❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions whether the Department for Child Protection cross-references HUGS applications to identify families in financial distress with children. The Minister's response indicates no formal cross-referencing occurs.
AnsweredQoN 127Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HARDSHIP UTILITY GRANT SCHEME — DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION
I refer to those seeking to access the hardship utility grant scheme—HUGS—due to financial stress. Are requests for HUGS assistance cross-referenced by the Department for Child Protection to track families in financial distress who have children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
I refer to those seeking to access the hardship utility grant scheme—HUGS—due to financial stress. Are requests for HUGS assistance cross-referenced by the Department for Child Protection to track families in financial distress who have children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
I thank the member for her question. As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
I thank the member for her question. As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
As members know, HUGS was started in 2008, and when it was started I do not think it was really meant to do the job that it is doing now. We have had a lot of people through; I think 20 000 people have been referred to HUGS. Of those, 14 300 have been given monetary help, and $4.89 million has been given out. If they do go to the department wanting help, obviously they are tracked, but I do not believe that there is a cross-reference with the Department for Child Protection and the social workers in that process, because it goes straight to financial counselling.
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