More services to address homelessness and to strengthen families through early intervention to keep children safe and to secure a brighter future are at the heart of the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren- Jones said the NSW Government was investing more than $2 billion to support people to break the cycle of disadvantage and to reach their potential.
"This Budget builds on the NSW Government's record investment in reducing homelessness by supporting proven initiatives that have already helped hundreds of people into safe and stable accommodation," Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
"New funding focusing on providing stability for families will help to ensure more children have permanent homes where they can thrive.
"Significant investment is being made to support First Nations families to address the over-representation of First Nations young people in the child protection and youth justice systems and to meet our Closing the Gap commitments.
"We are also supporting community and volunteer groups in Northern New South Wales to continue delivering help to residents affected by the floods."
Key initiatives of the 2022-23 NSW Budget include:
- $1.6 billion to ensure children in out-of-home care have safe and permanent homes with the support they need
- $376.5 million over four years on Brighter Beginnings, a Government-wide initiative to improve outcomes for NSW children and their families from conception to school age
- $55 million over two years to build on the success of the Together Home program in partnership with Community Housing Providers to help reduce rough sleeping
- $13.3 million to support community and volunteer groups affected by the Northern NSW floods
- $13 million over two years to boost the Rent Choice private rental assistance subsidy
- $10 million over four years for the Aboriginal Child and Family Advocacy Support pilot aimed at keeping First Nations families safe
- $8.7 million over four years for Strong Families Our Way which supports a sustainable, community-led approach to self-determination in the First Nations child and family system.
- $4.3 million over four years for the Office of the Children's Guardian to maintain a register for workers providing residential care for young people in out-of-home care
- $3.9 million over four years to bolster First Nations-led commissioning to give First Nations communities decision-making power over the design, delivery and monitoring of their programs and services
- $1.1 million in 2022-23 for Therapeutic Pathways for Children to better support children with complex needs to reduce contact with the justice system
"This investment reinforces the NSW Government's commitment to working with non-government partners and the community to address some of our most complex social issues and to work together to overcome the significant disadvantage experienced by First Nations people," Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
