Ongoing Funding Initiatives 2003-04
Health and Aged Care
Voluntary annual health assessments for older Australians
The Government will provide continued funding of $108.1 million over four years, through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, for voluntary annual health assessments in order to identify and prevent ill-health for those aged 75 and over and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 and over. This initiative is part of the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) package first announced in the 1999-2000 Budget.
This preventative measure involves assessments which check a patient's health, physical, psychological and social functioning, and assess whether preventative health care and education should be offered to the patient to improve their health and well being. Annual health assessments provide a valuable means of early detection of problems associated with ageing.
This measure involves funding of $24.1 million in 2003-04, $26.2 million in 2004-05, $28 million in 2005-06 and $29.9 million in 2006-07.
Support services for women with breast cancer
The Government will provide funding of $4 million over four years for support services for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It particularly assists women in rural and regional areas where geographic isolation and limited contact with specialist health care workers may impede access to the full range of treatment options and support services.
This measure involves funding of $1 million per annum.
Hepatitis C prevention and education - maintain funding
The Government will provide funding of $15.9 million over four years to continue this programme which reduces the transmission of Hepatitis C in the Australian community by providing education, prevention and health maintenance initiatives for those currently infected and those at risk of becoming infected with Hepatitis C.
This measure will involve funding of $3.8 million in 2003-04, $3.9 million in 2004-05, $4.0 million in 2005-06 and $4.1 million in 2006-07.
Rural Women's GP Service
The Government will provide $8.9 million over four years to continue the programme previously known as 'Fly-in-fly-out GP services to meet the needs of rural women'. The programme improves access to primary and secondary health care services for rural women who have little or no access to a female GP.
The programme funds the Royal Flying Doctor Service to fly female GPs to regular clinics for cervical cancer screening, breast and skin examination and other preventive health care. It provides necessary intervention for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, psychosocial problems and conditions related to reproductive and sexual health. By the end of 2002, this programme had delivered services to 104 locations.
This measure involves funding of $2.2 million in each of 2003-04 and 2004-05, $2.3 million in each of 2005-06 and 2006-07.
100 extra aged care beds in regional health services - maintain funding
The Government will provide funding of $12 million in 2003-04 to continue to fund 100 additional residential aged care places for Regional Health Service Centres, building upon its commitment to provide flexible service alternative for older Australians living in rural areas. Continued funding beyond 2003-04 will be considered following the Residential Care Review.
Dementia and challenging behaviours initiative
The Government will provide funding of $90.7 million over four years to continue this programme (previously known as Enhanced Respite Care Services) in order to increase the provision of respite care for people with dementia and challenging behaviour. This programme allows carers of the target group to care longer for these people in their own homes. This in turn relieves the demand pressure on the higher cost residential aged care system.
This measure will involve funding of $22 million in 2003-04, $22.4 million in 2004-05, $22.9 million in 2005-06 and $23.4 million in 2006-07.
National Breast Cancer Centre
The Government will provide funding of $8.4 million over four years for the National Breast Cancer Centre to maintain its leading role in improving outcomes for women with, or at risk of, breast cancer.
The National Breast Cancer Centre is the main organisation through which the Government delivers its breast cancer control programme. The Centre has successfully developed and implemented an evidence-based approach, worked in partnership with consumers, clinicians, cancer organisations and other levels of government and trialed and evaluated innovative approaches to improved health services. It has improved the management and treatment of breast cancer, monitoring outcomes and disseminating information to women and health professionals.
This measure involves funding of $2.1 million per annum for four years.
Commonwealth Carelink
The Government will provide funding of $65 million over four years for the Commonwealth Carelink service which provides a contact point for people seeking information about the wide range of community-based aged care, disability and other support services. This service supports people to remain in the community rather than access costly residential care. Currently the programme is utilised by over 11,000 clients a month.
This measure will involve funding of $14.8 million in 2003-04, $15.7 million in 2004-05, $16.6 million in 2005-06 and $17.9 million in 2006-07.
