Roadmap for regional services reform launched

Written on the 19 July 2016

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman and Child Protection Minister Andrea Mitchell released the 'Resilient Families: Strong Communities' roadmap, which sets out 10 actions the State Government will undertake in partnership with Aboriginal people to strengthen families, improve living conditions, increase job prospects and accelerate education outcomes.

The 10 priority actions are:

• creation of a $175 million fund for extra housing for Aboriginal families in the Kimberley and Pilbara over four years, tied to greater participation in school and work
• a three-year $25 million Kimberley Schools Project targeting improved attendance, engagement and learning in Kimberley schools and communities
• ensuring residents of Aboriginal town-based reserves receive the same services and have the same responsibilities as other residents of nearby towns, starting with a $20 million project in the Pilbara
• creating work opportunities for Aboriginal people by changing how the Western Australian public sector recruits staff, lets contracts and buys goods and services in the regions
• identifying up to 10 communities by the end of 2016 with which to work to upgrade essential and municipal infrastructure, and introduce commensurate charges
• working with community leaders and organisations in Roebourne in 201617 to co-design a reorientation of Government-funded services to respond better to local needs and achieve better local outcomes
• publishing mapping of Government-funded services in the Kimberley and Pilbara during 201617 to support work between government agencies, other organisations and communities on developing place-based service systems
• commencing an initiative in Kununurra in 201617 with community leaders and organisations to co-design a family-centred, earlier intervention service delivery model to support and enable better outcomes for local families
• continuing to support the trial and evaluation of the Australian Government's cashless debit card in the East Kimberley
• working with the Australian Government to implement the Compulsory Rent Deduction Scheme in WA.

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