Appendix 7. Financial proxies
Outlined below are the rational and the details of the calculations for the financial proxies for each outcome.
Outcomes | Financial proxy | Financial proxy rational | Financial proxy calculation | Financial proxy source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1.1 Increased self-esteem |
$27,660 (100% of outcome) Cost of counselling sessions required to achieve the same outcome (assumes need 367 sessions to achieve a full outcome) |
The work case managers' conduct with the young people is of similar impact as counselling sessions. Some case managers are trained counsellors. |
|
Medicare MBS Online19 |
1.2 Increased engagement in meaningful activity |
$26,201 (100% of outcome) Independence test for Youth Allowance |
Young people qualify for the independence test once they have participated in full-time paid employment for at least 18 months within any two year period. This approximates the market value of engagement in a meaningful activity. |
|
|
1.3. More positive connections to others |
$12,840 (100% of outcome) Cost of running an afterschool activity centre |
Through a group activity the young people access a support network |
|
Stakeholder consultation |
1.4 Reduced likelihood of detention or incarceration |
$19,081 (100% of outcome) Difference between annual Newstart allowance and minimum wage |
Being in detention or jail has a negative impact on employment prospects, increasing the likelihood that the young person will be receiving income support (Newstart allowance) rather than being employed (receiving minimum wage). The difference between the minimum wage and the Newstart allowance amount approximates the value of avoiding unlawful behaviour. |
|
Fair Work Ombudsman22 |
Outcomes | Financial proxy | Financial proxy rational | Financial proxy calculation | Financial proxy source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2.1 Improve communication between family members |
$7,388 Cost of family group therapy for one year (10 sessions) |
Cost of treatment addressing family communication issues |
|
Medicare MBS Online23 |
2.2 Increase engagement in lives of the young people in their care |
$3,014 Average weekly expenditure on recreation by the lowest gross household income quintile in Tasmania |
A family's weekly recreational spend is indicative of the cost of families doing activities together, which involves parents engaging with the lives of their children. |
|
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)24 Stakeholder consultation |
Outcomes | Financial proxy | Financial proxy rational | Financial proxy calculation | Financial proxy source |
---|---|---|---|---|
3.1 Increased sense of pride from contribution to community |
$8,512 Adjusted cost of volunteer time contributed by a community mentor to the program |
The community mentors who volunteer their time for the young people in the program improve their perception of the young people as a result of interacting with them. Value is reduced by a percentage to reflect the assumption that the community mentors who engage with the young people in the program started with some positive perception of the young people |
|
Fair Work Ombudsman Stakeholder engagement |
Outcomes | Financial proxy | Financial proxy rational | Financial proxy calculation | Financial proxy source |
---|---|---|---|---|
4.1 Reduction in anti-social behaviour |
$3,324 Additional cost of policing to monitor anti-social behaviours of young people in the community |
Time reallocated towards other activities, as a result of decreased need in the community to patrol at night and maintain safety |
|
NSW Police25 |
4.2 Decreased number of young people offending |
$5,180 Average costs to the justice system per young person offending (excluding costs associated with policing antisocial behaviour) |
Aggregate of police costs, court costs and juvenile justice costs which are all costs incurred when a young person offends. |
Police costs
Court costs
Juvenile Justice costs
This amounted to a total cost to the justice system per young person per annum of $5,180. |
Stakeholder interviews, NSW Police website, report on Courts and Tribunal Services by NSW Government -Police & Justice Lawlink26, the Department of Juvenile Justice27 and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare28 |
4.3 Decreased number of young people in detention |
$33,098 Difference between average detention cost and average cost of community based supervision |
Resource reallocation: Government can reallocate funding for juvenile justice as a result of participants in the program being supported by the program managers |
Average cost of detention
Average cost of community-based supervision per person
The difference between the average detention cost and average cost of community based supervision was $33,098. |
Department of Juvenile Justice29 and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare30 |
4.3 Decreased number of young people in detention |
$35,028 Average cost of juvenile justice stay |
Resource reallocation: Government can reallocate funding for juvenile justice as a result of participants in the program avoiding contact with juvenile justice. |
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