
Sarmed Yassin came to Australia as a refugee with his family when he was a child. He’s now a leader of the multicultural community in Shepparton, Victoria, and volunteers with Red Cross to help school students understand what it’s like to seek asylum. Photo: Australian Red Cross/Lara Cole
Outcomes
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500,000 Australians are connected to and supported by the community to overcome their deep social exclusion
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We will support and connect those at the extreme edge of need, those people and communities most at risk of deep social exclusion. We will be helping people who are experiencing such severe social exclusion and disengagement that it reduces their access, opportunity, choices, resources, social networks and life chances. These are people who are falling between the service cracks. The focus will be on early intervention and prevention, and we will leverage our volunteer network to help us.
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The wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has improved by 20%
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We will help young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including young parents and children, who are currently over-represented in a range of health and wellbeing indicators of disadvantage. These include indicators such as contact with the criminal justice system, high suicide rates, health status and not completing schooling to Y12. Giving young people support through early intervention and prevention will bring long-term benefits, and together we can be part of positive generational change.
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Migrants in transition have their humanitarian needs met and are participating in and included in Australian society
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We will help people made vulnerable by migration. This includes recent arrivals who are seeking asylum; living below the poverty line; in immigration detention; separated from family overseas; on temporary protection visas; and those who have been trafficked or are at risk of exploitation. We will work with the sector, authorities and communities to address the humanitarian needs of those most at risk. This will be done through direct support services, partnerships and referrals, as well as advocacy and the development of long-term solutions that promote social connection and cohesion in Australia.
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There has been a 50% improvement in community determined indicators in up to 20 of the most vulnerable communities in Australia
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We will work in communities most impacted by complex intergenerational issues, such as child abuse, family and community violence, poverty, housing stress, alcohol and drug abuse, trauma and mental health issues. This is about long-term intensive, interagency action and collaboration to address postcode poverty in Australia. We will use a place-based community development approach – which focusses on a community’s strengths and capacity, rather than on issues faced by individuals. We are already doing this work in 10 communities, and will consider adding up to 10 more.
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Australian governments are directing into justice reinvestment at least 50% of savings delivered by a 10% reduction in Australian prison numbers
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We’re asking all Australian governments to adopt an approach called ‘justice reinvestment’ to help tackle the causes of crime. Crime rates are not growing but our prison numbers are, and our prisons are failing to deliver effective justice, social or economic outcomes. Over the next five years we want to see a 10% reduction of the number of people in prison, and at least half of the savings this would bring redirected into community based prevention and diversionary programs. Justice reinvestment will lead to lower crime and incarceration rates, reduced prison costs and stronger, safer communities.