Government initiatives

Better Future, Local Solutions

Better Futures, Local Solutions is a new approach to promoting long term economic participation that will help people living in communities with high rates of disadvantage.

Building Australia's Future Workforce

Building Australia’s Future Workforce package, announced in the 2011–12 Federal Budget, is about providing greater opportunities for Australians to develop their skills, train and get into the workforce.

Carbon pricing initiative

The plan for a Clean Energy Future has been announced, including household assistance in relation to the proposed Carbon Pricing initiative. The Government has also announced that assistance will be available to eligible customers from May 2012. There is nothing you need to do at this time. To find out more information or to use the household assistance estimator go on-line at cleanenergyfuture.gov.au or call the Clean Energy Future hotline on 1800 057 590.

Dad and Partner Pay

Subject to the passage of legislation, the Paid Parental Leave scheme will be expanded with a new payment for dads and other eligible partners from 1 January 2013. To find out more about Dad and Partner Pay, visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.

Healthy Start for School

Healthy Start for School was introduced by the government to help make sure that children are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school.

If you and/or your partner receive an income support payment at any time during the financial year in which your child turns four, your child is required to undergo a relevant health check. If the health check is not completed, part or all of your Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement for your child will be withheld.

Human Services Delivery Research Alliance

In 2009, Centrelink and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) partnered to form the five-year Human Services Delivery Research Alliance (HSDRA) aimed at transforming government service delivery.

Using innovative technologies and practices, the HSDRA aims to increase the efficiency of government services, create options for future service delivery and help government to build better relationships with customers.

NBN Service Delivery Pilot

The Australian Government has announced a high-definition video conferencing pilot that will improve people’s access to the department’s services via the National Broadband Network (NBN), as part of the National Digital Economy Strategy.

Review of student income support reforms

On 14 September 2011 the Government announced its response to the review of student income support reforms. The report of the review was tabled in parliament on 14 September 2011.

Support for BlueScope Steel workers

The Australian Government is providing a package of support for redundant BlueScope steel workers to ensure they get help to access training and employment support.

The package provides up to $10 million over two years to support redundant steel workers in the Illawarra, New South Wales and Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

As part of the package, any workers who are made redundant will be eligible for immediate, intensive employment support with a Job Services Australia provider of their choice.

BlueScope Steel workers can call the BlueScope Steel Support Hotline on 1800 107 233 for more information about the services and payments that may be available to them.

The package also includes:

  • Provision for BlueScope to bring forward up to $100 million of payments under the Government’s Steel Transformation Plan.
  • A $30 million Investment and Innovation Fund to support new business ventures and create innovative, high-skilled jobs, predominantly in manufacturing and manufacturing services in the Illawarra.
  • The appointment of Dr Don Russell, Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, to lead a whole-of-Government response to the BlueScope announcement and to work with local stakeholders on a coordinated structural adjustment strategy for the region.

More information

Tasmanian Forests Agreement

The Prime Minister and the Tasmanian Premier have announced a $276 million intergovernmental agreement designed to support the Tasmanian forest industry to progressively transition to a more sustainable and diversified footing and to build regional economic diversity and community resilience.

The package includes up front funding of up to $25 million for immediate employment and training support for redundant forest workers as well as intensive and accelerated support through Job Services Australia and other providers.

Tasmanian forest industry workers can call the Tasmanian Forest Support Information Line on 1800 648 075 for more information about the services and payments that may be available to them.

The agreement also includes:

  • $85 million to support contractors and their families affected by the downturn in the industry, and in particular Gunns Limited’s decision to exit native forest harvesting
  • $43 million to facilitate protection of new areas of high conservation value forests
  • $120 million over 15 years, including an initial payment of $20 million to identify and fund appropriate regional development projects
  • $7 million per annum ongoing to manage new reserves.

More information

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