YOUTHCONNECT GRANTS

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:04): Will the Minister for Youth inform us about the outcomes of the 2012 round of youthconnect grants?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am very pleased to announce that the 2012 youthconnect grants were made available to organisations that support young people to achieve positive life outcomes in the following priority areas: Health and Wellbeing, which are projects that focus on keeping people safe from harm; Education, Employment and Skill Development, which are projects that support disengaged young people aged 17 to 19 to re-engage in education, leading to a formal qualification; Engagement and Participation, which are projects that support young people to actively engage in their local communities; and, finally, Better Connections, which are projects that develop practical guidelines, resources and tools to support community organisations that work with young people.

youthconnect grants have a total annual budget of $500,000 which eligible organisations can apply for; they can apply for grants between $10,000 and $50,000 per project. Of the 120 applications received, 17 were successful across the four priority areas I have just mentioned. Projects funded through the 2012 grant round include:

$15,000 for Streetlink Youth Health Service, which provides services for homeless and at-risk young people with high and complex needs;

$35,000 to the Riverland Youth Theatre to engage young people by providing opportunities to create artistic expression, increase skills and pursue personal development pathways; and

the Adelaide Hills Council has received $28,000 to provide a youth mental health wellness project to be run through its Youth Advisory Committee.

These projects are great examples of local initiatives to respond directly to the needs of young people and provide a better future for young South Australians. youthconnect grants represent the largest pool of funding specifically available for youth participation and engagement programs in South Australia, and youthconnect is an integral part of the Labor government's youth strategy. I commend the successful applicants for their ongoing work in this area.