Media Releases - 2011
14/03/2012 $1.2m Extra Support for Victims of People Trafficking
The Australian Red Cross will receive a $1.2 million boost to help victims of human trafficking, under the Australian Government’s Support for Trafficked People program.
23/12/2011 Salvation Army spreading the spirit of Christmas
The Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, today helped wrap gifts and hand out food and toys at the Salvation Army’s Clarence Doorways Centre in Howrah as part of its Christmas Cheer appeal.
16/12/2011 Twenty-nine Aboriginal trainees graduate in Sydney
Twenty-nine Aboriginal students have new industry-specific skills and job opportunities, following their graduation from school based traineeships at a ceremony in Sydney today.
12/12/2011 Collins in the new Gillard Ministry
The Federal Member for Franklin, Julie Collins MP, was today named as the new Minister for Community Services, the Status of Women, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
06/12/2011 National Communities for Children forum
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins today opened the Communities for Children National Forum, in Glenelg, South Australia.
06/12/2011 New service to help 400 vulnerable young people
The CREATE Foundation’s new Newcastle office opened today to support up to 400 young people transitioning from out of home care in the Hunter region over the next two years.
06/12/2011 Supporting grandparent carers
Grandparent carers will be able to share experiences and build their parenting skills through 25 new peer support groups which were launched today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins…
05/12/2011 Celebrating our volunteers’ achievements
Today marks International Volunteer Day, an opportunity for Australians to recognise the selfless contribution of our volunteers.
01/12/2011 New survey shines a light on Australians’ financial literacy
A new survey has found that more people feel they are in control of their finances, with a greater number of households saving on a regular basis in the wake of the GFC, said Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, David Bradbury.
30/11/2011 Exploring the future of children and family policy
The inaugural meeting of the Gillard Government’s new Children and Family Roundtable was held in Melbourne today, to begin discussions on current and future opportunities for Australian children and their families.
21/11/2011 Celebrating 10 years of support for Australian Families
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today congratulated Families Australia for a decade of support to Australian families.
18/11/2011 $333,000 for telephone financial counselling in Tasmania
Anglicare Tasmania will receive a $333,000 boost from the Gillard Government to expand its telephone financial counselling services to vulnerable Tasmanians.
27/10/2011 More help for vulnerable children in Lismore
Lismore is one of four sites across Australia trialling a new assessment tool to help doctors, nurses, teachers and other practitioners to identify and respond early to the needs of vulnerable children.
27/10/2011 New online resource to help out-of-home carers
Out-of-home carers across the nation will have better access to information about government and non-government support and services thanks to a new Australian Government online resource.
22/10/2011 Celebrating Children’s week with study of Australian families
The Australian Government, in conjunction with state and territory governments, is proud to support Children’s Week activities across the country, which is celebrated this year from 22 to 28 October.
21/10/2011 Funding for new research on vulnerable children
Academics and practitioners will have the opportunity to do more research on vulnerable children, with $600,000 available over the next three years
18/10/2011 Playford teen parents get more support for work
Families in and around Playford will have extra help to provide a safe, happy and healthy environment for their children as part of the Gillard Government’s new workforce participation reforms.
18/10/2011 More help for vulnerable children in Elizabeth
Media Release for the Web - from the Parliamentary Secretary Julie Collins and Nick Champion MP - Australian Government announces more support / assessment tool for children and families in Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth
18/10/2011 Expert advice on building supportive communities
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today launched a new book which provides expert analysis of ways to best support vulnerable children and their families.
28/09/2011 Reports show Saver Plus is helping people on low incomes
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today launched two reports which highlight the great success of the Saver Plus program.
26/09/2011 New coin and stamp recognise our volunteer army
The Gillard Government today announced 4,600 not-for-profit organisations will receive Volunteer Grants in recognition of the vital contribution volunteers make to our community.
07/09/2011 White Balloon Day 2011
Today marks the 15th anniversary of White Balloon Day, an annual national event run by Bravehearts to raise awareness of child sexual assault and prevention in our community.
06/09/2011 Play your part to protect our children
The Gillard Government is encouraging all Australians to embrace National Child Protection Week 2011 and do their part to help build a society that protects children from abuse and neglect.
05/09/2011 Planning the way forward for child protection research
The Gillard Government has commissioned a National Research Audit to examine research on child protection in Australia and help target further research.
25/08/2011 Gillard government launches online financial councellor map
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, David Bradbury and Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins today launched an online map to help people in financial difficulty find their nearest financial counsellor.
19/08/2011 Local organisations providing support for vulnerable families
Community organisations in 2,200 locations across Australia have now received funding to deliver vital support for vulnerable families and children.
07/07/2011 Funding Boost to help families in disaster affected Queensland
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, and the Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, today announced the Gillard Government would provide an additional $660,000 to three community organisations in cyclone...
27/06/2011 New approach to addressing disadvantage in Burnie
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, and Member for Braddon, Sid Sidebottom, today visited Centacare’s Communities for Children service, one of the frontline services supporting young children and parents in Burnie.
15/06/2011 Assessing the needs of vulnerable children and their families
A new tool to assess the health, wellbeing and needs of vulnerable children will be trialed in four locations across Australia.
03/06/2011 Supporting families in crisis in Deakin
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins and the Member for Deakin, Mike Symon today announced four community organisations in Deakin will share in more than $830,000 over the next three years.
30/05/2011 Support for community organisations
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the Gillard Government would provide $30,000 to support the Communities in Control conference from 30 – 31 May in Melbourne.
