10 May 2023
Member Update
Dear Families ACT members,
We hope you are keeping warm in this freezing weather! In this bumper update: our annual member survey, information about CYFSP commissioning, the MACR, our 2023-24 ACT Budget submission, upcoming sector development opportunities, a new Child & Family Service and Program Directory and a webinar on advocacy around the Voice referendum!
Families ACT 2023 member survey - we want to hear from you!
We really look forward to hearing from you through our Annual Member Survey. We appreciate that this is another task for you in a busy day, but your feedback helps us to evaluate and plan our work and more effectively respond to your priorities. It should only take 5 to 10 minutes of your time. As we did last year, for every complete survey we receive, we'll donate $20 to Beryl and Doris Women's Refuges.
Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2BPZPSF
For any queries please contact Will on 0402 718 579 or eo@familiesact.org.au
Commissioning
CSD 2023 Commissioning Annual Survey
CSD wants to hear about your experiences of commissioning - what works, what is challenging and what you need to participate effectively.
You have until 14 May 2023 to take the 10-minute survey here.
Next Steps Focus groups
The Community Services Directorate is progressing its next round of sourcing and procurement for child protection, out of home care and support services planned to begin in June 2023. To support this, a series of focus groups with interested service providers were held on 26 April, 28 April and 1 May 2023. They focused on the draft new Child Protection and Out of Home Care Services System and its associated operating arrangements. Although the focus groups are now completed but you can still share your ideas by making a submission here.
CSD-led Government Interface Roundtable listening report
The listening report of the CSD-led Government Roundtable discussions is now available. This will inform the CYFSP Future Focus Workshop on 23 May 2023. The roundtable brought together staff from across ACT Government who support and interact with children, young people and families. The aim was to identify how our programs, and services connect, or don't connect, when supporting these groups and to identify where different government areas think the CYFSP should be focused in the future. The listening report outlines the activities undertaken throughout the workshop and presents 18 key insights that emerged.
Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility
The Justice (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (the Bill) was introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly in its final form yesterday. The Bill will raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years with no exceptions and in due course (within 2 years) to 14 years with exceptions for four serious and intentionally violent offences. The Bill provides for an alternative service system for children and young people aged 10-13, who engage in harmful behaviour, to address their underlying needs and divert them from engagement in the criminal justice system. The Bill is available on the ACT Legislation Register
Families ACT submission to 2023-24 ACT Budget Consultation
This year’s submission reflects our current advocacy focus areas of housing and homelessness, the importance of the Middle Years and child protection reform. Our recommendations include funding for the therapeutic support system underpinning the MACR legislation, the secretariat of the Child and Young People Mental Health Services Network, the WOKE program, an interim youth and community space in Gungahlin and housing and homelessness services. You can find our full submission on our website.
Sector development: Register for our next Joint Case Review (JCR)
Our next JCR will take place on 20th June 2023 at 9.30am - 11.30am and will be hosted by Woden Community Services at their Callam Offices. We look forward to seeing you there.
Registrations will open on 22nd May via our Eventbrite account!
Call for Expression of Interest: Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council
CSD is calling for expressions of interest for membership of the Child and Family Reform Ministerial Advisory Council (the Council). The Council will guide and champion strategic planning and continuous improvement while providing strategic advice to the Minister on opportunities to improve outcomes for children, young people, and their families. There is an acknowledged need for broad and diverse representation on the Council and this is reflected in the draft Terms of Reference.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Jancye.Winter@act.gov.au with any questions. The advertisement, position descriptions, and details of how to apply are available on the Diversity Register https://www.diversityregister.act.gov.au
Recruitment for these positions will close 23 May 2023.
Free Webinar - Advocacy around the Voice Referendum on 16 May
Stronger Charities Alliance, in partnership with ACOSS and Australian Democracy Network, is hosting this webinar to help charities understand the legal and regulatory framework for advocacy around the Voice Referendum. The webinar will explain ACNC's advice on advocacy around the Voice Referendum and the referendum disclosure scheme as per Part VIIIA of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 (Referendum Act).
This webinar is for Australian charities who are interested in advocacy, or planning to advocate around the Voice Referendum. The event will be held online via Zoom on 16 May 2023 from 11 am to 12 pm AEST. Please RSVP to receive joining instructions and help shape the webinar by submitting your questions in advance.
The Belconnen Child & Family Service and Program Directory launch
Last month, A Village for Every Child launched a Child & Family Service and Program Directory which is a new resource that has been developed to support improved access to services and programs for children and families (from pregnancy to school age). Belconnen but includes many ACT-wide services. The pdf version is available on A Village for Every Child’s website. An online, interactive version will be created over the coming months.
Best wishes,
Yvonne Gritschneder
comms@familiesact.org.au
Policy | Media | Research
