The Federal Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis, is focusing on helping young carers, young parents and young students at risk of long-term unemployment, and is calling on the community to contribute ideas to help these people fulfil their goals and achieve their potential.
The Federal Government has launched the $96 million Try, Test and Learn Fund, which will initially target support for groups of young people who are most at-risk of long-term welfare dependency.
“From now until late February we want to tap into the best that Australian creativity can offer so we can help people stuck in the welfare system to find jobs that will allow them to flourish,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
“Our priority groups for the fund’s early stages are young carers, young parents and young students at risk of facing a future of long-term unemployment.
“The fund is about investing Government money to create opportunities to help people improve their lives, and find their potential.
“We already have some successful programs in the local area that need funding, so we’ll be collecting those ideas to put forward.”
Mrs Sudmalis called for people to send their ideas to her before mid-February, so she could take them directly to the relevant Minister.
“From there, ideas will be published on DSS Engage at www.engage.dss.gov.au for everyone to see, to encourage collaboration,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
A discussion forum will also be run, to encourage people to share their views about how the Try, Test and Learn Fund can help people in the priority groups.
The most promising ideas will be developed into policy initiatives.
“The Government aims to have selected the first handful of successful ideas by May 2017 and be on the way to on-the-ground implementation,” Mrs Sudmalis said Media Release
