outcome 1 – stronger families€¦ · outcome 1 reflects the government’s commitment to support...

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Outcome 1 – Stronger Families

DESCRIPTION

Outcome 1 reflects the government’s commitment to support and strengthen families as thefundamental unit of society. Recognising the contribution of families to the overall health andwell-being of individuals, the department:

� assists families to build their capacity and their resilience, including through supporting andstrengthening relationships;

� facilitates families in selecting and receiving the help they need at times of transition orcrisis;

� builds the community’s knowledge base about the needs, priorities and aspirations ofcontemporary Australian families; and

� develops partnerships with key stakeholders to improve the efficiency of services deliveredand to identify emerging problems and develop appropriate policy responses.

The contributing outputs for Outcome 1 are shown at Map 2.1. A detailed breakdown ofresources for Outcome 1 appears at Table 2.1.1.

As noted in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2001–02, the AdministrativeArrangements Order of 26 November 2001 resulted in Youth Affairs moving from the formerDepartment of Education, Training and Youth Affairs to FaCS, and has been incorporatedwithin Output Group 1.2 (Youth and Students). In Table 2.1.1, resourcing figures for 2001–02reflect expenses incurred since 27 November 2001.

CONTRIBUTION OF OUTPUTS TO OUTCOME 1

Four output groups under Outcome 1 contribute to meeting the government’s commitment tohelp support and strengthen families. The commitment will be delivered through a combinationof family-based approaches to services and income support, with an emphasis on government,community and family partnership.

Family Assistance (Output Group 1.1) will contribute by:

� providing income support to families to assist with the costs of children, includingnewborns, in a way that recognises the needs and choices of both single and dual incomefamilies; and

� helping support and strengthen families through the provision of services to enhance familyrelationships and prevent family breakdown. The services include parenting education andmeasures to prevent child abuse and neglect, and assisting parents to provide nurturing careand development opportunities for young children.

Youth and Student Support (Output Group 1.2) will contribute by:

� promoting a family orientation to the development of youth policy;

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Map 2.1: Outcome 1 and Contributing Outputs

Outcome 1Stronger Families

Total Resources 1 $17,977mDepartmental Appropriations $ 1,017mAdministered Appropriations 2 $16,152m

Departmental $421m Departmental $240m Departmental $224m Departmental $132mAppropriations Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations

Administered $11,670m Administered $2,792m Administered $2m Administered $1,686mAppropriations Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations

See Table 2.1.1 for resources and 2.1.3 for performance information.

Output Group 1.1 Output Group 1.4Output Group 1.2 Output Group 1.3Child Care Support

SupportFamily Assistance Youth and Student Child Support

1. ‘Total Resources’ includes appropriations, non-appropriated revenue and resources across outcomes.2. ‘Administered Appropriations’ include ‘Administered Items across outcome’

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� improving the life prospects of young Australians by successfully engaging young people,helping to enhance their self esteem and improving the profile and contribution of youngpeople in the community;

� helping low to middle income families through the provision of income support for youngpeople seeking work or undertaking education and training; and

� developing new partnership arrangements within and across levels of government tosupport innovations in youth and family support arrangements around young people’stransitions to independence and adulthood.

Child Support (Output Group 1.3) will contribute by:

� promoting parental responsibility for the support of children, through the provision ofservices to assist in the payment of child support.

Child Care Support (Output Group 1.4) will contribute:

� by helping families to participate in the economic and social life of the community throughthe provision of support for child care;

� by helping families to balance their work and parenting roles by the provision of flexiblechild care services;

� through quality child care, to the development and education of children; and

� by providing a focus for early intervention and prevention initiatives for vulnerablefamilies and children.

RESOURCING FOR OUTCOME 1

Total resourcing for Outcome 1 in 2002–03 is estimated to be $18.0 billion, $0.7 billion higherthan the final estimate of $17.3 billion for 2001–02. The expected indexation adjustments onrates of Family Tax Benefit, Youth Allowance and Child Care Benefit account for the bulk ofthe increase.

Final estimated resourcing for 2001–02 is also $0.7 billion higher than estimated in the 2001–02Budget ($16.7 billion). In the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2001–02 resourcingestimates were revised to $16.9 billion, which was reported as mainly due to higher thanexpected expenditure on Family Tax Benefit (FTB), as a result of more families than estimatedchoosing to access family assistance from Centrelink rather than from the tax system. Thefurther increase in estimates resourcing since Additional Estimates is also due to that factor and,to a lesser degree, to stronger demand for Child Care Benefit. The transfer of youth affairs tothe portfolio has also increased resourcing in 2001–02 relative to the 2001–02 Budget estimate,albeit to a lesser degree.

Policy Initiatives

There are significant policy initiatives announced in the 2002–03 Budget that will contribute toOutcome 1 as summarised in Table 2.1.2. New policy initiatives announced prior to the Budgetand variations to previously announced measures will also contribute to Outcome 1.

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Policy changes are expected to reduce Outcome 1 resourcing by $12.4 million in 2002–03mainly through the savings achieved from the compliance initiatives announced in the 2002–03Budget. In later years, policy initiatives will add to resourcing. Changes to the migrationprogram announced in the 2002–03 Budget will increase the demand for family assistance. Themeasure Recognising and Improving the Work Capacity of People with a Disability willincrease somewhat the demand for income support payments under Outcome 1 (particularlyYouth Allowance and Austudy) as people move off Disability Support Pension to otherpayments.

Other Resource Variations

Other variations to Outcome 1 resourcing relate to:

� Child Care Assistance – rephasing $1.0 million from 2001–02 to 2002–03 to meetoutstanding claims; and

� Targeted Youth Assistance Program – rephasing $2.0 million from 2001–02 to 2002–03 toalign funding with program delivery time lines.

In addition, as noted earlier, resourcing levels have been increased by the transfer of the YouthAffairs function to the FaCS portfolio. The effect of that change on Outcome 1 resourcing isoffset in part by the transfer of the Family and Community Network Initiative to Outcome 2effective from 1 July 2002.

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Table 2.1.1: Total Resources for Outcome 1

Final BudgetEstimates Estimates2001–02 2002–03

$'000 $'000

Items applicable across Outcome 1Appropriation Bill (No. 1)

514 527

National Secretariats 674 682

79 81

Subtotal 1,267 1,2901,267 1,290

Output Group 1.1 – Family AssistanceAppropriation Bill (No. 1)Child Abuse Prevention 3,923 4,013Family Adjustment Payment 350 20Family and Community Network Initiative 1 2,167 -

27,615 27,665

Indigenous Parenting and Family Well-being 2,038 2,080Services for families with children 8,297 7,941

18,495 17,910 Subtotal 62,885 59,629Appropriation Bill (No. 2)

4,753 4,875Services for families with children SPP 360 371 Subtotal 5,113 5,246Special AppropriationsDouble Orphan Pension 2,005 2,059Family Tax Benefit 11,035,171 11,381,193Maternity Allowances 217,812 222,147 Subtotal 11,254,988 11,605,399

11,322,986 11,670,274Output Group 1.2 – Youth and Student SupportAppropriation Bill (No. 1)Components of the Strategic Intervention Program 2 & 3 29 -Green Corps 2 9,208 23,037Job Placement, Employment and Training Program 2 11,861 18,471Mentor Marketplace - 802Reconnect 20,244 19,244Targeted Youth Assistance Program 2 2,478 2,000Youth Activities Services 6,601 6,730 Subtotal 50,421 70,284

ADMINISTERED APPROPRIATIONS

Ex Gratia payments and savings provisions for DVA pensioners receiving Family Tax Benefit A and Child Care Benefit

Payments to universities and other organisations for special studies and research

Grants to Family Relationship Support Organisations (including payments under the Family Law Act 1975 and the Marriage Act 1961)

Total items across Outcome 1

Stronger Families and Communities Strategy : Families Initiatives

Family and Youth Support (National Illicit Drugs Strategy) SPP

Total Output Group 1.1

1. Family and Community Network Initiative will move to Output Group 2.2 from 1 July 2002.2. These items have been transferred to FaCS under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 26

November 2001. 2001–02 expenditure levels reflect a part-year funding effect.3. This component of the program provided a community grant to expand opportunities for training which

may facilitate access to new apprenticeships and will terminate on 30 June 2002.

