WA Government launches new program designed to create a bright future for children

The Western Australian Government has launched a program of six key outcomes and 12 priorities, designed to ensure “a bright future” for the state’s children.

 

The Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity program was announced last week by the WA Premier Mark McGowan, who outlined that each priority includes measurable targets for ministers and senior public servants, which would be tracked on the program’s website.

Alongside the five key outcomes of a strong economy, a liveable environment, a safer community, regional prosperity and Aboriginal wellbeing, Mr McGowan noted the commitment to ensuring West Australian children had a bright future, through:

 

• the improvement of health and wellbeing of children in the early years

 

• A ten per cent increase in the number of children developmentally on track against the five Australian Early Childhood Development Census domains by 2027

 

In support of achieving the key outcomes, Mr McGowan established a new, standalone unit within the Department of Premier and Cabinet to help guide the implementation of the priorities program.

 

The announcement was welcomed by the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) who said that many of the focus areas outlined by the Premier aligned with the community service priorities championed by WACOSS on behalf of frontline services.

 

WACOSS CEO Louise Giolitto outlined the importance of the early years as being “critical to child development, adult health and productivity, which is why rising child poverty in WA is such a cause for concern. Setting a whole-of-government target to reduce early developmental vulnerability is critical to delivering a ‘Bright Future’ for all our children.

 

“Putting children at the centre of state policy strengthens our communities, and ensures there is a focus on creating a better future.”

 

Ms Giolitto said WACOSS will “continue to work with our members and the WA Peaks Forum to highlight these issues in our engagement and advocacy with the WA Government in the most effective way possible”.

 

Information about the WACOSS Budget Submission with strategic policy recommendations can be viewed here.

 

The WA Governments Our Priorities fact sheets are available here.