We’ve collated feedback and reactions to the budget from the community services industry network of peaks, which is outlined below.
Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA)
ACCPA has concerns about the forecast of slowing population growth which is reflected the challenge of acquiring aged care workers and nurses in Tasmania to support the sector.
The Government should consider ‘sign-on bonuses’ for aged care staff relocating to Tasmania, which would support and align with align with the Government’s recently announced Population Policy.
There needs to be a sharper focus on the interface between health and aged care to ensure that older Tasmanians can either avoid hospital altogether or can stay no longer in hospital than is required, and then receive the care that they need (whether that is at home or in a residential facility).
Compared to budgets in previous years, there is not a strong focus on skills development and training which is a lost opportunity.
Whilst the Government will be delivering more key worker accommodation in regional areas through the KeyHomes Program, this needs to be extended to include aged care workers where accommodation is a real problem in rural and regional areas.
Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Council (ATDC) Tasmania
Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) Reform Agenda
ATDC has been advised that the AOD Reform Agenda has been refunded with a two year allocation of $3 million per annum. We are seeking detail on whether this constitutes a reduction on previous years and how the funding will be expended, for example the peer worker project.
Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Beds | Launceston City Mission, Pathways | $750,000 per annum across 2024/25 and 2025/26
Funding is provided over two years to continue support to community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds for those seeking to detox and receive counselling and education.
Correctional Improvement Program | Between $800,000-$1.1 million per annum across four years of forward estimates
Additional funding has been allocated to the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) to improve intervention and rehabilitation services across the state, with an initial focus at the Risdon Prison site. This will include additional drug and alcohol treatment programs within the TPS, and a new program in the north-west to support female prisoners to transition back into the community.
Risdon Prison Construction Program
This project will include co‑funding the purchase of a property to accommodate north-west-based female prisoners on their release from custody, improvements at Ron Barwick Prison Division 8 to facilitate an expansion of drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, additional funding for the new Risdon kitchen, and other office and program spaces to allow for the delivery of more intervention and rehabilitation programs to prisoners at the Risdon Prison site.
Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT)
Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT) CEO, Ms Tania Hunt, said while there are welcome measures in the budget, the government continues to take a short-term approach to funding vital services in the youth sector and Tasmania’s community service industry more generally.
“We know this approach impacts our sectors ongoing ability to provide the services our young people need to live the lives they want to in our state,” Ms Hunt said.
“We welcome the announcement of funds set aside to ensure Tasmania can realise the Commission of Inquiry recommendations. To succeed at this, everyone in our state will need to contribute to the fundamental cultural change required to keep children safe in our communities.
“We look forward to seeing the detail of how these funds will be spent and note the essential role the community service industry has in challenging and transforming cultural attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate harm.”