Submission to the ACT Budget 2023-24

The ACT community continues to be affected by and adapt to the impact of COVID-19, whilst also working towards significant legislative and service system change. As the Tenth Assembly for the ACT moves towards its final year, a range of opportunities exist to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. 

In our 2023-24 Budget Submission, we highlight several key areas of unmet need:  

  1. Urgent funding required: ACT youth self-harm and suicide prevention program (WOKE): $300,000 per annum to prevent the closure of a free, evidence-based, evaluated, cost-efficient and cost-effective program for young people at high risk of suicide and self-harm.  
  2. Service system enhancements to support raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Funding to deliver and evaluate a service system to support young people under the age of 14 and their families.  
  3. Youth and community supports in the Gungahlin region: Allocate funding to (1) progress the establishment of a permanent Gungahlin Youth and Community Centre, and (2) support the infrastructure fit-out and contribute to the ongoing rental costs of an interim location for the ‘Gunners Place’ youth program.  
  4. Explore accommodation models for homeless young people not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET): Explore youth-centred, housing-led models, such as Housing First for Youth (HF4Y), that support a diverse range of young people with complex needs, including those who are not engaged in education, employment or training.    
  5. Establishment funding for an ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Network: Initial two-year funding to establish, develop and evaluate a proof of concept for this Network, which seeks to identify opportunities to better respond to the mental health needs of children and young people, as a partnership across government and community. 

    Read more in the full submission.