2017–18 Activity Statement—People

Queensland is proud to offer an enviable lifestyle and opportunities for individuals to grow and succeed. To achieve strong and sustainable communities, these opportunities need to be accessible to all Queenslanders. The Queensland Government is committed to working with communities and individuals to support those that are in need or are disadvantaged, to provide equal opportunity for all.

In 2017–18, the Queensland Government:

Traditional owners

• funded the Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee to organise Binbi Wadyabay—Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Forum, held in Rockhampton on 16–17 May 2018
• funded the Yarrabah Elders Group to complete the Yarrabah Language Project
• funded the Cherbourg Historical, Cultural and Community Precinct Incorporated to manage the Cherbourg Marching Girls Project to document, record and preserve their stories as part of Cherbourg’s cultural heritage
• supported the implementation of reforms to the Child Protection system to reduce the over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• continued to support the community through the provision of over $4 million to the Queensland Police and Citizens Youth Welfare Association to support delivery of sport and recreation services to identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland
• supported the development of the first Reconciliation Action Plan for a major sporting event and for Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) through the implementation of the Gold Coast 2018 Reconciliation Action Plan
• promoted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture at GC2018 with the Yugumbeh Elders launching the Queens Baton Relay and delivering a Welcoming Ceremony at the opening event
• supported representatives from Lockhart River and Woorabinda communities to share their customs with global audiences as part of the #Festivals 2018 activities
• established the First Nations Action Board, the first of its type in Australia, comprising Youth Justice staff from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds who will guide work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families involved in the youth justice system
• continued to provide support and assistance for people with a disability, seniors, carers and volunteers
• established Murridhagun Cultural Centre in Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) as a central reference point for matters specifically relating to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, victims, prisoners, and offenders
• supported Traditional Owner partnerships and interests recognising native title rights and interests and engaging in partnerships with Traditional Owners in managing parks and forests
• formed active partnerships with Traditional Owners to build their skills and technical knowledge in contemporary land management
• engaged with Traditional Owners of the land on which the Wangetti Trail passes, ensuring they play an active part in the Trail’s development and operation
• it is critical that Traditional Owners have recognised leadership, responsibilities and management roles in their land and the Wangetti Trail and the Queensland Government will ensure that this is achieved
• proactively engaged with Central Queensland’s Darumbal Traditional Owners as part of the Browne Park Feasibility Study
• engaged with members of the late Tiny Bonner’s family
• Tiny Bonner was the sole surviving son of the late Senator Neville Bonner, after whom the pedestrian bridge linking the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development and South Bank is named
• supported the QPS ‘Look to the Stars’ artwork and reconciliation message commissioned to represent the past, present and future relationships between Queensland police, Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• continued to work with migrant and minority groups through programs involving Police Liaison Officers and Torres Strait Island Police Support Officers to deliver community safety messages and equitable access to policing services
• continued funding and support for two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traineeships within Biosecurity Queensland (in collaboration with the federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources), based in the Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York
• these traineeships help build Queensland’s biosecurity capability in this high risk region and provide valuable employment and development opportunities for the Northern Peninsula Area community

All abilities

• released All Abilities Queensland: opportunities for all (new state disability plan 2017–20) which aims to build an inclusive Queensland where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential as equal citizens including the Everybody has a role to play website
• continued to implement the National Disability Strategy 2010–20 in collaboration with all levels of government to improve outcomes for people with disability across the strategy outcome areas
• continued the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with the commencement of the NDIS in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Ipswich, Toowoomba and west to the borders
• engaged Choice Passion, who employ people with a disability, for landscape maintenance works on Queensland Government multi-unit developments
• partnered with Ability Enterprise to employ two people (one Administration Assistant and one Assistant Yardman) to assist in removing barriers to implement and improve the overall socioeconomic conditions of the local community
• reinstated Taxi Subsidy Scheme memberships for former members who had transitioned to the NDIS, in response to stakeholder concerns about transport support in NDIS approved plans
• this arrangement is in place until 30 June 2019 while policy issues are resolved
• continued implementing the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Disability Action Plan—Improving Access to 2017, improving Queensland public transport accessibility for people with disability

Seniors

• established five new seniors legal and support services in Gladstone, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Mackay and increased investment in the five existing seniors legal and support services to improve access for seniors to financial advice
• continued to fund services to deliver a range of programs across Queensland to help reduce older people’s risk of isolation, improve their health, and strengthen links with their community
• expanded the concessions framework to provide a transport concession to Queensland Veterans that hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs White Health Care Card in recognition of their service to Australia

