2017–18 Activity Statement—Community

Inclusive, safe and thriving communities are fundamental to the future of Queensland. The Queensland Government is committed to the safety and security of Queenslanders; the prevention and underlying causes of crime and violence; connecting communities; and working to overcome disadvantage to deliver strong and resilient communities for the future.
In 2017–18, the Queensland Government:

Community safety and security

• worked with the Domestic and Family Violence High Risk Teams to assist the continued work to prevent and address the impacts of domestic and family violence including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• provided funding for new domestic and family violence support services for victims in Coen, Mossman, Moranbah, Gympie, Darling Downs, Roma, Brisbane and Logan; new perpetrator interventions in Moranbah, Longreach and Emerald; and a new sexual assault support service in Brisbane
• allocated more than $78.3 million for specialist domestic and family violence support services, including women’s shelters,17.96% more than in 2016–17
• progressed implementation of the recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever report through Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–2026, with over three quarters of the report’s government focused recommendations completed
• progressed implementation of the Queensland Violence against Women Prevention Plan 2016–22
• supported the Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council in its oversight and advocacy for implementation of domestic and family violence reforms
• introduced a duty lawyer service for people involved in disputes at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) that are impacted by domestic and family violence
• provides legal advice and representation for people who have experienced trauma and may not understand legal processes
• operated by LawRight, an independent community-based organisation that coordinates pro bono legal services for Queenslanders who cannot afford private representation
• reached out to Queenslanders involved in civil disputes through implementing video-conferencing technology at QCAT
• videoconferencing and teleconferencing technology provides increased accessibility for regional and rural Queenslanders, as well as people who otherwise would have difficulty attending the tribunal in person
• committed to the establishment of the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Taskforce to assist the Queensland Government to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
• announced that the Queensland Government will join the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse and commenced preparation, including making a provision of approximately $500 million, to support the Queensland Government’s participation in the Scheme
• delivered the response in relation to relevant aspects of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
• commenced legislation from 12 February 2018 to enable 17 year-olds to be treated as children in the Queensland youth justice system
• continued to fund Elder Abuse Prevention Unit, promoting the right of older people to live free from abuse
• delivered the Elder Abuse prevention and awareness campaign, helping Queenslanders to recognise the signs of elder abuse, raising awareness and motivating target audiences to access free, confidential advice, referral and support
• strengthened the justice system’s response to elder abuse by:
• introducing the Guardianship and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 which implements a range of proposals under Queensland: an age friendly community and actions arising from recommendations of the Parliamentary inquiry into the adequacy of existing financial protections for Queensland’s seniors
• commencing the review of the enduring power of attorney and advance health directive forms
• supported the Council of Attorney-General’s commitment to the development of a national plan on elder abuse and identify possible options for the harmonisation of enduring powers of attorney
• continued to implement Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence Policy initiatives to reduce alcohol related harm in and around licensed venues and Queensland’s key entertainment precincts
• launched the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court in Brisbane and Court Link in Brisbane and Cairns to improve community safety by addressing recidivism and the underlying causes of offending
• commenced the illicit Drugs Court Diversion phone trial pilot in Darling Downs, South West and Cairns
• commissioned the Premier’s Cyber Bullying Taskforce to develop a framework to address cyber bullying in Queensland
• completed Triple Zero support system upgrades to enable Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) to maintain highly reliable emergency call taking and dispatch services to the public
• completed the procurement process to obtain two new replacement rotary aircraft and delivered one new replacement fixed wing asset to continue providing lifesaving, community safety and government support aviation services across Queensland
• established a full-time centralised, fully independent and professional Parole Board
• introduced ‘No Body, No Parole’ laws
• expanded global positioning system monitoring of parolees
• tightened regulations regarding drones flying over Queensland correctional centres
• continued to deliver under the Community Road Safety program
• completed the pre-Christmas Drink Walking campaign
• completed pre-Christmas Drink Driving campaign
• delivered Easter 2018 speed campaign
• re-delivered Sixth Sense motorcycle campaign in May 2018
• completed 100 Flashing School Lights installations bringing the total program installations to 844
• invested approximately $16.4 million into the state’s fisheries and maritime safety compliance programs, including the Shark Control Program

