FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Youth Programs Saved by Federal Minister who listens!
For Immediate Distribution -- 12 February 2002
‘The Jobs Placement Education & Training (JPET) Review Recommendations released yesterday announced a reversal of previous Department of Family & Community Services (FaCS) decisions to discontinue funding to highly successful and innovative JPET programs across the nation,’ said Ms Fiona Jolly President YWCA of Australia (YWCA).
Ms Jolly said, ‘After extensive lobbying and consultation we are pleased that Minister Anthony and the Department have heard the concerns of the youth sector. As a result of the review by FaCS the Department has reversed its initial decisions resulting from a poorly conceived tender process that failed to recognize excellence in service provision and jeopardized young people at risk.’
‘The YWCA is particularly pleased as the continued funding ensures that the YWCA’s of Victoria, Adelaide and Albury/Wodonga will continue to provide their services until at least June 2004.’
‘YWCA services play an important role in the youth sector in ensuring that there are specialist women’s services available. In particular the continuation of the YWCA of Victoria service will preserve the only women specific JPET program in the country.
‘The campaign to overturn the previous funding decisions has been strongly argued by the youth sector to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Hon. Larry Anthony. The YWCA looks forward to continuing to build strong partnerships between the community sector and the government, that build on the detailed understanding that community organizations have of the grassroots issues faced by their service users.
For interview please contact:
Fiona Jolly
President
YWCA of Australia
0411 212 276
For more information please call:
Erica Lewis
Policy & Research Officer
YWCA of Australia
w 02 6230 5150