2016–17 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 2016–17, the Queensland Government:

Creating jobs and a diverse economy

• finalised the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Home Based Business program, supporting stay-at-home parents to establish a new, or develop an existing, home-based business
• launched the Advance Queensland STEM.I.AM program—a coordinated program of engagement activities to increase the number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students pursuing STEM at university
• supported the work of 80 female Queensland-based researchers, through the Advance Queensland Women’s Academic Fund, by providing assistance during periods of maternity leave and carer funding to support their attendance at conferences
• established the Advance Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD Scholarship program, to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholars in gaining a research PhD degree to lay the foundation for a future research career
• provided supported training and job opportunities to a broad range of groups that generally face barriers or challenges to their participation in skills development and the labour market through Skilling Queenslanders for Work:
• supported up to 32,000 Queenslanders into work over four years through a suite of targeted skills and training programs
• funded 367 projects in the first funding round for 2016–17 worth $67.2 million
• assisted Queenslanders that need it most: 58.3% are young people aged 15–24 years old, 17.2% are migrant and refugees from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, 16.9% are Indigenous, 51 percent are long-term unemployed, 10.6% people with a disability, 13.5% are underemployed or low-skilled workers, and 15.1% are mature aged 45 years and over
• continued implementing the Queensland Public Sector 10 year human capital outlook a 3 year strategic roadmap to ‘future proof’ the public sector workforce and human resources decisions
• supported 261 civil and construction jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including 80 apprenticeships and traineeships from 65 construction and civil projects undertaken in discrete Indigenous communities.

Delivering quality frontline services

• implemented a new, specialised women’s re-entry service, supporting women leaving prison in South East Queensland
• implemented a new regional based re-entry service, supporting men and women leaving prison
• implemented a new, whole-of-centre integrated education and employment model with dedicated re-entry services at Borallon Training and Correctional Centre to support men leaving prison
• established the Youth Justice Cultural Unit
• providing expert advice to support all youth justice staff
• establishing evidence-based, culturally responsive interventions to achieve the best possible outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
• supporting inclusion of 17 year olds in the youth justice system and implementing the 83 recommendations of the Independent Review of Youth Detention in Queensland
• ensuring culturally appropriate services are embedded across Youth Justice service delivery
• supported Queensland elite athletes to prepare for GC2018 and 2018 Winter Olympics (February 2018) and 2018 Paralympics (March 2018) in Pyeongchang, South Korea
• delivered Get Started Vouchers, providing financial support to 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
• increased the supply of 562 new social housing dwellings for disadvantaged people, including 108 new social housing dwellings in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• provided 31 new government employee residences in Thursday Island, Cooktown, Mornington Island and Weipa, enabling provision of essential services in these communities
• delivered 5 multi-agency personalised and proactive pilots, connecting services around customer needs
• implemented reforms to the motorcycle licencing system to improve road safety outcomes for this high risk group
• continued to provide support and assistance for seniors, carers and volunteers
• continued implementation of the recommendations from the Not Now, Not Ever report including commencing three integrated service response trials in Logan, Beenleigh, Mount Isa and Cherbourg to develop a consistent and collaborative service system and strengthen responses to victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence
• continued work to prevent and address the impacts of domestic and family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including active involvement in the development and implementation of Integrated Service Response trials.

Protecting the environment

• supported Nature Play Queensland, encouraging young children and their families to engage with nature and the environment as well as learn practical life skills
• supported volunteers to participate in Landcare activities, through support for Queensland Water and Land Carers
• operated more than 150 volunteer programs and community partnerships in more than 110 national parks and forests.

Building safe, caring and connected communities

• established the Director of Child Protection Litigation role to conduct child protection legal matters
• continued to institute diversionary processes and restorative justice, including Drug Court
• continued programs to reduce the likelihood of offending and reoffending
• re-established the independent Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, providing independent research and advice and promoting community understanding of sentencing matters
• continued 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
• implemented the Queensland Public Sector Gender Equity Strategy, the Queensland Public Sector LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy, and supported the Queensland Public Sector Inclusion Champions of Change to lead new thinking and action on inclusion and diversity in the public sector
• implemented the Government’s Five-point plan to reduce youth crime in Townsville through the Minister’s chairing of a Directors-General group and support for the Townsville Stronger Communities Executive Committee and Action Group
• commenced implementing the $7.3 million Community Youth Response, providing a range of innovative services that target young people at risk of offending, including:
• intensive case managers working with high risk repeat offenders and their families on a 24-hour basis, ensuring the young offenders adhere to a tough and rigorous program
• after-hours diversion service, to keep young people off the streets at night
• cultural programs to connect young people with their culture
• provided support to 80 high-risk families through the Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group, coordinating services for young people at risk of offending, and their families.

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