Appendix G: List of funded initiatives in the NT that support vulnerable children and families

With regards to the evaluation of the Australian Government's trial of new income management (NIM) in the NT, it is important to be aware of the suite of other government measures, initiatives and programs that may have direct or indirect implications on the outcomes presented in the report.

It should be highlighted that any observations attributable to the difference between the implementation snapshot study and follow up data need to be considered in the context of these other initiatives, rendering clear causality statements about the effectiveness of NIM a more difficult prospect. In the research context, these other programs can be considered as representing 'confounding variables'. Nevertheless, it is clearly valid to consider the effects of income management policy in any holistic examination of peoples' changed circumstances.

This paper briefly outlines a number of programs and initiatives aimed at vulnerable members of the community in the NT.

Firstly, there are a number of other welfare conditionality reforms currently occurring, some of which may exist in the same locations to be observed for the purpose of this evaluation. These include:

• 'Learn or Earn' - an initiative encouraging Australian youth aged under 21 who have not completed year 12 or equivalent to engage in an appropriate level of study or training in order to be eligible for Youth Allowance payments, and
• the School Enrolment and Attendance Measure (SEAM) - aims to decrease the number of eligible school-age children not attending school by suspending the income support payments of parents of truant children or those not enrolled at school. The actual suspension of income support payments is expected to be a rare punishment; warnings, reminders and offers of support will be the first priorities in educating parents about the need for their children to attend school.

Associated somewhat with these measures—in the area of employment, education and training—is the Keep Australia Working initiative, designed to limit in Australia the negative effects of the Global Financial Crisis. This initiative includes the Centrelink Jobs Expos which, along with FaHCSIA-funded Commonwealth financial counsellors, aim to maximise employment and training opportunities in local communities.

Within the policy area of child protection and family support, initiatives include the Family Support Program and the REACh (Responding Early Assisting Children) program directory of services. The first of these, the Family Support Program, incorporates three core streams, covering community and family partnerships, family and parenting services, and family law services. REACh is intended to improve the capacity of families and caregivers to respond appropriately to children's needs for care, development and safety through timely access to community resources that can support them in their parenting role. It aims to improve access to support services and encourage at risk and vulnerable families to engage with their community through collaborative approaches. Other programs and initiatives include the National Framework for Child Protection, the Register of Harm Prevention Charities, the National Plan for Foster Children, Young People and their Carers, the 'Keeping Safe; Child Protection Curriculum' operating in the Northern Territory, and Early Childhood Initiatives, such as the 'Every Child is Important' project, Parenting Information Projectand Child Care Links Projects. Attached to the end of this document is an exhaustive list, courtesy of the NT Government, of currently funded programs and initiatives in the NT that support vulnerable children and families.

Indigenous-specific programs include a large range of initiatives under the Closing the Gap banner, related to the improvement of Indigenous life expectancy, infant mortality, early childhood development, education and employment. Associated programs include the Indigenous Children Program and Indigenous Parenting Support Services.

In measuring the success of NIM in terms of increased community safety and the reduction of addictive and damaging behaviours, such as gambling and drug-taking, a number of other initiatives need to be considered as playing a role. These include the Family Violence Prevention Strategy, local targeted initiatives such as dry bans and those associated with drinking and gambling licenses, and the National Drug Strategy.

Incorporated within the actual model of NIM are several programs and initiatives that may be accessed in order to complement the efforts of the model itself and therefore potentially have an impact on the results. The aims and objectives of such initiatives are integral to the policy direction of new IM; the model's overall effectiveness depends upon the optimal uptake of such services by people on income management. The provision of these services are a core component of the new income management model and are not seen as peripheral or extra services.  

Money management and financial counselling support services will help people who are income managed and others in the community to develop the skills to appropriately use their income support payments. It is not compulsory for people to go to one of these services, but it is encouraged because they provide a range of support that can help people avoid or resolve financial difficulties and put in place good ways to manage their money. Services are delivered by community organisations and include crisis support, financial counselling, advocacy and budgeting and money management education.

The Matched Savings Payment is an incentive payment to encourage people on income management to develop a savings pattern and increase their capacity to manage their money. If eligible, a person can receive $1 for every $1 they save, up to a maximum of $500. A person can only receive a Matched Savings Payment once.

The Matched Savings Payment is paid directly into the person's income management account.  To receive a Matched Savings payment an individual must:

• be income managed (excluding VIM and Cape York income management)
• complete an approved money management course
• maintain a pattern of savings from their discretionary funds for 13 weeks or longer after the commencement of the approved money management course and
• not have previously received a Matched Savings Payment.

Individuals who voluntarily participate in income management are eligible for an incentive of $250 for every six months they remain on VIM. Income management is supported by financial counselling and money management services, totalling $53 million over four years.

The following table gives an indication of the range of initiatives in the NT which support vulnerable children and their families, and which could influence outcomes for people subject to NIM.