Community Services Directorate

ACT Carers Strategy – Carer’s Voice Panel

In May 2017, the Community Services Directorate (CSD) partnered with Carers ACT and democracyCo to conduct a deliberative democracy process, a key component of broader consultation to inform development of the ACT Carers Strategy (the Strategy). The consultation methodology established a deliberative panel and was designed to engage participants in informed discussion on issues relevant to carer wellbeing.

The Carers Voice Panel formed in October 2017, engaging 49 carers and other community members through a combination of open and targeted recruitment. This achieved a Panel composition with broad representation of different carer types.

The Panel used a bespoke deliberative engagement methodology for broad, inclusive consultation on the complex challenges faced by carers. This approach considered the views of diverse stakeholders, supporting panel members to contribute to shared outcomes and ownership of the work.

Panel members met for two days of facilitated workshops and participated in some out of session work via email. This collaboration enabled the Panel to develop key elements of the Strategy: a vision for a carer friendly Canberra, the outcomes we want to see for carers, and our shared priorities.

These elements were captured in the Carers Voice Panel Report, which directly informed the Vision, Outcomes and Priorities Statement. Both documents were launched in December 2017 by the Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion and published on the CSD website. Together, they form the framework for the Strategy.

ACT Carers Strategy – Taskforce

To develop the first three-year action plan under the ACT Carer’s Strategy, a Taskforce comprising carers and representatives from government and the community sector met five times between March and July 2018. Eight carers from the Panel returned for this opportunity to contribute to policy development, working alongside representatives from stakeholder agencies. Several carer Taskforce members also arranged an extra meeting in addition to the workshops, to discuss options for governance.

Taskforce members participated in online surveys in addition to the facilitated workshops, working together to develop actions to give effect to the Strategy. At the final workshop, members reported to the Minister on the key elements of the action plan. Feedback provided during the session emphasised the value of this innovative approach to co-designed policy.

Reconciliation Day Public Holiday

The inaugural ACT Reconciliation Day Public Holiday held on 28 May 2018 was a result of extensive consultation with the Canberra Community in 2016-17 which led to the September 2017 legislative amendment Holidays (Reconciliation Day) Amendment Bill 2017 to establish the public holiday.

The main event ‘Reconciliation Day in the Park’, coordinated by Events ACT, was held in Glebe Park and attracted approximately 8,000 people from the ACT and interstate. The event played host to exhibitors, a range of interactive displays and activities, and some incredible performers, including the blues and roots band Busby Marou as the headline act.

The event was designed to encourage a conversation about Reconciliation, to provide a safe environment for individuals who may wish to start a journey of understanding Reconciliation, or for those who wish to enhance the journey they have already commenced.

A survey conducted by Events ACT indicated that the event allowed individuals to establish a basic understanding of Reconciliation. For others, it allowed a deeper understanding of Reconciliation. A large number of those surveyed also indicated they attended with their family, indicating that a conversation about Reconciliation can occur across all ages of our community.

There was also significant community engagement in the lead up to Reconciliation Day with a number of events funded through the ACT Reconciliation Day Grants Program.

The Reconciliation Day Public Holiday not only enabled the community to raise its collective threshold of understanding, it created the opportunity to better understand our shared history and why the principles of Reconciliation are important.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement

The purpose of the one-on-one conversations were to discuss and seek feedback on the approach to be taken in regards to the Agreement conversations. The conversations were held with the ACT Human Rights Commission, Gugan-Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nannies Group, Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services; and the Chairperson of the Elected Body.

OA&TSIA, in partnership with the Elected Body, continued these conversations with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, where two community conversations were held at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre. These conversations were open to all community members. Twelve people attended the Cultural Centre conversations, including four Elected Body members.

Two targeted conversations were also undertaken with detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, where 13 women and eight men attended.

An online survey has been created to extend the reach into the community and to date has received 68 responses.

Our Booris, Our Way seeks to understand the reasons for children and young people’s involvement with the out-of-home care system, and to develop strategies to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people entering care; to improve their experience and outcomes while in care; and, where appropriate, exit children from care.

The first phase of the review was a co-design process that occurred between October and December 2017. This phase of the review engaged 13 members of the local and national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design the review parameters.

Subsequently, a terms of reference and methodology were developed by the wholly Aboriginal Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is overseeing the Review and will continue playing an active role in the analysis and iterative development of the Review, and provision of recommendations.

The experiences and advice of people and organisations across the ACT shaped the ACT Volunteering Statement Action Plan 2018-2021.

