(Unfortunately, it has not been possible to continue this page beyond September 2000.  However, State Opposition Media Releases and news releases, articles, speeches etc by Robert Clark are continuing, as well as pages on Robert Clark's portfolio areas.  See also our News Links page.)

2000

Opposition announces drugs policy

The Opposition has announced a drug policy including 250 extra police dedicated to combatting drugs, 500 more detoxification and rehabilitation beds, compulsory treatment for overdose victims, obligatory exchange of needles at needle exchanges and a full time student welfare co-ordinator at every government secondary school.  (11 Aug)

Opposition to vote against injecting rooms

The Opposition has announced that it will vote against introducing heroin injecting rooms in Victoria. (11 Aug)

Compensation call for disability services hit by WorkCover premiums

The Opposition has called on the Government to compensate disability services for the cost of its WorkCover policy in light of "massive cost increases". (3 Aug)

Footy tipping tax take "rips funds from social clubs"

The Opposition says that the Government's recently announced football tipping competition represents an expansion of its tax take which will lead to funds being "ripped out" of community groups, social clubs and the networks that run tipping competitions. (3 Aug)

New needle exchange programs

The Government has funded a range of new needle exchange programs in Melbourne suburbs and Geelong. (23 June)

Community Support Fund restructured

The Government has announced revised guidelines for the CSF, under which the Government says $100 million of annual CSF funding will be spent in three main areas of "Promoting Responsible Gambling", "Community Building" and "Broader Community Benefit".  The Government has also established a "Community Advisory Council" of Government appointees to "oversee" the Fund. (20 June)

Injecting room legislation introduced

The Government has introduced into Parliament legislation for an18-month trial of up to five supervised injecting rooms across Melbourne. (1 June)

Aged Care Minister "dodged questions" on Namarra Nursing Home care

The Opposition has critised the Minister for Aged Care over the welfare of elderly residents at Namarra Nursing Home in Caulfield, including a patient covered with ants. (11 May)

(Unfortunately, news items between 10 March and 9 May have not been included, due to pressure of other commitments.)

Government announces gaming legislation

The Premier says the Gambling Legislation (Responsible Gaming) Bill will freeze the number of gaming machines in Victoria (2500 at Crown, 27,500 at gaming venues around the state), enable regional caps on gaming machines to be set, give local Councils a say in the placement of gaming machines in their areas, compel gaming and casino operators to give players meaningful information on payout rates, limit 24-hour gaming venues, with bans in regional Victoria, give powers to impose limits on advertising, set up an independent panel to oversee research into gambling, and strengthen the independence of the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority. (1 Mar)

Reintroduction of State regulation of nursing homes

The Government proposes to introduce legislation providing for State regulation of nursing homes, overturning legislation passed in Victoria in 1995 to implement Keating Government policy for Commonwealth regulation of nursing homes. (25 Feb)

1999

Low income preschool subsidy increased

The Government has increased the subsidy paid to Health Care or Pensioner Concession card holder parents of four year old preschoolers  from $100 to $250 per annnum, at an estimated cost of $14 million over four years. (16 Nov)

Penington to chair injecting facility committee

The Premier has announced the appointment of Doctor David Penington to head an expert committee to oversee the implementation of medically supervised injecting facilities. (8 Nov)

Labor’s housing policy means rent controls

Labor’s pledge to help people in private rental housing by establishing a "fair rent mechanism to review unreasonable rent increases" can only mean the introduction of rent controls, according to the Minister for Housing, Ann Henderson. (2 Sept)

New facility for young female offenders opened

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has opened the new $15.7 million Parkville Youth Residential Centre, the first purpose-built juvenile justice centre primarily for young women in half a century. (1 Sept)

ALP Community Services Policy to ‘double kinder fees’

The ALP’s policy on kindergartens is modelled on that of NSW, where kinder fees average $3.48 an hour compared to Victoria's $1.10, according to the Minister for Community Services, Denis Napthine. (30 Aug)

Disability Services, Housing cuts under ALP policy

The ALP's policy on disability would mean a fifty per cent drop in growth funding for Victoria's disability services, and a reduction in 7500 public houses earmarked for people with a disability, according to the Minister for Community Services, Denis Napthine. (30 Aug)

