Fair communities
Supporting safe and caring communities
The Queensland Government is committed to building safe and caring communities where people are free to realise their potential. A fair, safe and caring community is one that actively looks after its members and helps out people in need.
The Queensland Government is helping people in the community realise their potential by building economic growth, and providing programs such as Skilling Queenslanders for Work, housing and homelessness services and the Helping Out Families project.
The Government is also working to keep communities safe by protecting lives and property through the efforts of the police, ambulance, fire and rescue, emergency management and volunteer emergency services.
The community can also play a key role in contributing a safe and caring environment through participating in activities such as volunteering for a community organisation, helping out neighbours after a storm, or being a carer for someone who needs ongoing support.
Achieving our targets
Disadvantage affects us all
While most Queenslanders enjoy a good quality of life, some of us are struggling. There are always factors outside our control which can affect our lives. It only takes one event, like an accident or illness, a natural disaster, losing a job or losing a loved one to dramatically change the course of our lives.
Despite the years of economic growth, there are still areas of the state such as Far North Queensland, Wide Bay, the Sunshine Coast, and some urban areas which have high levels of unemployment, low levels of education and training, high demand for community services and high level of contact with the criminal justice system.
Some Queenslanders are finding it difficult to meet the costs of living, and housing affordability and homelessness continue to affect many. Indigenous Queenslanders continue to experience significant disadvantage, including a much lower life expectancy, poorer education outcomes and worse job prospects than other Queenslanders.
Some Queenslanders have difficulty finding a job because of low levels of basic literacy and numeracy skills, low self-esteem, and a lack of access to affordable childcare. Research shows that children growing up in homes without a working parent may be at a greater risk of poverty, poor school performance, welfare dependence, poor employment prospects, contact with the criminal justice system and being teenage parents.
Disadvantage is a difficult and complex cycle to break, often passing from one generation to the next. Breaking this cycle requires a unique and compassionate approach over a period of time.
Caring for our community
Building a caring community is about being a good neighbour and citizen. Getting to know the people in our communities builds an environment where we all feel safe, needed and valued.
Caring for our community also means helping out when it's needed. Volunteers make an enormous contribution to the cultural, social and economic fabric of our state. Many of our charitable organisations and community groups rely on the time and skills donated by volunteers across Queensland.
In Queensland we have a strong history of volunteering, and we all have a role to play in contributing to our community. Renewing our spirit of service can help make Queensland a fairer and more caring state.
Leading by example
Here are some examples of how Queensland Government agencies have taken up the challenge of supporting safe and caring communities.
2011- 12 Budget highlights
Find out how the 2011-12 State Budget is supporting the Q2 ambitions and targets:
Targets
Progress to date:
15.8 per cent of children live in a household without a working parent.
Q2 Baseline:
15.9 per cent of children live in a household without a working parent.
Progress to date:
35.4 per cent of Queenslanders volunteer.
Q2 Baseline:
37.8 per cent of Queenslanders volunteer.