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$'000 $'000

Appropriation Bill (No. 2)Transition to Independent Living Allowance - 897 Subtotal - 897Special AppropriationsAustudy Payment 265,261 271,919Fares Allowance 1,095 1,095

159,233 159,119Youth Allowance 2,227,213 2,289,089 Subtotal 2,652,802 2,721,222

2,703,223 2,792,403Output Group 1.3 – Child SupportAppropriation Bill (No. 1)

802 1,675

Subtotal 802 1,675Special Appropriations

43 78

2 4

Subtotal 45 82847 1,757

Output Group 1.4 – Child Care SupportAppropriation Bill (No. 1)Child Care Assistance 4 9,000 1,000Child care for eligible parents undergoing training 10,363 14,037Support for child care 173,971 180,815 Subtotal 193,334 195,852Appropriation Bill (No. 2)Support for child care SPP 11,155 10,296 Subtotal 11,155 10,296Special AppropriationsChild Care Benefit 1,366,160 1,480,183Child Care Rebate 5 85 - Subtotal 1,366,245 1,480,183

1,570,734 1,686,331Total Administered AppropriationsAppropriation Bill (No. 1) 308,709 328,730Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 16,268 16,439Special appropriations 15,274,080 15,806,886

15,599,057 16,152,055Non-Directly Appropriated ExpensesChild Support Agency Trust 744,919 805,516

744,919 805,51616,343,976 16,957,571Total Administered Resourcing (A)

Student Financial Supplement Scheme




Child Support Agency - Payments to cover cheque dishonours, incorrect maintenance payments and refunds of overpayments

Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 – Payment to cover shortfalls in the Child Support Trust AccountChild Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 – Unexplained Remittances

Total Non-Directly Appropriated Expenses

Total Administered Appropriations

ADMINISTERED APPROPRIATIONS

4. Child Care Assistance was replaced with Child Care Benefit from 1 July 2000. Amounts in 2001–02relate to late claims.

5. Child Care Rebate was replaced with Child Care Benefit from 1 July 2000.

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$'000 $'000

Output Group 1.1 – Family AssistancePolicy Advice 18,712 17,997Purchasing, Funding & Relationship Management 22,819 21,947Research and Evaluation 4,107 3,950Service Delivery

Centrelink 362,675 366,796Other 10,872 10,753

419,185 421,443Output Group 1.2 – Youth and Student SupportPolicy Advice 5,268 4,962Purchasing, Funding & Relationship Management 4,892 4,608Research and Evaluation 2,383 2,245Service Delivery


223,929 240,174Output Group 1.3 – Child SupportPolicy Advice 180 83Purchasing, Funding & Relationship Management 62 28Research and Evaluation 273 126Service Delivery

Centrelink 1,709 561Child Support Agency 219,701 223,079

221,925 223,877Output Group 1.4 – Child Care SupportPolicy Advice 3,632 3,575Purchasing, Funding & Relationship Management 24,517 24,132Research and Evaluation 2,119 2,086Service Delivery


129,177 131,931994,216 1,017,425

Revenue from Other SourcesSection 31 of the FMA Act 1997 1,764 1,807

1,764 1,807

995,980 1,019,232

17,339,956 17,976,803

Average Staffing Level (units) 3,241 3,262


Total Revenue from Other Sources (C)

(Total price of outputs and administered expenses)

Total Price of Departmental Outputs (B+C)

DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS


Total Estimated Resourcing for Outcome 1 (A+B+C)

(Total revenue from Government and from other sources)



Total Revenue from Government (Appropriations) (B)

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Chart 2.1: Trends in Resourcing for Outcome 1 (2000–01 to 2002–03)

14,11015,599 16,152

997

9961,019

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Financial Year

$ m

illio

n

Total Administered Appropriations Total Price of Departmental Outputs

On-going expenditure growth in Outcome 1 primarily reflects the indexation of income supportand family assistance payments, particularly Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit and YouthAllowance.

As noted earlier, expenditure in 2001–02 grew relative to expenditure in 2000–01. The increasein 2001–02 was larger than previously expected and reflected the impact of changed patterns intake-up of family assistance.

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Table 2.1.2: Summary of Budget and Non-Budget Measures for Outcome 1

New Measures – Output PageFaCS Group

Admin Dept Total Admin Dept Total Admin Dept Total Admin Dept TotalItems Outputs Items Outputs Items Outputs Items Outputs

Extension of Funding to Support Family Relationships

1.1 171 5,243 106 5,349 - - - - - - - - -

Revised Funding for the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy

1.1 173 -6,366 - -6,366 -4,138 - -4,138 - - - - - -

Implementation of Certain Australians Working Together Measures

1.2 175 -3,485 - -3,485 190 - 190 - - - - - -

Additional Funding for Changes to Social Security Arrangements with New Zealand

1.2 178 - 20 20 - 207 207 - 163 163 - 186 186

Recognising and Improving the Work Capacity of People with a Disability

1.2 181 - 303 303 5,556 1,421 6,977 14,914 2,265 17,179 24,532 3,266 27,798

Restricting Activity Test Exemptions for Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance Recipients

1.2 183 - - - - - - - - - - - -

2005–06($'000) ($'000) ($'000)($'000)

2002–03 2003–04 2004–05Appropriations AppropriationsAppropriations Appropriations

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New Measures – Output PageFaCS Group


Compliance Package – Prevention and Detection

1.1, 1.2 184 -31,942 8,947 -22,995 -26,870 6,660 -20,210 -24,417 4,851 -19,566 -22,047 4,709 -17,338

Compliance Package – Assurance, Research and Development

1.2 186 -1,105 756 -349 -1,375 759 -616 -1,123 757 -366 -1,390 777 -613

Reprioritisation of Departmental Resources

1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4

187 - -3,500 -3,500 - - - - - - - - -

Sub-Total -37,655 6,632 -31,023 -26,637 9,047 -17,590 -10,626 8,036 -2,590 1,095 8,938 10,033Non-Budget

Measures

Better Monitoring of Preparing for Work Activity Agreements

1.2 189 -4,405 4,916 511 -7,081 4,064 -3,017 -6,559 4,299 -2,260 -6,491 4,331 -2,160

Reduced Penalties for Non-attendance at Interviews

1.2 190 6,221 -43 6,178 5,593 -92 5,501 6,018 -64 5,954 6,334 -53 6,281

Non Economic Loss – Change to Previous Budget Measure

1.2 191 - - - -111 - -111 -459 - -459 -547 - -547

Changes to the Indexation Provisions for Commonwealth Support of the Childcare Sector

1.4 194 - - - - - - - - - - - -

Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06($'000) ($'000) ($'000) ($'000)

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Non-Budget Output PageMeasures Group


Compliance Publicity Campaign to Encourage Customer Compliance – Deferred Implementation

1.1, 1.2 196 -429 - -429 -642 - -642 - - - - - -

Sub-Total 1,387 4,873 6,260 -2,241 3,972 1,731 -1,000 4,235 3,235 -704 4,278 3,574Other Portfolio

Measures

Exceptional Circumstances in the Northern Wheatbelt Region in WA

1.2 197 421 - 421 433 - 433 - - - - - -

Increase in the Permanent Migrant Intake

1.1, 1.2 198 11,477 195 11,672 35,388 217 35,605 62,266 385 62,651 92,591 469 93,060

Sub-Total 11,898 195 12,093 35,821 217 36,038 62,266 385 62,651 92,591 469 93,060TOTAL -24,370 11,700 -12,670 6,943 13,236 20,179 50,640 12,656 63,296 92,982 13,685 106,667

Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06($'000) ($'000) ($'000) ($'000)

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PAYMENTS AND SERVICES UNDER OUTCOME 1

Overview

Payments and services under Outcome 1 focus on supporting and strengthening families.Departmental outputs and administered items that support the outcome include:

� payments made directly to families to assist them in meeting the costs of dependentchildren;

� payments to young people and students;

� financial assistance with the costs of child care;

� the facilitation and enforcement of child support responsibilities;

� funding of organisations to provide support for families, youth and child care services; and

� research and policy development, advice and support.