Coalition will offer more drug withdrawal units, opposed to ‘injecting houses’

A Coalition Government will set up four new residential drug withdrawal units for young people so that drug workers can take more addicts from the court system into treatment. (29 Aug)

New affordable housing for low-income singles in the inner city

The second stage of a $4 million inner-city housing project to provide accommodation for single men and women on low incomes has been officially opened by the Minister for Housing, Ann Henderson. (24 Aug)

Funding for 425 new community housing places

The Victorian Government is to spend $24 million to provide more than 425 new long-term community housing places for people with physical and sensory disabilities, people with psychiatric disabilities, the frail aged and older people, singles, people with Acquired Brain Injury, people with an intellectual disability and young people. (4 August)

New Commonwealth/State Housing Agreement signed

Victoria has signed a new $1.2 billion Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA), which guarantees funding for four years. (28 July)

Young offenders pilot program gets results

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mr Robert Doyle, has launched a six-month progress report of a special project called the Victorian Young Offender Pilot Program, saying that it demonstrated that young lives could be reoriented positively and productively. (27 July)

Report on improving youth and family services released

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has released the Youth and Family Services: Purchasing Specifications report. (22 July)

Reports on children at risk launched

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has launched three reports on the High-Risk Infants Service Quality Initiatives Project. (14 July)

World congress on disability for Melbourne

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has announced that the State Government is to contribute $100,000 towards the hosting of an international conference on intellectual disability. (7 July)

New disabilities centre in Mitcham

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has opened a new centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs catering for people with disabilities.

New guide for teenagers

The Health and Aged Care Minister, Rob Knowles has launched a booklet, Adolescent Health and Well Being: A Guide to Effective Coping, for the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre.

Parenting centre expanded

The Victorian Parenting Centre has expanded to new premises in Carlton South.

Funds devoted to Y2K problem

The Victorian Government has targeted $115 million to safeguard Human Services agencies from the Year 2000 "Millennium Bug".

Child-death review tabled

The Minister for Youth and Community Service, Dr Denis Napthine, has tabled in Parliament the 1999 Annual Report of the Victorian Child Death Review Committee.

Funding for The Smith Family

The State Government has approved a grant of $420,000 towards the cost of refurbishing premises newly acquired by The Smith Family in Collingwood.

Kindergarten attendance and funding

The Minister for Youth and Community Services has provided information on kindergarten attendance levels and funding, in response to recent media reports.

Winter energy concessions

Low-income households will benefit from the Victorian Government’s Winter Energy Concessions this year.

Evaluation report on services for parents

Based on an evaluation report entitled Family Support, Early Identification, Intervention and Prevention Services Evaluation Report, April 1999, Victorian families now have a network of help services ranging from telephone information to intensive support.

Better Health Channel funded by budget

One of the initiatives to be launched as a result of the Budget is the Better Health Channel, which will incorporate information for consumers about health conditions, healthy living, life events, support and advice as well as the Department’s guide to local health services.

Disability services budget grows to $572m

The Victorian Government has committed an extra $44 million to people with disabilities in this year’s Budget: an increase of 8.2% over last year.

Public housing improvements in Budget

This year’s State Budget allows for $97.5 million of improvements to Government-owned housing.

Budget help for families at risk

The State Government will spend $9 million on a new program that targets the health and development of Victorian children and adolescents at high risk.

Police numbers, prison capacity and dependencies treatment raised in Budget

Police and correctional services have both received increased funding in the State Budget.

$9 million in grants for youth agencies

Youth support agencies in Victoria will receive $9 million in grants over two years as part of the Victorian Government's Youth Services Program.

Reforms to Guardianship and Administration Act

Significant reforms to the Guardianship and Administration Act will give recognition to the valuable contribution made by families and carers of people with disabilities.

$1 million grant for seniors organisations

Groups and organisations that deal with older Victorians will share in a $1 million grant as part of the Victorian Government’s recognition of 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons.

$88 million for public housing

The Victorian Government will spend some $88 million on building new homes and units by the end of June, including $17 million for house-and-land packages and a further $6 million on design and construct projects.

Disability funding shortfall

The Commonwealth Government has decided not to increase its contribution to disability funding despite the fact that, under the Commonwealth State Disability Agreement (CSDA), the States were increasingly contributing more funding for Australians with a disability.

