from YAPRap April 2007
The Labor Party won the NSW election in March 2007, so we thought we should summarise what they promised for young people.
Education
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15 new trade schools (in addition to 10 announced in last year's budget) for students who want to combine studies with vocational training
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Every student who drops out of school to be guaranteed a place at a TAFE college. $67 million for 12,580 new places in TAFE colleges, trade schools or vocational education
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Improving ratio of computers to students from 1:20 to less than 1:6
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$29 million to give students their own online work space for receiving and posting homework, specialist podcast lessons, email and internet. Parents to have online access to student report cards. Every public school to have video conferencing facilities.
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Introduce new high school orientation and induction programs including a Transition Coordinator in every High and Central School.
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$280 million on capital works and $120 million on school maintenance
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Training school counsellors to identify and help children with autism and other disabilities
Employment
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$200 clothing allowance to all new apprentices
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Government will itself take on 1600 additional apprentices
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$3.5 million for group training companies to take on 1250 new apprentices on behalf of small businesses
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Free vehicle registration to employers of apprentices
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Inspect employers across NSW to ensure they do not break new Child Labour laws which require employers to offer pay and conditions at least as good as state awards to employees under 18 years of age
Policing & Juvenile Justice
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Youth Conduct Orders for young people charged and/ or found guilty of anti-social behaviour. Penalties for breaches yet to be decided.
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Give Children's Court new powers to order juveniles to complete education, employment or other programs designed to reduce re-offending.
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Pilot a model of Aboriginal Circle Sentencing tailored to deal with juvenile offenders
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New Intensive Supervision Program to closely track young offenders and make parents accountable for their child's behaviour.
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Police to have power to confiscate spray cans from people under 18 if they do not have a lawful excuse.
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Consider a complete ban on sale of spray paint.
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Force all public sector bodies to clean up graffiti on their buildings within 48 hours (from time of reporting)
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150 new Highway Patrol officers to target drink driving
Young drivers
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Introduce a tougher test for learner drivers getting their P plates, focusing on hazard perception and driver reactions
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Invest $130,000 to expand Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program to 20,000 students
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Provide $345,000 to PCYC to expand Road Realities program across NSW
Services for young people
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$58 million to fight childhood obesity
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$29 million to provide treatment at early stages of serious mental illness
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$18 million to better integrate mental health services with drug and alcohol services including specialist support for young people
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$14 million to expand community based professional mental health services including child and adolescent services
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$10 million for a new Youth Mental Health Clinical Research facility focusing on alcohol and substance abuse and juvenile justice issues
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450 new respite places + 960 new therapy places for children and young people with disabilities