25/05/2011 Volunteer Grants 2011 closing soon
With the closing date for Volunteer Grants 2011 fast approaching, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins,..
20/05/2011 Hobart takes part in Walk Safely to School Day
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today joined students, teachers and parents from Montagu Bay Primary School in Hobart for Walk Safely to School Day.
20/05/2011 Community mental health boost
Seventy-nine community mental health services across Australia will share in more than $106 million to continue helping people with mental illness, their families and carers over the next three years.
20/05/2011 Celebrating National Families Week in Tasmania
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today joined Tasmanian families at a multicultural celebration and barbecue on the lawns of the Glenorchy City Council to mark National Families Week 2011.
19/05/2011 New funding for national 1800 number to provide financial counselling services across Australia
Access to financial counselling services will be made easier with new funding so all Australians can access financial counselling over the phone through a national 1800 number.
17/05/2011 Funding boost to Foodbank Australia
Continued funding from the Gillard Government to Foodbank Australia will help provide food and grocery supplies to more than 2,500 community organisations that support vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians.
15/05/2011 Funding boost to help vulnerable and disadvantaged Tasmanians
Front-line community organisations will be able to provide additional support to vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians with an $83.3 million funding boost over four years for emergency relief services announced in the 2011-12 Budget.
13/05/2011 Funding boost to help vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians
Front-line community organisations will be able to provide additional support to vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians with a $83.3 million funding boost over four years for emergency relief services announced in the 2011-12 Budget.
13/05/2011 More support for community mental health
The Gillard Government is investing an additional $269.3 million over five years in community mental health services, as part of a $2.2 billion funding package for mental health services across Australia.
10/05/2011 Funding boost to help vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians
Front-line community organisations will be able to provide additional support to vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians with a $171.9 million funding boost in the 2011-12 Budget.
10/05/2011 More community-based support for people with mental illness and their families
Around 35,000 Australians with mental illness and their carers will have access to much-needed support with a $269.3 million boost over the next five years to community mental health services.
04/05/2011 Supporting Australia’s volunteers
The Gillard Government is continuing its support of the nation’s volunteers with $16 million worth of grants now available to not-for-profit organisations.
29/04/2011 Helping young people transition from out-of-home care
To give additional support to young people leaving out-of-home care, the Gillard Government is providing $1.5 million over the next three years to the national peak body, CREATE Foundation.
20/04/2011 $16 million investment in local communities
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the Gillard Government will provide over $16 million to around 60 community projects across Australia to strengthen vulnerable communities...
19/04/2011 $3.3 million for family support services in Midland
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today officially launched the Midland Communities for Children Plus service.
16/04/2011 Support for families affected by disaster
Families and individuals in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales affected by recent disasters will continue to receive help getting back on their feet with $15.7 million from the Gillard Government.
15/04/2011 $490 million for Family Support Program
The Gillard Government today launched the new Family Support Program with renewed funding of $490 million over three years for families and children services to provide more support to vulnerable families, and reduce red tape for service providers.
05/04/2011 Parliamentary Secretary meets NT community organisations
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins today met welfare and community services organisations in Darwin on her trip to Australia’s northern capital.
21/03/2011 Celebrating National Playgroup Week
To mark the start of National Playgroup Week, a special playgroup for local children and their parents was held at Parliament House today in Canberra.
10/03/2011 First annual report on the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
The first Annual Report on the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020 was released today.
09/03/2011 Families and children benefit from renovated centre in Mount Druitt
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins and the NSW Member for Mount Druitt, Richard Amery, today launched a revamped Communities for Children centre which will benefit more than 200 vulnerable parents and children.
08/03/2011 Improving financial literacy in Indigenous communities
More than 17,000 Indigenous Australians living in remote communities have been supported to help manage their money through a joint Australian Government and ANZ bank initiative that is marking its five year anniversary today.
24/02/2011 Additional funds for flood affected Victoria
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the Gillard Government will provide an additional $261,000 of Emergency Relief funding to help community and charitable organisations ...
24/02/2011 Additional funds for flood affected New South Wales
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the Gillard Government will provide an additional $419,777 in Emergency Relief funding to two organisations in flood-affected areas of northern and western New South Wales.
23/02/2011 Improving counselling services for Australia’s carers and their families
Carers and their families will be able to access improved family relationship and support services that cater specifically to their needs, under reforms to the Family Relationship Services for Carers initiative announced...
23/02/2011 New approach to protection of vulnerable children
The Australian Government will provide $1.1 million to trial a new tool to assess the needs of vulnerable children and their families in four communities across Australia.
18/02/2011 Assisting African refugees and migrants in Melbourne
Today the Gillard Government is meeting an election commitment by providing $143,000 over two years for a project to assist African refugees and migrants settle in to life in Australia, the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services...
18/02/2011 Helping seniors get online
About 94,000 older Australians across the country are now enjoying free access to broadband internet and computer kiosks through the Australian Government’s Broadband for Seniors initiative.
01/02/2011 Extra funding for emergency relief services in flood-affected Queensland
The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the Gillard Government will provide an additional $1.03 million in Emergency Relief funding to community and charitable organisations to help Queenslanders in …
21/01/2011 New report on child protection in Australia
The Australian Government today welcomed a new report which shows the number of children subject to a substantiated child abuse and neglect across Australia has fallen by 4 per cent in the last year.