PARTNERSHIP FORUM
15 December 2011
COMMUNIQUÉ
On 15 December 2011 the Partnership Forum held its seventh meeting. Key issues discussed by the
Forum included the Forum’s strategic directions for 2012; progress with the sustainable funding and
contracting reforms between the public and not-for-profit community sectors; progress on
establishing the Social Enterprise Fund; an update on the Social Innovation Grants Program and self
directed services and supports.
PARTNERSHIP FORUM STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
The Partnership Forum endorsed the Partnership Forum Directions – 2012 document, which outlines
the Forum’s strategic directions for 2012 and the initiatives to be undertaken to best ensure their
successful implementation.
Six strategic directions are outlined:
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Governance, evaluation and oversight by the Partnership Forum across all reforms;
Policy, planning and service design to ensure there is a genuine partnership between the
public and not-for-profit community sectors and collaboration with service users on the
broader aspects of policy planning;
Sustainable funding and contracting to enable a more sustainable not-for-profit community
sector;
Reducing the administrative burden on not-for-profit community organisations;
Supporting social enterprise and innovation in the delivery of human services; and
Investing in implementation to build the capacity of the public and not-for-profit community
sectors.
These directions were informed by discussion and input provided at a community Pre Brief held on
11 August 2011. The Forum agreed that the document would be released via its new website to be
launched in late January 2012.
It was also agreed that an evaluation framework would be developed to effectively monitor and
evaluate the Forum’s progress and achievements over time.
MENTAL HEALTH REFORM DIRECTIONS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Mental Health Commissioner, Eddie Bartnik, presented to the Forum on the Mental Health
2020: Making it personal and everybody’s business strategic policy. The Partnership Forum noted
that the mental health reforms are a good example of the partnership between the public and notfor-profit community sectors, focused on improved outcomes for Western Australians and
consistent with the Partnership Forum’s reform agenda.
POLICY, PLANNING AND SERVICE DESIGN
The Partnership Forum identified collaborative policy, planning and service design as a key
Partnership Forum direction in 2012. The Partnership Forum agreed to focus on building capacity in
both the public and not-for-profit community sectors to collaborate in the development of policy
and design of human services. The Forum endorsed an Action Plan for 2012, focused on four key
directions: building skills, networks and knowledge; moving to an outcomes focus; driving innovation
in service design; and joint policy in practice.
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND CONTRACTING WITH THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY SECTOR
The Forum considered the second quarterly report on progress with the roll out of component I of
the sustainable funding and contracting reforms. The Forum noted the significant progress made by
both sectors in the roll out of the component I funding and the ongoing education and training
occurring around the implementation of the Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy (the
Policy). The Forum provided feedback on the strategic approach proposed to Component II.
The Forum also considered and endorsed the Capacity Building Implementation Plan, drafted by a
joint public and not-for-profit community sector Working Group. The key objective of the Plan is to
ensure the Policy and associated contracting reforms are supported in their implementation. The
Plan provides a set of capacity building objectives, priority themes for the next four years and
immediate capacity building priorities for 2011/12.
The Forum agreed to consider longer term priorities 2012/13 – 2014/15 in more detail in June 2012.
The Forum also agreed to establish a Sustainable Funding and Contracting Implementation Group to
address issues and monitor the implementation of the sustainable funding and contracting initiative
on an ongoing basis.
SELF-DIRECTED SERVICE DESIGN
The Forum considered an update on the Self Directed Services agenda progressed by the Self
Directed Services Reference Group. The Forum noted the Reference Group’s work in developing a
strategic action plan to progress Self Directed Services in Western Australia. The Forum requested
the Reference Group to commence work on agreed immediate actions, including: developing a
range of activities to attract, inform and equip consumers from across the community services
spectrum to utilise Self Directed Services; developing a clear statement of Self Directed Services
principles; and developing a communications strategy.
SOCIAL INNOVATION GRANTS PROGRAM
The Forum received an update on the status of the second round of Social Innovation Grants. Grant
recipients for round two were announced on 15 December 2011. Applications for round three have
closed, and applications for round four are now open on the Department for Communities website.
The Forum noted that Social Innovation Grants Project Forums will be held in February and August
2012. The February Forum will be held for internal grant recipients to share learnings, while the
August Forum will be an opportunity to share learnings across the public and not-for-profit sectors
and is aimed at the wider public. Further details of the Forums will be provided on the Partnership
Forum website in early 2012.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FUND
The Forum received an update on the status of the establishment of the Social Enterprise Fund. The
Social Enterprise Fund will support community organisations establish or enhance social
enterprises(s) as one approach for addressing social issues. Funding of $10 million was announced
during the 2010/11 State Budget for the Social Enterprise Fund. The Social Enterprise Fund will be
launched early 2012 and more information will be available on the Department for Communities
website in early 2012.
PARTNERSHIP FORUM REPORT TO PREMIER
The Partnership Forum agreed on a six monthly report to the Premier, to provide an update on the
ongoing work program.
PARTNERSHIP FORUM COMMUNICATION
The Partnership Forum discussed the issue of communication with the public and not-for-profit
community sectors and wider community. The Forum agreed to develop a new website to better
manage Partnership Forum communications; and to continue to hold Partnership Forum events in
2012 to effectively communicate with the public and not-for-profit community sectors and
community more generally.
NEXT MEETING
The Partnership Forum’s next meeting will be held in Mandurah on 22 March 2012, followed by a
community forum.