Department of Health and Human Services update Human Services and Health Partnership Implementation Committee September 2017
This report has been collated for the Human Services and Health Partnership Implementation Committee meeting, September 2017. It contains a summary of the current key projects being undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services (the department). The report is structured by the outcomes framework outlined in the department s Strategic Plan, published in July 2017. Where the term Aboriginal is used it refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous is retained when it is part of the title of a report, program or quotation. For further information about this report, or to receive it in an accessible format, please email HSHPIC@dhhs.vic.gov.au Page 2
Contents 1. Victorians are healthy and well... 5 COAG Health Council (CHC) 4 August 2017 meeting... 5 Key National Partnership Agreements (NPAs) under negotiation... 5 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Suicide Prevention Framework 2016 25... 6 Hospital Out-reach Post- suicidal Engagement (HOPE) initiative... 7 Hazelwood Mine Fire Response... 8 Place based suicide prevention trials... 9 Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015 2019... 9 Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Sector Engagement Informing Service Improvement... 9 2017-18 State Budget initiatives Alcohol and other Drugs... 10 2. Victorians are safe and secure... 12 Occupational Health and Wellbeing... 12 $9.8m Towards Home program to help CBD rough sleepers... 13 Social Impact Bonds Pilot... 14 Family Violence Housing Blitz evaluation... 14 Children and Families Secretaries (CAFS)... 14 2017 18 National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH)... 15 National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA)... 15 Foster Carer Retention Training and Support... 15 Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) Outcomes Framework and Survey... 15 Kinship Care... 15 Targeted Care Packages... 16 Foster Carer Recruitment... 16 Victorian Carer Statement... 17 Homes for Victorians... 17 Homelessness and Social Housing Reform launch sites... 18 3. Victorians have the capabilities to participate... 19 Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)... 19 Age Friendly Communities Grant Program... 20 Disability Access and Inclusion... 21 Young Pasifka Program... 21 Empower Youth... 22 Victorian Government s Youth Policy: Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria... 22 Youth Space Morwell... 22 4. Victorians are connected to culture and community... 23 Aboriginal Children and Families Agreement and Strategic Action Plan... 23 Aboriginal Health and Human Services Workforce Strategy... 24 Implementation of the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) recommendations... 24 Page 3
Aboriginal Children s Forum (ACF)... 24 Improving responses to Aboriginal Children Identification... 25 Improving responses to Aboriginal Children New model for Cultural Support Planning... 25 Transitioning Aboriginal Children to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs)... 25 Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (Section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005)... 26 Aboriginal Governance and Accountability Framework... 26 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Safety Strategic Plan... 27 Koolin Balit Evaluation... 27 Balit Murrup - The Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework... 27 The Victorian Cultural Safety Framework... 28 Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Program... 28 Multicultural communities, refugees and asylum seekers... 29 5. Victorian health and human services are person-centred and sustainable... 31 Community Services Funding Reform... 31 Community Services Industry Planning (CSIP)... 32 Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children... 32 Outcomes monitoring and performance... 33 Victorian Allied Health Workforce Research Program... 33 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Mental Health Workforce Strategy... 34 ICE workforce development activities... 35 Census of the workforces which intersect with family violence... 35 Rural health workforce plan Phase 1... 36 Placeright student placement management system... 36 Happy People at Work... 37 Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill... 37 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Outcomes Framework... 38 Children and Families Reform Unit... 38 Streamlining reporting for community health services... 39 Page 4
1. Victorians are healthy and well The main focus of these actions is to improve health and wellbeing and tackle health inequality. Securing longer, healthier lives for the people of Victoria is a key priority for government and individuals alike. However, there are significant challenges that can be addressed only if Victorians work together to improve lifestyles and life circumstances. This shared responsibility for promoting good health and wellbeing must be supported by an effective healthcare system and innovative specialist and mainstream healthcare services that are connected to meet all of the patient s needs. Early intervention and prevention is crucial to improving long-term health and wellbeing and ensuring children and young people have the best start in life. We must also support older Victorians to age well, including increasing social participation, optimising health and wellbeing and addressing disadvantage. Achieving improvements in this domain will require establishing new approaches to detecting ill health and promoting wellbeing, providing more innovative care and support and the ability to support people to realise their full range of capabilities. Achieving improvements in this domain will also require new approaches to changing behaviours and promoting good health and wellbeing and detecting risk factors for ill health earlier. COAG Health Council (CHC) 4 August 2017 meeting Key National Partnership Agreements (NPAs) under negotiation Division: Strategy and Planning Branch: Intergovernmental Relations and Social Policy Sarah Nesbitt, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Social Policy Sarah.Nesbitt@dhhs.vic.gov.au This was a joint meeting between Health and Mental Health Ministers. The following key issues were considered: family violence and primary care options to reduce pressure on private health insurance premiums clarification of roles and responsibilities for national bodies established under the National Health Reform Agreement the National Psychosocial Supports Program fifth National Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Plan implementation of the National Cancer Screening Register. Adult Public Dental Services National Partnership Agreement Victoria received the draft Adult Public Dental Services NPA in March 2017. Total funding available under the new agreement of $242.5 million is significantly lower (about 30 per cent) than the previous NPA. The Victorian Government is urging the Commonwealth Government to negotiate a fairer agreement. On 29 July 2017, a letter signed by the Health Ministers of Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory was sent to the Commonwealth Health Minister highlighting their collective concerns with the agreement. Essential Vaccines National Partnership Agreement The Victorian Government is negotiating with the Commonwealth Government Page 5
