JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Meeting No. 92, Friday, 26 September 2014, 9:30am-11:30am
Economic Development Directorate, Telstra House, 490 Northbourne Ave, Dickson ACT 2602
Attendees
Ms Susan Helyar
Mr Dave Peffer
Ms Maureen Cane
Mr Paul Flint
Ms Louise Gilding
Ms Dira Horne
Ms Elizabeth Jolley
Ms Louise Keightley
Ms Kirsty Linehan
Mr Andrew Mehrton
Mr Ross O’Donoughue
Mr Geoffrey Rutledge
Ms Melanie Saballa
Community Co-Chair and ACT Council of Social Service
(A/g) Government Co-Chair, Community Services Directorate
Volunteering ACT
Council of the Ageing
Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Belconnen Community Service
Environment and Planning Directorate
Education and Training Directorate
Department of Social Services
Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Health Directorate
Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Community Services Directorate
Guests
Ms Nicole Moore
Ms Gemma Wood
Community Services Directorate
Community Services Directorate
Apologies
Mr Karl Alderson
Ms Rikki Blacka
Ms Helen Board
Ms Leanne Cover
Ms Darlene Cox
Mr Stephen Fox
Mr Robert Gotts
Ms Nicole Masters
Mr Tim Reddel
Mr Simon Viereck
Ms Trish Woolley
Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Volunteering ACT
Department of Social Services
Education and Training Directorate
Health Care Consumers Association
National Disability Services
Community Services Directorate
Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Department of Social Services
Mental Health Community Coalition ACT
Department of Social Services
Secretariat
Mr Rowan Ford
Community Services Directorate
Item
1
Discussion
a. Welcome and apologies (Mr Peffer)
Government Co-Chair Dave Peffer opened the 92nd meeting,
welcomed members, noted apologies and provided an
Acknowledgement of Country.
b. Input from Economic Development Directorate (Ms Gilding)
Mr Peffer thanked Ms Gilding for hosting the meeting. Ms Gilding
introduced the work of the Economic Development Directorate,
including its work to improve rental affordability for the bottom two
quintiles, and improved ACT vacancy rates [note: quintile 1 = below
$53k; quintile 2 = $53-90k].
Action
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Item
Discussion
Action
2
Previous meeting, 25 July 2014 (Mr Peffer)
a. Draft minutes - members agreed to the minutes of the
previous meeting
b. Actions – were noted as completed (see below)
c. Correspondence – Ms Leigh Watson concluded with
ACT Shelter on 24 September 2014; Mr Paul Flint
concludes with Council on the Ageing on
25 October 2014. Secretariat has emailed both
Ms Watson and Mr Flint to thank them for their work
with the community and with the JCGRG and to wish
them well in the future.
Minutes – updated and endorsed
Actions
1. Mr Gotts to provide the November 2014 JCGRG
meeting with a report on the outcomes of the
Prequalification Review.
2. Mr Thompson to provide Secretariat with details of the
consultant being used to refresh the website.
3. Mr Thompson to send consultation strategy of Time to
Talk to Secretariat.
4. Members to send their feedback or comments to
Secretariat, who will forward to Mr Thompson.
5. Mr Thompson to monitor the activity of the website
over the next three months and report back to the
November 2014 meeting of the JCGRG.
6. Secretariat to email DSS paper to members.
7. Secretariat to issue JCGRG members with a list of
members of the Better Services Taskforce and any of
its working groups.
8. Secretariat to invite Melanie Saballa and /or
David Matthews to the next JCGRG meeting to discuss
Blueprint implementation, including alignment with
other initiatives and service gaps.
9. Secretariat to send to members any available updates
of the Blueprint.
10. Secretariat to send updated JCGRG membership list to
members
Actions –
1. On agenda for November 2014
meeting.
2. Completed 25/8/14. CMTEDD is
not engaging a consultant due to
limited resources. Working with
Canberra Connect to determine any
changes to functionality and look
and feel.
3. Response from CMTEDD,
25/8/14: the Strategy is currently
being developed, in the context of
a broader review of digital
engagement ‘tools’ as part of the
Digital Communications Strategy.
The consultation will likely occur in
October 2014, once the overall
strategic direction for digital
communications is approved.
4. This will not be possible as the
Strategy will occur after the next
JCGRG meeting in September 2014.
5. Secretariat to liaise with Mr
Thompson regarding this action.
6. Completed 14/8/14
7. Completed 25/8/14
8. Completed 19/8/14
9. Update anticipated in September
2014.
10. Completed 25/8/14
Other:
JCGRG Communique was posted 27/8/14
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Item
Discussion
Action
3
JCGRG Work Plan Priority 1: Human Services Blueprint Implementation
(Ms Saballa, Ms Moore)
The JCGRG heard from representatives from Strategic Implementation
(CSD) and considered how members could be involved in the
implementation of the Blueprint.
