JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes 8 February 2017
Meeting No. 107: Wednesday, 8 February 2017, 9:30am-11:30am
Conservation Council ACT and Region, Lena Karmel Building, 14/26 Barry Drive, Canberra
Attendees
Ms Bernadette Mitcherson (Government co-chair), Deputy Director-General, CSD
Ms Susan Helyar Community co-chair; Director, ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
Ms Michelle Callen A/g Director, Service Design, Policy and Accountability, CSD
Ms Frances Crimmins Executive Director, YWCA
Ms Jacinta Evans Director, Student Engagement, Education Directorate (ED)
Mr Stephen Fox Manager, National Disability Services (ACT Division)
Ms Dira Horne Executive Director, Belconnen Community Service
Mr Larry O’Loughlin Director, Conservation Council ACT and Region
Mr Peter Matwijiw A/g Manager, Aged and Community Care Policy Unit, Health Directorate
Mr Geoffrey Rutledge A/g Deputy Director-General, Policy and Cabinet, Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD)
Ms Maureen Sheehan Executive Director, Strategy, Participation and Early Intervention, CSD
Mr Simon Tennent A/g Director, Strategy and Program Design, CMTEDD
Mr Simon Viereck Manager, Policy and Social Development, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT
Ms Tammy Wolffs Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement, Programme Strategy, DSS
Mr Travis Gilbert Director, ACT Shelter
Ms Emma Humphreys EPSDD
Mr Andrew McIntosh Director, Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACSD)
Ms Jenny Mobbs Executive Director, Council on the Ageing (COTA), ACT
Ms Deborah Pippen Executive Officer, Tenants’ Union ACT
Ms Emma Robertson Director, Youth Coalition of the ACT
Mr Nick Vazenios Director, Communications and Engagement, Department of Social Services (DSS)
Ms Glenda Stevens CEO, Volunteering and Contact ACT (VCA)
Secretariat
Mr Rowan Ford Senior Policy Officer, Community Services Industry Relationships and Reform, CSD
Item / Welcome, apologies (Chair) / Action /1 / Government Co-Chair Ms Mitcherson opened the meeting, gave an Acknowledgement of Country, noted apologies and welcomed members. The Chair acknowledged the valuable contribution of recently retired member RossO’Donoughue (Health Directorate) to the work of the JCGRG over many years.
Frances Crimmins was also thanked for her contribution to JCGRG as Chair of the Ministerial Council on Women. Frances will advise when a new Chair has been announced and when they will take up her position on the JCGRG.
Item / Minutes and actions of previous meeting (Chair) / Action /
2 / Members approved the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 2 December 2016.
Most actions were noted as completed. One action needs to be attended to:
Item 7 (Red Tape Reduction spreadsheet): Members agreed that red tape reduction be an agenda item for the next meeting and that Secretariat send a completed spreadsheet to members out of session. / The minutes from the meeting on 2 December 2016 were approved.
Actions were noted as completed, apart from the action related to the report on red tape reduction measures and progress:
· Red tape reduction to be an agenda item for the next meeting.
· Secretariat to send a completed spreadsheet outlining red tape reduction measures and progress to the end of 2016 to members out of session.
Item / Emerging issues (Chair) / Action /
3 / Members discussed the implementation of ACT Government commitments, including their priority, timing and sequencing; and ways to communicate community sector priorities to Government. MrRutledge indicated that about half of the approximately 200 Government priorities align with the Community Shared Statement. Some commitments with a two or three year timeframe had a degree of flexibility.
Members agreed that some commitments, though welcome, need more work, such as:
· Expansion of hours for OneLink – other services may not be open during extended hours. Ms Horne offered to give a presentation on OneLink to the JCGRG, noting that more data on OneLink will be available from 1 July 2017.
· Free bus travel for seniors – may not necessarily improve transport outcomes.
Members discussed how best to communicate any concerns to Government, such as cross system gaps; the need for more consultation, co-design or cross-portfolio links. JCGRG members were encouraged to increase the visibility of the Industry Strategy as a core commitment of the ACT Government prior to the Election, and to encourage implementation of the Strategy given the community services industry is an enabler for the delivery of a number of ACT Election commitments.
Government representatives invited community members to meet with directorates and Ministers to discuss Government commitments. It was suggested that such meetings take place in March 2017, as Budget Cabinet meets in April 2017 and the Budget is finalised after the Commonwealth Budget in May 2017. / Secretariat to liaise with MsHorne about a presentation on OneLink to the JCGRG.