Support for Families
Special Needs Subsidy Scheme
The Government will provide additional funding of $25.8 million over four years from 2003-04 to enhance the Special Needs Subsidy Scheme, which supports children with high ongoing support needs.
The Scheme provides assistance to child care services to employ additional carers to support children with such needs. The Scheme has experienced high demand since its inception in 1997. The additional funding will provide assistance to around 1,250 additional children.
Child Care Support
Child care support strengthens families by allowing parents to participate more fully, both economically and socially, in the community. Child care also benefits children by providing them with opportunities for learning in a social environment and providing quality educational experiences. A diverse range of child care services is supported by the Commonwealth including: 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.
Over $8.6 billion has been allocated for child care over four years from 2003-04 to 2006-07, including allocation for Child Care Benefit.
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Benefit (CCB) is a payment to assist families with the cost of child care.
The payment was introduced on 1 July 2000 and is administered by the Family Assistance Office. The amount of CCB to which a family is entitled depends upon family income, number of children in care, the number of hours of care and the type of care. Families on the lowest incomes receive the highest rate of assistance when using Commonwealth approved child care services. The CCB rate is gradually reduced as assessed family income increases, to the point where families receive the minimum rate. Families using registered care can receive minimum CCB.
The number of families using formal child care has increased steadily since the introduction of CCB. This number is expected to increase further with additional assistance provided by indexation of the rates of benefit over time.
As at September 2002, there were 759,100 children using approved care. Fifty six per cent of these children are in centre based long day care, 17 per cent are in family day care and 30 per cent are in outside school hours care. This is an increase of over 80,000 children from June 2001, driven mainly by large increases in use of outside school hours care.
From 1 July 2002 to 30 September 2002, 534,370 families received CCB. Of these, about 36 per cent received maximum rates of CCB and about 14 per cent received minimum rates of CCB.
The average amount of CCB received in 2001-02 (based on pre-reconciliation data) was $1,980 per family, or $1,350 per child.
Family Tax Benefit
Family Tax Benefit Part A provides families with general assistance towards the costs of children. Over 1.8 million families with over 3.4 million children are receiving the payment on a fortnightly basis. Individuals have choices as to how they receive Family Tax Benefit: either through Centrelink as a fortnightly or a lump sum payment; or through the taxation system as a lump sum payment after the end of the income year; or as reduced taxation withholdings during the income year. The payment is income and asset tested.
Family Tax Benefit Part B provides extra assistance to families with only one main income earner (including sole parent families). There are over 1.2 million families receiving this payment on a fortnightly basis in respect of 2.3 million children. The payment is income tested only.
Maternity Allowances
Maternity Allowance and Maternity Immunisation Allowance are once only, lump sum payments. Maternity Allowance provides extra assistance with the costs of newborn children. Maternity Immunisation Allowance provides an additional payment for children fully immunised at age 18 months, or exempt from immunisation. The allowance is income tested only.
Legal Services
Federal Magistrates Service
The Federal Magistrates Service began hearing cases in July 2000 and in the family law area handles less complex matters that are also within the jurisdiction of the Family Court. In the general law area, the Service enforces rights under anti-discrimination law.
Currently there are nineteen federal magistrates. Funding of $4.4 million over four years will allow the appointment of two additional magistrates. The appointment of additional magistrates will enhance access to justice, including for people involved in family law disputes and those enforcing women's rights under anti-discrimination law.
Family Court of Western Australia
In Western Australia federal family law jurisdiction is vested in the Family Court of Western Australia and its co-located Court of Petty Sessions in Perth.
Increased funding of $4.1 million over four years is being provided for additional judicial resources to hear family law matters in Western Australia and to make provision for cost increases in the courts' existing operations.
This funding will help the courts to better meet their growing workload and improve access for Western Australians involved in family law matters.