Child disability support program to continue

The Early Choices program, which gives families of young children with severe disabilities support and respite, will receive annual funding of $1.67m.

Capital works funding for disability agencies

Disability services agencies will be able to access Victorian Government grants of up to $400,000 following the establishment of a new $6-million fund.

$21m more for problem gambling

The Victorian Government has committed a further $21 million over the next three years to fund a range of services and research related to problem gambling.

Bursaries for rural women

Women in country Victoria are being encouraged to apply for the 1999 Rural Women's Leadership Bursaries.

Help for Koori business participation

The Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Ann Henderson, has launched a State Government policy initiative aimed at promoting a healthy Koori business sector.

Students to get involved in fighting crime

Students will join forces with the police, local councils and other community agencies to fight underage drinking, vandalism and misuse of public areas under the Student Action Teams project.

Youth training centre needed

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine has released a report confirming the need for a new senior youth training centre.

Heroin overdose initiatives

The Minister for Health, Rob Knowles, has announced two initiatives to prevent heroin overdose, as well as increased training for professionals on alcohol and drugs.

Findings of latest problem gambling analysis

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has released the third in a series of analyses of problem gambling by Melbourne University - entitled Analysis of Clients Presenting to Break Even Problem Gambling Counselling Services from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.

Free Home Inspection Service extended

The free Home Inspection Service which assists older persons and people with disabilities to identify and rectify maintenance and safety issues in their home has been extended.

Next stage of aged care transfer to private agencies

The Victorian Government aims to improve home comforts in residential aged-care services through the transfer of 775 public-sector places to private and voluntary operators.

Boost to home care

The Home and Community Care (HACC) program - a joint Victorian Government and Commonwealth program - will this year provide an extra 100,000 hours of home care and property maintenance, an extra 50,000 hours of health care and support and an extra 200,000 hours of social support.

Reforms to public housing waiting lists

Low income people with urgent needs will now be provided with housing assistance more quickly under reforms to waiting lists for public housing.

Kensington tower comes down

The preparation of  a high rise tower in Kensington for demolition has been completed.

Extra $1.2-million for pre-schools

The Victorian Government will provide an extra $1.2 million in funding over the next year to pre-schools and kindergartens around the state.

1998

Initiatives for Carers and Families

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr. Denis Napthine, has outlined measures taken by the Government in recent times to support the caring work of families with both children and adults.

Community Visitors Annual Report

The tenth Annual Report of Community Visitors was tabled in State Parliament on November 10. The Report is co-ordinated by the Office of the Public Advocate, under the terms of the Intellectually Disabled Person’s Services Act 1986.

Public Transport Accessibility Action Plan

The Government has launched an 'Action Plan' for 21^st Century Public Transport Accessibility which will ensure that a majority of Victoria's public transport services are 100 percent accessible to everyone within 20 years.

New disability information service

The Disability Information Victoria clearing house, www.disabilityinfo.org.au, an information bureau which acts as a distributor of material to people with disabilities, was launched on October 30 by the Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Napthine.

First Report shows success of Parentline

The first four-month review of Parentline, a 24-hour telephone advice and referral service for parents, has shown it to be highly successful in meeting its aims.

Community support needed in gas crisis

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Rob Knowles, has called on families and friends to support one another - especially the elderly and the vulnerable - through the gas supply shortage.

Parentline's multilingual interpreter service

Parentline - a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, confidential help service for parents of children of all ages - now has access to a multilingual interpreter service to help parents of non-English speaking backgrounds.

New Koori services strategy

The State Government’s Koori Services Improvement Strategy was launched by the Ministers for Health, Youth and Community Services and Aboriginal Affairs on August 27.

Senior Citizens Week 1999

Senior Citizens Week will again be held in Victoria on March 14-21 next year, the United Nations International Year of Older Persons.

Child Injury Prevention Program

The Kidsafe ‘No Injury to My Child Ever’ project was launched by the Minister for Housing, Ann Henderson, on August 10.

Youth services grants program 1998/99

Grants have been announced under theYouth Services Grants Program, which provides grants totalling $5 million for youth early intervention and prevention programs to strengthen their connectedness to their family, school and local community.