over a new NPA on Essential Vaccines. The proposed Agreement is onerous in respect to the proposed Benchmarks, which are based on an all or nothing funding approach. The Benchmarks rely on data from the Australian Immunisation Register, which is acknowledged as flawed with known under-reporting from immunisation providers. The Premier wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on 17 July 2017 reiterating The Victorian Government s concerns (as outlined above) and urging him to reconsider the terms of the proposed agreement. Extension of existing Intergovernmental and National Partnership Agreements In the 2017-18 Budget the Commonwealth announced it will fund the continuation of the following intergovernmental agreements which were due to expire on 30 June 2017: Expansion of the BreastScreen Program - The Commonwealth will provide an additional $64.3 million over four years from 2017-18 to continue access to the BreastScreen Australia program for women from 70 to 74 years of age, ensuring that more than 200,000 women per year in this age group will continue to have access to breast screening services. Victorian Cytology Service - The Commonwealth will provide $41.6 million over four years from 2017-18 to continue arrangements for the Victorian Cytology Service to provide cervical cytology services for women from 25 to 74 years of age, and to provide expert advice and data analysis for the National Cervical Screening Program. This funding will extend the current agreement with the Victorian Government, which expired on 30 June 2017. Negotiations with the Commonwealth on both NPAs will commence in earnest when draft agreements are circulated in the second half of 2017. 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Suicide Prevention Framework 2016 25 Page 6 Division: Health and Wellbeing Branch: Mental Health The Suicide Prevention Framework was released in July 2016, with $27 million over four years committed to new suicide prevention initiatives, including two flagship initiatives: Assertive outreach support trials at six hospitals to support people and their families following a suicide attempt or intentional self-harm (see further information below at HOPE initiative). Place-based suicide prevention trials, in which 12 local communities led by Primary Health Networks will develop and implement proactive suicide prevention strategies including workforce training, school-based support and mental health literacy programs. The trials will be implemented in Mornington/Peninsula/Frankston, Dandenong, Latrobe Valley, Bass Coast, Brimbank/Melton, Macedon Ranges, Whittlesea, Maroondah, Mildura, Benalla, Ballarat and the Great South Coast. Work to implement these initiatives is underway. Other complementary work targeted to groups at higher risk of suicide is proceeding. Such as the following: Improved data systems. Department of Health and Human Services has submitted a draft Memorandum of Understanding to the Coroners Prevention Unit to access regular and timely suicide data. Expanded support for LGBTI communities in Victoria, including Aboriginal LGBTI communities. Support for dairy farmer is continuing through counselling and local support mechanisms.
Support is continuing for young LGBTI Victorians through the Health Equal Youth (HEY) grants. The grants support organisations to undertake mental health promotion and community engagement activities focussing on same sex attracted and sex and gender diverse young people up to the age of 25, and their families. Victorian suicide prevention framework 2016 2025 < www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/victorian suicide prevention framework 2016 2025> For more detailed information on: 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Workforce Strategy please see page 33 10 Year Mental Health Plan: Outcomes Framework please see page 37 Erica Grundell, Acting Director Mental Health Branch Erica.Grundell@dhhs.vic.gov.au Hospital Outreach Postsuicidal Engagement (HOPE) initiative In collaboration with health services, the Victorian government is trialling assertive outreach support for people leaving hospital following a suicide attempt. Six trial sites were announced in July 2016: St Vincent s Hospital Alfred Hospital Barwon Health - Geelong Peninsula Health - Frankston Eastern - Maroondah Hospital Albury Wodonga Health - Wangaratta. These health services have been funded to design and implement assertive outreach care for individuals who present to hospital following a suicide attempt for up to three months post discharge. The current status at each site is as follows: Alfred Health (The Alfred) Clinical and support staff recruited and attended training. Started accepting referrals on 12 June 2017. Over 18 referrals accepted by the end of July 2017. St Vincent s Health (St Vincent s Hospital) Opened for referrals on 18 April 2017. Using the CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) model as part of their service provision and staff trained Update 20 July 17 - Since commencing service provision the St Vincent's HOPE team have received 28 referrals, conducted 21 assessments and currently have 19 people actively engaged with the team. Peninsula Health (Frankston Hospital) Staff appointed to team and currently engaged in training Plan to commence accepting clients on 7 August 2017 Barwon Health (Geelong Hospital) Barwon Health have partnered with Beyond Blue to deliver the Way Back Model in their area. A procurement process is underway to identify a service provider to deliver assertive outreach services locally. Plan to commence service provision by end of 2017. Eastern Health (Maroondah Hospital) Model of care and evaluation plan completed Page 7