Family Law Pathways
In conjunction with the 2003-04 Budget, the Government is releasing its Response to the Report of the Family Law Pathways Advisory Group, Out of the Maze - Pathways to the Future for Families Experiencing Separation (the Pathways Report).
Work has already started to implement the directions outlined in the Pathways Report. A number of initiatives are being implemented by Commonwealth Government agencies, while others are being pursued by the legal and community sectors.
Many involve collaboration between government agencies and community-based service providers and are designed to achieve greater integration of service delivery across government and non-government agencies.
Consistent with the recommendations of the Family Law Pathways Advisory Group the Government has allocated $27.8 million to the Attorney-General's portfolio in the 2003-04 Budget to further enhance services around Australia which support families experiencing separation.
The Government has committed resources in this Budget to continue Australian Law Online, Children's Contact Services and the family law services of the Victorian Court Network. The Government will also expand the innovative Contact Orders Program.
Contact Orders Program
Over recent years, the Government has funded pilot projects to help separated parents to resolve their conflicts and establish better contact with their children without the need to go to court. It is proposed that existing services be continued, that new services be established in south-east Queensland and Melbourne and that the Parramatta service in Sydney be expanded to provide services to a wider geographic area.
This measure involves funding of $1.2 million in 2003-04, $1.3 million in 2004-05, $1.3 million in 2005-06 and $1.4 million in 2006-07.
Children's Contact Services
Children's Contact Services provide another form of support designed to assist children to maintain contact with their parents. There are often flash points for separated families in conflict when children are handed from one parent to another. Children's Contact Services provide a safe, neutral environment for children to maintain contact with a parent who is no longer living with them.
The Commonwealth Government has established a total of 35 Children's Contact Services. Ten of those services already have ongoing funding and the Coalition made a commitment during the last election campaign that it would maintain the 25 children's contact services it had established.
This measure involves funding of $4.1 million in 2003-04, $4.2 million in 2004-05, $4.3 million in 2005-06 and $4.4 million in 2006-07.
Australian Law Online
The Government is continuing to develop Australian Law Online, including Family Law Online (www.familylaw.gov.au) and the Family Law Hotline (1800 050 321), as a national source of information about the family law system and where to get help.
Family Law Online already provides fact sheets on questions commonly asked by people experiencing family break-up as well as information about the services provided by a number of government and non-government organisations (NGOs) in the family law system. It will be enhanced to include up-to-date contact information about the availability of local services for families experiencing separation.
This measure involves funding of $1.3 million in 2003-04, $1.3 million in 2004-05, $1.4 million in 2005-06 and $1.4 million in 2006-07.
Victorian Court Network
The Government provided funding in the 2002-03 Budget, under the Keeping People out of Courts initiative, to support the continuing coordination of this service for family law clients until 30 June 2003.
This measure involves funding of $0.1 million in 2003-04, $0.1 million in 2004-05, $0.1 million in 2005-06 and $0.1 million in 2006-07 which will now provide ongoing support for this important service.
Indigenous
Expansion of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) programme
The Government will provide an additional 1,000 participant places for the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) programme at a total cost of $61.5 million over four years. These additional places will be targeted to remote communities to support projects that seek to prevent and/or respond to family or domestic violence and substance abuse. Work activities will include new women's shelters, health clinics, night patrols, justice system support, substance abuse programmes, diversionary and personal development initiatives, recreation, sport and wellbeing programmes.
Australian Aid
Australian Aid programme
The Australian aid programme integrates gender equity concerns into the analysis and formulation of all development policies, programmes and projects. In 2003-04, the Australian aid programme will provide an estimated $55 million in direct expenditure to address gender equity in developing countries. Specific gender-related activities in 2003-04 include:
- support for Women's Centres in Fiji and Vanuatu - counselling services for women and children in the Pacific who are the survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse; and
- grants to the South African Gender Violence Fund - supporting South African Non Government Organisations to combat gender violence using the expertise, experience and networks of relevant civil society organisations.