The McGowan Labor Government is investing $198 million in a range of new initiatives to support safe, strong and fair communities across Western Australia as part of its 2021-22 State Budget.
This significant investment in the 2021-22 State Budget includes:
- $45.5 million has been allocated to a range of family and domestic violence prevention and support measures
- Building on the State Government's significant work to protect vulnerable Western Australians experiencing or at risk of violence;
- $37.2 million to expand the Homestretch pilot into a permanent State-wide program
- Young people in the child protection system will be supported to stay in foster care for three more years (until the age of 21). Research shows they are at greater risk of unemployment, homelessness, mental health issues and interacting with criminal justice systems;
- $6.2 million investment to increase support payments for grandcarers
- Grandparents who are primary carers for their grandchildren through an informal arrangement to receive increased support payments, with annual payments for the average grandfamily (with two children) to increase from $650 to $2,000;
- $14 million to continue the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program
- Providing safe transport options, connecting vulnerable people with culturally responsive crisis support and providing local employment opportunities through service contracts across the State and in the regions;
- $27.8 million towards youth and other justice programs for regional communities
- Keeping communities in the State's north safe and strong - this includes $17.1 million to continue the Regional Youth Justice Services program until 2024-25;
- $7.8 million in additional funding to bolster the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy
- This includes a new night patrol program at Fitzroy Crossing, a collaborative project designing an on-country alternative to detention in Broome, and the continuation of the TAFE learning program, existing night patrols and safe place activities;
- $4 million to establish Elder Rights WA
- Delivering on the election commitment to establish a State-wide elder abuse advocacy service, to prevent and address elder abuse in the community;
- $12 million for rebates for WA Seniors Card members
- a rebate of up to $400 for the purchase and installation of security devices;
- $1.5 million towards the Olabud Doogethu Halls Creek Youth Justice Reinvestment Project to deliver therapeutic and diversionary options for young people coming into contact with the justice system;
- $1.5 million towards the Western Desert Justice Program which offers therapeutic diversionary options in pre-sentence orders, culturally appropriate drug and alcohol services and mentoring on-country east of Newman (Martu Country);
- $400,000 for Circle Green Community Legal to provide additional employment support services to vulnerable workers for whom English is a second language;
- $4.2 million to support community neighbourhood centres and upskill service providers to transition into the Empowering Communities Program;
- $4.74 million to improve regional families' access to childcare by supporting the viability and sustainability of providers and attraction and retention of childcare workers; and
- $9.3 million to expand the successful drug treatment prison model with the establishment of the Bunbury Prison Alcohol and Other Drug Unit.
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.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"This package demonstrates the McGowan Government's strong commitment to protecting and supporting vulnerable children, families and individuals through a whole-of-government approach.
"We have significantly increased our investment in prevention initiatives as the State Government continues to focus on stopping family and domestic violence and breaking the cycle of abuse across Western Australia."
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"This Budget reinforces the McGowan Government's commitment to improving family and domestic violence outcomes for victims navigating through the courts.
"The Aboriginal-led specialist family violence court will improve family and domestic violence outcomes by offering support to Aboriginal women who have experienced family violence and their partners or ex-partners who have been referred to the court."
As stated by Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston:
"This package will build on the McGowan Government's previous commitments to support the well-being of young people across WA.
"Through the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy, we are providing structured activities aimed at helping reduce offending behaviour and improving community safety in the Kimberley."
