To facilitate the provision of financial services in rural Australia, the Government has extended funding for the CreditCare programme with $2.8 million for a further three years. CreditCare is a cooperative joint venture between the Commonwealth Government and the Credit Union Services Corporation (Australia) Limited to work with local communities to maintain financial services and infrastructure in rural and remote Australia. CreditCare has been extremely well received by rural communities affected by the withdrawal of financial services and facilities, and more than 29 communities now have access to financial services as a direct result of the CreditCare initiative.
The Rural Communities Access Programme (RCAP) was recently reviewed and found to be an effective programme meeting a strongly felt need for assistance for rural Australians to access information and services.
A key finding of the evaluation is that RCAP has empowered rural and remote communities to develop innovative solutions and overcome adjustment barriers. The evaluation recommends a revised programme (which builds on the successes of the current RCAP) that fully integrates all the programme elements allowing small rural and remote communities to tailor the available services to best meet their needs.
The recent RCAP Review Report provides the basis for consideration of a range of options for service delivery to rural areas. This will be taken up in the context of the Government's new Integrated Rural Policy Package.
Over the next four years, $26 million will be provided to universities for rationalisation and restructuring. This special assistance will be complemented by advances to operating grants to assist universities with the cash flow implications of restructuring. Regional universities will receive particular consideration under this package, recognising their special needs and the significant contribution they make to their local economies. Assistance under the package will be structured to the individual needs of institutions.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of regional universities are considered by the Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy.
The Government's objective in reforming service delivery arrangements is to achieve the highest possible standard of service to clients. It recognises that people in regions have a right to expect good service and access to Commonwealth assistance, and under the Government's reforms all regions will benefit from more effective and efficient services.
The creation of the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency within the Social Security portfolio is a major reform. The Agency will commence operations in the second half of 1997, delivering Commonwealth services as a 'one-stop shop' (primarily for income support) and a first-stop shop (particularly for referral to employment services).
Initially, the Agency will deliver a range of services for the unemployed (including referral to expert labour market assistance), a child care service on behalf of the Department of Health and Family Services, as well as all existing Social Security payments and services (support for the retired, those with disabilities, the unemployed, families with children and those in special circumstances).
Integrated national network of offices means more services
The Agency will be focussed on, and specialise in, customer service. It will simplify and streamline service delivery through an integrated national network of offices. This will comprise the current DSS regional network, Teleservice Centres, Family Service Centres, Retirement Centres, and some offices that are now part of the CES network, including all Student Assistance Centres. A number of regional towns will have direct access to a wider range of services than under previous arrangements.
The operation of the Agency will reflect the Government's commitment to provide services to regional Australia. As part of this commitment, Teleservice Centre operations are being significantly expanded-new Centres will be opened in Port Macquarie, Wendouree, Traralgon and Launceston, while Centres in Townsville, Toowoomba, Gosford and Geelong will be expanded.
The Government's aim in establishing the Agency is to put the needs of people for high quality service above the boundaries of Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Health issues facing people living in rural, remote and regional Australia are unique for both consumers and providers of health services. The Government has introduced a range of strategies in the 1997-98 Budget to meet its commitment to improving health care access support programmes and medical workforce initiatives in regional and rural Australia:
A major Rural Public Health Forum will be held in Adelaide, between 13-16 October, 1997. This forum will focus on key health differentials, health promotion and the prevention of illness and injury in rural and remote communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The National Sexual Health Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People provides a comprehensive approach to preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The strategy responds to evidence that comprehensive primary health care is a key to reducing STD rates and HIV infection. It places particular emphasis on addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote and rural areas of Australia. It provides for funding in the order of $12 million over the years 1996-97 until 1998-99.
