YOUTHCONNECT GRANTS

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:06): Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Youth. Can the minister inform the house of the recipients of the 2011 youthconnect grants?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Premier in Social Inclusion) (15:07): I would like to thank the member for this very important question, and I acknowledge the outstanding work he does in his community.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I was thrilled to announce recently the recipients—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a lot of background noise.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Finniss, you are warned.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I was thrilled to announce recently the recipients of the state government's new youthconnect grants. This is the first grant round designed to support the state government's new youth policy, youthconnect, which is a plan for young South Australians for the next four years.

The grants have been awarded with a particular focus on promoting young people's health and wellbeing, education, employment and skill development, and, of course, engagement and participation. Normally, we would allocate about $500,000 to this grant program, but we have been able to increase that to just short of $600,000. I am thrilled that we will be able to assist about 18 organisations from across our state in assisting young South Australians. For instance, the Service to Youth Council will be getting a grant of nearly $50,000—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Madam Speaker?

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: The member for Bragg said 'Sorry.' I think it's a first. I accept your apology. The Service to Youth—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: They should take a leaf out of her book, Madam Speaker.

Mr Pengilly: Come on, get on with it.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Well, if you're quiet, I will. The Service to Youth Council will get a grant of $48,000 so that it can run a project called the Next Step, which is a therapeutic and educational project being run in conjunction with Zoos South Australia to assist young people with mental health issues or physical health problems.

The Peterborough Youth Network—the member for Stuart might like to pay attention to this—will receive a grant of about $30,000, thumbs up, to engage young people in the design and redevelopment of the outdoor space at the Peterborough Youth Centre. The centre will be redeveloped to create a versatile open space with landscaped grounds, a beach volleyball court and a leisure space incorporating an urban art initiative. I am sure that will be welcomed by the member for Stuart's community. I know the member for Fisher is a very strong advocate for improved youth centre facilities, and I hope he will join me in welcoming this initiative as well.

Also, with these grants, we are supporting young people from diverse ethic communities. UnitingCare Wesley in Port Adelaide will receive a grant of nearly $30,000 to deliver its Afghan Youth Project. This project will support around 200 young Afghanis to improve their physical and mental health, engagement with their community and conflict resolution.

These grants will no doubt go a long way to improving the opportunities and prospects for young South Australians. I am very happy to offer to all members in this place a briefing on these grants.