Published Wednesday, 10 September, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Action to support youth in need: Minister
Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has vowed to support the people of Mackay, triggering urgent funding for a local youth support network, requesting a taskforce focus on local youth issues and seeking the support of the Commonwealth to help at-risk youth.
“As a mother and grandmother, my heart goes out to the people of Mackay, which is why I met with the Youth Information and Referral Service and Police at the Community Cabinet to discuss a way forward,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Every suicide is a tragedy which leaves families, friends and entire communities empty and at a loss.”
The Minister said the Youth Information and Referral Service in Mackay, which currently receives $66,000 in recurrent funding, would now be resourced to employ two additional full-time workers with specialist skills in assisting young people at risk of self harming.
“These positions will be funded recurrently on a full-time basis for the next three years, taking the annual funding to the organisation to approximately $200,000.
“Today (Wednesday) I have sent a senior officer from the Department of Communities to Mackay to finalise details of the three-year agreement with the local referral service.
“These staff need to be in place as quickly as possible.
“The senior public servant will also be discussing how we can improve the coordination of community groups and the community’s response to helping young people in need.
In addition, Minister Nelson-Carr said, the Department of Communities here in Queensland has contacted the federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs directly to make a strong representation for ongoing federal funding to support the Youth Information and Referral Service.
“Youth suicide is often due to a range of contributing causes and we need a co-ordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-community response to this heart-wrenching problem.
But Ms Nelson-Carr said the solution to youth suicide was not just about funding and she has requested a taskforce investigate the problem and report back in a the next two weeks.
The Bligh Government’s Regional Managers Co-ordination Network is a group of senior public servants which identifies community issues, meeting regularly to nut out solutions. It will be meeting on Thursday, September 11 and will be looking into local youth needs.
“I’ve requested the taskforce to report back to me in two weeks with recommendation identifying what can be done for marginalised youth in Mackay,” said the Minister.
Please publish/promote the following telephone help lines: Kids Help Line 1800 551 800, Lifeline 13 1114.
Media Contact: Minister’s Office 3232 4280
“As a mother and grandmother, my heart goes out to the people of Mackay, which is why I met with the Youth Information and Referral Service and Police at the Community Cabinet to discuss a way forward,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“Every suicide is a tragedy which leaves families, friends and entire communities empty and at a loss.”
The Minister said the Youth Information and Referral Service in Mackay, which currently receives $66,000 in recurrent funding, would now be resourced to employ two additional full-time workers with specialist skills in assisting young people at risk of self harming.
“These positions will be funded recurrently on a full-time basis for the next three years, taking the annual funding to the organisation to approximately $200,000.
“Today (Wednesday) I have sent a senior officer from the Department of Communities to Mackay to finalise details of the three-year agreement with the local referral service.
“These staff need to be in place as quickly as possible.
“The senior public servant will also be discussing how we can improve the coordination of community groups and the community’s response to helping young people in need.
In addition, Minister Nelson-Carr said, the Department of Communities here in Queensland has contacted the federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs directly to make a strong representation for ongoing federal funding to support the Youth Information and Referral Service.
“Youth suicide is often due to a range of contributing causes and we need a co-ordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-community response to this heart-wrenching problem.
But Ms Nelson-Carr said the solution to youth suicide was not just about funding and she has requested a taskforce investigate the problem and report back in a the next two weeks.
The Bligh Government’s Regional Managers Co-ordination Network is a group of senior public servants which identifies community issues, meeting regularly to nut out solutions. It will be meeting on Thursday, September 11 and will be looking into local youth needs.
“I’ve requested the taskforce to report back to me in two weeks with recommendation identifying what can be done for marginalised youth in Mackay,” said the Minister.
Please publish/promote the following telephone help lines: Kids Help Line 1800 551 800, Lifeline 13 1114.
Media Contact: Minister’s Office 3232 4280