JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP (JCGRG) COMMUNIQUE - August 2014
The JCGRG comprises ACT Government, Peak Body and Community Sector representatives. It meets seven
times a year to monitor sector viability matters in the community sector and provide strategic advice to the
ACT Government. The JCGRG fosters a partnership between the ACT Government and Community Sector to
progress social and sustainability policy issues affecting the ACT community and the community sector.
________________________________________________________________________
Government and Community Dialogue
Time to Talk website
The Manager, Community and Engagement, Chief
Minister Treasury and Economic Development
Directorate (CMTEDD) advised members of a
review of the ACT Government Community
Engagement Website, Time to Talk website.
http://www.timetotalk.act.gov.au/.
Members
discussed how the website was used, its appeal
to young people and the composition of surveys.
The Manager agreed to monitor the activity of
the website and report back to the JCGRG in
November 2014.
Federal Budget
A paper from the Department of Social Services
on how DSS revenue savings relate to service
delivery is available from the JCGRG Secretariat.
Sector Viability/Workforce Issues
Reducing Community Sector Red Tape
The Director of the Community Sector Reform
Project quantified the savings to the community
sector in 2014-15 from recent reforms: moving
half of Service Funding Agreements (SFAs) to
grants ($0.667m) and lengthening terms of
agreements ($0.752m), a total of $1.42m.
Members discussed the value of a possible
alignment of governance between the
Prequalification process and the Office of
Regulatory Services (ORS), given that both review
the constitutions of organisations; and the need
for a stronger platform for community
organisations dealing with either Education and
Training or Justice and Community Safety
Directorates, which deal with fewer community
organisations than the Health and Community
Services Directorates (CSD). The Director of the
Community Sector Reform Project agreed to
provide the November 2014 JCGRG meeting with
a report on the outcomes of the Prequalification
Review.
Community Sector Development
The Working with Government workshop will be
conducted soon, as part of the sector
development program.
Service Reform
Human Services Blueprint
The JCGRG facilitates communication between
the Government and community sectors, in the
implementation of the Human Services Blueprint.
It was agreed that the JCGRG would hear from
CSD representatives, at the November 2014
meeting of the JCGRG, on Blueprint
implementation, including alignment with
initiatives in directorates other than CSD and
opportunities to address service gaps across all
human service portfolios.
Representatives of the JCGRG
Community Sector Representatives:
Susan Helyar (Co-Chair), ACT Council of Social
Services/ Darlene Cox, Health Care Consumers
Association/ Emma Robertson, Youth Coalition of
the ACT/ Clare Henderson, Conservation Council
of the SE-Region & Canberra/ Leigh Watson, ACT
Shelter/ Paul Flint, Council of the Ageing/
Maureen Cane, Volunteering ACT/ Dira Horne,
Belconnen Community Service/ Stephen Fox,
National Disability Services/ Simon Viereck,
Mental Health Community Coalition ACT.
Government Representatives:
Sue Chapman (Co-Chair), Community Services
Directorate/ Claire Barbato, Chief Minister
Treasury
and
Economic
Development
Directorate/ Ross O’Donoughue, ACT Health/
Leanne Cover, Education and Training
Directorate/ David Peffer, Chief Minister and
Treasury Directorate/ Anthony Polinelli, Territory
and Municipal Services Directorate/ John Meyer,
Environment and Planning Directorate/ Karl
Alderson, Justice and Community Safety
Directorate/ Andrew Mehrton, Economic
Development Directorate/
Tim Reddel,
Department of Social Services.
Further information
Contact Rowan Ford, JCGRG Secretariat on
(02) 6205 0454 or email: rowan.ford@act.gov.au
1