What does the Tasmanian Budget 2024-25 mean for children and families?

We are excited to launch officially as the peak body for child and family services in Tasmania in October, with Minister for Children and Youth, the Hon. Roger Jaensch, at a special event for sector leaders.

Download the Tasmanian Budget 2024-25 Summary here (PDF).

 

 

What does the Tasmanian Budget 2025-26 mean for children and families?

Measures relevant to the child and family services sector

The Tasmanian State Budget 2024-25 was handed down on Thursday, September 12 2024. The Centre has recently been welcomed as the peak body for child and family services in Tasmania. We have prepared this quick overview of the budget measures that are relevant to your work in the child and family services sector, and to the children, young people and families that you support.

The Centre welcomes the Rockliff Government’s first Budget which focuses on Safeguarding Children and Young People. It provides additional funding of $425 million over four years to support the implementation of all the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings (COI).

The Centre looks forward to supporting our members to address the challenges and opportunities for children and young people in Tasmania.

 

Focus on Child Safety

Safeguarding Children and Young People
$46.42 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

A critical priority for the Education, Children and Young People Department is to continue to address risks to the safety of children and young people, leading a culture of putting the child, their rights and safety at the centre of all decisions and protecting children and young people from child abuse.  To date, the Department has delivered on key recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into the Department of Education’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including:

• establishing a Safeguarding Lead in every Tasmanian Government school, Child and Family Learning Centre and Tier 4 site, and Safeguarding Champions in our libraries. These roles support leaders to plan and implement strategies that support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people;
• rolling out compulsory inductions and annual training for all departmental staff (including volunteers) that includes information about understanding, preventing, identifying, reporting and responding to sexual abuse; and
• appointing additional professional support staff to provide support for children and young people affected by harmful sexual behaviours.

The Department’s Safeguarding Framework, ‘Safe. Secure. Supported.’, describes the Department’s overarching approach to safeguarding children and young people from abuse and provides a clear structure to integrate and improve the Department’s safeguarding culture, policies, and practices. The Safeguarding Framework is directly aligned with Tasmania’s new Child and Youth Safe Standards.

The Government is committed to supporting the Department’s strong focus on safeguarding across all portfolios, sites and settings. This will help to ensure that all Tasmanian children and young people are known, safe, well and learning.

 

Commission for Children and Young People (COI)
$8 million over four years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided for the establishment of a Commission for Children and Young People. The Commission will have functions and powers relating to: oversight, monitoring, and promoting the rights of children and young people including in the youth justice and out of home care systems; administration of the Reportable Conduct Scheme; and education, oversight, and enforcement of Child and Youth Safe Standards. A Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People will also be appointed as part of the new Commission.

 

Child and Community Engagement (COI)
$3.2 million over four years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

In accordance with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings report, funding is provided over four years to support activities to engage with children, young people and the community to facilitate cultural change in the Tasmanian Public Sector and within the Tasmanian Community to keep children safe.

 

Child Safety and Wellbeing Service (COI)
$8.231 million over four years
Department of Health

Funding is provided to the Child Safety and Wellbeing Service to oversee the implementation of the Child Safety and Wellbeing Framework and related Policy Framework across the Department.

 

Reducing Harmful Sexual Behaviours (COI)
$5.25 million over four years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided for the development of a whole-of-government approach to identifying, preventing, and responding to harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people, and includes funding to support therapeutic service providers.

 

Reducing Harmful Sexual Behaviours (COI)
$1.495 over four years
DECYP – Children and Families

$639,000 over four years
DECYP – Youth Justice

$639,000 over four years
DECYP – Education

 

Additional funding is provided to support the establishment of a Harmful Sexual Behaviours Support Unit. An interim structure of 4.0 FTE Student Support Response Coordinators will be established and overseen by the Chief Practitioner, while the final structure of this unit is determined in consultation with Student Support, Children and Families (Child Safety and Out of Home Care) and Youth Justice.

Additional funding is provided from 2027-28 onwards for 1.0 FTE Chief Practitioner. Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.17 prescribes that the role of the Chief Practitioner is established and is supported by an Office of the Chief Practitioner. The Chief Practitioner is to lead clinical practice and quality assurance across Child Safety Services, the Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line, and Out of Home Care.

This is aligned with Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.28.