HOPE service co-ordinator has commenced. Configuration of remainder of team members nearly finalised, position descriptions completed. Plan to commence service provision within 2-3 months Albury Wodonga Health (Wangaratta Hospital) Project manager scoping and model of care completed. Recruitment process underway for Nurse Practitioner candidate and other positions already filled. Plan to commence service delivery in August 2017. Evaluation The Office of the Chief Mental Health Nurse had completed a procurement process for the Trial evaluation (establishment phase) and KPMG were the successful applicant. The first planning meeting occurred on 24 July 2017 and draft project plan has been submitted from KPMG. Nicole Edwards, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Nicole.Edwards@dhhs.vic.gov.au Hazelwood Mine Fire Response Division: Community Participation, Health and Wellbeing Branch: Prevention, Population Health and Place Bruce Bolam, Chief Preventative Health Officer, Prevention Population Health and Place Bruce.Bolam@dhhs.vic.gov.au The department has been working closely with partners across government and the Latrobe Valley to implement recommendations from the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry. Recent developments include: Appointment of six members and a Chair to the Long Term Health Study Ministerial Advisory Council by the Minister for Health. The first meeting of the council was held on 26 July 2017. The council was established to improve oversight and support community engagement in the study. Public release of the Ash residue in Morwell roof cavities project final report in June 2017 by the Minister for Health. The report was shared with project participants, the broader community and the Latrobe Health Assembly. A longitudinal developmental evaluation of the impact of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone has commenced. Deloitte is currently working with the community, the Latrobe Health Assembly and other stakeholders to develop the evaluation framework. Commencement of a project to develop a Charter for the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone. The Charter will inform the strategic direction of the Zone, and guide how stakeholders work together to drive innovation. The department and key stakeholders have developed a Chronic Disease Integrated risk assessment tool. The model will include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Content of the tool has been endorsed by the Victorian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance, and a paper based version is currently being consumer tested in the Latrobe Valley led by the Gippsland Primary Health Network. Hazelwood mine fire <www2.health.vic.gov.au/emergencies/hazelwood> Page 8
Place based suicide prevention trials Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015 2019 The place based suicide prevention trials are a key initiative of the Victorian suicide prevention framework 2016 25. Twelve Victorian communities are being supported to trial coordinated place based approaches to suicide prevention. The government is partnering with Primary Health Networks to deliver the place based trials in Mornington Peninsula/Frankston, Brimbank/Melton, Whittlesea, Mildura, Latrobe Valley, Ballarat, Great South Coast, Macedon Ranges, Bass Coast; Benalla, Dandenong, and Maroondah. Coordinators have been appointed at 9 of the 12 place-based sites. Recruitment to the remaining 3 sites is currently underway. It is anticipated that recruitment will be completed over the next few months. Each site is reviewing the particular priority groups at risk of suicide in their communities, and how to best tailor prevention activities to support these groups. A statewide Project Steering Committee with senior representatives from the department and each primary health network has been established to provide high level oversight and accountability of work across all 12 place-based trial sites. The procurement process for an independent evaluation of the place-based trials is underway. It is anticipated that this will be completed by September 2017. Suicide prevention in Victoria <https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/mental health/prevention and promotion/suicide prevention in victoria> Implementation of the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015 2019 continues through the collective efforts of specific program areas across the department; state and local government; and through local partnerships. This work is summarised in the Implementing the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015 2019: Taking Action the first two years. The Public health and wellbeing outcomes framework provides the monitoring framework for the plan. The first report against this framework is due in 2018. As population level change takes considerable time, we are developing a suite of progress measures to provide more immediate feedback at state or local levels (for some priorities of the Plan). Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015 2019 <www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/health strategies/public health wellbeing plan> Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Sector Engagement Informing Service Improvement Division: Community Participation, Health and Wellbeing Branch: Community Based Health Policy and Programs Judith Abbott, Director, Community Based Health Policy and Programs Judith.Abbott@dhhs.vic.gov.au The department has been working closely with the AOD sector to improve the way people access treatment for harmful alcohol and other drug use. Following extensive consultation, responsibility for conducting client assessments has moved from intake providers to drug treatment providers. These changes came into effect in July 2017. Important work continues on a number of other fronts to support reform in line with recommendations of the Aspex review, including: Refreshing AOD intake and assessment tools and processes to better respond to clients' needs refreshed tools are now available, with Turning Point providing associated training. Improving the way the department collects data to improve data quality and reduce the reporting burden for service providers the VADC Data Specification (v1.0) was released in April 2017. Page 9
