Tēnā koutou katoa,
By now you’ll be aware, Budget 2021 is a hopeful step in the direction that our sector has long been asking for. The increases in main benefits – the first rolling out from 1 July 2021 – within the context of a ‘recovery’ budget that is aiming to maintain debt levels, shows that this Government has been listening.
We remain hopeful that this is merely the start in the journey towards equity and a more just and compassionate society in Aotearoa.
In this Policy Watch Special we are highlighting some of the smaller, but still significant, Budget items that impact our sector that might have been missed amongst the ‘bigger’ announcements.
But first, in case you missed, those ‘big’ announcements…
This Radio New Zealand article provides a good overview summary of the larger announcements. Read here.
Bernard Hickey writing in the Spinoff suggests that the Government had the political capital to go further. Read here.
NZCCSS member VisionWest welcomed the Government’s steps towards increasing wellbeing. Read here.
And, for the keen reader, here’s a link to the full Budget 2021 document on Treasury’s website. Read here.
NZCCS Budget 2021 Highlights
UP: The reinstatement of the Training Incentive Allowance, which over four years should see 16,000 more able to retrain in degree-level study. $8.4M. See more…
UP: The expansion of the mental health pilot Mana Ake in primary and intermediate schools to five new areas. $2M See more…
UP: Improved financial assistance for caregivers to standardise payments to carers inside and outside the State system, and to better reflect the cost of caring for tamariki. $57M. See more…
UP: Increased funding for Alternative Education. Notably this funding is able to be used flexibly. $4.4M. See more…
UP: The establishment of an Aged Care Commissioner within the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner. $8.1M
UP: Support for the Office of The Children’s Commissioner to enable the full establishment of an Independent Children’s Monitor. $1.2M
HAS POTENTIAL: Funding to close the pay gap between Government and NGO-employed social workers. While great on the surface, there are concerns around not closing the gap for all workers within social service providers and creating a very real impact on equity within our services. $16.5M. It will pay to watch the Fair Pay Agreements as they roll out.
HAS POTENTIAL: The implementation of ‘Family Court Associates’ has the potential to improve things for those in the system. It will be interesting to see the role requirements for those taking on this mahi. $15 M. See more…
STILL WAITING: Little to no movement in recognising or supporting those with disabilities. See more…
STILL WAITING: Little to no support, new initiatives or planning, for innovation in the Older Persons space.
STILL WAITING: No monumental shifts in relation to housing. The announced initiatives have potential but need to be part of a ‘both/and’ solution that takes on this systemic problem. See more…
A Helpful Summary
The NZCCSS Secretariat has gone through Budget 2021 line by line to identify budget initiatives of interest to our sector. Read it here.