Social Development
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Homecare Medical has been awarded the contract to develop and operate the 24/7 national helpline for New Zealanders affected by sexual violence, say Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

“The Government is focused on developing a more sustainable and integrated national system to ensure victims of sexual violence get the support and services they need at the right time,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Anne Tolley Justice Social Development
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An evaluation of the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilot has confirmed that families are safer and better protected as a result of the pilot, say Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

The final evaluation report released today by Superu found that the level of seriousness and the frequency of family violence incidents reduced significantly in the six months after people came into contact with the pilot.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
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Flood-hit farmers in the Bay of Plenty region will have a further opportunity to apply for a grant to help with clean up and recovery, say Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy.

The $100,000 Primary Industries Flood Recovery Fund is part of a package of additional support totalling $295,000 for farms and orchards who suffered damage following the floods. 

Anne Tolley Nathan Guy Social Development Primary Industries
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Short-term housing will be provided to perpetrators of family violence in the Waikato to help ensure victims are kept safe and can stay in their own homes, say Justice and Social Housing Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

“The Government is putting $1.1 million into emergency housing for perpetrators at the Integrated Safety Response pilot sites in Waikato and Christchurch, because evidence shows it’s better to remove perpetrators than to uproot victims and children from the family home,” Ms Adams says.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Housing Social Development Justice
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the Community Finance Initiative is helping low income Kiwis to improve their financial capability and independence while saving thousands in interest.

“This initiative has provided $1 million of zero fee, interest free or low-interest lending in the last year, saving low income individuals and families over $500,000 if they had borrowed from alternative lenders,” says Mrs Tolley.

“To date, nearly 400 people have received a loan since the Community Finance Initiative was piloted.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says strong uptake of the $3K to Work grant has seen over 1,200 New Zealander’s move off benefits and into stable employment.

“The $3,000 grant supports people to relocate to take up employment. There has been good uptake of the grant over the last year,” says Mrs Tolley.

“In the year to 30 June 2017, $3K to Work delivered 1,203 grants at a total of $3.6 million. Over 90 per cent of the grant recipients, mostly single men aged 20-29, remained in employment and off benefits for longer than 91 days.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says MSD’s latest Household Incomes Report shows median household incomes rose three per cent in real terms in the year to June 2016.

“This increase shows the Government’s focus on strengthening the economy is delivering for New Zealand families and households,” Mrs Tolley says.

“Despite the effects of the Global Financial Crisis, most Kiwi households are much better off today than they were back in 2008.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the number of people dependent on welfare continues to drop, with sole parents and young jobseekers leading the way in moving off benefits.

“At the end of the quarter there were 276,331 people receiving a main benefit, a decrease of 3,846 (1.4 per cent) in the last 12 months. This puts the proportion of the population (9.6 per cent) at the lowest it’s been in a June quarter since before the Global Financial Crisis,” says Mrs Tolley. 

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Civil Defence Minister Nathan Guy today visited Edgecumbe to see how the recovery is progressing.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the Edgecumbe community and Bay of Plenty has the support they need to recover from the April floods,” says Mrs Tolley.

“This includes $1 million in funding to enable Enhanced Taskforce Green teams to clear debris from towns, rural properties, and parks and reserves in Edgecumbe, Whakatane, Taneatua, Ruatoki, and other affected areas.

Anne Tolley Nathan Guy Social Development Primary Industries Civil Defence
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes today’s expansion of the Red Shirts in Community programme where around 1,000 young jobseekers will gain work experience and earn NCEA credits.

“It’s great to see MSD partner with The Warehouse to expand a programme which will enable around 1,000 young Kiwis to gain valuable work experience,” says Mrs Tolley.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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The Government has announced a comprehensive strategy to reduce the number of at-risk young people not in employment or training in regional New Zealand. 

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith joined Prime Minister Bill English who made the announcement at Mr Apple in Hawke’s Bay today.

Simon Bridges Anne Tolley Paul Goldsmith Economic Development Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley is pleased to announce the 2017 KickStart Breakfast award champions.