Community members of the JCGRG are invited to meet with Government representatives in March2017 to discuss the priority, timing and sequencing of Government commitments, and to highlight the commitment to the industry Strategy as relevant in implementing election commitments.
Item / Industry Strategy (Chair) / Action /
4 / Two papers were distributed to members out of session for comment.
ACTCOSS paper – action plans
The ACTCOSS paper presents a program logic that outlines the three action plans of the Industry Strategy. ACTCOSS has commenced mapping actions across the four priority areas of the Industry Strategy.
It was agreed that the action planning workshop scheduled for April 2017 will provide more details around the actions, including the learning and development priorities for the first action plan. The workshop could also develop a pilot project to be tested. There could be a role for a university to evaluate the action plan.
CSD paper – workforce development
The paper on workforce development, prepared by CSD, examines the profile of the industry. Members requested that the paper include information about the direction and alignment of funding for learning and development, including from within Service Funding Agreements (SFAs), and external to SFAs in directorate funding of peak bodies, and through VET/ Skills Canberra. It was accepted that the data may be more indicative than comprehensive.
Ms Helyar requested that Skills Canberra (Enterprise Canberra/ Economic Development) provide information on Government priorities in learning and development, including data and timeframes, business models, emerging needs and processes to monitor quality, to enable greater alignment with community sector priorities.
Ms Helyar noted that the State of the Sector Survey showed risks around attraction due to a large number of entry level jobs. Retention was improved through access to training and clear career pathways.
Governance
The JCGRG agreed that the Industry Strategy Working Group be reconvened on a date after 24Februaryto develop the action plans. The Working Group’s members are:
· Susan Helyar (Chair; ACTCOSS)
· Emma Robertson (Youth Coalition)
· Geoff Buchanan (ACTCOSS)
· Kate Starick (CSD)
· Maureen Sheehan (CSD)
· Rowan Ford (Secretariat; CSD).
In addition, the following people will also be invited to join the Working Group:
· David Miller (Skills Canberra)
· Jean Giese (Volunteering and Contact ACT)
· Representative from Health Directorate (Ross O’Donoughue has retired).
Members agreed that a Leadership Group be established to monitor the implementation of the Industry Strategy. Given that the JCGRG’s remit is broader than just the Industry Strategy, a dedicated sub-committee of the JCGRG was needed, with its own Terms of Reference. The group may need to be supported by funds from the cocontribution levy, so it could call on expertise (such as from the CIT) when required.
The Industry Strategy is to be industry led and therefore the membership of the Leadership Group should come primarily from the sector. Members were invited to nominate representatives from their organisations to join the Leadership Group and it was agreed that the following people be specifically invited:
· Representative from CIT
· Tim Bavinton (Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT)
· Darlene Cox (Health Care Consumers Association)
The JCGRG agreed that a plan for the rollover and expenditure of funds for the levy was required. Ideas for levy expenditure raised at the meeting included support for the first action plan (workforce development) and an orientation program for the whole sector. / JCGRG Secretariat to work with ACTCOSS to convene a workshop in April 2017 for the broader community services sector, to update the sector on work undertaken to turn the Strategy into implementation plans, to advise the sector of the quantum and process for spending funds for industry Strategy implementation, and seeking feedback and input on priorities for action under the three action plans of the Industry Strategy. The Minister for Community Services would also be invited.
Secretariat to revise CSD paper to include information on the direction and alignment of funding for learning and development.
Secretariat to contact Skills Canberra (Enterprise Canberra/ Economic Development) for information on Government priorities in learning and development, including data and timeframes, business models, emerging needs and processes to monitor quality, to enable greater alignment with community sector priorities. This information should be included in the revised CSD paper on workforce development priorities and investments.
Secretariat to circulate Terms of Reference for an Industry Strategy Leadership Group that can work with the JCGRG Working group to prepare the April Workshop.
JCGRG members to nominate representatives from the sector to join the Leadership Group.
Secretariat to invite a representative from CIT, Tim Bavinton (SHFPA) and Darlene Cox (HCCA) to join the Industry Strategy Leadership Group.
Item / Other Business (Chair) / Action /
6 / Community Facilities (Simon Tennent)
Mr Tennent outlined the streams of work being undertaken by the Economic Development Directorate concerning community facilities:
· The processes for going to market for land and community services release
· Charging policy
· Release of sites for non-government schools
· Existing facilities and rents.