Payments and Services Applicable Across Output Groups

National Secretariats

The National Secretariats Program provides funding to enable peak bodies to contribute togovernment policy in the family and community services area and act as an effective conduitfor information flow between the government and their membership. It also provides aconsultative mechanism for the Minister and the portfolio.

Payments to Universities and other organisations for special studies and research

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian NationalUniversity is funded by FaCS to undertake research on the social and economic circumstancesof indigenous peoples.

FaCS funding is based on a five-year contract between CAEPR and FaCS (from 1998–2003).CAEPR funding is split between Outcome 1 and Outcome 3.

FaCS funding is directed at CAEPR’s core research program and two FaCS specific researchprojects. The focus of FaCS specific research is two longitudinal case studies.

One of the longitudinal studies explores the work patterns, job search behaviours andaspirations of young indigenous people living in the Torres Strait and how these young peopleinteract with the FaCS’ labour market payments and services; the CDEP scheme, and localindustry.

The second FaCS specific research investigates the effectiveness and appropriateness of incomesupport payments for the care of the children of indigenous families in Kuranda in NorthQueensland and Yuendumu in Central Australia. Key findings to date have identified issues ofshort-term mobility and extended child care arrangements. These findings provided FaCS with

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a better understanding of the circumstances of indigenous families, particularly as they relate tothe payment of Family Tax Benefit.

As a consequence of this study, FaCS is considering further research on child mobility, patternsof extended family child raising and the implication for delivery of assistance and howpayments can be made more relevant and able to improve outcomes for children and families.

Research conducted by CAEPR has provided FaCS with a deeper understanding of theeconomic status of Indigenous Australians. The knowledge attained as a result of CAEPRresearch is utilised to progress the development of effective, evidence-based policy specificallyin relation to the interaction between income support and job search behaviour in indigenouscommunities.

Family Assistance

Stronger Families and Communities Strategy: Families Initiatives

The Stronger Families and Communities Strategy contributes to both Outcomes 1 and 2 throughprevention and early intervention initiatives to support and strengthen Australian families andcommunities, especially families at risk and disadvantaged communities.

Within Outcome 1, the strategy contributes to family assistance and child care support. Strategyinitiatives that contribute to family assistance are the Stronger Families Fund and the EarlyIntervention, Parenting and Family Relationships Support Initiative. The Stronger FamiliesFund encourages communities to find new ways to strengthen families, with a particular focuson early childhood development and effective parenting. It funds local projects which willsupport parents and families in their role of caring for young children and it works to buildcommunity networks, particularly in rural and regional areas. The Early Intervention, Parentingand Family Relationships Support Initiative encourages communities to provide innovativeservices and activities like parenting support and play groups, marriage and relationshipeducation and family counselling. This initiative provides project funding as well as providingpractical skills and support for families facing difficulties to help prevent family breakdown.

The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children is a comprehensive study that will support thedevelopment of policy on early childhood and effective early intervention and preventionstrategies in areas of health, education, child care and family support.

Strategy initiatives that contribute to child care support are grouped under the administered itemSupport for Child Care, which is discussed later in the section. Initiatives that contribute toOutcome 2 are also discussed separately.

Across Outcome 1, total resourcing for the Strategy is $38.9 million in 2001–02 and$43.5 million in 2002–03.

Family Assistance Office

The Family Assistance Office (FAO) provides families with better access to governmentpayments and services. FAO delivers the current range of family assistance payments, includingFamily Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Maternity Allowance, Maternity ImmunisationAllowance and Family Adjustment Payment. There are around 550 FAO outlets located in

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Centrelink Customer Service Centres, Medicare offices and Australian Taxation Office accesssites across Australia.

Family Payments

Family Tax Benefit

Family Tax Benefit Part A provides families with general assistance towards the costs ofchildren. Over 1.8 million families with over 3.5 million children are receiving the payment ona fortnightly basis. It replaced Minimum Family Allowance, More than Minimum FamilyAllowance, Family Tax Payment Part A and Family Tax Assistance Part A.

Family Tax Benefit Part B provides extra assistance to families with only one main incomeearner (including sole parent families). There are over 1.2 million families receiving thispayment on a fortnightly basis. Family Tax Benefit Part B replaced Basic Parenting Payment,Guardian Allowance, Family Tax Payment Part B, Family Tax Assistance Part B, DependentSpouse Rebate (with children) and Sole Parent Rebate.

Double Orphan Pension

Double Orphan Payment (DOP) provides assistance to guardians or approved care organisationsin meeting the costs of caring for children who are double orphans. A double orphan is a childwhose parents or adoptive parents have died, or who have one parent deceased and the otherparent: in prison for at least ten years; on remand and charged with an offence punishable byimprisonment for at least ten years; indefinitely living in a psychiatric, nursing or other similarinstitution; or ‘uncontactable’, ie, whose whereabouts are unknown. In March 2002 DOP waspaid to 1,211 customers in respect of 1,593 children. This compares with 1,260 customers paidat the same time last year, in respect of 1,651 children.

Family Adjustment Payment

On 10 April 2000, the government introduced the Family Adjustment Payment (FAP) scheme.Under this scheme families can apply for payment if they can demonstrate that they weredisadvantaged by the introduction of Family Tax Benefit, Part B. This mechanism takes intoaccount the combined effects of family assistance changes, income tax cuts, other changesmade to the social security system under the tax package, and the Goods and Services Tax. Thedeadline for lodgement of FAP claims is 30 June 2002. In the 2000–01 financial year,152 payments were made.

Maternity Allowances

Other payments to families include Maternity Allowance and Maternity ImmunisationAllowance. Maternity Allowance is a lump sum payment that provides extra assistance with thecosts of newborn children, including the indirect costs of time out of the workforce. MaternityImmunisation Allowance provides an additional payment for children fully immunised at age18 months, or exempt from immunisation. More families have become eligible for paymentbecause the family assistance income test, which is used to test eligibility for these payments,was made more generous with the introduction of the new family assistance arrangements on1 July 2000.

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Family Support Services

Support services assist families in crises or transition and those experiencing relationshipdifficulties. Educative and preventative measures are a specific focus of a range of measuresand activities. Prevention of domestic violence and child abuse are priority areas, as is assistingparents to provide nurturing care and development opportunities for young children.

Child Abuse Prevention

A range of activities is focussed on preventing child abuse, including support for home visitingand other parenting support, funding for the child protection clearing house and disseminatinginformation on good parenting.

