COVID-19 Youth Grants

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Human Services and about supporting young South Australians respond to the impacts of COVID-19. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about the Marshall Liberal government's new COVID-19 youth grants, which are now on offer?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for her question. We were very pleased that, through this COVID period, we have been able to provide a specific COVID-related round of funding to the youth sector, given that normally there's a range of activities that young people are engaged in, particularly through their local councils, which may not have been taking place. In recognition of that, we have a youth-led recovery grant that we are running in partnership with the Local Government Association.

The total funding pool is $500,000. Up to $20,000 in funding is available for individual councils, or $50,000 for collaboration between councils or not-for-profit organisations. The programs, as you would be very interested in, include a particular focus on mental health and social and emotional wellbeing and resilience. We are also seeking to address social isolation and digital inclusion as particular priorities.

In addition to these particular grants, which will close shortly, we have also reoriented the Strong Futures/Youth Action Plan projects to provide $120,000 to the Working Women's Centre for a 12-month youth project officer position, and $120,000 to YACSA for a dedicated 12-month recovery project officer. There are additional questions in the regular wellbeing SA survey to continue to monitor the views and feelings of young people to help the government to shape recovery projects. We are reorienting the youth support and development stream of the Community Services Support Program to align with youth-related COVID-19 recovery directions, including offering two-year contract extensions for critical services and seeking additional resources to assist with the expected surge in demand for youth services.

So there are a range of things that we are doing as an agency, in addition to the work in other portfolios across health and employment, to assist young people who have been disadvantaged in their own individual ways, particularly in relation to their social interactions. It is pleasing in South Australia that education has been the least interrupted possibly of all jurisdictions in that schools, particularly, remained open during the highest level of restrictions, and we have been able to ease restrictions in this state much sooner than other jurisdictions.