Pre-Conference Workshop
Communities for Children Facilitating Partners (CfC FP) Workshop
This workshop provides a space for Communities for Children Facilitating Partners to reach a shared understanding of the role of the facilitating partner and identify core and measurable community outcomes for the facilitating partner role.
Why is this important? The articulation of the role of the Facilitating Partner (FP) has shifted over time with an emphasis in the program’s guiding documentation on the contract management role of the FP and less focus on the community engagement, connecting and capacity-building dimensions of the FP role. At the same time, external reporting is limited to client-level outcomes. Yet it is this capacity to reach into, make connections and work with communities that is integral to the success of CfC FP as a place-based program. As a national network of CfC FP service providers, there is a need to clearly articulate and build a mechanism for demonstrating and reporting on these outcomes.
The CfC FP National Forum, initiated and lead by the Facilitating Partners National Forum Working Group in Adelaide earlier this year, asked delegates to reflect on refreshing how we communicate what we do and the results we achieve for children and families across Australia. This workshop builds on those conversations.
What you can expect from the workshop:
- An overview of the outcomes of the CfC FP National Forum, shared by Facilitating Partners National Forum Working Group members.
- An understanding of the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) takeaways from the National Forum, as well as an overview of early outcomes from DSS consultative CfC FP discussions, held over April-early May.
- An opportunity to contribute to re-articulating the role of the FP and identifying measurable community outcomes that can demonstrate to government and to CfC FP communities the value of the FP role and the benefits generated in community.
Biography:
Susan Helyar
Helyar & Co
Susan’s career includes experience in:
- direct practice as a social worker in health, disability employment and mental health services
- social and health service design and policy development in ACT and Commonwealth governments
- Executive leadership roles with a primary focus on social service policy, provision and advocacy
In advocacy roles Susan articulated a social justice perspective in public debate, led social policy reform and shaped service redesign, and engaged stakeholders from consumer, carer, community and business sectors to agree and articulate reform priorities.
National Communities for Children Working Group:
Sue Christophers
Head of Social and Economic Wellbeing, Anglicare SA
Sue brings over 25 years’ experience in community services with a strong focus on community development. Sue is a strong advocate for an integrated approach across all program areas and passionate about collaborative practice and children’s voices. Sue is able to recognise the value of diverse approaches to meeting needs of communities including effective strategic planning and translation of strategic objectives into practical and achievable outcomes.
Camilla Krauze
Initiatives Manager – East Arnhem Children’s Services, Anglicare NT
With two decades of expertise in Vic and the NT, Camilla specialises in multiple and complex needs, evidence-based and innovative practices. She prioritises two-way learning, capturing children’s voices, fostering professional development and leadership opportunities for both children and communities. Camilla’s diverse experience spans urban, rural, and remote areas, where she collaborates predominantly with an Aboriginal team.
Stacey Milbourne
Doorways Manager – Tasmania, The Salvation Army Australia Territory
Stacey has worked in the NGO sector for the last 24 years, starting out in Employment Plus, supporting the delivery of employment services in Tasmania.
In December 2010 Stacey moved into the role of Manager, Communities for Children, Southeast Tasmania. During her 9 years in this role, Stacey saw many interesting and innovative changes to the way place-based services were delivered.
In November 2019, Stacey commenced in her current role, Tasmanian Manager for the Salvation Army’s Doorways program, still maintaining senior leadership of the CfC Program.
Clare Moynihan
Practice Lead, Communities for Children, The Smith Family
With decades of experience across government and the not-for-profit sector, Clare is passionate about joining up people, learning, systems and communications to achieve better outcomes AND to make working life smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Clare has master’s degree in Adult Education and is also a Certified Scrum Master.
Karen Russell
National Manager Early Childhood and Government Programs, The Smith Family
Karen Russell boasts three decades of dedicated service in social policy, commencing in the public sector with a focus on initiatives like the CfC program. Transitioning to the for-purpose sector, she found her calling, currently overseeing The Smith Family’s nine Communities for Children Facilitating Partner sites, leveraging her wealth of experience.
Paul Hardcastle
Executive Director, Department of Social Services
Paul is currently an Executive Director in the Department of Social Services working on a review of children, youth and parenting programs and developing a discussion paper on these programs. The discussion paper is planned to be released in the second half of 2024. To help develop the discussion paper he is co-chairing working groups with Dr Robyn Clough, Manager of Policy and Research at FRSA.