2017-18 State Budget initiatives Alcohol and other Drugs Developing a new performance management framework to outline how the department will respond to the performance of state-funded AOD service providers the draft framework is being improved in response to sector feedback. Developing an AOD workforce strategy that will support workforce development into the future. Developing AOD program guidelines in collaboration with the sector to provide clarity about the department's expectations of state-funded providers released in April 2017. Adult community based alcohol and other drug service provision review <www2.health.vic.gov.au/alcohol and drugs/aod treatment services/community based aod treatment/adult community based aod service review> The recent 2017-18 Victorian Budget provides a significant funding boost to build, expand and enhance our drug treatment, support and harm reduction efforts. In total, the Government announced that it will invest $220.1 million in drug services 2017-18 to continue to expand access to vital treatment services for members of the community struggling with the impact of ice, alcohol and other drugs. This represents an increase in funding for alcohol and other drug treatment services of 33 per cent in just three State Budgets. Importantly, funding for growth in residential rehabilitation contained in the budget means that, once all the services announced are built and operational, this government will have funded an increase of over 60 per cent in the number of residential rehabilitation beds. This new investment was provided as part of Stage Three of the Ice Action Plan, and through the Whole of Government Aboriginal Affairs and Family Violence packages. Through this budget alone, there will be up to $110 million of extra drug related funding. The $78.4 million Stage Three Ice Action Plan funding is for initiatives that will contribute to expanding drug treatment, support and harm reduction: $8.7 million to further increase the number of residential rehabilitation beds, with 30 new beds to be established within existing services, providing a short term boost to capacity $17 million to provide for stronger access to treatment services for up to 3,800 parents each year to help them meet court requirements and reunify their families $9.1 million to provide 960 treatment places for people on community correction orders to receive support and get back on their feet. $12.4 million to expand support available to people when transitioning into or out of treatment services, a critical time when they are at a higher risk of harm, and $4.0 million to strengthen alcohol and other drug treatment data systems There are some other important elements of this package for the drug services portfolio: An additional $19.7 million of capital funding which will support land acquisition for three new regional residential rehabilitation services ($9.7 million) and facilities renewal of both mental health and drugs services ($10 million). There is also an additional $6 million to expand the current 24/7, 7 day a week system of alcohol and drug specific web and phone based services and build and expand support for at risk groups. The Department of Health and Human Services will be working with stakeholders from across the AOD and other sectors to ensure that the design and implementation of these initiatives maximises the benefits for people seeking Page 10
help through the AOD sector. We are focussed on rolling out these initiatives as soon as possible, but doing so in a way that provides services sufficient time to prepare for any additional activities they may be funded for. We will also be looking at how our AOD workforce development activities can assist in supporting this expansion. If you have questions about the 2017-18 Victorian Budget alcohol and other drug initiatives, please email aod.enquiries@dhhs.vic.gov.au Page 11
2. Victorians are safe and secure The main focus of these actions is to improve the safety and security of Victorians and to tackle the causes of violence and abuse, including gender inequality. A safe society is a basic requirement for Victorians being able to lead a life they value and for a vibrant and sustainable economy. Preventing and addressing abuse and violence, and supporting victims to recover and thrive, improves the lives of victims, their families and the communities in which they live. Ensuring Victorians have safe, suitable and stable housing, and that children and young people have a safe and loving home, is a critical enabler of all other outcomes for Victorians. As a department, we work with Victorians to build their agency and capacity to support themselves and their families to access required and appropriate supports and to identify and address risks to safety and security. Ensuring safety and security for Victorians calls for a broader and longer term approach including addressing the challenges of social disadvantage. Too often, generations of families encounter the same issues. A long-term approach means we address immediate issues, such as the impact of violence, but importantly, also longer term and complex societal impacts of inequality and discrimination. This includes addressing gender inequality, recognising that it is essential to a safe and secure society and to economic prosperity. It means working effectively across departmental, agency and funding lines to achieve collective success. It also means ensuring everyone working in the department and in public health services feels safe at work. Critical to this is working in new and improved ways to share information appropriately with our partner agencies and with organisations in the sector. Sharing information about risk in a timely and appropriate way balances the importance of privacy but also protects people. It also means we are ensuring those who perpetrate violence and abuse are in view and are held accountable for their actions. As part of our commitment to achieving these outcomes, as a department, and with our service delivery partners, we are implementing the Child Safe Standards, which seek to improve the way organisations that provide services for children prevent and respond to child abuse that may occur within their organisation. Occupational Health and Wellbeing Division: Health and Wellbeing Branch: Policy and Planning Denise Ferrier, Acting Director, Policy and Planning Denise.Ferrier@dhhs.vic.gov.au The department is implementing actions that support the findings of the Occupational Violence Taskforce report (June 2016) and the recommendations of the Bullying and Harassment Advisory Group. Budget has been allocated for 2017-18 and 2018-19 to continue work on these initiatives. Key actions achieved to date and actions planned are summarised below. Preventing occupational violence and aggression (OVA): Awareness campaign released 13 June 2017. TV, radio, outdoor media, social media etc. to run until 31 July 2017. Evaluation to be conducted to inform the next run in 2017-18. Health Service Board/CEO forum on OVA held 20 June 2017. Around 70 attended and up to 60 participants livestreamed. Page 12
