Redfern-Waterloo Human Services E-Newsletter - Issue One - March 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome

The Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC)

Establishment of the HSAC

Membership of the HSAC

The Human Services Plan

First meeting of the HSAC

Upcoming community workshop

Welcome!

This is the first edition of E-News which will be disseminated by the Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and Council of Social Service of NSW on behalf of the HSAC.  The aim of E-News is to ensure that interested members of the Redfern-Waterloo community and service providers are kept informed of current events relating to the development of the Human Services Plan for the area.

The Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC)

The HSAC advises the Minister with responsibility for Redfern-Waterloo on human services in the area.  The Committees role and purpose is to:

• Provide advice to the Minister on the human services system in Redfern and Waterloo and the most effective means of achieving outcomes for service users and the community
• Ensure integrated human services planning
• Foster and support the development of local community based solutions to identified areas of concern as appropriate
• Serve as a forum for raising community concerns
• Support the capacity of service providers to achieve positive outcomes for service users and community members
• Conduct research and manage projects, as required or approved by the Minister
• Provide advice to the Minister on the social outcomes to be pursued in the Redfern-Waterloo Plan and its specific strategies
• Provide advice on other matters referred to it by the Minister. 

Whilst adopting a broad advisory role in relation to human services, the first project of the HSAC is to develop part one of the Human Services Plan, 2005-2006.  The HSAC began this work on 3 March 2005.  Details about the HSAC's first meeting are outlined below. 

The complete terms of reference for the HSAC are available on the Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project's website: www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au

Establishment of the HSAC

On 1 July 2005, the Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project is merging with the Redfern-Waterloo Authority.  As a result of this amalgamation, processes have been streamlined and the HSAC has replaced the Human Services Implementation Working Group which was to be established to oversight the development of the Human Services Plan.  These initial appointments will be for 6 months.  The RWA will shortly be advertising for additional community representatives for the HSAC. 

Community representatives for the HSAC were selected, following a public call for Expressions of Interest (EOI).  Representatives were selected on the basis of selection criteria outlined in the EOI by a panel consisting of two community members and the co-chairs of the HSAC.  

Membership of the HSAC

The 17-member HSAC is co-chaired by Mr Michael Ramsey of the Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and Mr Gary Moore of the Council of Social Service of NSW.  In all, the HSAC has three representatives of services users and the Redfern-Waterloo community, seven members from the NSW State Government, two representatives of Commonwealth Government, three representatives of the non-government sector, and one from the City of Sydney Council.  Members are:

Mr John Becker                    NSW Government representative (Department of Housing)
Ms Helen Campbell             Non-government representative         
Ms Mabel Chang                  Community/service user representative (interim appointee)
Ms Janelle Chapman            NSW Government representative (Department of Community Services)
Mr Paul Cramer                    Commonwealth Government representative
Ms Monica Barone               Local Government representative
Ms Gay Horsburgh              NSW Government representative (Department of Health)
Mr Colin Kay                         Commonwealth Government representative
Dr Phil Lambert                    NSW Government representative (Department of Education and Training)
Ms Shirley Lomas                 Community/service user representative
Mr Gary Moore (co-chair)   Non-government representative
Mr Aldo Pennini                    NSW Government representative (Redfern-Waterloo Authority)
Mr Michael Ramsey(co-chair)             NSW Government representative (Premiers Department)
Ms Lynette Stewart               Community/service user representative
Mr Carlo Svagelli                   NSW Government representative (Department of Aboriginal Affairs)
Mr Rob Welsh                       Non-government representative

The Human Services Plan

The Human Services Plan is being developed in two stages. 

Part one of the plan will focus on youth services, services for Aboriginal people, family and childrens services (including domestic and family violence), and health services (particularly mental health, drug and alcohol and dual diagnosis).

Time limited cluster groups will be established in each of these service areas to develop action plans, which will be incorporated into the plan.

First Meeting of the HSAC

The Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project hosted the first two meetings of the HSAC on 3 March and 15 March 2005.  At the meeting, members discussed the following key issues:

• Principles for working together and for the Human Services Plan
• The terms of reference for the Committee
• The findings of the human services review and the need for the human services system to change
• Linkages between the broad social outcomes identified through the human services planning process and the development of the Redfern-Waterloo Plan
• The framework for the Human Services Plan
• Membership, role and purpose of the cluster groups
• Upcoming workshops on integrated services, delivery, community outcomes and measuring performance and results
• Communicating with the community about the development of the plan
• Confidentiality of information shared between members
• Evaluating the Human Services Plan; and
• The closure of Redfern Local Court. 

The next meeting of the HSAC will be held on 7 April 2005. 

Upcoming Community Workshop

To ensure that the Human Services Plan meets the needs of the local community, a community outcomes workshop will be held on 4 April 2004 at 10 am and repeated again at 6 pm at the PCYC, 638 Elizabeth Street, Redfern.  The purpose of the workshop will be to identify the outcomes that community members want achieved through the Plan.  See www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au for more details. 

Samantha Nolan
Senior Project Manager
Redfern/Waterloo Partnership Project
(ph) 9698 0911
(fax) 8243 9466