Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the number of people on Sole Parent Support has fallen by more than 15,000 since before welfare reforms were introduced.

“Total benefit numbers have fallen by 3,292 in the year to September 2016 to 283,875, and have risen by 3,698 in the last quarter, as is normal this time of year due to seasonal work,” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that as part of the radical overhaul of care and protection, Cabinet has agreed that young people will no longer have to leave state care at 17, and will be able to remain in care or return to care up until the age of 21, with transition support and advice available up to 25.

“The government is addressing the long-term trauma and poor life outcomes for young people who have been in care, based on recommendations from an independent expert panel,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that New Zealand’s first child sex offender register comes into effect today, allowing agencies to be more proactive in managing the risk of reoffending in communities to keep children safe from harm.

“From today, child sex offenders will no longer be able to disappear back into communities after completing a sentence or order,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says more low income families will be able to access low and no-interest loans, as the Community Finance partnership is rolled out to additional areas across the country.

“The government, the private sector and NGOs have been working together on this initiative, and I’m delighted that more families will be able to access the scheme,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the government will fully consider the recommendations made by a UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC).

It follows discussions between the Minister, a delegation and Committee members in Geneva last month, regarding New Zealand’s fifth periodic report under the UNCROC convention.

“I was able to highlight the real progress that our country continues to make on children’s rights, such as the overhaul of care and protection featuring the voices of children,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Corrections Minister Judith Collins have announced the launch of a new initiative to support more offenders into employment.

Budget 2016 invested $15.3 million over three years for the trial, which is targeted at increasing the employment prospects of released prisoners.

Work and Income case managers and professionals will work with prisoners from pre-release for up to a year to help them prepare, find and stay in employment to help reduce reoffending.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today launched the trial of a new approach to social service delivery in the Gisborne and Wairoa regions.

Manaaki Tairawhiti is the second Placed-Based Initiative to be announced, and brings together local social sector leaders into a single governance group to better co-ordinate services for at-risk families.

“Manaaki Tairawhiti gives us a great opportunity to bring together and develop good local leadership, so that we can improve the delivery of social services to families,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says National Social Workers’ Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the important work social workers do and thank them for the difference they make for families.

“Social workers do an often thankless job and work with some of our most vulnerable families,” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that legislation is to be introduced in Parliament by the end of the year which will better support children and young people in care or at risk of going into care, while increasing support for families and caregivers.

“The new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, will be totally child-centred and everything it does must be completely focused on safety and the very best long-term outcomes for children and young people already in the care system, or who are at risk of needing care,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that the overhaul of care and protection will stay firmly focused on delivering much better long-term outcomes for children and young people in care or at risk of going into care, despite constant attempts by Labour to undermine and misrepresent it.

“The current system is not working as it should for young people and we are determined to make a real difference and give these kids the lives they deserve. I guarantee we will not be side tracked by petty political point-scoring,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has told a Pacific Leaders Fono that the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki will respond to the needs of Pacific children and young people in care or at risk of going into care.

Mrs Tolley told the Fono in Porirua that the new operating model will be culturally responsive and will better support Pacific children and young people.

Sweeping reforms to our laws will build a better system for combatting abuse and will reduce harm, says Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

The Government is proposing a broad overhaul of changes to family violence legislation, stemming from the comprehensive review of the 20-year old Domestic Violence Act.

“New Zealand’s rate of family violence is horrendous. It has a devastating impact on individuals and communities, and a profound impact that can span generations and lifetimes,” Ms Adams says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley will this week lead a delegation to Geneva to discuss New Zealand’s Fifth Periodic Report under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC).

The treaty, ratified by New Zealand in 1993 and which includes a total of 195 countries, requires states to report to UNCROC every five years on the progress being made on children’s rights, while identifying areas which need further work.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says New Zealand’s first child sex offender register will soon get under way, following the passing of enabling legislation.

The Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Bill has passed its third reading in Parliament, with the register set to commence 30 days after Royal assent is granted.

“Children deserve to be kept safe from harm, which is why we are going to be more proactive in managing the risk of reoffending from child sex offenders,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says MSD’s latest Household Incomes Report shows that the majority of households have experienced strong real income growth in recent years, and that New Zealand has experienced a stronger recovery than many OECD countries since the Global Financial Crisis.

The Household Incomes Report uses data from the 2014 and early 2015 period, and is released today alongside a companion report using non-income measures.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that seven and a half million breakfasts have been served in schools around the country since the Government expanded the KickStart Breakfast programme in 2013.

“With more than 125,862 breakfasts served every week in 870 decile 1-10 schools, we can be sure these students are getting the best start to their school day,” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says a new trial for beneficiaries with mental health conditions will start next month and will work with clients to support them into work.

“Just over half of all clients receiving a main benefit have a health condition, injury or disability so it’s important that we work effectively with them to find the right support so they can move into long term independence,” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that a new child-centred, stand-alone ministry with a new Chief Executive is to be established to focus on the care and protection of vulnerable children and young people.

The Government will provide $500,000 over two years for short-term emergency housing to ensure perpetrators of family violence can be safely kept away from victims at a time of crisis.

Budget 2016 funding will provide emergency housing in Christchurch and Waikato, where the new Integrated Safety Response pilot is being trialled. The ISR pilot aims to ensure families experiencing family violence are safe and receive the services they need to prevent further harm.

Ministers today confirmed Waikato would be the second site for the Integrated Safety Response pilot.

The pilot, also being run in Christchurch, brings together different agencies involved in family violence to support victims and their families in a daily safety assessment approach.

The Government is seeking input into a new Risk Assessment and Management Framework designed to keep victims safer, Ministers have announced.

The framework proposes a better, more consistent way to assess and manage the risks of family violence so victims can get the help they need, whoever they turn to.

“This Government wants to do what we can to ensure that New Zealanders are protected from family violence. We know that properly and consistently identifying risk and intervening earlier is critical to achieving this,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell today announced Project 1000; a scheme to provide 1000 new jobs for currently unemployed Hawke’s Bay workers over the next three years.

Project 1000 is part of Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2016, which aims to accelerate job growth and raise incomes in the region.