Grants to Family Relationship Support Organisations

Grants to Family Relationship Support organisations fund a wide range of activities that supportfamilies. These activities include education, counselling, mediation and other support servicesfor relationships between family members. The program includes the delivery of specialisedservices for families experiencing domestic violence. The Commonwealth FinancialCounselling Program funds community organisations to provide free financial counselling tospecific target groups. Other family support services assist community organisations to helpfamilies in crisis and aid parent-child relationships.

Indigenous Parenting and Family Wellbeing

The program promotes the importance of strong families among Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander people, while increasing parenting skills and participation in family life. This isachieved through funding community organisations to provide a variety of services includinghome visiting, family support, skills training and mentoring.

National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS)

The National Illicit Drug Strategy combines a variety of prevention, early intervention,education and diversion programs, to combat drugs in the community.

FaCS is responsible for the Strengthening and Supporting Families Coping with Illicit DrugUse component of NIDS. The measure, announced in the 1999–00 Budget and providingfunding of $11.3 million over four years, assists communities and community organisations toprovide support services for families with young persons affected by illicit drug use.

Services for Families with Children

Services for families with children comprise a range of initiatives to assist families withchildren develop their parenting skills, confidence and self esteem, so that children are able todevelop to their full potential. Services provided through this funding include funding for stateand territory playgroup associations, funding for Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agenciesand other family support services.

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For example, FaCS provides funding to state and territory playgroup associations. Playgroupsfocus on interactive play and socialising, and help parents and carers to develop their own skillsand confidence. Around 15 per cent of families with children under five years participate inplaygroups.

Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies are concerned with the placement (fostering andadoption) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and related family welfare matters.

Other family support services receive funding through the Services for Families with Childrenallocation. These services provide a wide range of activities in the areas of health, welfare(including child abuse), education and child care.

Youth and Student Support

Youth Payments

Payments for young people aim to assist the family’s primary responsibility to support youngpeople financially and to help them successfully negotiate the complex transitions betweeneducation, training and the workforce, as well as from childhood to adulthood.

Austudy Payment

Austudy payment provides income support for full-time students aged 25 years and over. InMarch 2002, the average number of Austudy clients participating in secondary and postsecondary education was 33,900, representing a decrease of 1,300 over the previous year. Theunemployment rate has an impact on future customer numbers. The low unemployment ratewould lead to a decrease in numbers as potential customers choose to remain in employmentrather than study.

Fares Allowance

Fares Allowance reimburses the cost of fares incurred by tertiary students receiving YouthAllowance, and full-time or concessional study load students receiving Austudy who need tolive away from their permanent home for study reasons. Reimbursement of the cost of thecheapest practical form of transport is given for two return trips per year, to and from the homeand the study institution, depending on the length of the study course. Fares Allowance is notavailable for the reimbursement of daily travel expenses.

Student Financial Supplement Scheme

The Student Financial Supplement Scheme is an optional loan scheme which gives tertiarystudents the option of borrowing money to help cover their expenses while studying. A studenttrades in $1 of Youth Allowance, Austudy or Pensioner Education Supplement for every $2 thatthey wish to receive as a Supplement loan.

Youth Allowance

Youth Allowance provides income support for eligible young people in the 16–24 age bracket.Included are full-time students up to and including the age of 24 years and other young people

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up to the age of 21. Clients are required to engage in one or a combination of activities, namelyeducation, training, job search or other activities that will enhance their capacity for economicself-reliance. The parental means test places an obligation on families to support young peoplewhere they can. In March 2002, the average number of Youth Allowance clients was 361,000representing an increase of 7,900 over the previous year.

Youth Services

Youth services provide other support for young people needing more intensive assistance.

Green Corps

In March 2000, Commonwealth, state and territory youth ministers agreed to a CommonwealthYouth Development Strategy. Youth development programs give young people the opportunityto participate in their community in a local, national and global context. Service to, andparticipation in, the community allows young people to contribute to those communities whileat the same time assisting them to develop as citizens.

Green Corps is the Commonwealth’s major youth development program, which aims toimprove the development of young people and to contribute to the protection and enhancementof Australia’s natural resources. Green Corps provides all young Australians, aged 17 to 20years, with the opportunity to volunteer to work on environmental and heritage conservationprojects. Participants receive at least 134 hours of quality-accredited training and a trainingallowance equivalent to the National Training Wage Award Level C for the six-month durationof the projects. From its commencement in March 1997 to June 2002, 8,740 young Australianswill have had the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the environment byparticipating in one of the 874 projects. In 2000–01, there were 1,740 placements in 174projects and 69 per cent of participants moved into further education, training or employmentwithin three months of their project being completed.

Green Corps is also complemented by a range of other youth programs and activities.

Job Placement Employment and Training Program (JPET)

JPET provides a holistic approach to assist young people to overcome problems preventingthem from maintaining stable accommodation and entering into full-time education, training oremployment. JPET will offer ongoing support and referral services to young people to helpovercome a range of problems, including housing, substance abuse, family difficulties, sexualor other abuse, lack of self-esteem, reliance on income support, and other barriers toemployment, education or training. The program has now been running for several years andoperates in 136 locations around the country assisting over 14,000 eligible young people eachyear.

Reconnect

Reconnect provides early intervention support for young people, aged between 12 and 18 yearsat risk of homelessness, and their families. Reconnect services offer counselling, adolescentmediation and practical support to both young people and their families.

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The program aims to improve the level of engagement of homeless young people or those atrisk of homelessness with family, work, education, training and the community. Thegovernment allocated $60 million to the Reconnect over the first four years from 1999–2003.There is ongoing funding of $20 million per annum from July 2003.

As at March 2002, the department funded 93 Reconnect services nationwide. In addition, sevenother communities are participating in a community development process to establishReconnect services.

Mentor Marketplace

Mentor Marketplace will help to connect young people to paid employment and the concept oflifelong learning. It will encourage the development of a mentoring culture in the communityand encourages young people to participate in skill sharing and peer mentoring activities.

Targeted Youth Assistance Program

There are a number of different services and projects provided under the Targeted YouthAssistance Program. These include: the provision of information and referral services toisolated young people; the development and delivery of innovative, community based servicingresponses to the needs of young people in transition, as identified by the Prime Minister’sYouth Pathways Action Plan Taskforce; and projects which assist the integration of youngoffenders into mainstream community life.

The Commonwealth contracts a variety of community organisations, local, state and territorygovernments to deliver these services on its behalf. The last of the contracts will terminate inthe second half of 2003.

Transition to Independent Living Allowance

The Transition to Independent Living Allowance is a one-off, targeted payment which willassist young people with the costs of independent living when they leave state supported care. Itis intended that state and territory governments will deliver the payment on behalf of theCommonwealth.

Youth Activities Services

The Youth Activities Services Program supports young people (11–16 years) and their familiesgenerally through providing after school activities that are both creative and challenging andalso have an aspect of positive peer support.

The program aims to prevent young people from developing and continuing with patterns ofbehaviour that place them at risk of disconnecting from their families, schools andcommunities. There are 90 projects that are recurrently funded across Australia.

In most Youth Activities Services, the Family Liaison Worker provides practical support andguidance to young people and their families. The program helps young people to deal withdifficulties such as family conflict, lack of communication or other issues affecting theirwell-being as a family member and to refer them on to specialist services as required. The

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program aims to strengthen family relationships. There are 83 Family Liaison Workersoperating within the Youth Activities Services program.