New Drug Caution Programs

The Premier, Mr Kennett, and the Chief Police Commissioner, Mr Comrie, have announced a new program allowing police to caution low level cannabis users, rather than automatically charging them.

2000

The Opposition has called on the Government to convene an urgent round-table of union officials over preschool funding and teacher salaries to avert the proposed strike by preschool teachers.  (24 July)

WorkCover premium increases will compromise the level of care in nursing homes, according to the Opposition. (16 July)

The Government has announced a review of Victoria's laws on employment of children. (4 July )

Specialist teams would be established through the Department of Human Services, to assist local government with early prosecution work on illegal sales of tobacco to minors.   Adolescents are to be employed in "sting" operations to catch retailers. (4 July)  The Opposition says the proposal is ridiculous. (4 July)

The Government has abolished periodic tenure reviews for Victorian public housing tenants aged 65 and loosened other eligibility rules for public housing tenants. (28 June)

Single people seeking homes are to be paired with live-alone Melbourne seniors under the Homeshare pilot program. (26 June)

The Government has announced the terms of reference for the Victorian DisAbility Advisory Council and is placing advertisements calling for expressions of interest in joining the Council. (23 June)

The Government has welcomed the decision by the VDIA and Australian Milk Marketing (AMM) to proceed with the sale of the VDIA brands including Big M, REV, Skinny Milk and Farmhouse. (23 June)

The Cities of Port Phillip and Yarra must hold plebiscites to accurately gauge community opinion on heroin injecting rooms, and identify potential sites, according to the Opposition. (18 June)

Victoria's Mental Health Library is now available on-line at www.nwhcn.org.au/library. (15 June)

The Government is increasing funding for dental treatment for concession-card holders and dependants in Melbourne's east by $872,000, from $1.6 million in 1998/1999 to $2.5 million in 1999/2000,  to more than $1 million now for Monash community health service, $592,370 for Knox, $577,791 for Maroondah Hospital and $388,258 for Whitehorse, representing  171 per cent more for Whitehorse, followed by Knox (53 per cent), Maroondah Hospital (49 per cent) and Monash (30 per cent), with two dental clinics being created as part of the development of new facilities for the Knox and Ranges community health services, meaning 10 and six chairs respectively. (15 June)

The Government will provide an additional $1 million a year to care for people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), the Aged Care Minister has announced. (13 June)

The Government has launched a drug education kit Get Wise: Working on Illicits in School Education  which will be given to all primary and secondary schools in the Victoria. (8 June)

The Government has announced a range of drug treatment services. (6 June)

The Government says it is providing a $4.2 million funding boost to provide Victorians with disabilities, the frail, chronically ill and people getting over traumatic injury greater access to community rehabilitation clinics. (30 May)

The Government will provide the Cities of Greater Dandenong, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra $25,000 each to prepare local drug strategies with a further further $20,000 available for councils that wish to proceed with preparing protocols for supervised injecting facilities in their municipality. (26 May)

Mr Peter Kirby will head an independent panel to investigate the management and operation of Victoria's three private prisons. (26 May)

The Opposition has criticised the Children and Young Persons (Appointment of President) Bill for promoting the Senior Magistrate of the Children's Court to a County Court judge and calling him/her the President. (26 May)

The Opposition has criticised the Government for not including a promised $2 million Bonegilla migrant settlement project in its 2000-01 State Budget. (15 May)

(Unfortunately, news items have not been included between 10 March and 9 May, due to pressure of other commitments.)

The Government says it will provide an extra $4 million annually for the adult and community education sector, increasing funding by 33 per cent, from $12 million to $16 million, with $3.6 million for neighbourhood houses and $400,000 to establish Learning Town Networks in five regional areas. (7 Mar)

The Government has announced its "women's plan". (7 Mar)

The Government has launched a $300,000 Older Persons Inner City Accommodation and Support Program. (1 Mar)

The Government has claimed the previous Government planned to privatise 3000 State nursing home beds, and says that instead it will spend $47 million on rebuilding and upgrading them in public ownership. (1 Mar)

The Government has established an Office of Youth Affairs to be staffed by 15 people and headed initially by Ms Lesley Foster. (24 Feb)

The Minister for Women's Affairs has launched a website for people in the south-eastern suburbs to assist them in dealing with sexual assault, at www.med.monash.edu.au/secas. (24 Feb)

