be a very key focus.

Mr KNOLL: Moving quickly to the Microenterprise Development Program, which is part of youTHRIVE, is the government contributing money to this program?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The microenterprise program was funded through Communities and Social Inclusion and we are going to do some additional work with young people in northern Adelaide to be connected into that program, but it is actually not funded from this youth services line.

The CHAIR: By agreement, I declare the proposed payments be adjourned until later today.

Sitting suspended from 12:15 to 13:15.