Youth Initiatives

There are a number of Youth Initiatives that focus on engaging the youth of the nation toactively contribute to the community. These initiatives are generally managed directly by FaCS,sponsorship or contracted service providers. The initiatives are funded from departmentalappropriations. The initiatives include:

� The Voices of Youth Initiative, which includes:

– the National Youth Roundtable and the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group,which provide opportunities for young people to consult directly with their communityand with government about issues and policies that impact on young Australians;

– the Australian Forum of Youth Organisations; and

– facilitation of direct communication with young people through The Source websiteand access to information for young people through the Youth Portal.

� The Commonwealth Youth Development Strategy, which includes the development andexpansion of youth development activities through collaboration with state and territorygovernments and major community organisations.

� Other youth events and activities, including:

– National Youth Week;

– the National Youth Media Awards; and

– the Inaugural Youth Enterprise Conference.

� Sponsorship is provided for:

– the Ship for Youth;

– the National Awards for Innovation in Local government;

– Young Australian of the Year;

– Rock Eisteddfod;

– Rostrum Voice of Youth Final; and

– the National Youth Science Forum.

Child Support

The Child Support Agency provides services to assist separated parents in the transfer of childsupport payments. The Child Support Scheme is designed to ensure that both parents contributeto the costs of children, according to their means. The Scheme assists more than one millionparents.

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Child Care Support

Child Care Support strengthens families by allowing parents to participate more fully, botheconomically and socially, in the community. Child care also benefits children by providingthem with opportunities for learning in a social environment and providing quality educationalexperiences. A diverse range of child care services are supported by the Commonwealthincluding:

� centre-based long day care;

� family day care;

� flexible and innovative services;

� in-home care;

� outside school hours care and vacation care;

� occasional-care services;

� multifunctional services; and

� multifunctional aboriginal children’s services.

Child Care Benefit

Over $8 billion has been allocated for child care over four years from 2002–03 to2005–06, including allocation for Child Care Benefit (CCB). For 2001–02 about $1.4 billionwas allocated to CCB. CCB is a payment to assist families with the cost of accessing child care.

CCB was introduced on 1 July 2000 and is administered by the Family Assistance Office. CCBreplaced Child care Assistance and Child care Rebate in July 2000. The amount of CCB towhich a family is entitled depends upon family income, number of children in care, the numberof hours of care and the type of care. Families using Commonwealth approved child careservices and on the lowest incomes receive the highest rate of assistance. The CCB rate isgradually reduced as assessed family income increases, to the point where families receive theminimum rate. Families using registered care can receive minimum CCB.

The number of families using formal child care has increased steadily since the introduction ofCCB and is expected to increase further with additional assistance provided by indexation of therates of benefit over time.

As at June 2001, there were over 677,000 children using approved care. The figure provides asingle count of children using more than one service. Fifty-eight per cent of these children arein centre based long day care, 17 per cent are in family day care and 26 per cent are in outsideschool hours care.

From 1 July 2001 to 30 September 2001, about 460,500 families received CCB. Of these, about40 per cent received maximum rates of CCB and about 12 per cent received minimum rates ofCCB.

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Support for Child Care

The Commonwealth provides funding to support child care services meet the needs of familiesrequiring flexible child care and those living in rural and regional areas. These flexible serviceshelp families by better meeting their needs for child care, or providing a service where nonepreviously existed. The quality of service provided by Commonwealth approved centre basedlong day care services is ensured through the Quality Improvement and Accreditation System(QIAS), which was implemented in 1994. The system was reviewed in 2000 and the revisedQIAS commenced in January 2002.

Part of the Stronger Families and Community Strategy announced in the 2000–01 Budget wasthe enhanced flexibility of child care service delivery through in-home care. SinceJanuary 2001, more than 1,700 places for in-home child care have been approved. In additionfunding is provided to encourage the establishment of child care centres in rural areas wherethere is an established need. The strategy also establishes a quality assurance scheme for FamilyDay Care and Outside School Hours Care. The Family Day Care Quality Assurance Systemcommenced in July 2001. Work is currently underway to develop the quality assurance systemfor outside school hours care.

Child Care for Eligible Parents Undergoing Training

The Jobs, Education and Training Program (JET) provides participation planning, support andreferral to Centrelink customers receiving certain payments. For many people the cost of childcare is one of the barriers preventing them from studying, training or seeking entry or re-entryinto paid employment.

As part of Australians Working Together (AWT), announced in the 2001–02 Budget, theadministration processes for JET are being simplified and streamlined, resulting in a moreconsistent assessment for all JET child care customers. The change will allow a larger numberof customers participating in the JET program to receive much needed help with the cost ofchild care and to access assistance in finding child care places.

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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR OUTCOME 1

Operating Environment Statement

Families are the fundamental social unit in Australian society. However, the composition ofAustralian families is changing, contributing to and, in turn, reflecting broader social change.

The size and make-up of Australian families is changing. While lone parent families areincreasing as a proportion of families with dependent children, most families with dependentchildren are two-parent families (around 80 per cent). However, the proportion of families thatconsist of a couple with dependent children is reducing – while the proportions of lone parentfamilies, couple only families and single person households are increasing. There are a numberof factors contributing to these trends, including structural ageing of the population, theincreasing trend of childlessness, longer-term decline in marriage rates and high levels ofdivorce, separation and relationship instability. Also, the number of blended families and sharedcare arrangements for children of separated and divorced parents is increasing.

Despite these trends, around 80 per cent of children live in two parent families and althoughcohabitation is increasing, marriage remains the dominant pathway to child-bearing.

The proportion of people who will never marry is also increasing. Two in five marriages arelikely to end in divorce, affecting one in five children. Some 49,600 children were in familieswith parents who divorced in 2000.

Australia’s population is ageing, people are having fewer children and having them later in life.Although 249,600 children were born in Australia during 2000, our fertility rate has beendeclining over recent decades and in 2000 was 1.75 babies per woman. (A total fertility rate of2.1 is needed for the population to replace itself.) While the current fertility rate is at a recordlow, it shares the longer-term trend of other developed nations, many of which have lowerfertility rates than Australia.

Around a quarter of Australian women are now likely to remain childless; mothers generallyhave fewer children; and those that do generally have them when they are older. The averageage at which women are having their first child has increased to 27.3 years, with the averageage of mothers at time of birth being 29.8 years in 2000 (up from 26.6 years in 1980) with bothevents occurring at a slightly older age for fathers. There are notable differences in fertility ratesand age of parents at birth within the Australian population. For instance, Indigenous womenand women in non-metropolitan Australia have higher fertility rates and are younger at firstbirth than the average.

Roles within families also continue to change, especially as women’s, and notably mothers’,participation in the paid workforce continues its long-term trend increase. Many families arecombining family and work activities effectively, however, women continue to perform themajority of caring and other unpaid domestic work. In many cases, families have accessed thegrowth of part-time employment to help meet family and work commitments. Often, women inparticular combine child caring responsibilities with part-time paid work, with the likelihoodand number of hours worked increasing as the youngest child ages, and particularly oncechildren reach school age. Arrangements to assist workers with family responsibilities haveincreased in workplaces over the last two decades. In 1999, 53 per cent of families with children

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under 12 years of age, and with at least one parent employed, used provisions aimed at helpingpeople to balance work and family responsibilities.

Nonetheless, many households do not have an adult in paid work—affecting one in six childrenin 1996–97.

Demand for child care is growing, with the number of children in Commonwealth approvedchild care services currently at around 677,000. Over 460,000 families currently receive ChildCare Benefit.

Young people are staying in education and living with their parents longer. At June 2001, theYear 12 retention rate was 73.4 per cent and the proportion of young people aged 16 to 24participating in full-time education increased to 39.6 per cent (up from 38.8 per cent inJune 2000). There were 2.47 million young people in the 16 to 24 age group at June 2001,compared to 2.44 million at June 2000.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that the proportion of 20 to 24 year olds living athome increased from 42 per cent in 1986 to 47 per cent in 1999. During the same period, theproportion of 25 to 29 year olds living at home increased from 12 per cent to 17 per cent.

