Supporting Tasmania’s disadvantaged youth

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Kay Patterson, today officially launched the new Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) program to help young people in the North West and West coast who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

‘The Australian Government has allocated $165 000 in funding to Anglicare to provide Tasmania’s youth with a chance to stabilise their lives and get back on the right track,’ Senator Patterson said.

‘The funding will enable Anglicare to assist up to 115 young people in the region to access support, counselling, education, training and work opportunities.

‘A further $82 000 will be allocated to a special needs service to assist up to 50 people who have been in youth detention or involved in the youth justice system. This state-wide service will be delivered by Anglicare in Launceston.

‘The JPET program assists young people to address issues such as leaving school early, homelessness, youth crime and substance abuse, all of which can lead to long-term income support dependency.

‘Some young people can face difficult transitions into early adulthood and the JPET program is proving to be a highly effective way of helping them to overcome barriers to participation in economic and community life.

‘Anglicare has been delivering social services to Tasmania for the past 25 years, working with, and for, the community’s most disadvantaged in the areas of unemployment and homelessness.

‘This new funding reflects an increase in the numbers of JPET places previously available on the North West and West coast.

‘The Howard Government is providing an opportunity for young people to reconnect with their community through the services such as those Anglicare offers,’ Senator Patterson said.

Senator Patterson said she was delighted to be visiting Braddon after receiving an invitation from Braddon Liberal candidate, Mark Baker and local Liberal Senate candidate, Stephen Parry.