The beginning of this week marked the end of the DSS consultation process “A new approach to programs for families and children”. As the national peak body for the Family and Relationships Services sector, which includes the five programs facing reform, it has certainly been a busy four weeks. The FRSA team extends a huge thank you to our Members for their strong and generous engagement in our consultation processes – particularly when so many were developing their own submissions in the busyness of end of year preparations.
FRSA participated in a DSS Community Sector Advisory Group meeting earlier this week where it was reported by the Department that there were just under 800 people who participated in the various DSS hosted webinars and townhalls (virtual and in person). The Department has advised me that at the close of the written submission deadline (11:59pm on Monday the 9th Dec) there were over 236 written submissions and 144 responses to the online pulse survey received. This is a signficant investment – especially by the community sector. Everyone wants the best outcomes for children, young people, families and communities.
Headline points from FRSA’s submission are captured here, but I offer a few reflections as the FRS peak:
- The five programs slated for reform have demonstrated strong client outcomes and we hope that government will build on the successes of these programs as it seeks to ensure services remain contemporary and fit for purpose.
- After five years plus of governmental reviews, having some direction is welcome. However, we consider that a more measured implementation pace will enable time for departmental capacity building and sector readiness as well as alleviating service disruption for children, adults and families.
- An evidence-based understanding of needs and service gaps on-the-ground should underpin the design of programs – achieving value for money, solid return on investment and equitable outcomes requires a clear, data-informed picture of community needs, existing service coverage and local context.
- Australia is comprised of diverse family structures and involves a broader set of important relationships than contemplated in the department’s proposed approach. A focus on children (and their families) and early in life is only one area that needs the attention of Government. Children, young people, adults/older adults across their lifecourse can require interventions to deal with all manner of issues that challenge their relationships, their emotional health and wellbeing – we believe that this program should continue to support these people too.
- We can’t expect these programs to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping kids out of out of home care, improving AEDC scores (identified as outcomes by DSS) when problems underpinning entrenched disadvantage such as poverty/financial hardship and housing affordability/homelessness prevail. The Program outcomes framework needs to be designed to ensure that outcomes and impact appropriately and realistically attach to activity.
Now to the task of digesting and analysing the massive amounts of information that are coming before the Department – all within very strict timelines. We certainly acknowledge the significant work ahead for those in the Department and relevant Ministerial offices.
I also wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge a number of Departmental Staff who have worked closely with FRSA and the community sector who are moving on from DSS. I appreciate it is always dangerous to name a few for fear of missing someone – but the following people are also known to our sector through speaking engagements at FRSA events over the years. Our thanks for the dedication and commitment from Tarja Saastamoinen, Veronica Westacott, John Riley and Chris D’Souza – we wish them well!
I also wanted to acknowledge another key departmental figure – this time in the Attorney-General’s Department. Yesterday was Rebecca Mills last day in the Family Law Branch. She is certainly well known to the sector and has often been the ‘Departmental face’ when it comes to engagement with the sector on family law matters through the hosting of webinars, roundtables and visits to agencies. She will be missed but we wish her all the best in her new role heading up the Human Rights Branch in the Department.