Supporting inclusive and thriving communities

• launched the Queensland Government Reconciliation Action Plan 2018–2021, demonstrating the Queensland Government’s commitment to building stronger relationships between Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and non-Indigenous Queenslanders
• launched and implemented the Celebrating Reconciliation Small Grants Program, which encourages all Queenslanders to participate in National Reconciliation Week and commemorates two significant milestones in our national history—the successful 1967 Referendum and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision
• funded Reconciliation Queensland Incorporated to promote and build reconciliation in Queensland through practical initiatives
• invested $150 million and completed the rollout of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services program, delivered by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector
• launched the Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017–2037 and Changing Tracks: An action plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017–2019, in partnership with Family Matters Queensland to:
• close the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
• eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system
• awarded We are Queensland grants of up to $20,000 to local councils and community organisations to deliver 70 projects across Queensland
• the We are Queensland grants program was designed to enhance social cohesion in Queensland communities, with the aim to promote a society where everyone is respected and welcome to make a positive and valued contribution to the community
• fielded more than 73,552 information enquiries through the free Women’s Infolink service, providing Queensland women and girls with resources, information and links to services and organisations across the state
• implemented actions from Queensland: an age-friendly community Action Plan and the government’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry’s recommendations into the adequacy of existing financial protections for seniors
• delivered the first round of the Advancing Queensland: an age-friendly community grants program to fund 12 innovative projects across Queensland
• continued to coordinate cross government contributions for Logan Together to help the Logan community to thrive through initiatives to improve housing, maternal and child health, early childhood education and care, employment and responses to domestic and family violence
• increased the social connectedness of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and community groups through Community Action for a Multicultural Society program funding
• supported water safety initiatives for migrants and refugees, reducing the risks of drowning
• supported a new initiative providing financial and individual support for refugees and people seeking asylum
• supported 39 Queensland arts organisations through the expanded Organisations Fund 2017–2020, creating opportunities and strengthening corporate governance for local artists and cultural organisations
• committed $2.16 million over four years to Opera Queensland to support the company’s growth and realise the National Opera Review recommendations
• continued the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, supporting the arts sector to develop and present vibrant and accessible arts and cultural experiences and investing more than $3.2 million in 96 projects across Queensland and an additional $321,221 supported 11 projects through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy
• released the Queensland Government’s Final Response to the Bus Driver Safety Review to improve delivery of services and raise awareness about acceptable behaviour while travelling on public transport
• includes a package of initiatives, including grants for driver safety barriers and anti-shatter film, to provide a safer environment for everyone
• launched the go explore public transport ticket on the Sunshine Coast, which gives unlimited travel on TransLink Sunbus services on the Sunshine Coast
• collaborated with community and marine emergency response agencies to better use resources to assist with safety outcomes
• implemented reforms to the Tow Truck industry in response to public concerns about the towing of vehicles from private property
• delivered information and communications technology (ICT) services to support public safety for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) including an accreditation system for suitability assessments for 70,000 staff and volunteers, the fit-out of the Joint Emergency Services Command Centre and the provisioning of video down-linking and mobile capability to assist frontline response

Community events and promotions

• funded signature events including the Anniversary of the National Apology, National Sorry Day, and National Reconciliation Week activities; sponsorship for local and community events; and contributions and grants for key initiatives such as the Queensland Reconciliation Awards and GC2018
• delivered the inaugural Queensland Youth Week 2018 to celebrate the achievements of young people and encourage young people to have a say on issues that matter to them, with the theme ‘Jump in. Make a splash’
• promoted Disability Action Week 2017 through a Disability Action Week Events Calendar published on the All Abilities web page, providing information on 33 Disability Action Week events held across the state from 10 to 16 September 2017
• funded Disability Action Week events, ranging from the Deadly Options – Which Way mini Indigenous Disability Sporting and Careers Expo at Mackay to a Workability Expo held at Chermside
• supported National Volunteer Week to celebrate and acknowledged the generous contribution of our volunteers
• delivered Festival 2018 as part of GC2018, including WOW Festival 2018 and the One Million Stars installation
• promoted the Multicultural Queensland Charter and its vision for a united, harmonious and inclusive Queensland, through events and promotional activities, including funding for 112 multicultural events and 19 multicultural projects under the $1 million Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program
• celebrated Queensland Multicultural Month in August 2017, the state’s largest celebration of multiculturalism
• implemented major communications campaigns aimed at youth and bystanders as part of a long-term engagement and communication strategy to change attitudes towards domestic and family violence
• attracted a record 7 million visitors to the Queensland Cultural Centre with amazing programs and performances including Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art’s Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe, Disney’s hit production of Aladdin at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), and the 2018 World Science Festival Brisbane

• awarded 48 Advance Queensland Engaging Science Grants, including 22 regionally, to support science engagement and communication projects, events and activities that increase the reach and impact of science in Queensland
• delivered integrated ticketing and event transport to support events such as New Year’s Eve, Riverfire, ANZAC Day, State of Origin, the Battle of Brisbane Horn v Pacquiao fight, Gold Coast Motor Racing, Caravan and Camping Show, The Ashes, the Rugby League World Cup and for the first time to Helensvale’s Night Quarter, Brisbane’s Sweet As Dessert Festival, the Karagarra Island Paddling event, Paddyfest and Paniyiri
• delivered the third annual Queensland Women’s Week, including awarding grants to 60 organisations across Queensland to host events and activities celebrating women and girls

