Minister connects with community

Service providers today showcased their achievements to the Minister for Community Services, John Cobb, as part of his visit to grassroots services in the Brisbane area.

‘I had the honour of experiencing first hand the extraordinary work that these services provide to our young people,’ Mr Cobb said.

‘The teenage years are critical to social and intellectual development and it is encouraging that services, such as the ones I visited today, are there to guide and support the youth through this significant time.

‘The Beenleigh Area Youth Service (BAYS) Association Inc, under its Household Organisational Management Expenses advice program, is receiving more than
$645 000 over four years to deliver its Families Around Beenleigh (FAB) project.

‘FAB delivers early intervention services for people at risk of homelessness and has assisted over 45 young people and families this financial year.

‘In addition BAYS, in partnership with the Wesley Mission, received a one off grant of over $110 000, as part of the Local Answers initiative, to provide services for young pregnant women or parents, including support groups and family relationship support.’

The Local Answers initiative is part of the Australian Governments $490 million Stronger Families and Communities Strategy, giving communities the power to develop their own solutions and help them to help themselves through small-scale, time-limited project

‘I also visited the Mercy Family Services South Brisbane Reconnect program, which receives ongoing funding of $235 000 each year, to provide prevention and early intervention youth homelessness services to 60 young people and their families.’

Under the $20.4 million Reconnect Program, the Australian Government is assisting young people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and their families through community-based early intervention services.

Reconnect helps these young people improve their level of engagement with family, work, education, training and their local community.

‘Today has provided me with a valuable insight into the day to day operation of these services and after meeting young people who have received assistance, I can see the positive benefit of their work,’ Mr Cobb said.