Performance Indicators for Budget Measures

For information on proposed performance indicators for budget measures refer to the measuredescriptions in Section 3 of this budget statement.

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Table 2.1.3: Performance Information for Outcome 1

Output Group 1.1: Family Assistance

Administered Items

� Child Abuse Prevention� Double Orphan Pension� Family and Youth Support (National Illicit Drugs Strategy)� Family Tax Benefit� Grants to Family Relationship Support Organisations (including payments under the

Family Law Act 1975 and the Marriage Act 1961)� Grants To Family Relationship Support Organisations – Family Relationships Services

Program� Indigenous Parenting and Family Wellbeing� Maternity Allowances� Services for Families with Children� Stronger Families and Communities Strategy: Families Initiatives

Departmental Outputs

� Policy Advice� Purchasing, Funding & Relationship Management� Research and Evaluation� Service Delivery

Administered Appropriations: $11,670.3m

Departmental Appropriations: $421.4m

2002–03 Estimate

ADMINISTERED ITEMS

Reference Indicator Type Indicator

Child AbusePrevention

Effectiveness Capacity Average number of members of thechild protect e-mail discussion list(estimate: 390 members)

Number of hits per annum on theNational Child Protection ClearinghouseWeb Site (estimate: 300,000 hits perannum)

Quality Assurance Percentage of completed funded projectsmeeting objectives/outputs agreed withFaCS (estimate: 90 per cent)

Percentage of funded projects meetingmilestones agreed with FaCS(estimate: 90 per cent)

Price $4.0 million

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Double OrphanPension

Quantity Number of clients receiving DoubleOrphan Pension. (estimate: 1,600)

Price $2.1 million

Family and YouthSupport (NationalIllicit DrugsStrategy – NIDS)

Effectiveness Capacity Percentage of people with positiveoutcomes as defined under the programand measured through the evaluationprocess conducted by each state andterritory, which will help measure:– increased parents’ knowledge ofvarious illicit drugs and their effects onyoung people (pre and post assistance)– increased awareness of other Councilof Australian Governments (COAG)NIDS measures and how to accessappropriate services– increased community perceptions thatfamilies are better equipped to cope withthe young person's illicit drug use(estimate: not applicable. There is notarget level and some states are in theprocess of selecting tenders and have notreached any stage of operation)

Quantity Number of families assisted

Number of requests for assistance(estimate: not applicable. There is notarget level and some states are in theprocess of selecting tenders and have notreached any stage of operation)

Price $4.9 million

Family TaxBenefit

Effectiveness Take-up/Coverage

Number of 16–24 year olds, notreceiving Youth Allowance, who attractFTB Part A (estimate: 235,000)

Number of families entitled to FamilyTax Benefit who claim and receive theirentitlement within the 2 year periodallowed for their claim(estimate: 1.9 million)

Quality Access &Choice

Percentage of clients choosingfortnightly payment compared with endof year lump sum through the taxationsystem (estimate: 95 per cent)

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Assurance Percentage of FTB fortnightly paymentclaims finalised within 21 days oflodgement (estimate: 70 per cent)

Quantity Number of recipients of Family TaxBenefit:Maximum Rate FTB Part A (withincome support) (estimate: 509,000)Maximum Rate FTB Part A (withoutincome support) (estimate: 127,000)FTB Part A broken rate(estimate: 406,000)FTB Part A base rate(estimate: 725,000)FTB Part A below base rate(estimate: 31,000)FTB Part B maximum rate (for soleparents) (estimate: 559,000)FTB Part B maximum rate (for couples)(estimate: 289,000)FTB Part B broken rate (for couples)(estimate: 331,000)

Price $11.4 billion

Grants to Family Relationship Support Organisations

Cost Average cost per session and per client– CommonwealthFinancialCounsellingProgram

Effectiveness Adequacy Percentage of clients whose problemwas resolved

Percentage of total clients withimproved ability to manage financialaffairs in the future(estimate: 70 per cent)

Quantity Number of clients (estimate: 12,000)– FamilyRelationshipsServices Program

Cost Average cost per session and per client(estimate: less than $200 per session and$400 per client)

Effectiveness Capacity Percentage of clients recordingimprovement in their presentrelationship issue (estimate: 70 per cent)

Quality Assurance Percentage of service providers meetingFamily Quality Information Strategy(FAMQIS) Tier 1 standards(estimate: 90 per cent)

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Quantity Number of sessions provided (estimate:220,000 sessions)

Number of clients(estimate: 110,000)

Total Price $27.7 million

IndigenousParenting andFamilyWell-being

Quality Assurance Percentage of completed funded projectsmeeting objectives/outputs agreed withFaCS (estimate: 90 per cent)

Percentage of funded projects meetingmilestones agreed with FaCS(estimate: 90 per cent)

Price $2.1 million

MaternityAllowances

Quantity Number of clients receiving MaternityAllowance (estimate: MaternityAllowance for 200,000 children,Maternity Immunisation Allowance for160,000 children)

Effectiveness Targeting Number and percentage of clients paidMaternity Immunisation Allowance oncompletion of immunisation (ie not onthe basis of medical and non-medicalexemptions from the immunisationrequirement) (estimate: benchmark to bedeveloped after data is available)

Price $222.1 million

Number of hits per annum on thenational playgroups web site(estimate: 20,000)

Services forFamilies withChildren

Effectiveness Capacity

Percentage of families with childrenunder 5 years of age participating inplaygroups (estimate: 15 per cent)

Quality Assurance Percentage of funded projects meetingmilestones agreed with FaCS

Price $7.9 million

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Stronger Familiesand CommunitiesStrategy: FamiliesInitiatives

Effectiveness Capacity Family participation in communitiesincreases as indicated by:– number of stakeholders participatingin activities (estimate: 800)– increased networks (estimate: 25)


Services to be provided in areas ofidentified priority and targeting highneed groups (estimate: 70 per cent)

ClientSatisfaction

Mechanisms in place to monitor clientfeedback (satisfaction and complaints)

Quantity Number and range ofresources/materials available to supportservice providers and families(estimate: 450)

Number of information systems in place(estimate: 150)

Number of participants and affiliatedorganisations (estimate: 40 projects –one action learning exchange)

Number of people assisted (estimate:4,500)

Number of research projects undertaken(estimate: 20)

Number of services and programsprovided (estimate: 150 services andprograms)

Numbers of communicationmechanisms/forums in place(estimate: 120)

Price $17.9 million

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DEPARTMENTAL OUTPUTS


DepartmentalOutputs

Cost Ratio of departmental expense toadministered expense (estimate: 3.6c:$1)

Quality ClientSatisfaction

Ministers and ministers' offices satisfiedwith the quality of policy advice andDepartment meets standards for policyadvice

Quantity Number of items to ministers(estimate: 1,500 ministerial replies; 370briefings/submissions)

Policy Advice

Price $18.0 million

Quality Assurance Department ensures that serviceproviders meet terms and conditions offunding

Purchasing,Funding &RelationshipManagement

Service agreements/contracts that meetlegislative, government policy anddepartmental requirements are in placewith all service providers

Quantity Number of business agreements undermanagement (estimate: 3)

Number of contracts/service agreementsunder management (estimate: 280contracts/service agreements withcommunity organisations for delivery ofservices to the community and 20contracts/service agreements withorganisations/individuals for provisionof services to FaCS to support program)

Number of service providers undermanagement (estimate: 250 serviceproviders delivering services to thecommunity)

