Help for wayward youngsters

Help will soon be at hand for young Pacific Islanders and Maori people in the Moreton Bay area who are suffering financial hardship because of unemployment or homelessness.

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes today announced a grant of $20,000 for the Kotahi Aroha group to provide mentoring, cultural support and job search assistance for marginalised young people.

Mr Elmes said the funding demonstrated the Newman Government’s commitment to revitalising frontline services for Queenslanders.

“The Newman Government is committed to funding community programs that make real differences to the lives of disadvantaged youth,” Mr Elmes said.

“Kotahi Aroha was established by a group of concerned Kiwi women who volunteered their time to help the increasing numbers of young people they saw in need of guidance and assistance.

“Kotahi Aroha is an excellent example of a local group taking responsibility for and working to address a problem within its own community.

“The women noticed that young New Zealanders were underperforming once they left school, and had an increased risk of falling into crisis situations like unemployment and homelessness.

“As well as cultural support and job assistance the group also provides food packages for the homeless and household support for families in need.”

Mr Elmes said this one-off grant would help the Kotahi Aroha continue its work for the foreseeable future, and that his departmental staff would work with the organisation and other non-government organisations to explore options for future service provision.

[ENDS] 30 January 2014

Media Contact:          Peter McCarthy (0408) 835 548