Roger Jaensch,Minister for Education, Children and Youth
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is launching the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Policy Framework for Tasmania, which will guide a coordinated response to young people in need.
Our Government is committed to taking action to address youth homelessness and ensure young people have the necessary supports to overcome life's challenges.
To better understand these issues, our Government established an Under 16 Youth Homelessness Taskforce to develop recommendations addressing youth homelessness and improvements in how our service system responds to the needs of young people at risk of homelessness.
We also established a working group comprising representatives from Government and the Community Sector to progress the recommendations of the Taskforce and, after extensive consultation, the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Policy Framework for Tasmania has been endorsed by the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Working Group.
Announced during Youth Week, the Framework outlines a consistent and clear response that acknowledges the vulnerability and the need for 'care', not just accommodation, for young people aged under 16.
This important work complements a range of actions under our Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy launched by Premier Peter Gutwein in August.
This includes a commitment of $10 million over three years for an Under 16 Lighthouse Pilot Project.
The project will include a residential care pilot program for young people under 16 who are not in the care of the state and are unable to live at home.
It also includes the creation of new youth wellbeing officers in the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line to support young people under 16 who are at risk of homelessness and provide advice to service providers and families.
I would like to thank the Premier for his outstanding leadership and his commitment to improving the wellbeing of young Tasmanians.
Our Government will continue delivering on the Strategy to ensure that, no matter where young people live, their background or circumstances, there will be opportunities for them to lead positive and successful lives.
The Policy Framework can be found on the Department of Communities' website.