Disaster recovery and resilience

• continued to fund and support human and social recovery in disaster-affected communities, including those impacted by severe weather and flooding and the effects of Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora
• in partnership with the Australian Government, funded a Community Recovery Fund to support the medium to long-term recovery of communities most severely impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie
• held the second annual Community Recovery Forum in October 2017, which focused on the role of business in supporting communities to become more resilient after a disaster
• supported disaster impacted communities through activations for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements for six events including severe tropical cyclone Nora and North Queensland flooding
• delivered the Burnett Catchment Flood Resilience Strategy which supported the development of a coordinated regional approach to risk intelligence, community resilience, land use planning, building controls, environmental management and disaster management across the Burnett River Catchment
• held two Resilience in Communities workshops, which focused on strengthening relationships and collaboration across the Queensland Government to better align activities and deliver enhanced resilience outcomes for Queensland communities
• continued, through Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Recovery Operations staff, to work closely with councils impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie, and to manage the coordination of recovery efforts through Operation Queensland Recovery
• emphasis has been on the Mackay and Whitsunday local government areas, where, in collaboration with the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors (DCDSS), Queensland Health, and other recovery partners, assistance has been provided to address complex recovery issues faced by impacted residents
• continued to engage with impacted communities through the State Recovery Coordinator for 2018 weather events, QRA CEO Mr Brendan Moon, while QRA’s Regional Liaison Officers have worked directly with councils on a range of activities including the preparation of funding submissions for impacted infrastructure
• commenced the implementation of its Recovery Capability Development Project through the QRA, which aims to address gaps in recovery capability through a series of training workshops and exercises
• the project is being delivered collaboratively with State Government and local recovery partners
• developed the Toolkit for the Vulnerable Persons Framework to support organisations, including local governments, to implement the framework which aims to reduce the impact of disasters on people with vulnerabilities or people who may become vulnerable
• partnered with the Community Services Industry Alliance to develop the Disaster Management and Recovery Toolkit and related resources to build capabilities (including business continuity/resilience) and promote the inclusion of community-based organisations in community recovery governance and service delivery
• partnered with local governments across the state to provide guidance and support in the development and review of Local Disaster Management Plans and ongoing disaster management planning
• released the Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR) Disaster Management Guideline which came into effect on 1 May 2018:
• the guideline gives state and local governments and agencies support to respond to natural and man-made events, by detailing the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in disaster management
• the guideline provides end to end steps and procedures which may be carried out in the event of a disaster, including prevention strategies, planning and preparation, and response and recovery arrangements
• funded the Community Services Industry Alliance to develop and deliver a series of workshops across the state for community-based organisations to build skills in business continuity planning, ensuring they have the capacity to support their community in times of disaster when it is needed most
• released the Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience and its implementation plan Resilient Queensland 2018–21, which provides an overarching framework to empower Queenslanders to factor in resilience measures and activities as they anticipate, respond and adapt to changing circumstances
• the Strategy is supported by the $15 million 2017–18 Natural Disaster Resilience Program, a jointly funded state and Australian Government grants program, the $38 million Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund and the $2 million annually for the Get Ready Queensland program to help councils deliver local initiatives that promote disaster preparedness
• continued to promote a number of community safety education campaigns including:
• smoke alarm legislation with specific messaging to introduce and build awareness of the legislative changes introduced in Queensland in January 2017
• ‘If it’s flooded, forget it’ which highlights the dangers of driving through floodwater
• the Bushfire Safety campaign which helps Queenslanders prepare their home, property and family for bushfire
• conducted Operation Cool Burn, focusing on fuel reduction and mitigation of bushfire risk across Queensland
• developed the Queensland Emergency Risk Management Framework (QERMF) which is designed to align local, district and state disaster risk assessments and planning
• the QERMF assessment method supports all disaster management groups working together to identify exposures, analyse vulnerabilities and to develop collaborative mitigation and treatment strategies
• facilitated 28 Local Disaster Management Group risk assessment workshops and four District Disaster Management Group risk assessment workshops around the state, to support the groups to develop risk assessments and disaster management plans using the QERMF methodology
• training was also provided to QFES Emergency Management Coordinators, Queensland Police Service (QPS) Executive Officers and Local Government Disaster Management Officers in the QERMF method
• commenced the renewal of the Lessons Management Framework for QFES that will:
• provide a continuous cycle of learning on both operational and corporate matters
• establish a learning culture to support the capturing of observations and insights from monitoring, debriefing and review activities, which are analysed for trends, risks and lessons
• foster an environment of active problem solving to support evidence-based decision making at all levels of QFES
• delivered a tailored version of the Safehome program to new migrants and refugees to reduce the occurrence of death, injury and property loss in the home due to fires and accidents
• provided building fire safety and fire engineering advice to ensure all buildings are constructed and maintained to required codes and standards, with fire safety installations fit for QFES operational use
• conducted joint inspections with local government to identify buildings operating illegally as Budget Accommodation Buildings, such as boarding houses, backpacker or other hostels, guesthouses and share-houses, without adequate fire safety mechanisms, such as fire safety management plans, emergency lighting and early warning systems
• reviewed the capability of the Townsville District Disaster Management Group and the Local Disaster Management Groups of Burdekin, Charters Towers, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Richmond and Townsville, supporting recovery and resilience capability into the future
• in accordance with the State Disaster Management Plan, continued to advance the safety of Queenslanders through the development of a sector-wide lessons management program, delivery of a disaster management research framework, and refresh of the Emergency Management Assurance Framework including the Standard for Disaster Management in Queensland
• continued to support a statewide peer driven network of disaster management officers, winning the Leadership Category at the 2017 Premier’s Awards for Excellence.