Mr Julian Gardner has been appointed as the new Public Advocate, to take effect from 21 February. (2 Feb)

The Government has finalised negotiation of an adoption agreement with the Peoples Republic of China. (27 Jan)

The Government has released a report, A Framework: Improving Health Outcomes for People Experiencing Homelessness in Victoria, prepared by the Royal District Nursing Service Homeless Persons Program. (27 Jan)

The Government has announced a Primary Care Partnerships policy in place of the Primary Health and Community Support policy of the previous Government , for primary care services including home nursing, physiotherapy, chiropody, dental services, home care givers, personal support for people with a mental illness and respite care for people with a disability. (4 Jan)

1999

The State Government has abolished tendering for the provision of drug and alcohol services and instead will provide ongoing funding to agencies. (21 Dec)

The Government has endorsed the Department of Human Services' Working Together Strategy developed under the previous Government to foster better relations between the key areas of Child Protection, Mental Health, Drug Treatment Services and Juvenile Justice. (21 Dec)

The Minister for Community Services has foreshadowed "increased service flexibility and people-focused funding" for disability services. (10 Dec)

The Government has announced funding for inner city organisations assisting homeless people. (10 Dec)

The Minister for Community Services has supported the initiatives of the previous Government in closing the Pleasant Creek Centre for people with intellectual disabilities and establishing home units such as the $320,000 Community Residential Unit in McKenzie Street, Bendigo. (17 Nov)

The Youth and Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine has officially opened the Birrell Centre for Children at Mitcham. He also announced a one-off grant of $50,000 to boost the Children’s Sexual Behaviors Program. Dr Napthine said the grant is in recognition of the value of the program, the increased demand for the service and the work of the Australians Against Child Abuse board of management. (7 Sep)

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has announced funding aimed at improving services to children at risk over the next four years. The program will start with $4.9 million this year, increasing to $5.3 million in 2003. (29 July)

The second stage of a $6.5-million housing development on the site of the old St Kilda railway station has been officially opened by the Minister for Housing, Ann Henderson, marking the final stage of a five-year joint housing development between the Victorian Government and the City of Port Phillip St Kilda area. (28 July)

The Youth and Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine, has announced a $150,000 grant to the Kew Cottages and St Nicholas Parents’ Association to upgrade transport for people with disabilities at Kew Residential Services and to make it easier for parents and relatives to visit. (21 July)

The Youth and Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine, has officially opened the Transitional Integrated Educational and Residential Service (TIERS) — to care for neglected and abused children — for MacKillop Family Services. (7 July)

The Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Ann Henderson, has officially opened a $2.79-million upgrade to the Aborigines Advancement League’s premises in Thornbury, providing new office space, meeting rooms, a conference and function facility, as well as a museum and a ‘keeping place’. (2 July)

An evaluation document on the Hand Brake Turn program reports that it is succeeding in giving young offenders and would-be car thieves a hand to break their cycle of behaviour and turn their lives around. (29 June)

During 1997-98, the net takings from gambling of businesses in Australia's gambling industries were $11,091 million, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Gambling Industries, Australia 1997-98; an increase of 42% since 1994-95. This represents a loss of $790 per head of adult population. The average loss in Victoria per adult was $927. (28 June)

The Minister for Housing, Ann Henderson has announced several new housing projects for older people at various locations in Braybrook. (25 June)

The Victorian Government is to provide $566,000 for the construction of six two-bedroom units at three locations in Werribee. The areas chosen are in Golden Avenue, Parrakeet Road and Snipe Court. (24 June)

An extra 100 young people with disabilities from Melton, Bacchus Marsh and the western suburbs will be able to enrol for training and vocational courses next year at the new Merrimu Adult Day Service facility in Melton. The Government provided $882,000 to establish the new centre. (24 June)

A new medium-term residential facility for people who have an intellectual disability and display challenging behaviors will be built on the Plenty Residential Services site. Construction of the $2-million facility - which will include two houses each with six beds -will commence in July and is expected to be completed by May 2000. (22 June)

The State Government is to spend $1.6 million on 20 projects at Royal Life and Surf Life Saving Clubs around Victoria. (20 June)

