2015–16 Activity Statement—People

People are Queensland’s greatest asset. Queenslanders envision a society where everyone has access to everything needed to make the most of educational, health and job opportunities, and where the brightest minds thrive in an environment which values innovation and excellence. They also value a society where those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds find dignity and respect through education and work, and the cycle of disadvantage is broken.  

In 2015–16, the Queensland Government:

Creating jobs and a diverse economy

• implemented Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to support up to 32,000 Queenslanders into work over four years through a suite of targeted skills and training programs
• increased the supply of housing for disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by completing 201 new social housing dwellings and commencing construction of 99 dwellings on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• assisted 156 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to successfully transition into employment, training or higher education following Year 12 through the Youth Employment Program
• delivered the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Home Based Business program supporting stay-at-home parents to establish a new or develop an existing home-based business

Delivering quality frontline services

• trialled new joined-up and proactive approaches to service delivery for vulnerable groups such as seniors, youths at risk of homelessness and people settling in Queensland
• supported Queensland elite athletes to prepare for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• initiated work on a new women’s re-entry service to help women leaving prison
• delivered Queensland: an age-friendly community Strategic Direction Statement and Action Plan
• responded to the Queensland Parliamentary Committee inquiry into the adequacy of existing financial protection for Queensland seniors to improve the ability of seniors to make informed financial choices and better protect vulnerable seniors—41 of the 43 recommendations were supported or supported in principle
• invested in seniors’ participation and support services, including an Elder Abuse Prevention Unit and hotline, an Older People’s Action Program to help seniors at risk of social isolation and the 60 and Better Program which supports older people to develop and manage healthy ageing programs in their own communities
• delivered the 2016 Elder Abuse Prevention campaign, There’s no excuse for elder abuse
• implemented the Death of A Loved One pilot (managing affairs after death) as a proactive way to support customers through a difficult time by identifying touch points in government and with commercial providers when finalising estates
• promoted digital capability at Queensland Government Service Centres with staff introducing and supporting customers in the use of self-service kiosks
• delivered Get Started Vouchers, providing financial support to those children and young people who can least afford, or may otherwise benefit from, joining a sport or recreation club
• supported children under the Young Athletes Travel Subsidy to compete in, or officiate at specific state, national or international events
• funded the Get Out, Get Active program and the Women and Girls Special Initiatives to encourage women and girls to increase participation in sport and active recreation
• developed and piloted the innovative Kicbox mobile application, in collaboration with young people, to empower them to reach their full potential by providing them with greater access to their own information, improving their sense of identity, and strengthening their relationship with the people who work with them in support of their wellbeing

Protecting the environment

• supported Nature Play Qld to encourage young children and their families to engage in nature and the environment as well as learn practical life skills

Building safe, caring and connected communities

• instituted the State Penalties Enforcement Register outbound pilot as a proactive way to assist customers to manage their debt and avoid enforcement action
• continued to implement justice-related recommendations from the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry report, including establishing the Director of Child Protection Litigation to commence on 1 July 2016
• instituted diversionary processes and restorative justice, including:
• Murri Court
• Queensland Integrated Court Referrals (formerly Special Circumstances Court Diversion), and
• court-ordered youth justice conferencing
• continued programs to reduce the likelihood of offending and reoffending
• established the Youth Justice First Nations Action Board to guide the government’s priority focus on reducing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the youth justice system
• established a Queensland Public Sector Inclusion Champions of Change group of Directors-General who are committed to leading new thinking and action on inclusion and diversity in the public sector
• commenced implementation of the wide-ranging recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland report, and released the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–26
• appointed Queensland’s first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence with responsibility for the coordination of the Government’s rollout of its domestic violence reforms
• coordinated a community campaign to mark Domestic and Family Violence Month in May
• convened the Queensland Carers Advisory Council to provide advice on improving recognition and support for carers
• provided for development of young people’s civic participation and leadership skills through the YMCA Youth Parliament and the Qld Indigenous Youth Leadership Program
• engaged young Queenslanders to inform the government’s strategic direction for young people
• launched the Tech Savvy Seniors Queensland program to encourage older people to embrace information technology—the government (through the State Library of Queensland) and Telstra jointly funded $580,000 of grants, supporting 38 councils to deliver free tech training for up to 15,000 seniors across Queensland
• released the Active Queensland Survey 2015, the first comprehensive scan of the levels of physical activity undertaken by Queensland adults.

Read more about the Plan’s goals, targets and measures for people.