Improving people's lives

The Department of Human Services is committed to improving people’s lives. From the services the department delivers to the partnerships it forms, it is focused on ensuring our community’s wellbeing, protecting our children and young people from harm, providing housing for those most in need and helping people with a disability to participate fully in the community. Every day, through the work at the Department of Human Services, the department helps to care for and protect thousands of people.

I often say the department should be called the ‘Department of Human Stories’ as each and every one of its staff and clients has a story to tell, stories that describe the challenges, joys, frustrations, and the many achievements of the staff and most importantly clients. Stories of innovative policies put into practice that have a positive impact on a person’s health, their dignity and their quality of life. Stories that show the expertise, compassion and quiet determination of the people who make up the department, and their resolve to make a difference in people’s lives.

The theme of this year’s annual report is improving people’s lives. Under this theme five specific areas have been highlighted to show how the department does this every day. Together they paint a picture of the extraordinary work that has occurred over the past year, in partnership with community sector organisations, local government and agencies.

The department is improving people’s lives through:

• integrating services to help those in need
• promoting health and wellbeing in Victoria
• helping our most vulnerable
• leading the way in policy and reform
• reaching out through the regions.

This year the Department of Human Services played a key role in helping the Victorian community recover from the bushfires that ravaged the state during January and February. The response to the bushfires drew on each of the five areas, with the goal of helping affected communities access services and get back on their feet. People came together to help members of devastated communities at their time of greatest need.

The response was immediate and integrated. The department coordinated the response of the Victorian health system to the disaster, managed public health support and information, and provided housing, financial assistance and counselling to affected communities. Of note was the partnership with the Commonwealth Government in developing the innovative Bushfire Case Management Service within a week of the fires. This service was designed to assist people in finding a way through the maze of information to receive help when and where they needed it. Through all this the department utilised its local regional structure and expertise to deliver what was needed on the ground as quickly as possible in partnership with other government and non-government agencies.

The bushfires and the outbreak of the H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Flu) in Victoria served to highlight the fact that the department works in an immensely challenging environment. Sometimes the challenges faced are emergencies that demand an immediate and resource-intensive response to get communities back on their feet or to protect them from harm. Other challenges can be less immediately dramatic and require rigorous forward planning, collaboration and cohesive effort over the longer term.

As well as reporting our achievements for 2008–09, corporate governance, structure and financial information, in this annual report we’ve sought to bring alive the work of the department. The department’s achievements throughout the year are made possible by dedicated staff who are committed to making a difference through their work. On a personal note, I thank all staff and partners for their extraordinary work in a difficult year. I hope you enjoy this year’s annual report.

FRAN THORN
Secretary