2015-12-08 I&S Committee - Item 5 - Attach 1 - NOOSA SOCIAL STRATEGY

Key Issues

It has become apparent in the development of this             •   The availability of affordable housing, rental
strategy that there is a need for improved coordination           housing and short-term crisis housing: Noosa’s
and collection of local data to better inform evidenced-          median house purchase and rental prices are higher
based social planning, advocacy and resource allocation.          than the State average. This, coupled with lower
                                                                  than average incomes, has led to a lack of affordable
The available data, research and consultations undertaken         housing in the area. Shortages in affordable housing
have identified the following key social issues and               and limited housing diversity contribute to rates of
challenges for the Noosa community:                               homelessness.

•   Providing quality services for our senior population:     •   The rising cost of living: The recent increase in costs
    Noosa’s population is older and ageing at a faster rate       of living has been caused by a variety of factors,
    than the State average. This will result in increased         particularly the rising cost of utilities such as power
    demands for services targeting seniors, and may               and water. These rises impact particularly on people
    require some reprioritisation of resources. However           with fixed and low incomes.
    one of our greatest opportunities as a Shire is how to    •   Unemployment and underemployment: Noosa has
    best leverage the skills and experience of our senior         a higher unemployment rate than the State average.
    population as volunteers, mentors and productive              Noosa’s key industries lend themselves to casual and
    members of our community.                                     part-time work resulting in underemployment.
•   Young people leaving the Shire: As in many regional       •   Access to government services: Residents who do
    areas across the State, young people are leaving the          not have access to reliable transport have reduced
    Shire due to the lack of local tertiary education and         access to health and other services. There is also a
    employment opportunities. There is a need to put              shortage of some health services and health-related
    in place strategies to retain and encourage young             infrastructure within the Noosa Shire. Government
    people and families to live in Noosa.                         services (such as aged care) are moving to online
•   Mental health and social isolation: There are an              portals for clients, however users will need to have
    increasing number of vulnerable groups emerging               access and the skills to use this technology.
    in our community e.g. lone person households, some        •   Support, respite and affordable independent living
    within the LGBTI cohort, and disengaged young                 options: Teenagers and adults with an intellectual
    people. To service the needs of these groups will             or physical disability (and their carers) living in the
    require new and innovative approaches that support            Noosa Shire have particular needs that are not always
    those most at risk.                                           being met particularly in living, vocational and study
•   Homelessness: This is an increasing issue in the Shire        skills.
    (particularly for young people): and a priority issue     •   Improved access to public places: The design
    for the State Government. Well documented links               and construction of public places and physical
    between mental health and homelessness highlight a            infrastructure in Noosa could better meet the needs
    complex issue requiring a multi-faceted, coordinated          of people with limited mobility.
    approach as well as strong partnerships between
    government, not-for-profit organisations and the
    community.




                                                                                              Noosa Social Strategy | Page 15