Health Services Violence Prevention Fund - $7 million available for Round 3 in 2017-18. Behavioural assessment rooms upgrade or establishment will be considered for funding as well as minor capital infrastructure. Minister for Health announced in June 2017 additional funding for the expansion of security in hot spots. Recently released: Worker Health and Wellbeing Website central spot for OVA and bullying and harassment work Behavioural assessment room guidelines Framework for preventing and responding to occupational violence and aggression Guide for violence and aggression training in Victorian health services Body worn camera policy template Work underway and upcoming releases: Security audit a security expert has been engaged and guidelines will be developed by end September to early October 2017 regarding security models. Code grey standard is being reviewed and updated standard is due to be released in August 2017. Framework for preventing and managing occupational violence and aggression supporting document with examples and case studies are being developed and due for release around August 2017. Post incident response support tools are in development and on schedule for release around the end September 2017 Evaluation framework for training is also progressing release around September 2017 Physical restraint manual currently being developed. Preventing bullying and harassment in healthcare: Bullying and harassment in healthcare advisory group report has been presented to the Minister for Health. Recommendations include awareness raising and actions from prevention through to response. Report to be released shortly on our website. Implementation plan, incorporating recommendations currently being finalised. Budget allocated in 2017-18 and 2018-19 to trial independent facilitator positions to support staff to raise and address issues. $9.8m Towards Home program to help CBD rough sleepers Division: Health and Wellbeing Branch: Mental Health Erica Grundell, Acting Director Mental Health Branch Erica.Grundell@dhhs.vic.gov.au Development of a long term strategy to respond to and prevent rough sleeping across Victoria, to be Chaired by Tony Nicholson Executive Director Brotherhood of St Laurence. Immediate access to 40 transitional housing units for Melbourne s rough sleepers Thirty new modular and relocatable homes on public land to be in place by the Page 13
end of 2017 Forty tailored wrap around support packages linking access to housing with access to other forms of support for up to 2 years. Giving Rough Sleepers A Path Towards Home <www.premier.vic.gov.au/giving rough sleepers a path towards home/> Social Impact Bonds Pilot Family Violence Housing Blitz evaluation Division: Strategy and Planning Branch: System Intelligence and Analytics The Department of Treasury and Finance, with the Department of Health and Human Services, is piloting social impact bond (SIB) programs in Victoria. Ministers approved two consortia, led by Anglicare and Sacred Heart Mission, to progress to the Joint Development Phase. Anglicare s proposal is aimed at supporting young people leaving care, and Sacred Heart s proposal is aimed at supporting those experiencing chronic homelessness. The Joint Development Phase, which commenced in April 2017, will involve detailed negotiations between the Government and the organisations with a view to finalising contracts later in the year. Social Impact Bonds in Victoria <www.dtf.vic.gov.au/socialimpactbonds> socialimpactbonds@dtf.vic.gov.au The Family Violence Housing Blitz evaluation is underway and is being conducted by ACIL Allen Consulting in partnership with the Social Research Centre. The latest developments for this work are as follows: Wave 1 (baseline) client survey is almost complete. Wave 2 will be conducted in September-October 2017. Key stakeholder interviews among service provider agencies will be conducted in August 2017. Administrative data from the department has been received by ACIL Allen and will be incorporated into the final report. Final report is due in December 2017 Eleanor Williams, Assistant Director Email address: Eleanor.williams@dhhs.vic.gov.au Children and Families Secretaries (CAFS) Division: Strategy and Planning Branch: Intergovernmental Relations and Social Policy Sarah Nesbitt, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Social Policy Sarah.Nesbitt@dhhs.vic.gov.au Victoria has led a review and update of the CAFS workplan, reflecting milestones and deliverables for the coming 18 months. The workplan reflects Ministers key priorities of permanency and early intervention and prevention, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. In addition, Victoria has proposed high level themes around which a second phase of reform work would be developed. Pending endorsement of the revised workplan and reform proposals by CAFS, these will be presented to Community Services Ministers for discussion at their next meeting on 25 August 2017. Page 14
2017 18 National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) On 22 June 2017, the Premier of Victoria, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP signed the Transitional National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness 2017-18. This secures critical funding of $23.21 million for homelessness service provision and brings the total funding envelope for 2017-18 under the agreement to $60.15 million, including Victoria s contribution of $36.94 million. On 9 May 2017, the Commonwealth Budget outlined that from 1 July 2018, the National Affordable Housing Agreement and NPAH be replaced by the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA). The Commonwealth has proposed that funding under the agreement will be conditional on compliance with bilateral performance schedules with each state and territory relating to outcomes in priority areas including: aggregate supply targets, including targets for social and affordable housing; residential land planning and zoning reforms; inclusionary zoning arrangements; renewal of public housing stock and transfer of public housing to community housing providers; and homelessness services. Funding under the agreement is essentially a continuation of National Affordable Housing Specific Purpose Payments and NPAH funding. However, importantly, this