The formal consultation for the Action Plan ran from 5 December 2017 to 18 February 2018. The consultation was conducted in partnership with Volunteering and Contact ACT. A combination of digital and face-to-face engagement activities were carried out as part of the consultation. These included the use of the YourSay website incorporating an online survey, interactive mapping and video feedback, stakeholder roundtable meetings, and presentations to key community groups and organisations.

Volunteering and Contact ACT shared content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. A video was produced and shared on the ACT Government Facebook page and Twitter account. The video was also sent to stakeholders including the National Arboretum and ACT Parks to share on their channels. Consultation was facilitated through a paper which included eight proposed actions for discussion.

An online survey received 174 responses, and the eight actions in the consultation paper received 78 per cent approval from the respondents.

During October 2017, the CSD Youth InterACT team, in partnership with the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), consulted with a range of young people and key community and government stakeholders on the future of Youth Week (formally known as National Youth Week) in the ACT.

YAC conducted five consultations throughout the ACT at Campbell and Lyneham High Schools, Gungahlin College, the Australian National University Campus and at the UniLodge. A total of 65 young people were consulted.

In addition, an online survey, on the ACT Government website YourSay was open from 30 August to 22 October 2017. A total of 95 people aged from 14 to 58 completed the survey.

Based on the key recommendations, CSD continued to celebrate Youth Week in the ACT in April. To support Youth Week celebrations, a 2018 Youth Week Grants round be opened on 13 November 2017 and closed on 12 January 2018. A total of $25,000 was allocated for the 2018 Youth Week.

The Office for Disability co-hosted a forum with the ACT National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the Mental Health Community Coalition on Wednesday 21 March 2018. The forum examined the intersections between the NDIS and other supports and services for people with psychosocial disability.

The forum was aimed at providers of NDIS supports for people with psychosocial disability, mental health clinicians, consumer and carer organisations, and other interested service providers.

The forum explored key gaps and barriers for people with psychosocial disability in the intersections between the NDIS supports and health services, community services and other supports and services. The aim was to develop joint NDIA/ACT Government/Community sector actions to better facilitate connected supports and an ordinary life for people with psychosocial disability. Approximately 50 people attended the forum.

The Office for Disability and the Mental Health Policy Unit (ACT Health) hosted the ACT/NDIS Mental Health Interface jurisdictional workshop to discuss the key interface transition points. The invitation only jurisdictional workshop was held on Friday 8 June 2018, at the Health Directorate.

Representatives from Department of Social Services, Department of Health and the National Disability Insurance Agency, each jurisdiction (with the exceptions of both Tasmania and the Northern Territory, who were unavailable to attend), the ACT Office for Disability and the Mental Health Policy Unit attended the workshop. In total, approximately 25 people attended.

Outcomes from the workshop included agreement from jurisdictions to nominate two State/Territory representatives to the proposed Senior Officials Working Group (SOWG) Mental Health Interface working group and to provide comment on the draft SOWG Mental Health Interface working group work plan, by 20 June 2018. Additionally, a draft SOWG Agenda Item for endorsement will be developed by the working group and considered at the August SOWG meeting, which will outline the scope of work of the Mental Health Interface working group, prior to being progressed to the next Disability Reform Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for 3 October 2018.

As part of Law Week 2018, the Office for Disability and the Legislation, Policy and Programs Branch Justice and Community Safety, hosted a disability justice event in partnership with the ACT Law Society. The event ‘Disability Justice: Equal Before the Law?’ invited participants to consider the impact of disability on people’s ability to be treated equally before the law and to have equal access to the law.

Three distinguished speakers helped members of the profession and the general public to understand more fully, perspectives on disability and how the justice system’s response to disability may mean that people with disability do not have equal access to, or treatment before, the law.

The event featured a key note presentation from Professor Eileen Baldry (BA, DipEd, MWP, PhD, FASSA) who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Inclusion and Diversity and Professor of Criminology at UNSW Sydney.

Professor Baldry was supported by engaging presentations by the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, Heidi Yates and Jeanette Purkis, an advocate with disability with a personal experience of engagement with the justice system.

The event was held at the John Curtain School of Medicine at ANU and was fully booked out prior to the event commencing. This event was attended by approximately 100 people.

On 19 June 2018, the Office for Disability and the Legislation, Policy and Programs Branch, Justice and Community Safety Directorate, partnered with People with Disability ACT Inc. to host morning tea and a community conversation about disability justice.

There were approximately 30 people in attendance who had the chance to hear from ACT Government representatives about the work that has been undertaken and the plans moving forward, towards a Disability Justice Strategy for the ACT. The key themes arising from the event were in relation to where to seek help for legal problems, how to know when you have a legal problem and how to know your rights – for example, in relation to tenancy.

