National Reform Agenda

• The National Reform Agenda is based on the proposition that future economic prosperity depends on:– new investment to increase the skills and

health of the population and therefore boost workforce participation; and

– economic reforms to boost competition and reduce regulation.

A Fairer Victoria

• A Fairer Victoria was launched in May 2005 as the Victorian Government’s long term action plan to tackle disadvantage and create opportunity for all Victorians

• In 2006 A Fairer Victoria – Progress and Next Steps, was released

• In May 2007 A Fairer Victoria – Building on Our Commitment, was released– The core element of this framework is the combined emphasis

on the provision of accessible and affordable universal services for all Victorians

– is based around five principal policy objectives and 14 specific strategies for achieving them

A Fairer Victoria cont…

• The framework tackles inequality and disadvantage by:– emphasising early intervention and

prevention;– matching local service delivery to individual

needs– assisting communities to support individuals

to overcome problems– making services easier to access, more

responsive and more successful.

A Fairer Victoria cont…

• Department of Planning & Community Development– Neighbourhood House Coordination Funding

(NHCP)– Adult, Community & Further Education

(ACFE)

A Fairer Victoria - Strategies

• ACCESS TO UNIVERSAL SERVICES• REDUCING BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY

– Strategy 5 Providing fairer access to services

• SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED GROUPS– Strategy 10 Creating new opportunities for people with a

disability– Strategy 11 Increasing support for mental health services

• SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED PLACES– Strategy 12 Building stronger communities

• MAKING IT EASIER TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT

Providing fairer access to services

• reduce the barriers faced by some individuals or groups in accessing services and facilities that most Victorians take for granted.

Support for people with disabilities

• We will also make training and employment opportunities for people with a disability a higher priority and through implementation of State Disability Action Plans across government encourage more people with a disability to consider careers in the public and community sectors.

Further emphasis on skills andtraining

• Victoria’s economy is performing strongly and is steadily creating new opportunities for people to enter the workforce and to upgrade their skills in areas of high demand. However, as a consequence of the ageing of the population, we also need to increase workforce participation, increase skills in the existing workforce and boost skilled migration to meet our future needs.

Building Stronger Communities

• Achievements– building 12 new and redeveloping 52 existing

neighbourhood houses, and improving the computer facilities/Internet access of 56 houses

– increasing payments to neighbourhood house coordinators and funding extra hours for services (increased NHCP funding received in 2007)

Building Stronger Communities

• Future Directions– We will provide $5 million to enable

neighbourhood houses to upgrade, redevelop or co–locate, to provide information and communication technology and to purchase essential infrastructure. We will also invest

– $4 million to fund equipment grants of up to $5000 for Adult Community Education (ACE) providers and the Centre for Adult Education and Adult Multicultural Education Services.