❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Department of Health's decision to cease funding for the Happy Kids program, despite evidence of its positive impact on children's transition to high school. The response indicates the program's focus was primarily educational, leading to its referral to the Department of Education.
AnsweredQoN 32Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH — HAPPY KIDS PROGRAM
32. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the successful Happy Kids program, which has been
helping children at risk over the last 13 years through Department of Health
funding.
(1) Given that
the report by Edith Cowan University found that primary school children taking
part in this program were more likely to successfully transition to high
school, why is the department ceasing the funding for this program this year?
(2) Given the
need for successful early intervention programs, will the minister commit to
continue funding this program; and, if not, why not?
OF HEALTH — HAPPY KIDS PROGRAM
32. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the successful Happy Kids program, which has been
helping children at risk over the last 13 years through Department of Health
funding.
(1) Given that
the report by Edith Cowan University found that primary school children taking
part in this program were more likely to successfully transition to high
school, why is the department ceasing the funding for this program this year?
(2) Given the
need for successful early intervention programs, will the minister commit to
continue funding this program; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I wish to thank the very honourable member for some notice of
this question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Health —
(1)–(2) A
contract review in November 2011 identified that the Happy Kids service was
performing well, but it was delivering educational outcomes and did not have
any specific child and adolescent health outcomes. This matter was referred to the
Department of Education for consideration.
this question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Health —
(1)–(2) A
contract review in November 2011 identified that the Happy Kids service was
performing well, but it was delivering educational outcomes and did not have
any specific child and adolescent health outcomes. This matter was referred to the
Department of Education for consideration.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.