Young People

• implemented the Queensland Youth Strategy—Building young Queenslanders for a global future and action schedule
• delivered the Youth e-Hub digital engagement portal to provide access channels between young people and the Queensland Government
• delivered the inaugural Queensland Youth Week from 6 to 15 April 2018 celebrating Queensland’s young people, their achievements and their contributions to Queensland’s community and economy
• delivered Queensland’s hallmark youth leadership programs, the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program and the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament

Inclusive engagement and participation

• established the LGBTI roundtable
• commenced the implementation of Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027, a 10-year plan to provide every Queenslander with access to a safe, secure and affordable home that meets their needs and enables participation in the social and economic life of this prosperous state
• continued progress under the Queensland Government Multicultural Action Plan which focuses on actions from government entities over 3 years (2016–17 to 2018–19) across three key priorities: achieving culturally responsive government; supporting inclusive, harmonious and united communities; and improving economic opportunities
• continued to provide over $1 million in sponsorship support towards initiatives and events which directly encourage ongoing participation or introduce new participants to a sport or active recreation activity
• continued to support Queenslanders through skills development, education and training to establish their housing through a number of initiatives including, the Housing and Employment Program, and the Tenancy Skills Training / Dollars and Sense Program
• funded the establishment of three international student hubs in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns, in collaboration with local government and industry partners, through the IET Partnership Fund
• the hubs provide a wide range of services and support to visiting international students with a focus on employability, referral and community engagement with more than 5000 international students accessing services and engaging with the hubs since they first opened
• delivered the second round of the $2.5 million Dignity First Fund, supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to live with dignity
• 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
• continued the delivery of an Advance Queensland SBIR challenge to develop flexible, sustainable and cost efficient sport venue lighting solutions which will allow more Queenslanders to participate in sport at times that suit them
• expanded the concessions framework to provide home educated students with a transport concession, better enabling them to connect with learning opportunities and help ease the cost of living for Queensland families
• engaged with teenage children from vulnerable rural and remote communities, in partnership with the Queensland Rugby League Outback, on a range of resilience building strategies including education on protective behaviours, drug and alcohol demand reduction through healthy life choices, domestic and family violence reduction and online bullying education
• contributed to the development of a Joint Agency Protocol to reduce criminalisation of children in out of home care

Supporting business leaders, employees and volunteers

• continued to deliver education and training for community coaches, officials and volunteers through the delivery of over 340 free workshops to over 5700 participants
• delivered over 20,000 items of sports assets, ranging from hurdles and boxing gloves through to gazebos, drills and footballs, that were used during the GC2018 to over 100 organisations, including state sporting organisations, Police Citizens Youth Clubs, clubs and schools in 80 towns and cities throughout Queensland
• attained White Ribbon accreditation in 13 more Queensland Government agencies, with 16 agencies now proudly accredited
• supported career and professional development opportunities for 28 artists and art workers with an investment of $171,005 through the Individuals Fund
• provided opportunities for early career researchers to attend workshops and conferences through the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist Partner Up Queensland program
• continued to develop the QFES Volunteerism Strategy: Growing QFES Together, which will address the challenges facing emergency volunteer service delivery now and into the future
• the strategy will look at a range of issues including recruitment and retention initiatives, and training and volunteering opportunities
• delivered the 2017 Women in Construction Program, which encourages women to take up a career in the construction industry, with five participants from the program now working in TMR
• continued to provide in-kind support to AgriFutures Australia to manage the Rural Women’s Award, which recognises and supports emerging female leaders for their contribution to agriculture
• continued to deliver SQW, which:
• will support up to 54,000 Queenslanders into work over six years through a suite of targeted skills and training programs
• in 2017–18 assisted Queenslanders most in need, of which: 56.7% were young people aged 15–24 years old; 17.3% were migrant and refugees from a culturally and linguistically diverse background; 18.1% were Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples; 50.7% were long-term unemployed; 11.8% were people with a disability; 15.5% were underemployed or low-skilled workers; and 14.9% were mature aged 45 years and over
• implemented the BTW  Mature  Age  Worker  Boost  (MAWB)  which  ran  from  1  January  2018  to 30 June 2018
• 215 mature aged unemployed jobseekers (55 years and older) were employed through the program, 140 of those approved applications for the MAWB were in regional Queensland and 75 in SEQ
• awarded the inaugural People’s Choice Award in May 2018, recognising bus drivers who go above and beyond to enhance our customer’s experience on public transport.