The Government is taking a number of initiatives to improve assistance to veterans in rural and remote areas. These include: using the Australian Country Information Service and networks of other agencies to provide information to veterans; using community organisations to undertake regular telephone contact with veterans who are alone and at risk of accident or sudden health deterioration; promoting self-help and independence among the younger veteran community through Veterans' Local Support Groups; enabling veterans in rural and remote areas to receive home assessments by occupational therapists; and extending to other regions the Home Safety and Security Assessment pilot project to identify and reduce hazards likely to cause accidents or injuries in the home.
The Commonwealth Financial Counselling Programme provides financial counselling to disadvantaged low income people and small business operators experiencing serious personal financial difficulties. Under the Programme grants are available for community organisations, including in regional and remote areas, to deliver accredited financial counselling services to the community.
In 1997-98, the Government is providing approximately $2 million to the Programme, of which about $850,000 will be directed towards assisting communities in regional and remote Australia.
Through the cultural access programmes, Playing Australia and Visions of Australia, Australians outside capital cities are able to experience the best in Australian performing arts and exhibitions. In the 1997-98 Budget the Government has allocated $3 million to ensure the continuation of Visions of Australia following its first four years. The Regional Touring Fund assists Playing Australia and Visions of Australia by subsidising travel costs to regional areas. The Festivals Australia programme provides support for increased cultural activity at regional festivals.
The Travelling Film and Sound Show is touring regional areas, presenting Australia's audiovisual history. The tour takes in 20 locations including Geelong, Mt Gambier, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Alice Springs and Dubbo. Videos of historical footage from these regions are being released to coincide with the visits.
Touring exhibitions and science based activities to regional Australia are vital parts of Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. Questacon aims to expose the Centre's work to people who are unable to attend exhibitions and science centres in capital cities.
Questacon operates a travelling exhibitions programme, attracting audiences ranging from school children and families through to community and special interest groups. Questacon also operates an outreach programme, touring regional and remote Australia using combinations of hands-on activities, presentations, interactive exhibits and supporting publications. The 1997-98 touring schedule for these programmes includes Wollongong, Launceston, Wangaratta, Newcastle, Warrnambool, Coffs Harbour, the Pilbara, WA, western and central NSW, western Victoria, and coastal and rural Queensland.
As part of the National Gallery of Australia's programme to facilitate access to the National Collection, during 1996-97 twelve travelling exhibitions have visited forty-one venues in regional Australia. Four new travelling exhibitions were released for tour during the 1996-97 financial year, with the launch of three of these national tours commencing in regional centres, namely Bendigo, Dubbo and Launceston. During 1997-98 ten travelling exhibitions, including five new exhibitions, will be displayed at 27 venues across Australia.
Remote Area Broadcasting Services (RABS) are available to viewers in most areas of Australia beyond the reach of normal terrestrially-delivered television and radio services. They comprise ABC TV, SBS TV (in some areas) and one remote commercial television service in each remote mainland zone, together with associated satellite-delivered radio services.
Reflecting global trends and the plans of its satellite competitors in Australia, Optus is currently negotiating with the RABS operators to convert their services to digital transmission. Optus, in cooperation with the broadcasters, is looking to commence a public information programme shortly, with digital conversion of RABS currently planned over the period November 1997 to May 1998.
The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is an all-digital telecommunications technology that simultaneously allows digital, voice, data and video information to be transmitted using the same network facilities. It is also faster, more flexible and a more reliable form of transmission because, unlike analogue, it is not subject to interference such as static and other line problems which may corrupt data. ISDN is more cost effective, faster and more reliable than the system it replaces.
The Government recognises the importance of rural and remote areas gaining better access to advanced information services. The rollout of ISDN technology is part of Telstra's Future Mode of Operation programme and should enable the majority of rural customers to gain high speed access to the delivery of digital information services. 93.4 per cent of customers will be able to obtain an ISDN service within 90 days of requesting it from 1 July 1997, and similar access should be available to 96 per cent of customers by the end of 1998.
The Government has received commitments from Telstra to complete digitisation of its network and improve access to ISDN services. ISDN roll-out commitments are being legally imposed on Telstra through its carrier license.
