INF OR MA T ION SHE E T
OCYFS Update
Issue 6 – 7 April 2014
Dear Colleagues
This OCYFS Update is the first of 2014. It also marks the first time I have been
responsible for providing this update as Executive Director for the Office for Children,
Youth and Family Support. For those who don’t know me, my background is in child
development, education, youth justice and child protection. I have most recently
been responsible for the Youth Services branch within the Community Services
Directorate.
I would like to thank all those who work with us in many different roles to deliver
great outcomes for children, young people and their families.
I would like to particularly mention the Children, Youth and Family Services Program
(CYFSP) Gateway who have increased their support for the Intake and Appraisal
Team of Care and Protection over recent weeks. It has been great to see the spirit
of shared problem solving and a focus on delivery of quality services evident in this
support.
It will be important that we all try to emulate this spirit as we enter a phase of
enormous strategic service reform. There are huge opportunities for the community
sector and government to work together to design and deliver quality outcomes. The
template for this change is the Human Services Blueprint that has been co-designed
by citizens, community sector providers and government. As the Blueprint is made
operational we can look forward to more client-focused services and services better
aligned and responsive to local need.
Many of the reforms go to recasting better ways that government and the community
sector might work together. Many of you would have attended a recent forum on the
Community Sector Development Program hosted by Minister Barr that amongst
other matters addressed the progress on red tape reduction. This work is absolutely
central to the work of OCYFS. We are looking, as are all parts, of government at how
we might streamline funding agreements and ensure unnecessary bureaucracy does
not get in the road of delivering services for Canberrans.
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There are a number of key initiatives that will continue over the course of this year
within OCYFS. These include the development of the Integrated Statutory Services
system, bringing together those services previously undertaken separately by Youth
Justice and Care and Protection; and the development of the Out of Home Care
strategy. I will provide more information about these as they progress and invite may
partners to provide advice as we design and work out how to implement these
reforms.
The Trauma Recovery Centre implementation is on track and I encourage all
interested parties to keep themselves informed as we move to a start of service in
July this year.
Dr Mark Collis
Executive Director, Office for Children, Youth and Family Support
Out of Home Care (OOHC) Strategy
I am pleased to share with you the release of a new report, Experiencing care in the
ACT Listening to people’s experience of the ACT Out of Home Care system.
Consultancy company, ThinkPlace were commissioned by the Community Services
Directorate to use a co-design process to hear the stories of people who have had
direct experience with the out of home care system. The research attempted to
understand the major barriers and blockages people found in the out of home care
system and if there were policy and procedural changes that could be made to
strengthen the system and make it more efficient for users. The research is being
used to develop the Out of Home Care Strategy 2015-2020.
Experiencing care in the ACT Listening to people’s experience of the ACT Out of
Home Care system can be accessed at:
http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/558203/Experi
encing-Care-in-the-ACT-FINAL-web.pdf
Working With Vulnerable People Checks
Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) checks came in to effect on 7 November
2013. As WWVP checks have now been in place for close to five months, I would
like to provide a timely reminder of the importance of people working with vulnerable
people to hold a valid WWVP registration.
All people providing kinship, respite, foster or residential care for a child or young
person under the care of the Director-General, ACT are required by Law to have a
Working with Vulnerable People Check registration. All adult family members
residing in the same premises are also required to have a WWVP registration.
If you are a kinship, respite, foster or residential carer and have not yet commenced
the registration process I ask you to do so, as soon as possible. WWVP checks are
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one of the significant safeguards in place in the ACT to protect children and young
people who are in the care of the Director-General, Community Services Directorate.
The Kinship Care Support Team or Foster Care Agency will help you if you have any
concerns or if you are worried that previous events may interfere with you being able
to be registered. They can provide information, assist you in completing the forms,
obtaining your photo or mail the application on your behalf or where appropriate write
a letter of support for registration to occur.
If you have already registered and received a card, please forward this information to
your support worker.
Further information about WWVP registration can be accessed at:
http://www.ors.act.gov.au/community/working_with_vulnerable_people/working_with
_vulnerable_people_application_lodgement
‘Working Together for Kids - Information for Parents and Families who become
involved with Care and Protection Services’
The Community Services Directorate has been working in collaboration with the
Family Inclusion Network (FIN) and ACT parents who have been involved with the
Care and Protection system to develop the booklet, ‘Working Together for Kids Information for Parents and Families who become involved with Care and Protection
Services’
This collaboration has provided the Community Services Directorate with a unique
opportunity to forge a shared understanding with FIN and its members in relation to
the goal and objectives of the work undertaken by Care and Protection Services.
It is anticipated the booklet will be published and ready for distribution in early April
2014.
ACT Trauma Recovery Centre
February saw the release of the Trauma Recovery Centre (TRC) training calendar.
This calendar details trauma-informed training opportunities to be hosted by the TRC
over the next six months as well as seminars, forums and training days offered by
training providers and organisations external to the Community Services Directorate.
The calendar is targeted training for Community Services Directorate staff as well as
staff from ACT Health, Education and Training Directorates, non government
organisations and carers who care/work directly with children and young people
affected by trauma. We hope that you have the opportunity over the coming months
to attend some of the valuable trauma-informed training on offer in Canberra
throughout 2014.
The calendar can be viewed at:
http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/services/trauma-recovery-centre .