Child and Family Services

Community Sector Organisations Indexation
Indexation of 3.5 per cent in 2024-25, with 3 per cent indexation in each year of the Forward Estimates

To continue to ensure a well-resourced community services industry that can meet the level of need in local communities, additional funding is provided for an uplift in indexation to community sector organisations and currently have indexed grant arrangements in place with the State Government. The increase is in line with public sector wages across this period, which were increased to factor in additional cost of living pressures for those on lower incomes.

 

Child Safety Workforce Package
$4.520 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided to address critical staffing shortages within Services for Children and Families and Youth Justice, the Child Safety Service, the Advice and Referral Line and Community Youth Justice. Funding will also provide a package of initiatives designed to address workforce issues, particularly attraction and retention issues of specific frontline roles in the North West.

Child Safety Workforce Package Funding is provided to address critical staffing shortages within Services for Children and Families and Youth Justice, the Child Safety Service, the Advice and Referral Line and Community Youth Justice. Funding will also provide a package of initiatives designed to address workforce issues, particularly attraction and retention issues of specific frontline roles in the North West.

 

 

Out of Home Care

Out of Home Care – Additional funding (COI)
$120 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding of $30 million per annum is provided to assist in meeting the cost of out of home care, and aligns with Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.1, to meet increased costs in relation to foster and kinship care, respite and salaried care, and Special Care Packages.

Out of Home Care Reform Implementation Unit (COI)
$3.121 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided for resources to lead the Out of Home Care Reform Implementation Unit. The Implementation Unit will lead and progress the out of home care reform agenda to elevate and accelerate the delivery of a whole-of-government approach to implementation of relevant recommendations.

Child and Youth Empowerment (COI)
$1.605 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided to support the recruitment of 3.0 FTE to strengthen and expand child and youth participation and empowerment across the Department. This includes the establishment of the Office for Child and Youth Empowerment which will have oversight of designing and implementing the Department’s Participation and Empowerment strategy for children and young people in out of home care, youth detention and education services.

Critical Case Management (COI)
$1.967 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided for 4.0 FTE to support Child Safety Officers in specialised case management and complex social work. This initiative will ensure Child Safety Officers have access to professional expertise and supports to ensure the diverse needs of children and young people in care can be met. This aligns with Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.22.

Enhanced Case Management for Children and Young People (COI)
$16.014 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided to support extra Child Safety Officers to achieve the Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.16 – that DECYP should ensure all children in care, including those on guardianship orders until age 18, have a case manager, and that a maximum case load for Child Safety Officers is set.

Enhanced Case Management for Children and Young People in Detention and Out of Home Care
$8.326 million over four years

The Enhanced Case Management for Children and Young People in Detention and Out of Home Care project aims to enhance client-centred child safety and youth justice business systems and ensure greater monitoring and transparency and responsiveness around care for young people in detention.

Specialist Mental Health Services in Out of Home Care (COI)
$11.6 million over four years
Department of Health

Funding is provided over four years to establish a comprehensive mental health response within the out of home care services for children and adolescents in, or at risk of entering, OOHC in line with Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 9.24.  This initiative will deliver an enhanced capacity for tailored, specialist trauma‑informed therapeutic interventions for children and young people in OOHC experiencing multiple, intense and persistent emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and significant functional impairment.

 

Early Years

Early Years Workforce Development Fund
$4.5 million over four years
State Growth

This initiative will grow and upskill the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce over the next four years, with the investment to go to more than 500 workers. The fund will deliver: 200 scholarships of between $15 000 (Diploma & CERT III) and $30 000 (Bachelors & Masters) for education and care qualifications, and to work with a Tasmanian ECEC service; a settling incentive of $2 500 for ECEC staff to relocate to remote and hard-to-staff locations including Flinders and King Islands and the West Coast; and retention incentive bonuses of $2 500 for every year of service, between 4-6 years, for staff who remain at the same ECEC provider in rural, isolated or hard to staff areas.

 

Early Years Workforce Development Fund
$500,000 over three years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding of $500 000 is provided over three years for a further 20 scholarships for psychology and speech and language pathology university students. The scholarships will provide career pathways within the Department for recipients.

 

Early Childhood Australia -Tasmanian Branch
$890,000 over three years
State Growth

This initiative will provide Early Childhood Australia Tasmanian branch with grant funding to employ two project officers to assist with policy development and community partnerships.

