Tasmanian Budget 2021-22

26 August 2021

Peter Gutwein MP

Premier

The 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget is delivering our plan and securing Tasmania’s future by investing in the things that matter most to Tasmanians, such as the wellbeing of our children and young people.

We are investing over $100 million across the next four years to secure their future and deliver Tasmania's first ever comprehensive, long-term, whole of government Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy, with a particular focus on the first 1000 days of life.

Our Action Plan includes 65 initiatives to deliver the strategy along with timelines for implementation, a clear governance framework, and reporting and measuring outcomes.

New initiatives include:

$6.5 million for the Bringing Baby Home pre-birth and post-birth 24 hour support for parents at risk of having their infant removed;
$6.1 million for a Child Health and Parenting Program sustained home visiting program for families with complex needs;
$6 million to establish Kids Care Clinics - a sustainable community paediatric service;
$1.3 million for supported playgroups for vulnerable parents in rural and remote communities;
$1.3 million to develop a staged Child and Family Learning Centre outreach model.
$1.4 million to research and deliver best practice universal parenting programs;
$1.4 million to support expecting and parenting teenagers;
$460,000 Little Tasmanians baby pack for newborns including a onesie, book, library card and feeding spoon;
$180,000 for a Youth Climate Leadership Program for high school students; and
$875,000 to increase participation opportunities for children and young people who are not usually provided the opportunity to participate or be heard.

As a result of over 870 postcards from children right around Tasmania, we will also provide $500,000 over two years that will fund additional recreational facilities for children in local areas.

The Budget also locks in funding across the Forward Estimates for a number of other key initiatives under the Strategy, including:

$5 million to strengthen permanent placements for children in care unable to return home;
$2 million for the “Sure Start” program to give priority access to health and education for vulnerable children in Out of Home Care;
$4.5 million to replace old-style toilet blocks in 42 schools, making it safer for kids;
$1.75 million to support informal kinship carers;
$10.1 million for the Under 16 Lighthouse Project for homeless young people;
$5.2 million for modular youth housing and youth coaches for 16 to 24 year olds;
$4.4 million to extend the School Lunch pilot to an additional 30 schools and provide emergency food relief and food security;
$5.4 million to further extend the school nurse program;
$1 million for the 24 Carrot Kitchen Garden program in schools;
$1.9 million for Youth Peer Workers to support young people with mental health challenges;
$3.8 million to provide access to speech pathologists, psychologist and social workers attending Child and Family Learning Centres;
$1.4 million to expand the Autism Diagnosis Service for earlier assessment and support;
$1.3 million in a Youth Connectors Pilot to operate from existing jobs hubs;
$2 million for professional development of teachers and teachers’ aides in trauma-informed practice;
$6 million to provide trauma support to additional students; and
$3 million to double the ticket to play vouchers, so more eligible kids can participate in sport and recreational activities.

There is nothing more important than the health, safety and wellbeing of our young people, and the strategy, and the Action Plan we have laid out to implement it, is vitally important for our State’s future – providing the blueprint we need to deliver the services and supports that children, young people and their families need, so they, and our State, can thrive into the future.

Securing the future for Tasmanian children and young people