South Australian initiative receives UN award

The initiative, Fund My Community, invites the public to vote for projects that they think should receive funding.

A South Australian initiative that allows the public to vote on budget allocation has received the 2017 United Nations Public Service Award, it was announced. The current round of “Fund My Community” has seen more 2,500 South Australians deciding how best to allocate AU$1 million (~US$792,000) of State Government funding for fifteen projects that will improve their communities and lives. “One of our most important goals is to involve more South Australians in the decisions that lead to better lives for them and their communities,” Premier of South Australia Jay Weatherill was quoted as saying. He added that there will be a budget commitment of $40 million in funding, so that South Australia may expand on the range of programmes funded. Since the program began in 2014, almost 7,500 people have been involved in allocating $3 million (~US$2.4 million), according to a press release. Among the projects funded are an initiative which offers vocational training and life skills to marginalised young Aboriginal people, and a dental care service for women who have experienced domestic violence. Image by Ministerie van BZKCC BY 2.0