July 2002

Partnership approach knows no bounds

Old approaches and organisation boundaries no longer apply in the relationship between the Department of Human Services and the agencies it funds, says Department Secretary Patricia Faulkner.

Ms Faulkner addressed the first Partnership Forum attended by executives and members of peak health, housing and community sector organisations and Department Executive and Regional Directors.

Forum delegates included representatives of the Victorian Council of Social Service, Victorian Healthcare Association, Kindergarten Parents Victoria, Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria, Financial and Consumer Rights Centre, Community Child Care Association, Municipal Association of Victoria, Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres, Centres Against Sexual Assault Forum, Council of Intellectual Disability Agencies, Community Housing Federation of Victoria, Council to Homeless Persons, Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Victorian Association of Health and Extended Care, Victorian Community Health Association, Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria and the National Industry Association for Disability Services.

Ms Faulkner underlined the Department’s commitment to partnership relationships with funded agencies to deliver better health and community services outcomes to all Victorians.

Ongoing forums will provide an opportunity for an exchange of information and advice on cross-program and whole-of-Department issues and on the partnership process.

The forums are part of a Partnership Framework being developed through the Funded Agency Partnership Project Working Group, established last year.

Its Department representatives are Northern Metropolitan Region Regional Director Richard Deyell, Gippsland Region Partnerships and Service Planning Manager Dorothy Wee, Financial and Corporate Services Division Business Development Director Kerry Macdonald, Policy and Strategic Projects Division Policy Projects Director Sandy Forbes.

Funded sector representatives are the Victorian Council of Social Service Board member John Honner, Victorian Healthcare Association Executive Officer Iain Fraser, Kindergarten Parents Victoria Chief Executive Officer Gerard Mansour, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria Acting Chief Executive Officer Michal Morris, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Chief Executive Officer Alf Bamblett and Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria Chief Executive Officer Coleen Clare.

The Working Group has also overseen the development of a First Draft Partnership Agreement—between the Department and funded health, housing and community sector organisations—released in June for comment by funded organisations and Departmental staff.

Comment on the First Draft Agreement will be accepted until July 26.

A Second Draft will be released for comment then the Final Partnership Agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year.

Both the Partnership Agreement and the Partnership Forums now come under the umbrella of the Partnership Flagship Project, established to develop a concerted Departmental approach to partnerships.

Ms Faulkner described the Flagship Project as the driver of cultural change within the Department.

Its focus is on collaboration, client rights, transparency and sustainability and a determination to improve quality outcomes leading to improvements in business processes and practices in the Department’s dealings with agencies.

The Flagship Project highlights the Department’s commitment to developing strong relationships with the health, housing and community services sectors based on respect and reciprocity.

• The First Draft Partnership Agreement is on the internet at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/pdpd. Funded organisations can contact Partnership Liaison Officer Kate Redwood on 0419 515 259 or via email at kate.redwood@vcoss.org.au for more information.