Price $21.9 million

Quality AssuranceResearch andEvaluation

Research and evaluation is of a highstandard (timely, fulfils terms ofreference, complete, methodologicallysound) and contributes to policyunderstanding and development(estimate: 90 per cent)

Quantity Major pieces of research and evaluationcompleted (estimate: 3)

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Price $4.0 million

Service Delivery Quality Access &Choice

A fair percentage of FAO sites arelocated in rural and regional areas(estimate: 40 per cent of FAO sites arelocated in rural and region areas)

Number of FAO clients who visit aHealth Insurance Commission orAustralian Taxation Office FAO site(estimate: not appropriate)

Assurance Service providers deliver services to thetimeliness and accuracy standardsagreed with FaCS

Client Rights& Obligations

Percentage of reviews and appeals forFamily Tax Benefit where the originaldecision is affirmed (estimate: in 1998–99 affirmation rates were 75 per cent forARO, 66 per cent for SSAT and 23 percent for AAT. These are not necessarilytargets, but the performance of theexisting payments may provide abenchmark for considering future trends)

Control of incorrect payment and fraud:savings in administered items arisingfrom compliance activities (estimate:$1.12 million in fortnightly savings and$48.57 million annually for debts)

ClientSatisfaction

Low number of complaints relating toFAO service delivery (estimate: lessthan 10 per cent of total complaintsrelate to service delivery)

Quantity Number of FAO sites across Australia(estimate: approximately 550 sites)

Price Centrelink – $366.8 millionOther – $10.8 million

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Output Group 1.2: Youth and Student Support

Administered Items

� Austudy Payment� Fares Allowance� Green Corps� Job Placement, Employment and Training Program� Reconnect� Student Financial Supplement Scheme� Targeted Youth Assistance Program� Mentor Marketplace� Transition to Independent Living Allowance� Youth Activities Services� Youth Allowance





2002–03 Estimate

ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Austudy Payment Effectiveness Adequacy Maximum weekly payments torecipients – as a ratio to the MinimumFederal Award Wage

Maximum weekly payments torecipients – index of real value

Quantity Number of clients assisted(estimate: 36,416)

Price $271.9 million

Fares Allowance Quantity Number of clients assisted(estimate: 4,000)

Price $1.1 million

Green Corps Effectiveness Capacity Percentage of young people participatingwho are in further education or training3 months after the program is completed(estimate: 60 per cent)


Percentage of young people whocomplete their project (estimate: 80 percent)

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


ClientSatisfaction

Percentage of young people completinga project who are satisfied with trainingprovided as determined by exit surveys(estimate: 80 per cent)

Quantity Number of projects funded(estimate: 180)

Number of young people participating(estimate: 1,800)

Price $23.0 million

Jobs Placement,Employment andTraining Program(JPET)

Effectiveness Capacity Percentage of young people participatingwho achieve increased readiness foremployment or further study during atleast a 3 month period under JPET(estimate: 70 per cent)

Quantity Number of young people assisted(estimate: 14,000)

Price $18.5 million

Reconnect Effectiveness EarlyIntervention

Percentage of clients with a positivechange in their overall situation

Percentage of clients with an improvedlevel of engagement with:– family– education (where applicable)– training (where applicable)– employment (where applicable)– community

(estimate: 70 per cent of clients willhave an improved level of engagementwith family. Approximately 50 per centof clients can be expected to improvetheir level of engagement in education,training, employment and community)

Quantity Number of people assisted:– individual Reconnect cases– group clients

(estimate: 7,000 young people and 5,000families per annum)

Price $19.2 million

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Quantity Number of clients assisted(estimate: 35,000)

Student FinancialSupplementScheme Price $159.1 million

Targeted YouthAssistanceProgram

Effectiveness Targeting Percentage of individual contractualmilestones achieved(estimate: 90 per cent of milestones met)

Price $2.0 million

Mentor MarketPlace

Quantity Number of young people who receivementor support (estimate: 3,000)

Price $802,000

Transition toIndependentLiving Allowance

Quantity Number of young people in statesupported care who access TILA(estimate: 900)

Price $897,000

Youth ActivitiesService – FamilyLiaison WorkersProgram

Effectiveness Adequacy Percentage of young people and YASservice providers reporting positiveoutcomes from participation in YASActivities

Percentage of young people, youngpeoples' families and FLW serviceproviders reporting positive outcomesfrom contact with the FLW program(estimate: 75 per cent)

Quantity Number of contacts with Young Peoplethrough YAS Program activities(estimate: 100,000)

Number of Young People engagedthrough FLW activity (estimate: 1,000)

Number of Families engaged throughFLW activity (estimate: 1,000)

Price $6.7 million

Youth Allowance Effectiveness Adequacy Maximum weekly payments torecipients – as a ratio to the MinimumFederal Award Wage

Maximum weekly payments torecipients – index of real value

Ratios of minimum wages to single rates

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Independence Number and percentage of YouthAllowance clients who achievedindependence through workforceparticipation(estimate: 69,499, 17.1 per cent)

Number and percentage of YouthAllowance clients undertaking full-timeor part-time study/training(estimate: 306,925, 75.7 per cent)

Number and percentage undertakingsolely job search(estimate: 62,550, 15.4 per cent)

Take-up/Coverage

Number and percentage of all full-timestudents aged 16–24 years receivingYouth Allowance(estimate: 308,663, 31.6 per cent)

Targeting Percentage of clients on a part rate ofpayment due to the parental means test(estimate: 10 per cent of total clients,15 per cent of dependent YA clients)

Percentage of clients with privateearnings(estimate: 107,643, 26.5 per cent)

The average amount of private earningsper fortnight(estimate: full-time students $301.83,non-full-time $289.72)

Percentage of non-full-time students ona part rate of payment due to thepersonal means test(estimate: 15,012, 15.3 per cent)

Quantity Number and percentage of clients paidsupplementary payments – RentAssistance(estimate: 87,307, 21.5 per cent)

Number of clients assisted(estimate: 378,877)

Price $2.3 billion

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DepartmentalOutputs

Cost Ratio of departmental expense toadministered expense (estimate: 8.6c:$1)

Policy Advice Quality ClientSatisfaction


Quantity Number of items to ministers (estimate:ministerial replies 800, ministerialbriefings and submissions 500)

Price $5.0 million



Service agreements/contracts that meetlegislative, government policy anddepartmental requirements in place withall service providers

Quantity Number of contracts/service agreementsunder management (estimate: 282)

Number of service providers undermanagement (estimate: 276)

Price $4.6 million

Research andEvaluation

Quality Assurance Research and evaluation is of a highstandard and contributes to policyunderstanding and development

Quantity Major pieces of research and evaluationcompleted (estimate: 1)

Price $2.2 million

Service Delivery Quality Assurance Percentage of service level agreementsin which performance is not delivered tothe specified standard


Number of reviews and appeals(350,000 reviews and 6,000 appeals)

Control of incorrect payment and fraud:savings in administered items arisingfrom compliance activities(estimate: $7.61 million in fortnightlysavings and $58.33 million annually fordebts

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Output Group 1.3: Child Support

Administered Items

� Child Support



Administered Appropriations: $1.8m


2002–03 Estimate

ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Child Support Effectiveness Adequacy Total amount of child supporttransferred between parents (estimate:$1.5 billion) and average value of childsupport liability

Independence Child support collection rate (CSAcollect and private collect)(estimate: 88 per cent)

Percentage of private collect cases tototal cases (CSA collect and privatecollect cases) (estimate: 50 per cent)

Targeting Net clawback – Reduction in FamilyTax Benefit outlays as a result of childsupport obligations being met



