04 November 2005

In this Update:

Cluster Groups will not be reconvened to discuss Plan but there is another meeting for all Cluster Members on Tuesday 8 November

Follow-up Briefing for Service Cluster Groups

Redfern Legal Service Posts Draft Response to the Human Service Plan for Comment

Cluster Groups will not be reconvened to discuss Plan but there is another meeting for all Cluster Members on Tuesday 8 November

At the first RWA ‘information briefing for cluster groups on the draft Human Services Plan’ participants pointed out that they had been promised that the cluster groups would be reconvened to look at the Draft Human Service Plan. This has not happened. When the RWA announced another cluster group meeting it was expected that it would allow an opportunity for the original participants to meet, discuss the Draft Human Services Plan together and make comments on it.

It was with considerable disappointment that we read that instead of reconvening the cluster groups, the RWA has planned a one hour ‘briefing’ for members of the original cluster groups from 1-2 on Tuesday 8 November (see below). This is a long way short of what was promised by the RWPP / RWA and what people thought that the RWA had agreed to consider at the first cluster briefing.

While the letter to cluster members in written in the form of it being a ‘briefing’, Aldo Pennini has assured Geoff that it is not his intention to do another briefing but that it will be an opportunity for “constructive feedback” from cluster group members in a combined group rather than there being an opportunity for the cluster members to discuss the draft among themselves.

Aldo did however reiterate in line in the letter “that he did not want to get into a lengthy debate about the merits or otherwise of individual aspects of the draft Plan”, which is precisely what might have been useful had the four cluster groups been able to meet and discuss the areas that they had earlier worked on. Not only would the earlier undertaking have been delivered but the cluster groups, made up of government and non government people, may have made suggestions to strengthen the Plan and people would have felt much happier with the process!

The RWA line that after the Plan is adopted there will be ongoing review and ample opportunities for people to come together and talk about it in the implementation phase does not make up for the fact that these opportunities should have been there during the ‘consultation’ on the Plan and could have been planned for within the four weeks available for feedback.

Process is important. The RWA should not be surprised given the process used for the ‘consultation’ that people think it is going to great lengths to ensure that human service workers do not get the chance to sit down at any meetings organised by the RWA to discuss the Plan together and their reaction to it. The RWA sessions have been clearly described as “information sessions” with all responses to be made directly to the RWA with no facilitated workshops. All this is seen as pointing to the RWA wanting to push through the draft that has been ticked off by cabinet rather than genuinely looking for feedback that might challenge anything in the draft. The Settlement management committee statement says they were told as much by the RWA (see statement on http://www.redwatch.org.au/redw/speakout/051023hsp ).

If you were involved in one of the initial cluster groups you will have the opportunity of at least turning up on Tuesday and making your “constructive feedback” but if you want to talk about it with others in your cluster group you had better do it before the RWA meeting on Tuesday!

Below is the text of the email sent to Cluster Group members yesterday by the RWA.

FOLLOW-UP BRIEFING FOR SERVICE CLUSTER GROUPS

Dear Cluster Group participant

As you would be aware, the formal closing date for submissions on the draft human services Plan is November 11, 2005.

To assist services considering making a submission on the draft Plan a second briefing session for service cluster group participants has been arranged for Tuesday 8 November.

This additional briefing will provide an opportunity for your service to gain clarification or further information about the actions and processes in the draft Plan.

I also propose to outline the steps which will be taken after the November 11 closing date for submissions to enable the Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan to be finalised and implementation of the plan to commence.

I am conscious of the many demands made on your and other service providers’ time.  In recognition of this, the briefing will commence at 1pm and conclude at 2pm. 

Also, to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to gain information about aspects of the plan relevant to their service, the briefing session will not be a forum for lengthy debate about the merits or otherwise of individual aspects of the draft Plan.

Please take advantage of this opportunity if you require additional information on the draft Plan.  To assist with catering and other arrangements, I would also appreciate your RSVP to donald.stewart@rwa.nsw.gov.au  at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Aldo Pennini
Director,
Reforming Human Services

Redfern Legal Service Posts Draft Response to the Human Service Plan for Comment

The Redfern Legal Service has been preparing a response to RWA's Draft Human Services Plan in consultation with a consortium of local Redfern Waterloo NGOs. This draft, which results from a number of discussions between NGOs, has been posted to allow the opportunity for other comments and suggestions prior to the submission being finalised. The draft can be obtained from the following address:  http://www.redwatch.org.au/redw/speakout/HSP%20RESPONSE%20RLC.doc .

If you have any comments or suggestions please pass them on as soon as possible to Helen Campbell at the Redfern Legal Service on helen@rlc.org.au