Australia Yearbook - 2009-10

with education and information to help them
manage their money. They do not provide
financial advice or deal with complex
financial/legal matters and will facilitate access to
financial counsellors for help with complex
issues.
Information on saving for retirement and
retirement investments
The National Information Centre on Retirement
Investments (NICRI), an independent body
funded by the Australian Government, provides
the public with free information on planning and
saving for retirement, investment options and
effective use of financial resources in retirement.
Research into problem gambling
The Australian Government works in partnership
with State and Territory Governments through
the Ministerial Council on Gambling (MCG) to
develop a national approach to problem
gambling. The Commonwealth provides funding
for the MCG’s national research program,
Gambling Research Australia. The
Commonwealth also commissions research into
issues that have national impact.
Closing the Gap – Northern Territory –
income management
In 2008–09, FaHSCIA continued to work on the
implementation of income management as part
of the Northern Territory Emergency Response
(NTER). Income management directs 50 per cent
of certain income support and family payments to
agreed priority expenses such as food, utilities
and clothing. Income management is intended to
ensure that payments meant to benefit children
are used for the benefit of children and are not
directed towards harmful behaviours. At 26 June
2009, over 15,500 individuals were on income
management as part of the NTER. The Basics
Card was introduced in September 2008 to allow
customers of income management greater
flexibility in where they spend their income
managed funds.
Welfare Payments Reform – Child
Protection Scheme of Income
Management, Voluntary Income
Management and School Attendance and
Enrolment support package
The Child Protection Scheme of Income
Management (CPSIM) and Voluntary Income
Management (VIM) are available in Kimberley WA
and in Perth metropolitan area. CPSIM and VIM
aim to encourage socially responsible behaviour
and to enhance the well-being of children. Under
CPSIM, Western Australia’s Department of Child
Protection can refer a person to Centrelink for
income management where the poor use of
existing financial resources wholly or partially
contributes to child protection issues.
VIM allows people to volunteer for income
management if they feel it would assist them to
better meet their financial responsibilities, or
contribute to the wellbeing of their children or
children in their community. At 19 June 2009,
there were almost 200 CPSIM and VIM customers.
A vast majority (over 80 per cent) of income
managed funds have been allocated towards
food, housing costs and clothing by income
management customers.
Communities in harmony
A number of Australian Government programs
have been established to encourage greater social
integration of communities. The National Action
Plan aims to build social cohesion, harmony and
security. The Living in Harmony program
promotes community harmony and addresses
issues of racial, religious and cultural intolerance
within Australia. FaHCSIA's 'Bringing
Communities Together' works with different
groups within the community.
Support for newly arrived migrants includes
Newly Arrived Youth Support Services, Family
Relationship Services for Humanitarian Entrants,
Crisis Payment and child care inclusion programs.
The Family Community Network Initiative aims to
enhance the capacity of communities and
services to work together to address needs. It is
administered by FaHCSIA and is currently
primarily focussed on supporting Indigenous
communities participating in the COAG
Indigenous Community Coordination Pilots
around Australia.
Chapter 9 — Income and welfare 305