will provide ongoing Commonwealth funding for homelessness. The Victorian Government is working to ensure that the proposed new agreement meets the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society, including those who are homeless and public and community housing tenants. Division: Children, Families, Disability and Operations Branch: Children and Families Policy Nicola Young, Assistant Director, Out-of-Home Care Nicola.Young@dhhs.vic.gov.au Foster Carer Retention Training and Support Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) Outcomes Framework and Survey Kinship Care The Kinship and Foster Carer learning and development strategy (Carer KaFE) commenced in April 2016. The project is delivered through the Foster Care Association of Victoria and provides a structure to the training and learning progression for foster and kinship carers. The online Carer KaFE training calendar, which provides carers with access to online module and face to face learning opportunities, went live in late July 2017. Carer KaFE <www.fcav.org.au/news/training> Work is underway to analyse the data from the 2016 OOHC outcomes survey and identify key areas of focus and develop actions to address them. The Outcomes Working Group reconvened on 6 April 2017 to start to review the questions for the second Out-of-Home Care outcomes survey, which is likely to occur in mid-2018. Timing of a new adolescent self assessment survey is also being discussed, taking into consideration that the national Viewpoint (young person s) survey is now scheduled for February 2018 (previously scheduled for October 2017). On 6 March 2017, the Victorian Ombudsman commenced an own motion into the financial administration of financial supports for kinship carers. The investigation is currently underway. As part of the $19.2 million announced in September 2016, a number of initiatives are currently underway to improve supports to children in kinship placements and their carers. This includes: Page 15
Targeted Care Packages Foster Carer Recruitment Divisional distribution of flexible/brokerage funds in 2016-17; Carer wellbeing grants and camps for children in kinship placements; Kinship Care Victoria being provided with additional funds over two years to support increased project capacity to undertake key projects including a peer support strategy; An updated Kinship Carer Handbook to be available in November 2017; and Enhanced training opportunities available for kinship and foster carers with the launch of the kinship and foster education initiative, Carer KaFe, in April 2017. In March 2015, the Minister for Families and Children announced $43 million over four years for Targeted Care Packages (TCPs) to transition children and young people out of residential care into alternative care and living arrangements where their needs will be better met. The Victorian Budget 2017-18 allocated funding of $59.6 million to better assist children and young people in the statutory out-of-home care system. Funding includes an additional 100 Targeted Care Packages to reduce placements in residential care and provide supports tailored to a child's or young person's circumstances and needs. Since their establishment in April 2015, TCPs have supported more than 380 children and young people to transition out of, or prevent entry into, residential care through the provision of flexible funds to support alternative placement options. Twenty-two per cent of these packages were used to support Aboriginal children and young people (over 80 packages). A comprehensive evaluation of the TCP activity is currently underway. It will evaluate implementation of TCP and assess their early achievements. The evaluation covers packages approved between April 2015 and April 2016 and will include stakeholder feedback on departmental client and sector experience of TCP. Targeted Care Packages <www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about the department/plans, programs and projects/projects and initiatives/children, youth and family services/targeted care packages> A total of $3.1 million has been allocated to the Fostering Connections campaign to attract and recruit foster carers. This funding includes $1.5 million announced by Minister Mikakos in January 2016 and a further $1.6 million announced in March 2017 to continue the campaign until December 2017. The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, in collaboration with Victorian foster care providers, has led the implementation of the new Fostering Connections strategy. The campaign which was launched on 21 January 2016 includes digital, print and radio advertising. It is supported by a website and centralised inquiry line which responds to enquiries from potential carers. The campaign aims to increase our community s awareness of foster care and generate interest in becoming a foster carer, including recruitment of Aboriginal carers and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Since the advertising began there have been over 3000 enquiries to foster carer agencies. The 2016-17 Budget provided $2 million over two years for Aboriginal foster care recruitment and carer capacity building through funding capacity building projects. The projects key objectives are to: achieve the Government s commitment of increasing the number of Aboriginal foster and kinship carers better support carers of Aboriginal children and young people leading to them to continue to be carers for a longer period The second year of the initiative has commenced, with eleven Aboriginal Page 16
Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOS) currently participating. Fostering Connections <www.fosteringconnections.com.au/> Victorian Carer Statement Division: Community Participation, Health and Wellbeing Branch: Community Based Health Policy and Programs Judith Abbott, Director, Community Based Health Policy and Programs Judith.Abbott@dhhs.vic.gov.au Carers Australia VIC has been funded to consult with carers, peak and other organisations that support carers, service providers and others on developing a Victorian Carer Statement. Consultations began on 8 March 2017 and concluded on 19 July 2017. Carers Australia VIC conducted a survey on line (available also in paper copy). Between February and May, Carers Australia VIC conducted some 18 focus groups with carers including special interest groups and 18 broader consultations with peak organisations, service providers and others. The department has drafted a consultation paper to be made available by Carers Australia VIC. The consultation