The Hon Julie Bishop MP - Minister for Education, Science and Training, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues

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Media Release

Strengthening Indigenous Communities - Help for remote Indigenous youth affected by petrol sniffing

9 May 2006 BUD 16/06

Up to 1,000 Indigenous young people in the central desert and other remote regions will benefit from funding announced in the 2006-07 Budget aimed at tackling the critical issues of petrol sniffing and substance abuse.

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, said Indigenous youth will be assisted through intervention and prevention initiatives built on a known formula for success.

"The impact of substance abuse on Indigenous communities is significant. This initiative will help break the cycle of substance abuse and build functioning communities," Minister Bishop said.

"The whole-of government approach to addressing substance abuse includes provision of $5.1 million over four years to introduce diversionary projects that will act as a safety net to help young Indigenous people who have dropped out of school in these regions.

"These will build upon the successes of the Australian Government’s Partnership Outreach Education Model (POEM) which has demonstrated proven methods of engaging the most marginalised young people in learning.

"These projects will provide real opportunities for communities to address the debilitating effects of substance abuse on young people and families."

The full package totalling $55.2 million over four years focuses on education, justice, families and health and provides a significant boost to the whole-of-government regional approach to addressing substance abuse announced in September 2005.

Minister Bishop said preventative and early intervention projects funded through the National Drug Education Strategy will also assist in stopping young people from becoming involved in substance abuse activities.

"This initiative aims to turn young people’s lives around by building on the proven POEM formula and introducing diversionary projects identified by Indigenous leaders as the type needed to assist these young people."

Media Contacts
Minister Bishop’s Office:	Murray Hansen	0417 886 155
Dept of Education, Science & Training:	Virginia Cook	0412 971 323

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

The incidence and impact of substance abuse is having a disproportionately negative affect on Indigenous communities.

Effectively dealing with substance abuse requires a comprehensive sustainable approach including education, justice, community support and health initiatives.

This initiative supplements a commitment to a comprehensive regional approach in the central desert regions of central Australia, and two other yet to be identified regions.

Who will benefit?

Indigenous individuals, families and communities in the central desert region initially, and two other yet to be identified regions.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

DEST $5.1 million over four years as part of an inter-agency package of $55.2 million over four years.

What have we done in the past?

The POEM pilot was introduced in 2002 and was found through evaluation to be very successful in re-engaging disconnected young people in learning and in assisting them onto meaningful pathways in life. More than one in five young people engaged in POEM during the evaluation period reported problems with substance abuse.

In the past we have relied on single measures to combat substance abuse, with the major effort to date to supply non-sniffable fuel to Indigenous communities.

When will the initiative conclude?

The intervention projects (based upon the POEM experience) will conclude on 30 June 2010, with the National Drug Education Strategy component lapsing in 30 June 2008.