 

Education

Additional In Class Support – Teacher Assistants and Education Support Specialists (Ongoing)
$40.199 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

This 2023-24 Budget initiative is an ongoing priority for the Department with further funding to increase in class support delivered through the 2024-25 Budget. A mixture of broader system and school-based initiatives and direct classroom support will provide additional administrative support to assist teachers. In 2023, additional assistance was provided to teachers through the provision of 66 extra positions, which will increase to 100 extra positions in 2025.

This funding also supports the ongoing provision for 25 Education Support Specialist positions which started in 2023 in combined schools to focus on Year 7 reading, with the benefit of also building on the Education Support Specialist career pathway for teacher assistants in those schools.

 

Healthy School Lunches Program
$14.6 million over two years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided over two years to extend the successful Healthy School Lunches Program to an additional 30 Government primary schools, taking the total to 60 schools by 2026. Funding is also provided to upgrade kitchens and school canteens to support the Program.

JCP Youth
$3.7 million over three years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided over three years to support JCP Youth’s innovative model that offers a community-based response to high-risk youth 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support at-risk young Tasmanians. This initiative will provide additional facilitators to increase engagement with high-risk participants, update vehicles and support the Safe House, which provides eight respite accommodation options.

 

Extend Structured Literacy to Years 3 to 6
$3 million over two years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided to improve literacy outcomes, including extending structured literacy to all children in Years 3 to 6 at Government primary schools by 2026 (p.45)

 

Education Infrastructure

Infrastructure Investment in the General Government Sector is almost $3.9 billion over the 2024-25 Budget and Forward Estimates. This investment includes funding for schools, education and skills of $359.2 million.

 

School Building Blitz
$94.7 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Under the School Building Blitz program, 15 public schools across Tasmania will be upgraded to deliver contemporary learning environments and associated facilities

 

Four New Child and Family Learning Centres
$32 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) – Education

Funding is provided for the construction of four new Child and Family Learning Centres in Huonville, Longford, Smithton and Scottsdale that offer additional space to enable partnering with early childhood and education services.

 

Out of School Hours Care Capital Upgrades
Provision for $8 million from 2025-26
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is allocated to undertake capital works at primary and district schools to support new onsite out of school hours care services.

Playground and Sports Courts Upgrades
$7.6 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is allocated to undertake school playground and sports court upgrades, for the shared benefit of schools and their local communities.

School Improvement Program
$16 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Additional funding is provided over four years to support school maintenance and improvement needs.

 

Disability

Disability Reform
$2.832 million over four years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding over four years is provided to support Tasmanians with disability and Tasmanian disability service providers to engage with the Tasmanian Government to commence planning and implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review, including practice and service changes.

 

Disability Inclusion Bill Implementation
$8.55 million over four years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided to support the implementation of the Disability Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill 2024 after enactment. The new legislation will include the establishment of the Tasmanian Disability Commissioner, as well as the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Advisory Council. Together they will regulate disability inclusion planning and provide for new regulatory powers for the Senior Practitioner to achieve nationally consistent regulation of Restrictive Practices and best practice approaches to the reduction and elimination of restrictive practices.

 

Disability Liaison (COI)
$1.475 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided for 3.0 FTE Disability Liaison Officers to engage with and provide support services to children and young people with disability in both the out of home care and youth justice systems. This aligns with Commission of Inquiry Recommendations 9.22 and 9.23.

 

Educational Adjustments Recommendation Implementation
$5.122 over two years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided for the Educational Adjustments Disability Funding Model and to increase resources to schools to ensure they are supported to responsively meet the needs of students with a disability and their obligations under the Disability Standards for Education Act 2005. This relates to the 2023 external review of the Educational Adjustments Disability Funding Model and resulting 12 recommendations that have been accepted by Government.

 

Family violence

Just Healthy Families Program
$1.2 million over four years
Department of Justice

This initiative will expand the Just Healthy Families Program for easier access to legal advice for those affected by family violence. The program has successfully brought lawyers and access to legal advice into healthcare settings, to make it easier for people experiencing family violence to access justice and legal services at the places they regularly visit.

Partnering with the Community (funding for community sector)
$2 million over two years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided over two years for the establishment of a peak body for the sexual assault service system, including funding for free or low-cost sexual assault counselling services, and the development of strategies to address challenges in attracting and retaining therapeutic specialists.