paper included a foreword by Gabrielle Williams, Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers. Consultation focussed on what carers want from services and support, and what improvements can be made to better meet carers needs. The department will be considering the key issues and themes that emerged from this work in drafting a Carers Statement, for proposed release later in the year. Homes for Victorians Division: Housing, Infrastructure, Sport and Recreation Branch: Program Strategy and Policy The Victorian Government released Homes for Victorians, on the 6 March 2017 which includes $799 million in additional homeless and housing support and $2.1 billion in financial instruments. This will deliver approximately 6,000 more social and affordable homes, renew ageing public housing and support more than 19,000 disadvantaged Victorians. In May 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services released an industry engagement plan to support work with partners including local government, community housing agencies, community service organisations, private developers and financiers on delivery of the housing initiatives. Since then a housing industry stakeholder briefing took place to outline Stage 1 of the Public Housing Renewal Program. The 2017-18 Victorian Budget includes a funding boost of more than 13 per cent for housing and homelessness initiatives compared to the 2016-17 budget. This includes $133 million in housing support for family violence victims to: redevelop thirteen family violence refuges and two new Aboriginal family violence refuges; build 110 additional long-term social housing units; and expand the private rental headleasing program. Homes for Victorians <www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing> Department of Health and Human Services Social housing initiatives <dhhs.vic.gov.au/homes-for-victorians> Department of Health and Human Services support for homeless persons and Page 17
vulnerable Victorians <dhhs.vic.gov.au/improving-housing-services-vulnerable-victorians> Sabrina Ater, Project Officer, Social Housing Reform, Program Strategy and Policy Sabrina.Ater@dhhs.vic.gov.au Homelessness and Social Housing Reform launch sites In September 2015, the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing endorsed an integrated homelessness and social housing reform direction. This included launching a new way of working across the homelessness and housing service system across three sites that will run until June 2018. The three sites are Brimbank Melton, Hume Moreland and Inner Gippsland. The objectives of the launch sites are to: design and test new service approaches to reduce homelessness increase housing choices integrate homelessness services with social housing and broader social services responses create pathways that are seamless, scalable and sustainable embed an environment and culture of continuous improvement and innovation. A framework has been released that describes the broad parameters of the reform. Four service elements have been endorsed for co design by the senior leadership group overseeing the project: access and pathways, flexible funding, consistent approach to assessment, and client support. Service elements will be tested from July 2017 and will include: streamlined triage and assessment approaches, a brief intervention model, landlord incentives, and enhanced housing pathways (for exiting prisoners) model. An evaluation of the launch sites will commence later in 2017. Homelessness and Housing Reform Launch Sites <www.dhs.vic.gov.au/funded agency channel/about service agreements/program requirements, guidelines and policies2/homelessness and housing reform launch sites> Alice Stoakes, Homelessness, Program Strategy and Policy Alice.Stoakes@dhhs.vic.gov.au Page 18
3. Victorians have the capabilities to participate These actions focus on building people s capabilities to realise their full education and economic potential. Every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has abilities, skills and unique qualities. They can become better custodians of their future if encouraged, supported and adequately resourced. These priority actions recognise the relationship between education and progress in economic participation. The reciprocal relationship between the two is crucial; success in education increases employment prospects in later life and the ability to participate in the labour market. Those not participating in the labour market often suffer varying degrees of poverty. These priority actions seek to bring about improved quality of life through increased participation in learning, education, volunteering and employment and the achievement of financial stability. Success will require supporting people along all or parts of the life continuum from cradle to career, and ensuring the right foundations are established in early childhood. It also requires giving children opportunities to achieve in education, and preparing and supporting people to access meaningful employment opportunities. These priority actions are particularly important for the future success of the state. Government needs to ensure future generations can enjoy a better quality of life. The department can play a key role in this by helping to unlock the social, educational and economic potential of people who use health and human services. These priority actions also recognise the important role the department has in contributing to Victoria s economic growth through the jobs our services create, especially in the construction sector, and the industries and workforces that we support. Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Division: Children, Families, Disability and Operations Branch: Disability and NDIS Transition Anna Donne, Director, Transition Coordination Anna.Donne@dhhs.vic.gov.au On 1 May 2017, Loddon became the fourth area in Victoria to commence transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Five additional areas will commence transition later in 2017. The Victorian Budget 2017-18 includes a further $10 million investment in the NDIS Transition Support Package (TSP) to ready participants, service providers, staff and systems for transition to the NDIS. This will enable continuation and building upon some of the significant work to date and capacity to address some of the gaps in readiness activity that have emerged since the commencement of transition. Further information will be forthcoming shortly about this investment. Through the TSP and other initiatives, the department and our funded partners in the NDIS transition have conducted over 300 NDIS readiness sessions across the North East Melbourne, Central Highlands and Loddon areas to date. Sessions for other areas transitioning in October and November this year have commenced or are planned. Service Providers should stay abreast of information sessions and forums through the Victorian Government NDIS Events webpage. As previously reported, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) released the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Commissioning Framework. ILC is a part of the NDIS design that will build capacity, skills and confidence of people with a disability, and improve inclusion of people with a disability in mainstream services and communities. ILC has two streams of funding: ILC National Readiness Grants and jurisdictional grants. Page 19
