On Tuesday 20 September 2016, the Federal Government announced a new investment approach to welfare. The Government states that the new approach seeks to improve outcomes for people who experience disadvantage and are reliant on income support, as well as address the increasing costs of the income support system. Termed the Australian Priority Investment Approach, it draws heavily from the New Zealand model and experience and is about intervening early to prevent long-term dependence on income support. A key element of the announcement is that the Government has committed $96 million for a “Try, Test and Learn” fund. The fund enables organisations to compete for a chance to try their policy proposals to create a path out of the welfare system. The Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the fund will be open by the end of the year for...

“Language is to empower because it is to communicate” (J Tobin 2016, Darug Language and Culture Class, 30 August). The Darug Language and Culture Class is beneficial for learning the reality about Australian history from an Aboriginal perspective and working in collaboration to share that knowledge with others.

The Rights Talks held by the Australian Human Rights Commission are a chance to discuss human rights issues. As human rights and social justice underlie the work of the community sector, it is important to be aware of current concerns and what position the commission will take in addressing such concerns.

The State Government is proposing changes to the planning system in NSW by updating the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (NSW) 1979 The objectives of the update is to: Create a simpler, faster, and more inclusive assessment process; Increase community confidence; and Create an orderly and balanced architecture for decision making Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF) have been invited to participate in upcoming advisory forums in late May 2016. WSCF will attend and represent the interests of its members and communities in Greater Western Sydney. Key Considerations Consultation and Engagement   The NSW Government is aiming to ‘embed best practice community participation’ into the planning system. In relation to developments, developers will need to undertake consultation with the community before they submit their development application. Currently they must consult after they submit their application. As leaders in engaging and working with...

What kind of services will these reforms effect? The scope of the TEIP reforms is broad, spanning across nine different funding streams. As a result a wide range of services will be effected. The nine funding streams under review as part of the reform are: Families NSW Aboriginal Child Youth and Family Strategy (ACYFS) Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) Child Youth and Family Support (CYFS) Youth Hope Getting it Together Community Builders Staying Home Leaving Violence Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services What does FACS mean by Targeted Earlier Intervention? The sector consultation paper states that “For FACS services, early intervention is both intervening early in age and early in the course of an issue”. To deliver effective prevention and early intervention FACS acknowledge that services need to be provided along a continuum, on a Primary or Universal level by...

The changing landscape being experienced across all levels in the community services sector, was the focal point of discussion at the recent LCSA conference attended by WSCF staff. Maree Walk (Chief Executive of Community Services (FACS), presented a brief outline of the changes also occurring within the Department and referred to the new working frameworks being explored as potential models for public services delivery in the region. The four frameworks are: Social Investment or Social Benefit Bonds Collective Impact Co-design Behavioural Insights One of the challenges community service organisations often face during sector reforms, is the limited transition time between understanding new service delivery models and implementing them in a way that demonstrates community level outcomes. Here we provide you with a quick definition of these frameworks to help you familiarise yourself with them and be better prepared to engage...