Youth Network Grant Program

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Youth. Minister, how is the government supporting youth networks to deliver better outcomes and services for their local communities.

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) (15:07): I thank the member for Reynell for that question. I know she is passionate about supporting young people in her local community. Our government understands the importance of engaging with young people to identify their unique needs. That is why we are investing more than $60,000 to provide the Youth Network Grant Program, which aims to increase the capacity and sustainability of South Australia's youth sector to deliver and develop programs that respond to the needs of young people.

The program provides eligible networks with one-off grants of up to $5,000 towards initiatives that will increase the level of support provided to young people, and also towards its core activities, such as venue hire, travel for regional members and advertising costs. Under the program youth networks are required to complete analysis of issues affecting young people in their local community, and how funding will support their capacity to deliver better outcomes and services for their local communities.

Successful recipients develop programs with a strong focus on the development of resources, including information cards, websites and other printed information, professional training for network members and group training about grant application writing, counselling and conflict resolution. I am pleased to report to the house that 13 organisations were successful in receiving funding, including the Southern Youth Round Table which is in the member for Reynell's electorate. Other successful recipients include the North-East Youth Services in the member for Florey's electorate, the Playford Youth Network in the member for Little Para's electorate and the Western Workers with Youth Network in the Minister for Education and Child Development's electorate.

Importantly, I am also pleased that there are multiple recipients across regional South Australia, including the Southern Eyre Youth Network and the Far West Youth Network, both in the member for Flinders' electorate; the Yorke Peninsula Youth Workers Network in the member for Goyder's electorate; and Coorong Connections in the member for Hammond's electorate. Our state government is pleased to support the youth sector to develop community led programs that respond to the needs of young people and deliver better outcomes for our community. I congratulate all recipients and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.