Fair communities
Supporting safe and caring communities
Queensland has enjoyed high levels of economic prosperity in recent years. Wages rose, more people were working and the economy expanded. Even during the financial and economic crises of 2008-09 the economy proved resilient and employment growth remained solid, with a rate of job creation more than double that in the rest of Australia. The impact of the global financial crisis was relatively short-lived in Queensland, and we are now set for a return to strong economic and employment growth.
Disadvantage in our communities
Unemployment remains low compared to the rest of Australia, and demand for workers remains steady. However the impact of the downturn was more pronounced in regions such as Far North Queensland, Wide Bay and the Sunshine Coast. Indigenous communities and some outer metropolitan suburbs also continue to have high unemployment.
Some people continue to face barriers to getting a job, including not having basic literacy and numeracy skills, having low self-esteem and not having access to affordable child care.
Research has shown children who grow up in homes without a working parent are at greater risk of poverty. They're more likely to perform poorly at school, be welfare dependent or work in low-income jobs, have contact with the criminal justice system and be teenage parents.
This cycle of disadvantage often rolls on from one generation to the next. Entrenched disadvantage is complex and difficult to address.
It takes unique approaches, compassion and time to break this cycle of disadvantage.
An equal future for all
We must provide the support unemployed families need to take the first steps towards creating a better and brighter future for themselves and their children.
We must make the path to employment easier and less daunting for those who aren't working.
We must help everyone who is able to work get a job so they can contribute to and share in the state's prosperity.
Caring for our community
Caring for our community is about being a good neighbour and citizen.
Getting to know the people living near us and in our communities means we can keep an eye out for each other so we know when something's wrong. This makes us feel more connected to each other, which also makes us feel safer.
Caring for our community also means helping out when it's needed.
Volunteers make an enormous contribution to the cultural, social and economic life of our state. Many of our charitable organisations and community groups wouldn't be able to operate if volunteers didn't give freely of their time and skills.
Queenslanders have a strong history of volunteering, but we could all do a bit more. We must renew our spirit of service if we want Tomorrow's Queensland to be a fairer and more caring state.
Fair Queensland targets
Target 1: Halve the proportion of Queensland children living in a household without a working parent.
Target 2: Increase by 50% the proportion of Queenslanders involved in their communities as volunteers.
Last updated Monday, March 01, 2010
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