On Sunday 29 October 2017, the Community Recovery team in CSD and Functional Partners participated in the ESA Open Day at ESA Headquarters in Fairbairn by setting up a mock Evacuation Centre.

Members of the public were able to gain a better understanding of how the ACT supports the community to prepare and respond to an emergency and build community resilience after the emergency.

Visitors to the ESA Open Day received crucial information on how to prepare their own emergency plan.

Over 5,000 people of all ages had opportunity to participate in live firefighter demonstrations and see inside emergency vehicles. The Open Day was a fun way for the community to engage with the serious work of emergency management.

The Family Safety Hub is a major part of the ACT Government’s commitment to addressing family violence in the ACT.

The Office of the Coordinator General for Family Safety led a co-design process with the sector to develop and test a Family Safety Hub—a network for innovating and collaborating on better responses to domestic and family violence in the ACT.

Fortnightly stakeholder workshops were held in July and August 2017 to design the Family Safety Hub. Around 50 community stakeholders participated over the two months. Feedback directly led the design of Family Safety Hub.

The Family Safety Hub launched on 10 May 2018, alongside the first Innovation Challenge topic: prevention and early intervention of domestic violence for pregnant women and new parents. Over 40 community stakeholders participated in the start of the Challenge process. Nearly 60 ideas were generated to help address the Challenge topic. Of those ideas, four were selected to further develop and test for project viability. This work will occur in the 2018-19 financial year.

Holding bi-annual gender equality forums is an action under the ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26, First Action Plan 2017-19. The forums aim to bring the women’s sector, business and ACT Government together to overcome barriers, improve engagement and progress gender equality.

The ACT Office for Women hosted two forums to engage with women, community organisations and business representatives. These events provided an opportunity for women’s voices to be heard.

The first forum, The Case for Change was held in October 2017 and was co-hosted by YWCA Canberra.

The Case for Change was aimed at leaders and influential people who are drivers of change in government, business and the community.

The event brought together over 70 government and non-government representatives to identify and discuss barriers and opportunities, encourage senior Government officials to champion gender equality, and encourage all participants to take practical steps towards gender equality. It also provided a valuable networking opportunity and set the stage for further discussions.

Participants made pledges to achieve gender equality in the ACT. They were asked to commit to two actions, one they would achieve personally and one they would take back and implement in their organisations.

The second forum, Sharing Stories of Success, was held on 12 February 2018 and was co-hosted by the Ministerial Advisory Council for Women (MACW). The forum brought together over 60 government and non-government representatives to share inspirational stories and practical solutions that have resulted in positive outcomes and gender equality.

The key note speaker, Dr Gail Crimmins encouraged participants to employ narrative inquiry and share stories to provoke awareness and change. It also provided a valuable networking opportunity.

Participants were clustered into six themed discussions facilitated by MACW. A report documenting the stories of success and strategies written by Dr Beckmann and a summary of recommendations is publicly available at the Office for Women website.

Between February and May 2018, CSD consulted with a range of internal, external and cross-directorate stakeholders in the development of the Senior Practitioner Bill. The Bill provides a formal framework for the reduction and elimination of restrictive practices in the ACT.

This consultation built on a comprehensive community engagement process conducted from the end of 2016 until mid-2017 by consultant JFA Purple Orange to determine the need for and potential benefits of a Senior Practitioner.

CSD aimed to canvas as many views as possible on the proposed authorising model, powers and functions of the new ACT Senior Practitioner. To facilitate the discussion, a consultation paper was published on the CSD website and emailed directly to key stakeholders. The consultation process was promoted via CSD social media and through various networks. CSD was proactive in meeting with as many interested parties as possible during the consultation period. Face to face meetings were held with ten stakeholders, and an additional 7 organisations were notified of consultation but did not participate. Eleven people also attended a community forum for members of the general public to have their say.

Feedback from stakeholders informed development of the Bill, which was introduced to the ACT Legislative Assembly on 7 June 2018. To establish the functions and powers for the new ACT Senior Practitioner to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices across a range of settings.

The Office of Human Services Registrar runs seminars for community organisations to build their capacity to identify and manage their own organisational risk through improved financial acumen. This includes understanding the importance of quality governance structures, financial reporting, business planning, and risk management. The seminars focus on applying a strategic lens to budgeting and financial monitoring and decision-making processes in community organisations. The sessions unpack the interconnection between strategic plans, business plans, risk management processes and budgets, using budgets as a central focal point. Seminars have occurred in partnership with ACTCOSS. The first seminar was conducted on 12 April 2018, and more will be held throughout the next financial year.

The Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT 2012-22 is a ten-year strategy that sets the strategic direction for Youth Justice in the ACT.

A Taskforce was established in August 2017 to monitor progress, identify emerging issues and establish the direction for the final 5 years of the blueprint. The Taskforce meets bi-monthly, and held their seventh meeting on 3 May 2018. This meeting was a half-day workshop to consider how the Blueprint will progress, in light of several key themes. These themes included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outcomes, intergenerational transmission of offending, early adolescence and risk of offending, disability and through care.

The workshop was led by the Taskforce Co-Chairs, the ACT Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner, Jodie Griffiths-Cook and Deputy Director-General, CSD, Mark Collis.

Organisations represented at the workshop included the ACT Human Rights Commission, the CSD, Aboriginal Legal Services, PCYC, Youth Coalition, Woden Community Services, Education Directorate, Justice and CSD, and CMTEDD.

The Taskforce will hold a second workshop on 10 July 2018 for more in-depth consideration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People and disability justice in the context of the youth justice system.

The inaugural Housing and Homelessness Summit (the Summit) was held on 17 October 2017. The Summit hosted almost 200 industry representatives and stakeholders with various expertise and perspectives, including representatives from industry, the housing and community sector, as well as public housing tenants and people with lived experience of homelessness.

The Summit was the final stage of an extensive seven week consultation process to seek feedback on the Discussion Paper, Towards a New Housing Strategy, released in 2017. The consultation included focus groups and workshops with targeted stakeholder groups, as well as a series of public information stations in Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Canberra City, Cooleman Court, Gungahlin Town Centre and Dickson.

Feedback from the consultation was further explored at the Summit. Participants were asked to consider the issues, ideas and to generate new ideas to tackle housing affordability and homelessness in the ACT.

During this process, the ACT Government received hundreds of individual comments with more than 125 organisations participating in workshops, more than 160 survey responses received, more than 120 people attending drop in sessions and almost 200 stakeholders participating in the Summit.

A report on the community engagement “What we heard – Developing a new Housing Strategy for the ACT” was tabled in the Assembly and released on the ACT Government’s YourSay website.

Dickson Section 72 has been identified by the ACT Government as a site with a number of opportunities where broader community benefits could be readily realised. The ACT Government announced its commitment to deliver public housing and Common Ground II within the Dickson Section 72 precinct in October 2017. Housing ACT worked with the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate on the first stage of consultation which concluded on 16 March 2018.

During the first stage of consultation stakeholders were engaged via face-to-face and online engagement activities such as, a workshop, information kiosks, ‘Meet the Planners’ sessions, emails and using Social Pinpoint on ‘YourSay’.

1,262 people connected via ‘YourSay,’ an additional 203 individuals and eight leaseholders attended ‘Meet the Planner’ sessions, information kiosks and one-on-one meetings. 400 brochures and posters were distributed to the local area and 20 emails with feedback or submissions were received and 16 people participated at the community workshop.

The second stage of community engagement had not commenced as at 30 June 2018.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposed redevelopment of a public housing site Dickson from 26 February 2018 to 20 April 2018. This included asking the community to consider the orientation, look and design, height and density, materials and colour palette, and landscaping of the new development, comprising 20 units with a mix of one, two and three bedroom units.

Housing ACT engaged with a variety of stakeholders face-to-face and online using a combination of pop-up kiosks around Dickson (on-site and at the Dickson Group Centre), community postcard mail outs, and the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay’.

Overall 1,382 people were reached via the ‘YourSay’ website, 49 community members at face-to-face over three pop-up sessions provided their views on the development and 15 items of written feedback were received via email and ‘YourSay’. 1,066 postcards were delivered to households, businesses and community groups in Dickson and a presentation on public housing was given to the April North Canberra Community Council meeting at which 13 people were present.

The feedback received during the consultation period indicated strong support for public housing in the area, smart design and energy efficient housing. There was some concern around ensuring adequate visitor parking is provided as part of the new development as well as bicycle parking for visitors. Issues raised through the community engagement process were taken into consideration and no major design changes were proposed as a result of the outcomes of the community engagement. The next steps for this project is to lodge a Development Application (DA), which had not been completed by 30 June 2018.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposed redevelopment of a public housing site in Turner. From 26 February 2018 to 20 April 2018 community feedback was sought on the orientation, look and design, height and density, materials and colour palette, and landscaping of the new complex, comprising seven 2 and 3 bedroom units.

Housing ACT engaged with the community face-to-face and online using a combination of pop-up kiosks around the area (at the O’Connor shops and at the Dickson Group Centre), community postcard mail outs, and using the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay’.