The Victorian Government has set up an interactive Internet database of the music industry to boost drug and alcohol-free entertainment for 14-18-year-olds as part of FreeZA, a $4-million, four-year Government initiative offering teenage entertainment such as live-band gigs and dance parties around the state, in a safe, secure environment. The Internet address is: http://www.freeza.vic.gov.au/lineup (15 June)

The Victorian Government is to spend more than $200,000 on capital works at the Wongabeena Adult Training Support Service in Rosebud and the Kindilan ATSS print shop in Dromana to expand programs and opportunities for people with disabilities on the Mornington Peninsula. (8 June)

The Youth and Community Services Minister and local Portland MP, Dr Denis Napthine, has officially opened the Sheppard Community Health Centre at the Penshurst & District Health Service, a member of the Western District Health Service. The Victorian Government provided $200,000 towards the cost of the $421,000 project. (6 June)

Those affected by family violence will benefit from a new $374,000 Victorian Government initiative to reduce and respond to family violence. The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Denis Napthine, has announced one-off grants to 59 agencies across the State to buy equipment and to support about 180 projects and services. (4 June)

Young aspiring musicians and technicians in the Geelong region now have a creative space with the opening of the Lock-up Recording Studios and Rehearsal Suites at the Courthouse Project. (26 May)

Gamblers yet to draw the line between fun and losing it are the target of Victoria's first Responsible Gambling Community Awareness Week. The Youth and Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine, has launched SouthWest BreakEven's Have You Crossed The Line? campaign in Portland, to reinforce the message that problem gambling is both a rural and health issue. (23 May)

The Victorian Government has urged anyone wanting to help the Kosovar evacuees to contact the Red Cross on (03) 9685 9992 to offer volunteer services or help, or the Salvation Army on (03) 9896 4115 to offer goods or material aid. (21 May)

Mr Kennett, has given the go ahead for construction of a new $1.5-million Latrobe Community Health Service's Centre at Moe. (18 May)

The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) helped 30,480 people and families through a homelessness crisis and towards secure and stable accommodation in 1997/98 - up from 28,970 the previous year. The joint State/Commonwealth program spends more than $54 million in Victoria each year, providing support via more than 170 agencies and 300 outlets. (20 May)

Youth and Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine, has launched National Autism Awareness Week with the theme Be Autism Aware. The purpose of the week-long activities is to raise community awareness of autism and to promote resources and support services for people who have an autism spectrum disorder. (16 May)

Firefighting in Melbourne's growth corridors will be enhanced with $5.7 million for five new CFA stations and eight new fire trucks and to employ 19 new operational personnel. The new stations will be located at Chirnside Park, Burnside, Point Cook, Craigeburn and South Morang. (6 May)

A Victorian Government sports initiative "Goal Kick" has helped a group of young people with learning difficulties to learn the skills of soccer and realise their dream of playing before a big crowd. (6 May)

The Victorian Government will provide an extra $68,000 to employ extra staff to work with young people who have committed sex offences. (6 May)

The management and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and places will be targeted with $2.75 million of State Budget capital works. Projects for 1999-2000 include management plans for occupation sites in the Cape Bridgewater area ($45,000), rock art sites at Mt Pilot ($20,000) and the Lake Boga Mission ($35,000). (4 May)

An independent report by Monash University researchers who interviewed 60 family members and professionals has endorsed the involvement of extended family in the protection of children called Family Group Conferencing in Child Protection. (28 April)

The Government is investing $15 million over two years to implement the new "Strengthening Families" service in high-need areas around the State. (28 April)

Travel grants of up to $7000 each will be made available to child protection and welfare workers to examine interstate and international programs in the second such grant scheme since 1997. (23 April)

Operators of wheelchair-accessible taxis will enjoy significant savings on stamp duty as a result of a bill introduced into Parliament to amend the Stamps Act 1958. (23 April)

Swinburne University of Technology is to offer Victoria's first graduate course dedicated to reducing male family violence: the Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Male Family Violence). (20 April)

Older Victorians and those with mobility problems will benefit from a fresh-food home-delivery service being trialed in Ballarat. Coles HomExpress service will allow people for whom supermarket shopping can be difficult, to stock their fridges and pantries from home. (9 April)