The objective of the ILC National Readiness Grants is to support projects aligned to the ILC Policy and the ILC Commissioning Framework that will build the capacity and readiness of organisations and the community to operate within a nationally consistent approach to ILC and/or build the foundations required to deliver ILC activities on a national scale ILC National Readiness Grants for providers closed in March 2017. Over $14 million was allocated to 36 organisations to deliver ILC National Readiness activities across Australia for 2017-18. There were a number of Victorian initiatives funded through these grants. ILC jurisdictional grants will commence in Victoria from July 2019. Until then the NDIA and the Victorian Government have agreed to transition arrangements for ILC including annual grants to continue existing ILC activities and for new ILC activity ahead of the open grant commissioning approach in 2019. NDIS Events - Victorian Government <www.vic.gov.au/ndis/ndis-events.html> ILC National Readiness Grants <www.ndis.gov.au/medias/bin/documents/h57/h67/8801308278814/ilc-national- Readiness-Grants-Round.docx> Age Friendly Communities Grant Program Page 20 Division: Community Participation, Health and Wellbeing Branch: Diversity and Community Participation Phil O Meara, Director, Diversity and Community Participation Philip.OMeara@dhhs.vic.gov.au The Age Friendly Communities Grant Program aims to build local government and community capacity to plan and deliver projects that will make a positive difference to the quality of life, social participation, health and wellbeing of older people in towns with significant ageing populations. $1.2 million has been allocated to 12 regional and rural councils to deliver projects that are based on consultation with older people and will make their community more age friendly. The locations are: Mount Alexander Shire Council East Gippsland Shire Council Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mitchell Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council Wellington Shire Council Murindindi Shire Council Horsham City Council Corangamite Shire Council Indigo Shire Council Cooinda Village Inc. (Benalla) Mildura Rural City Council Strengthening Seniors Inclusion and Participation in local communities is a government response to the Commissioner for Senior Victorians report Ageing is everyone s business. Place based projects are being run in seven locations ($80,000 allocated to each site) to strengthen community based services and participation opportunities for
Disability Access and Inclusion Young Pasifka Program older people. This 12 month project will be evaluated and a state wide forum held in April 2018. The seven locations are City of Dandenong Latrobe City Council City of Whittlesea Shire of Mornington Peninsula City of Greater Bendigo and Shire of Loddon City of Maribyrnong City of Frankston Age Friendly Victoria <www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/get involved/age friendly victoria> Absolutely everyone is the state disability plan for 2017 20. The plan was released in December 2016. Absolutely everyone is structured around four pillars of everyday life and contains 10 key priorities and 27 actions. The plan also sets out the Government s continuing obligations to people with a disability during and after the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This is important for meeting the needs of both NDIS participants and non participants. The plan is supported by a whole of government outcomes framework, which will guide action toward achieving results that align with our vision of an inclusive Victoria. The outcomes framework has 14 specific outcomes spread across four domains that are the same as the pillars of the plan. $4.9 million in funding has been allocated in the 2017-18 State Budget to support implementation of the plan. $2.9 million annual recurrent funding is being provided to 24 organisations through the Victorian Disability Advocacy Program. $1.5 million in additional funding has been provided through the Disability Advocacy Innovation Fund for 21 initiatives to be delivered by 15 organisations by 30 June 2018. The funding has a strong focus on providing advocacy to diverse and isolated groups and those living in regional and remote Victoria. The fund initiates a staged approach to reform of the Victorian disability advocacy sector in the context of the Victorian review, the Parliamentary Inquiry and the NDIS. Longer term action, improvements and investment will be considered through an advocacy reform plan to be developed in consultation with key stakeholders in early 2018. The Victorian Disability Advisory Council provides advice to the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing and consists of twelve members appointed from August 2016 through to June 2019. The council meets bi-monthly and is guided by its work plan for 2017-2018. The Chair is Colleen Furlanetto. On 20 January 2017, the Minister for Youth Affairs announced $600,000 in funding to support young people from Pasifika communities to become reconnected to family, community, education, training and employment pathways. Youth outreach workers have been engaged to work directly with young Pasifika people through schools, sports and recreation, churches, community structures and activities and local government programs. A project coordinator is working closely with local organisations and networks to help improve links between support services and deliver a coordinated response to issues faced by young Pasifka people. The program is currently being delivered in Casey and Wyndham, but will extend into Brimbank and Dandenong to reach young Pasifika people who are mobile across these areas. Page 21