1,279 people connected via the ‘YourSay’ website, 55 community members provided feedback at face-to-face over three pop-up sessions and 19 items of written feedback via email and ‘YourSay’ were received. 2,275 postcards were distributed to households, businesses and community groups in the Inner North.

The feedback received during the consultation period indicated strong support for public housing in the Inner North and support for smart design and energy efficient housing with outdoor communal space. Parking was a primary consideration for commenters, with cycle access also raised.

No changes to the design of the building were proposed as a result of the engagement process. The next step for this project is to lodge a DA which was not completed by 30 June 2018.

From 23 April to 1 June 2018, Housing ACT sought input from the community as part of the pre-DA engagement stage for a new public housing development in Fraser consisting of two 4 bedroom dwellings.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposal, and asked people to consider the orientation, look and design, height, density, and landscaping.

Housing ACT engaged with the community face-to-face using a pop-up kiosk at the Fraser Primary School, a neighbourhood mail out and using the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay’. Overall, 2,103 people connected via ‘YourSay’ and 59 letters were sent to adjoining households. In response 55 comments were received from 28 people on ‘YourSay’ and 13 items of written feedback were sent. Thirty individuals attended the pop-up kiosk in May 2018. The feedback received during the consultation period indicated that whilst there was support for public housing in the area, there were concerns around the shape and scale proposed, the footprint on the block and the outdoor space provided with parking and traffic safety in the area raised as issues.

It was agreed to consider the issues raised and report back to the community. This had not happened before 30 June 2018.

From 23 April to 1 June 2018, Housing ACT sought input from the community as part of the pre-DA engagement stage for a new public housing development in Giralang.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposal, and asked people to consider the orientation, look and design, height and density, and landscaping of a new dual-occupancy development comprising two 4-bedroom houses.

Housing ACT engaged with the community face-to-face using a pop-up kiosk at the Giralang Community Hall, and online via the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay’. Overall, 711 people were reached via ‘YourSay’. Forty-one letters were sent to adjacent neighbours. Five comments were submitted via ‘YourSay’ and two individuals provided comments at the pop-up kiosk in May 2018.

For the most part, feedback was supportive of the inclusion of public housing in the area and there was support for the design.

Issues/questions raised through the community engagement process have been taken into consideration and no changes are proposed. The next step is to lodge a DA but this was not completed by 30 June 2018.

From 23 April to 1 June 2018, Housing ACT sought input from the community as part of the pre-DA engagement stage for a new public housing development in Flynn.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposal, and asked people to consider the orientation, look and design, density and landscaping of a new dual-occupancy development comprising two 2-bedroom Class C Adaptable houses.

Housing ACT engaged with the community face-to-face and online using an on-site pop-up kiosk, a neighbourhood mail out, and the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay,’ 672 people connected this way. Thirty letters were sent to adjacent neighbours. Two comments were received on ‘YourSay’ and seven individuals provided comments at the pop-up kiosk in May 2018.

Overall, there was support for the Adaptable design with a range of views being provided on the site being developed for public housing and the process of the site being sold to Housing ACT.

The next step is to lodge a DA but this was not completed before 30 June

From 23 April to 1 June 2018, Housing ACT sought input from the community as part of the pre-DA engagement stage for a new public housing development in Latham consisting of two 2 bedroom Class C Adaptable dwellings.

Housing ACT engaged with the community to seek feedback on the shape and scale of the proposal, and asked people to consider the orientation, look and design, density and landscaping of the dual-occupancy development.

Housing ACT engaged with the community face-to-face and online, using an on-site pop-up kiosk, a neighbourhood mail out, and the ACT Government digital platform, ‘YourSay’. Overall 561 people visited ‘YourSay’ and 27 letters were sent to adjacent neighbours. Five comments were received on ‘YourSay’ and two individuals provided comments at the pop-up kiosk in May 2018.

Feedback was overwhelmingly supportive of the inclusion of public housing in the area and there was support for the Adaptable design. No changes are proposed to the design and the next step is to lodge a DA. This was not completed before 30 June 2018.

Housing ACT is currently engaging with the community on a proposal to replace an aged three bedroom dwelling in Florey, with a view to develop a five bedroom Class C Adaptable house on the site. The building will be used to provide accommodation for people with mental health needs. Long-term supported care will be provided including a 24 hour on-site support worker plus a community based organisation will deliver a range of services which are designed to improve their life skills and capacity to look after themselves.

Housing ACT and ACT Health have been engaging with the community since 15 June 2018, through a face-to-face drop-in session held onsite on Saturday 23 June 2018 as well as online, using ‘YourSay’. The community engagement had not finished on 30 June 2018.