“Over 29,000 students in more than 950 schools receive a nutritious breakfast through the KickStart Breakfast programme which helps to improve focus, behaviour and energy levels among students,” says Mrs Tolley.

“The KickStart Breakfast awards are a great opportunity to recognise the success of the programme as well as the many volunteers across the country who give up their time to help Kiwi kids thrive at school.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Christchurch’s Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilot has helped almost 21,000 victims and perpetrators of family violence since it was set up, say Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

“Today marks one year since the ISR pilot was established in Christchurch and already it is showing signs of being a significant game changer in the way that agencies and NGOs respond to family violence,” says Ms Adams.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says more MSD clients are now accessing online services, making it easier for them to get the support they need.

“We know that New Zealanders want more control of the services they receive including access to more online services at a time and place that suits them,” says Mrs Tolley.

“MSD continues to expand its online services and clients can now manage transactional appointments, update personal details, view letters, declare wages earned, and receive medical certificate reminders online.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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The Government is investing $170,000 in a Canterbury initiative that connects secondary students with businesses who can transition them into further education, employment or training.

The funding will also extend Christchurch’s Educated Job Ready Programme to Timaru.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley announced the funding in Christchurch today at the launch of the Canterbury Regional Economic Development Strategy refresh.

Simon Bridges Anne Tolley Economic Development Social Development
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The Government has today announced extra grants to help Bay of Plenty farmers and growers impacted by April’s storms and floods.

Affected farmers and growers can apply for contributions from the new $200,000 Primary Industries Bay of Plenty Flood Recovery Grant to help with essential infrastructure repair as they continue to get their businesses up and running.

Nathan Guy Anne Tolley Social Development Primary Industries
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Minister for Social Development and Minister for Children Anne Tolley says the introduction of mandatory registration for social workers will increase their skills and professionalism so they can better support New Zealanders.

“Social workers play a crucial role in supporting our most vulnerable New Zealanders. They are increasingly dealing with children, young people, adults and families with complex high needs,” says Mrs Tolley.

Anne Tolley Social Development Children
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New guides to support the family violence sector to provide consistent and effective help to victims and perpetrators are being launched today by Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley at the Family Violence Summit in Wellington.

Over 120 key players in the family violence sector are attending the Summit today to build on conversations to date about how to work together better to tackle New Zealand’s horrific rate of family violence.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today visited the clean-up teams in Edgecumbe which have successfully completed their second week of work.

“The Government has provided up to $500,000 of Enhanced Taskforce Green funding to employ people to assist Whakatane District Council with the clean-up,” says Mrs Tolley.

"Three clean-up teams have been working hard over the last two weeks to clear debris from Edgecumbe township and surrounding public spaces, including Thornton Beach Reserve, Edgecumbe Domain and local playgrounds.

Anne Tolley Social Development
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Paul Goldsmith today welcomed the official launch of the Auckland Airport Jobs and Skills Hub - Ara.

“Ara is an industry-led skills and employment initiative that connects employers based at the Airport with local jobseekers in South Auckland,” says Mrs Tolley.

“This skills hub is part of the Government’s approach to partner with businesses to deliver wider economic and social benefits.

Anne Tolley Paul Goldsmith Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Social Development
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Budget 2017 invests $64.4 million of new operating funding to help people move off benefits and into work, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“A proactive approach to supporting clients to prepare for employment has seen the number of people receiving a main benefit continue to fall,” Mrs Tolley says.

“The proportion of the population on a main benefit is the lowest it’s been in a March quarter since 1997, at 9.6 per cent.

Anne Tolley Social Development Budget 2017
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Budget 2017 invests $37.2 million of operating funding to reduce the harm caused by family violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say.

$22.4 million will extend the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilots for another two years.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice Budget 2017
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Temporary homes will be moved on to the Whakatāne Holiday Park and next to flood-damaged homes while properties in the Edgecumbe area are repaired, Lead Minister for Edgecumbe Anne Tolley and Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith said today.

The Ministers visited the holiday park to see the region’s recovery first-hand, and visit the site where a number of temporary homes will be built to increase accommodation options in the area.

Nick Smith Anne Tolley Social Development Building and Construction