 

Rapid Rehousing Boost
$1.5 million over two years
Home Tasmania

Funding is provided over two years to deliver up to 100 additional Rapid Rehousing homes for women and children escaping family violence. Rapid Rehousing provides people affected by family violence with safe and affordable housing in the private rental market at a subsidised rent.

 

Youth Justice

Youth Justice Reform (COI)
$2.45 million in 2024-25
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided in 2024-25 to support Youth Justice Reform, including the establishment of the Youth Justice Reform Whole-of-Government Taskforce, located in the Department of Premier and Cabinet which is comprised of senior staff from across agencies.

The Taskforce will support the Minister for Children and Youth to deliver a statewide model of care for the youth justice system; a diversion services framework and place-based approach to supporting local communities to divert young people away from the youth justice system; a model and implementation of intensive case management for children and young people in touch with the youth justice system; and an Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy co-designed with Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

The Taskforce will also progress works at the preferred site at Pontville for the construction of a new therapeutic youth justice facility, progressing the Government’s commitment to close the Ashley Youth Detention Facility.

Initial funding has been provided to the Department during 2024-25 to establish the Taskforce Unit, Expert Advisory Panel and Community Engagement group as well as funding for programs to broker community led solutions and accelerate outcomes for young people in the youth justice system. Once established, the Department for Education, Children and Young People will continue this work from 2025-26 onwards.

Ongoing Youth Justice Reform (COI)
$4.289 million from 2025-26 over three years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided to establish a Youth Justice Reform Taskforce to progress elements of the Youth Justice Blueprint that require cross-agency cooperation. This includes specific actions to support a reduction in the number of children in detention, construction of a new youth detention facility, development of an Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy and implementation of increased diversion programs.

Initial funding has been provided to the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2024-25 to establish the taskforce unit, Expert Advisory Panel and Community Engagement group as well as funding for programs to broker community led solutions and accelerate outcomes for young people in the youth justice system. (p.51)

 

Therapeutic Supports and Case Management for Children in Detention (COI)
$6.587 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided for 5.0 FTE clinical service practitioners that will drive the delivery of safe and high-quality therapeutic services towards the management of young people with the most complex and intensive needs. The clinical service practitioners will have access to a range of assessment tools, as well as clinical supervision to deliver a therapeutic service for children and young people in detention.

Funding is also provided for 5.0 FTE to establish clear processes and guidelines for assessment, case planning and case management of children and young people in detention to enable the delivery of tailored, multidisciplinary, therapeutic services. Implementation of the case management framework will ensure a coordinated approach to assessing and responding to the individual needs of young people and will maximise access to services and supports that address each young person’s needs in a therapeutic and culturally safe manner.

 

Early Intervention and Diversionary Services (COI)
$8.647 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided for 6.0 FTE in Community Youth Justice to provide further skilled practitioners and outcomes-focussed community diversion and support programs for children and young people in the community. This funding will also support Early Intervention and Diversionary programs that will contribute towards an integrated throughcare service in youth justice that address underlying offending behaviours and support offenders in reintegrating into the community. This aligns with Commission of Inquiry Recommendations 12.11 ,12.13, 12.14 and 12.24(a)(v).

 

Youth Offending Place Based Initiatives
$800,000 in 2024-25
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided to support innovative local initiatives and partnerships that target the root causes of youth offending in local communities and engage children and young people in education, training, employment, sport, and the Arts.

 

Ongoing Youth Offending Place Based Initiatives
Provision for $1.5 million from 2025-26, over two years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Ongoing funding will build on the Youth Justice Blueprint and will support innovative local initiatives and partnerships that target the root causes of youth offending in local communities. Initial funding has been provided to the Department of Premier and Cabinet during 2024-25 with the Department for Education, Children and Young People to continue this work from 2025-26 onwards.

 

Aboriginal Youth Justice (COI)
$1.691 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

This initiative works towards addressing Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 12.29(c). The Recommendation outlines that Government should work with Aboriginal communities to establish ongoing cultural programs for Aboriginal children and young people in detention, such as visiting Elders programs, on-Country programs and cultural mentoring programs.

Funding from 2025-26 is provided to strengthen programs currently in place and for the implementation of new programs to support Aboriginal children and young people in youth detention. This will be undertaken in alignment with the Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy currently being developed.

Funding also supports the recruitment of 1.0 FTE Aboriginal Liaison Officer role to be established at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, and any future youth detention facility to support Aboriginal children and young people. The role will facilitate cultural support and as well as case planning, case management and exit planning.  In addition, the AYDC Learning and Development Framework will be reviewed to ensure staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to allow them to provide a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal children and young people. 