The Psycho-biology of Trauma, Recovery and Growth
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On 20 February 2014, The Community Services Directorate in partnership with Mary
Jo McVeigh (Cara House) hosted a one day seminar entitled “The Psycho-biology of
Trauma, Recovery and Growth”. This full day workshop explored the effects of
childhood trauma on development, as well as theoretical underpinnings and practical
approaches to working with children affected by trauma. Mary Jo utilises a ‘whole of
body’ approach to recovery and growth drawing on examples from her extensive
practice experience to facilitate understanding.
The feedback from this seminar has been overwhelmingly positive with many of the
participants requesting Mary Jo return to deliver further training. Participants
indicated that the training had resulted in a greater understanding of the effects of
trauma on the brain; how individual practitioners can best respond to the needs of
children and how a trauma-informed approach can make a difference
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Event:
Judy Atkinson - Working with Indigenous Families at Risk
Host:
Community Services Directorate and Australian Child & Adolescent
Trauma, Loss & Grief Network
When:
Thursday 1 May 2014
Venue:
Nature Conservation House, Belconnen
Times:
9:30 -12:30 or 1:30pm-4:30pm
Registration:
For CSD staff: http://csdcapabiliti.act.gov.au/ClientView/Default.aspx?To=Home
For Non CSD:
http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/home/community_education
**Please note the Lighthouse Institute training scheduled for 9, 10, 11 April 2014 is
now fully booked**
Trauma Recovery Centre Information and Consultation Sessions
The Trauma Recovery Centre will also be holding two information and consultation
sessions on 27 March 2014 at Nature Conservation House, Belconnen.


12:00–2:00pm - Whole of Government, including Health, Education,
Community Services and Justice and Community Safety Directorates
2:00pm–4:00pm - Non-Government and Community Services Sector
These forums will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear more about the
development of the ACT Trauma Recovery Centre, including the model of service,
referral process and proposed site; as well as opportunities to provide feedback
regarding the shortlist of names for the Trauma Recovery Centre and certain aspects
of the model of service.
If you have any questions regarding the Trauma Recovery Centre please contact
either Kate Gimson, Senior Project Officer on 62059094 or Ali Trewhella, Project
Officer, 62070621.
‘Child, Youth and Family Gateway’ - Information, Engagement and
Coordination
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Service
The Child, Youth and Family Gateway provides a point of contact for information,
initial support and engagement for children, young people and their families. This
service is also able to link vulnerable and in need children, young people and their
families with a range of services throughout their local communities.
The Child, Youth and Family Gateway has a central role in promoting the CYFSP
across the service system and the broader ACT community. It is also a focal point for
promoting strong and active relationships between CYFSP service providers and
other services being delivered in the community to promote service collaboration and
integration in the best interests of children, young people and families. The service
seeks to proactively identify emerging gaps and changing demands and propose
strategies for them to be addressed.
Child, Youth and Family Gateway is being delivered across the ACT by Barnardos
Australia, Belconnen Community Service, Woden Community Service and the
YWCA of Canberra.
If you or someone you know requires support services please contact the Child,
Youth and Family Gateway on 1800 647 831 or visit www.thegateway.org.au
Youth Engagement Changes
The Youth Engagement Team has been responsible for the leadership of the ACT
Government Youth Interact Strategy. Some might know the team better for the
Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards, the Youth Interact Conference, the
Youth Advisory Council and the Youth Interact Scholarships and Grants Program.
In January the Youth Engagement Team moved to the Community Participation
Group, Community Services Directorate and is located at Theo Notaras Centre.
This team will continue to undertake the same great work it always has, including
partnering with the ACT Youth Coalition to deliver National Youth Week celebrations
in the ACT. National Youth week will be celebrated from 4-13 April 2014, to find out
more visit www.youth.act.gov.au.
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Staff Profile
Paula McGrady – Family Engagement Officer, Bimberi Youth Justice Centre
I am originally from Moree Toomelah (NSW), I have been living in the ACT since
2005.
I have been working in the area of domestic and family violence whilst also working
casually as a youth worker at Lowana Youth Services.Prior to coming to Bimberi, I
was working as the Nguru Coordinator at Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and currently
as a youth worker at Oasis.
I have participated on several boards in both a professional and personal nature. I
am currently on the board for Ministerial Advisory Council for Women (MACW), Doris
Women’s Refuge and Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation.
I am passionate about working with youth and have a good understanding of the
issues facing vulnerable young people. I am looking forward to working within the
Directorate.
I have worked in the youth arena, across the Government and non-Government
sectors, for the last 22 years. My early days were spent working for Corrective
Services, eventually managing a team of 35 staff including Senior Probation and
Parole Officers and administrative staff, whilst also working in residential care in the
youth sector.
Community training and events
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug training opportunities
The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) is is the peak
body representing the non-government and government alcohol, tobacco and other
drug (ATOD) sector in the ACT. ATODA seeks to promote health through the
prevention and reduction of the harms associated with ATOD
ATODA is providing a number of workshops and training opportunities in April and
May 2014, to support health and community services and workers to build their
capacity to better identify and respond to ATOD issues.
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For further information about the training available please see the attached flyers or
contact a member of the ATODA Team on
Phone: (02) 6255 4070
Email: info@atoda.org.au
Web: www.atoda.org.au
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