July is proving to be a very busy month for FRSA – and, no doubt, for many of our readers. This week my head is filled with a plethora of ideas and activities that range from AI and family law, to planning for future FRSA events, to highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention and the role of FRSA’s members’ services as priority areas for the second Action Plan for the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. The last two weeks where we have seen four women and adolescents murdered by men or boys known to them is a horrific and pertinent reminder that we need to be thinking outside of the box and taking every opportunity to engage and work with victim survivors, their children and people who use violence at every opportunity when they walk through our doors – regardless of the service point of entry.
Of course, squarely in this mix of work is reform to the child and family programs funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS). From 1 July 2027, five programs under the DSS Families and Children Activity will end, and a new program – the Children and Family Support program – will commence, underpinned by relational contracting. It’s an ambitious timeframe for such a significant shift, and the FRSA team is working hard with our members to help shape the reform and ensure its success.
Central to the new program and approach is to build the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) sector through both partnerships and the transition of services.
Earlier this week we hosted a webinar for FRSA Members about transitioning to ACCOs and we were delighted to have Nadia Currie, Acting Director, Sector Engagement and Innovation, present on SNAICC’s approach working alongside mainstream and ACCO partners to support their transformation and transition journeys. Nadia provided helpful practical insights and examples as well as pointing the audience to some of SNAICC’s great resources.
With anything new, it is the practical and experiential insights that really bring an abstract vision to life. I take this opportunity to re-share a webinar presentation that FRSA hosted late last year – Better Together – delivered by Alister Ferguson from Maranguka and Anne-Marie Mioche from CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes. Alister and Anne-Marie shared their 8-year journey building a unique partnership grounded in trust, shared values and a commitment to community-led change in Bourke. I’d encourage anyone looking to build partnerships between mainstream and First Nations organisations to spend 45 minutes hearing about Alister’s and Anne-Marie’s journey.
As the week of celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – NAIDOC week – came to a close on 12 July, FRSA was thrilled to release our new Reconciliation Action Plan, which will guide us along our Reconciliation Journey over the next two years. See more.