Pending Minister Gentleman’s approval, the Government would be consulting with the community about land release and charging policy. The Consultation would include the JCGRG and peaks. Members indicated a number of organisations and forums that could be included in the consultation. Ms Horne agreed to provide Mr Tennent with a list of early childhood organisations.
Mr Tennent agreed to provide a presentation of his team’s streams of work to the JCGRG on 19 May 2017. The presentation would include early results from the consultation, principles behind underutilisation of facilities, and criteria for land release and charges. Later in 2017, CMTEDD will be investigating under-utilisation of existing facilities, including impacts on the environment and childcare. / MrTennent to write to JCGRG members as part of the consultation on land release and charging policy. The JCGRG noted the value of the consultation strategy including active engagement with JCGRG members and peak bodies.
Ms Horne to provide MrTennent with a list of early childhood organisations.
MrTennent to provide a presentation on his team’s streams of work to the JCGRG on 19May 2017. The presentation would include early results from the consultation, principles behind underutilisation of facilities, and criteria for land release and charges.
Item / Communiqué (Chair) / Action /
7 / The JCGRG Communiqué will include the following topics: Community sector input into budget process, Industry Strategy and Community facilities. The Communiqué is issued on the CSD website: (http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/wac/strategic__policy).
Item / Actions arising from this meeting (Secretariat) /
8 / Previous minutes and actions
1. The minutes from the meeting on 2 December 2016 were approved.
2. Most actions were noted as completed, with the following updates:
· Red tape reduction to be an agenda item for the next meeting.
· Secretariat to send a completed spreadsheet outlining red tape reduction measures and progress to the end of 2016 to members out of session.
Emerging issues
3. Secretariat to liaise with MsHorne about a presentation on OneLink to the JCGRG.
4. Community members of the JCGRG are invited to meet with Government representatives in March2017 to discuss the priority, timing and sequencing of Government commitments and to highlight the commitment to the Industry Strategy as relevant in implementing election commitments. Noted.
Industry Strategy
5. JCGRG Secretariat to work with ACTCOSS to convene a workshop in April 2017 for the broader community services sector, to update the sector on work undertaken to turn the Strategy into implementation plans, to advise the sector of the quantum and process for spending funds for Industry Strategy implementation and seeking feedback and input on priorities for action under the three action plans of the Industry Strategy. The Minister for Community Services would also be invited.
6. Secretariat to revise CSD paper to include information on the direction and alignment of funding for learning and development.
7. Secretariat to contact Skills Canberra (Enterprise Canberra/ Economic Development) for information on Government priorities in learning and development, including data and timeframes, business models, emerging needs and processes to monitor quality, to enable greater alignment with community sector priorities. This information should be included in the revised CSD paper on workforce development priorities and investments. Skills Canberra contacted 1 March 2017 and updated information included in revised CSD paper.
8. Secretariat to circulate Terms of Reference for an Industry Strategy Leadership Group that can work with the JCGRG Working group to prepare the April Workshop.
9. JCGRG members to nominate representatives from the sector to join the Leadership Group.
10. Secretariat to invite a representative from CIT, Tim Bavinton (SHFPA) and Darlene Cox (HCCA) to join the Industry Strategy Leadership Group.
Community facilities
11. MrTennent to write to JCGRG members as part of the consultation on land release and charging policy. The JCGRG noted the value of the consultation strategy including active engagement with JCGRG members and peak bodies.
12. Ms Horne to provide MrTennent with a list of early childhood organisations.
13. MrTennent to provide a presentation on his team’s streams of work to the JCGRG on 19May 2017. The presentation would include early results from the consultation, principles behind under-utilisation of facilities, and criteria for land release and charges.
Communiqué
14. Secretariat to issue the JCGRG Communiqué (including the following topics: Community sector input into budget process, Industry Strategy and Community facilities) on the CSD website: (http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/wac/strategic__policy).
Item / Next meetings (Chair) / Action /
9 / Friday 31 March 2017 – Volunteering and Contact ACT, 2/202 City Walk, Canberra City
· Red tape reduction
· Industry Strategy
[April 2017 – Industry Strategy: action planning workshop – ACTCOSS]
Friday 19 May 2017 – National Disability Services, 33 Thesiger Court, Deakin
· Presentation on community facilities (Economic Development)
· OneLink presentation?
Thursday 15 June 2017 – host required
Friday 11 August 2017 – Community Services Directorate, 11 Moore St, Canberra
Friday 13 October 2017 – Community Services Directorate, 11 Moore St, Canberra
Friday 1 December 2017 – host required
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