 

Building Youth Justice Workforce Capability (COI)
$2.151 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided to support the development and implementation of a Youth Justice Workforce Strategy which will comprise workforce planning, marketing and recruitment, and ongoing workforce management. Funding provides for 3.0 FTE to coordinate, design and deliver the relevant training and induction processes. Funding will also support the ongoing delivery of Cert IV qualifications in Youth Justice, refined child-centred induction processes and training, psychological first aid courses, to deliver training and ensure appropriate use of force methods are integrated in the operations of Ashley Youth Detention Centre and any new youth detention centre.

 

Keeping Kids Safe in Detention (COI)
$9.043 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided to ensure children and young people are kept safe in detention.  The Commission of Inquiry makes a range of recommendations that will improve the safety and security of young people in detention through a comprehensive review of legislation, policy and procedures relating to personal searches (Recommendation 12.31), isolation (Recommendation 12.32) and use of force (Recommendation 12.33).

The Commission also highlighted the imperative for children and young people to be kept safe in detention through developing comprehensive policies and procedures to support the use of body worn cameras (Recommendation 12.17(c)) and developing and implementing a policy for managing and retaining surveillance footage (Recommendation 12.7(d)).

Funding will support the recruitment of 5.0 FTE policy and project officers, with communications and policy expertise to undertake the review of relevant policies and procedures. Further funding will support the recruitment of 13.0 FTE operational staff at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre and the new youth detention facility, to ensure the operationalisation and adequate monitoring of abovementioned policies and procedures to keep children and young people safe while in detention. This includes additional youth workers and staffing to manage security and safety in youth detention, workplace health and safety, and additional control room operators to ensure the 24-hour operation of a CCTV Control Room.

 

Strengthening Leadership and Cultural Change in Services for Youth Justice (COI)
$3.446 million over four years
Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)

Funding is provided for 4.0 FTE to significantly strengthen leadership in the youth detention system and support improved governance arrangements. An additional 1.0 FTE is for a Cultural Change Manager to lead the transformation of culture in youth detention services. This approach aligns with Commission of Inquiry Recommendations 12.6 and 12.7.

 

Healthcare

GP NOW Rapid Response Unit
$17.5 million over four years
Department of Health

Funding is provided for the recruitment of 10 general practitioners to support areas where the practice is at risk of closure, or in areas where there is high unmet demand. The GP NOW team will provide services in the event of any sudden closure of a GP practice, ensuring continuation of services to residents. The GPs will be deployed to local communities based on need. Additionally, the GP NOW Rapid Response Unit will offer direct support to district hospitals, residential aged care facilities and communities with limited or disrupted access to GPs. Funding is provided for this initiative over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28.

 

GP Specialists for ADHD
Provision for $1.50 million in 2025-26 over three years
Department of Health

This initiative provides funding to establish a new service that gives families across Tasmania faster access to GPs with special interests who can diagnose and manage children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This service will be delivered through the Department’s public outpatient clinics and will collaborate with Paediatricians when appropriate.

 

Royal Hobart Hospital Mother Baby Unit
$4 million over two years
Department of Health

Funding is provided over two years for three dedicated beds at the Mother Baby Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital to provide support to mothers experiencing mental health challenges, such as postnatal depression and anxiety.

 

Tresillian Family Care Service and Mother Baby Centre
$27.75 million over four year
Department of Health

 

Funding is provided for Tresillian Family Care to establish a statewide phone and tele-health support service with nurses on hand for parental emotional and psychological wellbeing. 107 Health Tresillian will establish a Mother Baby Service in the four-bed Mother Baby Centre to be opened in the new Launceston Health Hub.

 

 

Mental Health

Enhancements to the Child and Adolescent Youth Forensic Mental Health Service (COI)
$10 million over four years
Department of Health

Funding is provided over four years for statewide services to support the implementation of a new multi-disciplinary specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in-reach support for detained youth.  The goal of the Child and Adolescent Youth Forensic Mental Health Service is to improve whole‑of‑life outcomes for young offenders and deliver benefits across education, health, child safety, justice, police, corrections, emergency services and the broader Tasmanian community.

