Youth Programs

In reply to Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (23 July 2014). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

Six of the programs funded by the Office for Youth in 2013-14 have supported 6,205 participants. A breakdown of the expenditure and the estimated number of participants engaged in each program includes:

$500,000 in youthconnect grants in total, provided to 14 organisations supporting 1,023 participants;

$123,550 for the leap program in total, supporting nine organisations to deliver programs to engage 163 participants;

$90,000 for National Youth Week, supporting 1,200 participants;

$40,000 for the Youth Parliament program, supporting 100 participants;

$177,000 to support the operation of 59 youth advisory committees, supporting 1,300 participants; and

$215,000 for the Port Augusta Social Vision Program, supporting 203 participants through the Holiday Activities Program and 2,216 service episodes of the Youth Safe Transport Service.

Five of the programs funded in 2013-14 do not have youth participants as such. A breakdown of the expenditure includes:

$56,374 for the Youth Network Grant program supporting 13 networks to collaborate and share information, develop information resources and undertake training;

$114,542 to support the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, the state's non-government youth peak body, broadly representing the issues and interests of young people and the youth sector in South Australia and representing state views at the national level;

$25,000 to support the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre to research the role of technology in young people's lives and how it can be used to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12 and 25;

$9,500 to sponsor the Youth Aboriginal Achievement Award (Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards); and

$4,000 to sponsor the Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist (SA Media Awards).

A total of $500,000 was allocated to youthconnect grants funding in 2013-14.