State Housing Minister Ann Henderson has officially opened a new $6.8-million housing development for older people in Moonee Ponds. ( 30 Mar)

The Federal and State Governments have committed another $10 million to the home care help package that allows Victoria's frail elderly to continue living in the community, bringing the total funding for the Home and Community Care program to more than $235 million each year in Victoria. (12Mar)

State and Territory Housing Ministers have unanimously agreed they cannot sign the Commonwealth's proposed Commonwealth State Housing Agreement at this time because it would lead to reductions in housing services, and have also unanimously rejected a Commonwealth proposal which would abolish capital funding and move to recurrent funding only in 2003. (5 Mar)

Housing Week '99 was launched on 21 February. (21 Feb)

The Department of Housing and Port Phillip Council will jointly refurbish St Kilda' Regal Hotel to provide long-term accomodation for 50-55 people. (17 Feb)

$85,000 is to be provided under the government's Law Enforcement Drug Fund to the Ngwana Willumbong Cooperative for the Koori Access, Aboriginal Issues Internet Site, to help mainstream service providers with information about Koori services and programs to improve their capacity to assist when they are approached. (15 Feb)

The State Government will provide $8950 to fund a range of drug education and information workshops specific to Victoria's Filipino community. (11 Feb)

$1.7 million will be spent on shared accommodation in Burwood and Wantirna for seriously troubled young people at risk of suicide, to be run by the Richmond Fellowship of Victoria. (12 Jan)

1998

Community and academic experts will help the Government plan a new senior youth training centre to house the State's increasing number of young male offenders in custody, which will ensure that 'low risk' youths between the ages of 17 and 20 are kept out of the adult prison system.  This will include investigation of the benefits of private and non-government sector involvement. (8 Dec)

The Minister for Health announced on 17 November a  new directory of health and family services, to be distributed to every Victorian household. A Guide to Your Local Health Services contains advice on all available Government health services and how to access them.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on 11 November tabled in Parliament an Implementation Status Report on the Victorian Government's initiatives in response to the Bringing Them Home report.

The Salvation Army has opened a $6 million Flagstaff Crisis Accommodation Shelter for homeless men, replacing "The Gill".

Hundreds of activities are on show as part of Adult Learners Week from 31 August.

The Government has launched a Koori Services Improvement Strategy.

A pocket-sized resource card providing information for first time private renters has been launched.

Emergency and re-establishment aid totalling more than $1 million has been paid to East Gippsland residents since flood recovery operations commenced in late June.

A report on the funding of government schools has found that schools in less affluent areas were more than compensated by higher levels of funding than schools in more affluent areas.

Page last changed Wednesday, 04-Feb-2009 00:00:21 EST

News releases by the Minister for Youth and Community Services and the Minister for Housing.

Department of Human Services includes the Office of Housing and the Youth and Family Services Division, including a Concessions page giving details of State and Commonwealth concessions and other assistance

People in Public Housing has information on waiting lists and how to find housing.

National

Australian Institute of Family Studies, has some good material, now including a selection of articles from their excellent Family Matters publication.

The report of the Commonwealth House of Representatives  Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee To Have and To Hold (June 1998) has some striking facts, figures and analysis on marriage, relationships, family breakdown and its social economic consequences.

The Productivity Commission has an annual Report on Government Service Provision, including community services and housing.  Its Implementing Reforms in Government Services 1998 (Sep 98) has chapters on "Direct Consumer Funding and Choice in WA Disability Services" and a "Survey of Consumer Funding and Choice in Disability Services". The Commission is also conducting an Inquiry Into Australia's Gambling Industries (commenced Aug 98).  As well, it has published papers from a Policy Implications of the Ageing of Australia's Population Conference (18-19 Mar 99).

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes some limited extracts on line, including from
Family Characteristics, Australia (1997)
Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 1997
Demography, Victoria, 1997
Migration, Australia, 1997-98

Overseas

The New Zealand Business Roundtable has an outstanding database of thought provoking items on a wide range of policy issues.  See for example
Reconnecting Compassion and Charity - Aug 1998
Submission on Towards a Code of Social and Family Responsibility - May 1998

The Philanthropy Roundtable (US) has thoughtful discussions of many community service issues, including:
Book review of Before Beveridge: Welfare before the Welfare State

Our list of other links may also save some searching time.