Policy
WA Budget pledges nearly $200 million to keeping children safe and communities fair
Freya Lucas
Sep 13, 2021
Save
The West Australian Government has signalled a strong commitment to children and families in its latest Budget, allocating $198 million to a range of initiatives to support safe, strong and fair communities across the State.
Announced late last week, the Budget has allocated:
- $9 million specifically to neighbourhood centres and improving access to regional childcare;
- $46 million to prevent family and domestic violence, and support victims;
- $43 million to extending support for children in out-of-home care until they turn 21, and significantly increase support payments for grandcarers.
"This package demonstrates the McGowan Government's strong commitment to protecting and supporting vulnerable children, families and individuals through a whole-of-government approach,” WA Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said.
Other funding includes $28 million towards youth and other justice programs in the Kimberley and Pilbara, $14 million to continue the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program, and $9 million to expand the successful drug treatment prison model to Bunbury.
As well as supporting community neighbourhood centres with the $4.2 million, service providers will be upskilled to transition into the Empowering Communities Program, while $4.74 million will go to improve regional families' access to childcare by supporting the viability and sustainability of providers and attraction and retention of childcare workers.. The 2021-22 Budget also includes a $21.4 million contribution to the WA Government's ongoing response to the recommendations handed down by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including funding to meet costs associated with the National Redress Scheme and civil litigation.
To review the Budget in its entirety, please see here.
Don’t miss a thing
Related Articles
