For quite some time agencies
like Counterpoint Community Services, Inner Sydney Voice and REDWatch have been
advocating for improved human service coordination within the Waterloo Redfern
Area.
Since the Waterloo
redevelopment announcement, the opportunity has been there through the
Groundswell Coalition to push for a greater focus on human services issues. As
you may be aware we have recently received a commitment from FACS – LAHC that
they will develop a human services plan to sit alongside the Waterloo
Re-development master plan.
We have made it clear that this
plan needs to deal with the existing issues and challenges facing people with
complex needs currently in public housing. We want to ensure they will have
wrap around human services support in place before the much higher densities
proposed under the redevelopment eventuates. We have argued that current
systemic issues need to be unpacked and addressed, not just the human services
problems associated with the redevelopment process, as important as they are.
In February 2018 it is proposed
there be a meeting between NGOs and various government representatives to
explore what issues should be addressed by the Human Services Plan. In
preparation for this meeting, we are encouraging agencies to think about the
systemic problems they face that can be presented at this meeting.
As a partner agency providing
human services (Government, Non-Government, electoral offices or
community-based group) in the area you have access to the stories and cases
that highlight the types of Systemic issues we all know exist.
We are asking you to share with
us one or two case examples faced by your frontline staff, that represent all those
repeat problems and challenges we know could be alleviated through changes to a
system, policy or practice.
We are attempting to work
within a social policy framework approach which in summary will help:
- Identify issues
- Help us compile
locally shared evidence - Allow us together
to analyse evidence and make recommendations to decision makers - Raise awareness of
issues - Engage in
consultation about potential solutions - Us to jointly advocate
to affect legislation and administration practice
If there is interest, we
propose that we have a meeting to discuss the case studies prior to meeting
with government agencies and to decide what to put forward. Please indicate
your agencies interest in being involved in such a discussion.
We have attached a draft guide
that Groundswell is still working on that might help you or your staff in
preparing the case stories that we are seeking. We have also included a
form adapted from the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau that you might find
useful, however you’re welcome to use whatever format suits your organisation
best.
Note, at this stage we asking
for the cases to be completely de-identifiable from a client perspective. Those
staff submitting the case story can also choose to remain anonymous. The more
examples we collect the better influence we can have in achieving and designing
a coordinated response to these systemic issues.
Please ensure the case studies
are sent through to us by Friday 19th January 2018 so we have time to
prepare a meeting to discuss the case studies in late January.
Should you require further information
feel free to contact us.
Thank you in advance for your
consideration and time
Yours Sincerely
Mike On behalf of Counterpoint,
REDWatch, Groundswell and Inner Sydney Voice
Draft Guide Draft Social Policy: How Does it Impact My Client, My Service and My Role?
Draft Form Case Study Template for Human Services Planning