 

Mental and Physical Care for Children in Detention (COI)
$7.7 million over four years
Department of Health

Funding is provided over four years to expand the Correctional Primary Health Service’s model to provide in-reach services to a southern detention centre, two assisted bail facilities (one in the North and one in the South) and two supported facilities (in the South and North West). This initiative will ensure that all children and young people in detention have access to 24/7 medical care, referrals, vaccinations and health education. This initiative supports Commission of Inquiry Recommendation 12.21.

 

St Johns Park – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit and Day Facility  (COI)
Provision for $16 million over three years from 2025-26
Department of Health

Funding is provided to build a 12-bed, stand-alone Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit and Day Facility at St Johns Park in response to Recommendation 12.20 of the Commission of Inquiry Report. The facility will have a long-term and positive impact on mental health services for children, adolescents and their families, statewide, providing a dedicated, contemporary, fit-for-purpose facility for children and adolescents in Tasmania experiencing mental ill-health, and provide in-reach support for detained youth and assertive case management, post detention.

 

Housing and homelessness

Private Rental Incentive Scheme Boost
$7.2 million over two years
Homes Tasmania

Additional funding is provided over two years to boost the Private Rental Incentive scheme by an additional 200 homes. The PRI scheme provides a financial incentive to property owners to make their homes available for affordable rent to eligible Housing Register applicants. The scheme supports eligible Tasmanians in need with affordable rent in the private market and is designed to support low-income households and reduce housing stress.

 

Shelter Tasmania funding uplift
$1 million over four years
Homes Tasmania

Additional funding is provided over four years to Shelter Tasmania. Shelter Tasmania is the peak body for Tasmania’s housing and homelessness services and focuses on the housing needs of people experiencing and at risk of homelessness, as well as Tasmanians on low and fixed incomes.

 

Social Housing Maintenance Fund
$20 Million over four years
Homes Tasmania

Additional funding is provided over four years for maintenance and upgrades of social housing properties. This is in addition to the Government’s existing investment for housing maintenance.

 

Other

LGBTIQA+ Framework and Action Plan
$500,000 over two years
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided for a new LGBTIQA+ Framework and Action Plan, with investment over two years into services and programs including the LGBTIQA+ Grants Program.

 

Closing the Gap – Coordination and Capacity Building
$600,000 in 2024-25
Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is provided in 2024-25 to progress commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, including the development of a second Tasmanian Implementation Plan.

 

Ashley Youth Detention Centre Class Action Provision (COI)
One off provision of $75 million in 2024-25
Department of Justice

A class action initiated in the Tasmanian Supreme Court in relation to the Ashley Youth Detention Centre was resolved, in principle, on 21 June 2024 for settlement of $75 million, subject to Court approval. There is a one-off funding provision in 2024-25 for the distribution of settlement funds.

 

Tasmania Legal Aid -Commission of Inquiry Response (COI)
$1.424 over four years
Department of Justice 

Dedicated resources within Tasmania Legal Aid will be established to provide legal services and advice to people who are impacted by child sexual abuse, including the provision of a duty lawyer to children and young people in the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. These resources will help reduce delays in the criminal justice system by ensuring timely access to criminal defence counsel, in addition to increased legal assistance for victim-survivors.

 

Trauma Informed Apologies for Victim-Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in Government Institutions (COI)
$812,000  over four years
Department of Justice

This initiative will deliver best practice trauma informed apologies to victim-survivors who have participated in the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (National Redress Scheme) or associated civil litigation. The additional resources will increase capacity to provide subject matter expertise assistance and some coordination services to all Government agencies in delivering apologies to victim-survivors. This funding will resource the Department’s response to recommendation 17.4 of the Commission of Inquiry.

 

Cost of living

The 2024-25 Budget allocates over $460 million over four years to concessions aimed at helping vulnerable Tasmanians, including electricity and council rates, health services, and vehicle registration.

• Removal of Stamp Duty for first home buyers of existing homes, up to $750,000
• MyHome Shared Equity program has been expanded, lowering the income limits for those purchasing or building a home with a 2 per cent deposit.
• Public transport fares cut by half until June 30, 2025.
• Renewable Energy Dividend of $250 credited to every Tasmanian household.
• Doubled the Healthy School Lunches Program, expanding from 30 schools to 60 schools over the next two years.
• No Interest Loan Network will provide 2000 more loans each year for families on low incomes.

 

 

View the full Tasmanian Budget Paper 2024-25 at https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/budget-and-financial-management/2024-25-tasmanian-budget