Members to review the
Blueprint
implementation
handout and provide
feedback out of session
to the Secretariat.
a. Engagement strategy
Ms Saballa, Acting Director, Strategic Reform and Governance (CSD),
emphasised that the Blueprint was more than just the three advertised
flagships of Local Services Network Launch, Strengthening Families and
Human Services Gateway. It involves joined-up responses from across
Government (Community Services, Education and Training, and Justice
and Community Safety) and the community sector.
Secretariat to prepare a
consolidated list of
feedback on the
implementation
handout.
Ms Moore, Better Services Launch Coordinator (CSD), indicated that the
Blueprint has moved into the co-design stage, involving a range of
strategies to enhance the participation of individuals, families and
services, including three full-day workshops targeted at particular groups,
a postcard drop of all West Belconnen households and a ‘roving story
board’ to capture input. The first workshop was held the previous day
(25 September) with the following workshop scheduled for 15 October.
The members of the Blueprint team and the community sector members
of the JCGRG who attended the workshop were pleased at the strong
attendance at the workshop and participants’ high degree of commitment
to the Blueprint. The Group agreed that the Blueprint was testing various
engagement strategies, often extending the ideas in Engaging Canberrans,
and providing insights as to when co-design was a relevant process.
b. Work that aligns with Better Services projects
Ms Saballa noted that alignment tools will be available soon. The
implementation of the Blueprint is incremental, so not all tools and policy
work will be in place at the commencement of the Local Service Network.
c. Feedback sought on implementation
Ms Saballa distributed an A3 handout outlining some key initial activities
to implement the Blueprint, to achieve an integrated and person-centred
service system, through three frames: place-based, client journey and
service continuum. It also proposes some engagement activities that
members may wish to progress.
Members agreed to review the handout and provide feedback out of
session to the Secretariat, who would prepare a consolidated list of
feedback.
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Item
Discussion
Action
4
JCGRG Work Plan Priority 2: Government/community/business
engagement (Mr Peffer)
Group members were asked to consider their interest in the following
agenda items for future meetings: Digital Communications Strategy; and
Budget Strategy.
Digital Strategy
The Group discussed agreed to invite the Digital Canberra Team to the
next meeting to discuss its mechanisms for engaging the community.
Budget Strategy
The Group discussed the possibility of greater community sector input into
the ACT Government’s Budget development process. Members agreed for
Mr Rutledge (CMTEDD) to lead discussion next meeting of how the
Government can improve its process of engagement with the community,
in relation to the Budget strategy and priority-setting process.
Secretariat to invite the
Digital Canberra Team
to the next JCGRG
meeting to discuss its
mechanisms for
engaging the
community.
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JCGRG Work Plan Priority 3: Emerging Issues
Issue: Demographics and service delivery (Ms Wood)
Ms Wood, Senior Manager, Data and Evaluation (CSD) presented a
PowerPoint on A Picture of the ACT and distributed a range of fact sheets
and copies of the Australian Government publication The People of the
ACT – Statistics from the 2011 Census. Points raised during discussion
included:
 The high percentage of ACT residents born overseas
 The large growth in single person households (possible
explanations: ageing population, grandparents don’t live with
their children as much, single overseas students in apartments)
 First transitions (leaving home, giving birth) are getting older
 The increasing level of drinking in the ACT
 ACT’s low smoking rate (11%), among the lowest in the developed
world, although rates are high among economically disadvantaged
people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, Asian
students, and young women.
 The 2016 Census will have a SEIFI disadvantage index
Ms Wood recommended ABS ACT at a glance and ABS Quick Stats as
useful data sites for members.
The Budget consultation
process to be an agenda
item for the next JCGRG
meeting, with
Mr Rutledge (CMTEDD)
to lead the discussion of
how the Government
can improve its process
of engagement with the
community sector.
Secretariat to circulate
the slides from the
presentation to
members for their
information.
In the discussion, Ms Helyar noted the service delivery implications of
single person households. Ms Horne indicated that Belconnen Community
Service has identified 300 elderly people without family and friends.
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Item
6
Discussion
Key issues (Mr Peffer)
a. Community Government Partnership Improvement Group
(Mr Peffer)
Updates from the Community Sector Reform Program, distributed to
members out of session before the meeting, were noted:
 Minutes and actions arising from the Community Government
Partnership Improvement Group (CGPIG) – formerly the
Community Sector Reform Advisory Group (CSRAG) – meeting of 4
September 2014. The name change better reflects the nature of
the Group’s work and is accompanied by new Terms of Reference
(as of 24 July 2014) and new administrative arrangements for the
Reform Program.
 The latest report on Community Sector Reform Projects (August
2014) – including Red Tape Reduction, Sector Development and
Outcome Reporting Frameworks
The Group agreed to ask Mr Gotts to address the next meeting and
provide an update on implementation of the Community Sector Reform
Program and Red Tape reduction commitments.
