Housing SA Local Participation Program

Mr GEE (Napier) (15:37): My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. What is the government doing to address unemployment for families and individuals living in the north?

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I do not think that the member for Schubert has been exhumed, but I will translate him to another location if he does not be quiet.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—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) (15:38): I thank the member for his question. I am pleased to report that Housing SA is currently trialling a new local participation program aimed at supporting its tenants to actively participate in the community, grow their skills and access employment. An 18-month trial program was launched in November 2016 to target Housing SA tenants in the northern and western suburbs who are not currently active in the labour market, many with limited or no prior employment history and multiple barriers to employment. The participants are also from areas that align with the Northern Economic Plan.

Two local participation brokers have been engaged to work closely with participants in developing individual plans, skill building and creating pathways to the labour market. Brokers are also working to develop relationships with local agencies and employers to facilitate local jobs for their clients. A promising example is the establishment of a relationship with Contact 121, the operator of Housing SA's maintenance call centre, which has already offered employment to two participants and will be recruiting more staff in coming months.

Further development of these pathways is anticipated to create opportunities for a range of clients who may have difficulty accessing employment on their own. Thirty people have participated in the program so far and four have already secured employment. Another 16 are enrolled in training, volunteering or activities to build their capacity and ability to access employment. In addition to this, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion has also allocated $15,000 to support Wheels in Motion, a program that assists people without a car at home and no available authorised, supervising driver to obtain a driver's licence.

This contribution will enable the commencement of a new targeted adult specific service, which is planned in partnership with Australian Refugees Association and the City of Salisbury, to support people over 25 years with barriers to getting their licence. It is anticipated that 80 per cent of the clientele of this new service will be new to Australia. Demand for this service continues to grow, particularly from the northern suburbs. It is anticipated that 250 people's lives will be substantially changed through improved access to driving.

This initiative is part of the broader Northern Participation Exemplar, which is exploring ways to maximise job creation for disadvantaged residents by leveraging procurement opportunities and connecting these with Housing SA's program participants.