Cost per Child Support dollar transferredbetween parents (estimate: 15c:$1)

DepartmentalOutputs

Cost

Cost per Child Support Case(estimate: $336)

Policy Advice Quality ClientSatisfaction


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Quantity Number of items to Ministers(estimate: 1,600 items)

Price $83,000



Service agreements/contracts that meetlegislative, government policy anddepartmental requirements are in placewith all service providers

Quantity Number of service providers undermanagement

Note: CSA is the only service providerin this output group

(estimate: 1 – Child Support Agency)

Price $28,000


Quality Assurance Research and evaluation is of a highstandard (timely, fulfils terms ofreference, complete, methodologicallysound) and contributes to policy andservice delivery understanding anddevelopment

Quantity Major pieces of research and evaluationcompleted

Price $126,000

Service Delivery Quality Assurance Stakeholder confidence in Child SupportServices

ClientSatisfaction

Client satisfaction and professionalismindicators from CSA surveys

Quantity Number of Child Support Agencyclients (estimate: 1.3 million)

Price Centrelink – $561,000CSA – $223.1 million

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Output Group 1.4: Child Care Support

Administered Items

� Child Care Benefit� Child Care for Eligible Parents Undergoing Training� Support for Child Care





2002–03 Estimate

ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Child CareBenefit

Effectiveness Affordability Child care out of pocket costs as aproportion of weekly disposable incomebefore and after child care subsidies(Not possible to provide a singleestimate, see Annual Report for costs forvarious income levels)

Percentage of families claiming:– maximum Child Care Benefit(estimate: 40 per cent)– partial Child Care Benefit(estimate: 50 per cent)– minimum Child Care Benefit(estimate: 10 per cent)

Independence Percentage of Commonwealth fundedchild care that is used for:– work related purposes(estimate: 90 per cent)– non-work related purposes(estimate: 10 per cent)

Quantity Number of calls to the Child CareAccess Hotline (estimate: 42,370)

Number of child care places available(estimate: 500,000)

Number of eligible approved servicesfunded (estimate: 10,000)

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Number of families using approvedCommonwealth funded child careservices and claiming Child CareBenefit (estimate: 500,000)

Number of children using approvedCommonwealth funded child careservices and claiming Child CareBenefit (estimate: 710,000)

Price $1.5 billion

Child Care forEligible ParentsUndergoingTraining


Number of hours of child care provided(estimate: N/A); andNumber of children in child care(estimate: 15,000)

Price $14.0 million

Support for ChildCare


Level of demand for child care placesthat is met nationally (estimate: N/A)

Targeting Number of children with additionalneeds using Commonwealth approvedchild care services by target group(estimate: children with disability13,000; Aboriginal, Torres Strait andAustralian South Seas Islander children9,900; children from non-Englishspeaking background 61,700. Totalnumber of children 83,900)


Number of Indigenous specific services(estimate: 271)

Number of services specifically targetedto rural and remote areas(estimate: 2,006)

Number/volume of services that providechild care services (ie choice for shiftworkers, families working non standardhours, those with a sick child or wholive in rural areas without access)(estimate: 100)

Assurance Percentage of centres accredited underthe Quality Improvement andAccreditation System (estimate: 91 percent as at March 2001)

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ADMINISTERED ITEMS


Percentage of family day care servicessatisfactorily participating in FamilyDay Care Quality Assurance(estimate: 100 per cent)

Percentage of centres satisfactorilyparticipating in Quality Improvementand Accreditation System(estimate: 100 per cent)

Development of a quality assurancescheme for the family day care andoutside school hours sectors(estimate: by July 2003)

Quantity Number of children with a disabilityassisted into mainstream services(estimate: 13,000)

Number of child care places assistingfamilies to fulfil work and familyresponsibilities through alternative childcare arrangements as assessed byincreases in the number of places for:– in-home care (estimate: 4,500)– private provider incentive(estimate: 350)

Number of new child care centres inrural areas that received establishmentset up equipment (estimate: 10)

Price Appropriation Bill (No. 1) –$180.8 millionAppropriation Bill (No. 2) –$10.3 million

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DepartmentalOutputs

Cost Ratio of departmental expense toadministered expense(estimate: 7.8c:$1)

Quality ClientSatisfaction


Quantity Number of items to ministers(estimate: ministerial replies 610;ministerial briefings/submissions 205 )

Policy Advice

Price $3.6 million

Department ensures that serviceproviders meet terms and conditions offunding

Quality Assurance

Service agreements/contracts that meetlegislative, government policy anddepartmental requirements in place withall service providers

Quantity Number of contracts/service agreementsunder management


Price $24.1 million

Quality Assurance Research and evaluation is of a highstandard and contributes to policyunderstanding and development

Quantity Major pieces of research and evaluationcompleted


Price $2.1 million

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Quality Assurance Service providers deliver services to thestandards agreed with FaCS

Service Delivery


Number of reviews and appeals(estimate: ARO, SSAT, AAT – 100)

Control of incorrect payment and fraud:savings in administered items arisingfrom compliance activities (estimate:debts arising from compliance activities$2,235; fortnightly savings fromcompliance activities $2,074 – $53,924annualised. Total savings $2,289)


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EVALUATIONS FOR OUTCOME 1

The following evaluation activities are planned for 2002–03.

The Contact Orders Pilot Project

This project is designed to assist separated parents to resolve or to manage conflict that arisesover contact issues with their children. The pilot utilises group education sessions, mediationand counselling programs. The pilot initially ran from April 1999 to July 2001, but wasextended to June 2002.

The evaluation, which commenced in August 2000 and is due for completion in May 2002, willexamine:

� whether the program is reducing the number of parents taking legal action to settle contactarrangements with their children;

� whether the program is reducing the amount of conflict between parents which impinges onthe well-being of the children;

� the content of the pilot, for example, education sessions, counselling, mediation and thecharacteristics of clients participating in the program; and

� what parts of the pilot are most effective in making separating parents aware of the bestinterest of their children.

Reconnect

The department is evaluating the Reconnect program. The program, which began operating inDecember 1999, aims to reconnect young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessnesswith their families, education, training, employment and the community. An interim evaluationreport will be available by the end of 2002 and a final report by the end of 2003.

Stronger Families and Communities Strategy

The Stronger Families and Communities Strategy has a comprehensive evaluation framework,which will begin evaluating the program from 2002 to 2004. The evaluation will:

� assess the effectiveness of the Strategy as a whole;

� assess the effectiveness of the community-based initiatives: the National SkillsDevelopment Program; the Stronger Families Fund; the Early Intervention, Parenting andFamily Relationships Support initiative; the Potential Leaders in Local Communities; LocalSolutions to Local Problems and the Can Do Community initiatives;

� compare effectiveness of initiatives with similar international initiatives; and

� inform current and future social policy interventions.

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COMPETITIVE TENDERING AND CONTRACTING FOR OUTCOME 1

Child Support Agency

The Child Support Agency (CSA) has a comprehensive outsourcing program, and has tested orplans to test all feasible non-core activities, in line with the objectives of government policy. ITinfrastructure is already provided through the Australian Taxation Office, outsourced toEDS Australia.

In 2002–03, CSA will market test provision of payroll services and payment receipting.Recruitment services, occupational health and safety services, and employee assistance serviceswere contracted on a competitive basis during 2001–02.

Family Relationships Services Program

Where appropriate, the Family Relationships Services Program tenders out on a competitivebasis for family support activities and research, evaluation and pilot service activities. It isunlikely that any new services will go to tender in 2002–03.

outcome 1 – stronger families€¦ · outcome 1 reflects the government’s commitment to support...

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