Action
Secretariat to ask Mr
Gotts to address the
next meeting and
provide an update on
the Community Sector
Reform Program. In
particular, the update
will cover timeframes on
reforms including pilot
programs and
timeframes on broader
roll out.
DSS to consult with
ACTCOSS about
arranging a consultation
workshop with ACTbased organisations on
data requirements.
b. Commonwealth update (Ms Linehan)
The DSS funding round has closed and announcements will be made later
this year. Ms Helyar asked if organisations who are unsuccessful or
receiving reduced funding could be notified sooner, to maximise quality of
service continuity and workforce change management. Ms Linehan
indicated that announcements would be made as soon as possible.
Mr Peffer to follow up
with Kate Starick (NDIS)
the issues raised by
Mr Fox and the ensuing
Group discussion.
DSS is standardising its data requirements to be focused more on
outcomes. DSS agreed to discuss with ACTCOSS about arranging a
consultation workshop with ACT based services on data requirements.
Secretariat to issue
Communique out of
session.
c. National Disability Services (Mr Peffer)
Mr Peffer provided the Group with a written report from Mr Fox, the main
points of which were:
 Design of transition to the NDIS has been good
 Slower than expected phasing of clients, so cash flow and cash
management will become increasingly important, including
arrangements NDS is negotiating with the ACT Government on
block funding adjustments for January and three monthly
thereafter
 Pricing for personal care and community access is still a major
issue, particularly given that these were calculated on a level 2 pay
point 2 and our levels in the ACT are often much higher
 Continuity of support for those ineligible for NDIS is a significant
issue to be resolved, as is on-going funding for various types of
support/advocacy/information/referral (tier 2).
 Will decision making by Commonwealth on its attitude to these
matters be resolved by early 2015 as planned?
 The Community Sector will need to be talking with Governments
about these matters.
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
Ms Helyar indicated that HACC services have limited capacity to take on
new clients, and raised concerns about the mechanisms through which
community would be involved in development of service model for nonNDIS services. Mr Peffer agreed to follow up with Kate Starick (NDIS) the
issues raised by Mr Fox and the ensuing Group discussion.
d. Other business – none.
e. Communiqué – to be organised out of session.
7
Actions arising from the meeting (Mr Peffer)
1. Members to review the Blueprint implementation handout and provide
feedback out of session to the Secretariat.
2. Secretariat to prepare a consolidated list of feedback on the
implementation handout.
3. Secretariat to invite the Digital Canberra Team to the next JCGRG
meeting to discuss its mechanisms for engaging the community.
4. The Budget consultation process to be an agenda item for the next
JCGRG meeting, with Geoffrey Rutledge (CMTEDD) to lead the discussion
of how the Government can improve its process of engagement with the
community sector.
5. Secretariat to circulate the slides from the presentation to members for
their information.
6. Secretariat to ask Mr Gotts to address the next meeting and provide an
update on the Community Sector Reform Program. In particular, the
update will cover timeframes on reforms including pilot programs and
timeframes on broader roll out.
7. DSS to consult with ACTCOSS about arranging a consultation workshop
with ACT-based organisations on data requirements.
8. Mr Peffer to follow up with Kate Starick (NDIS) the issues raised by
Mr Fox and the ensuing Group discussion.
9. Secretariat to issue Communique out of session.
1. Implementation
handout issued to
members 8/10/14. No
feedback received as of
6/11/14.
2. n/a. No feedback
received. Feedback can still
be sent to the Secretariat.
3. Digital Canberra Team
and Service ACT not
available for November
meeting but may be able
to attend in February
2015.
4. Invitation sent 9/10/14.
Agenda item for meeting
14/11/14.
5. Slides circulated to
members 8/10/14.
6. Invitation sent 9/10/14.
Agenda item for meeting
14/11/14.
7. DSS is holding
information sessions in
capital cities across
Australia in November to
familiarise organisations
about the content in new
grant agreements. This
includes a strong focus on
the DSS Data Exchange,
the policy principles, the
way this is reflected in
grant agreements and
training about how this
can be practically applied
and integrated to align
with an organisations
existing business
processes. The
presentation will also be
available on the DSS
website.
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JOINT COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT REFERENCE GROUP – Draft Minutes
8. Completed.
9. Communique issued to
members 8/10/14 and
posted to CSD website
(WAC/Strategic Policy) and
Open Government
(Inform) on 9/10/14.
8
Next Meeting: Friday 14 November 2014
The next meeting will be held on Friday 14 November 2014, 1pm-2:30pm,
Volunteering ACT, Level 2, 202 City Walk, CANBERRA ACT 2601.
Possible agenda items for the next meeting include:
 Budget consultation process (Mr Rutledge)
 Digital Canberra Team – engagement mechanisms
 Community Sector Reform Program Report (Mr Gotts)
 Blueprint implementation – feedback
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