November 2002

Forging closer links with councils

The new Partnership Protocol between the Department of Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) will improve the Department's working relationship with local government across Victoria.

At a function to launch the Protocol, the Department Financial and Corporate Services’ Executive Director Lance Wallace said it provided a base to develop more effective partnerships in specific program areas.

‘It gives a sense of the common purpose and mutual respect we will need to meet the human services challenges of the future.

‘The planning and co-ordination relationship between the Department and local government has an impact well beyond the services directly funded and provided through local government.

‘The Protocol provides a base to better plan services at state, regional and local levels,’ Mr Wallace said.

MAV president Brad Matheson said the Protocol recognised the role the State and local governments played in planning, funding and delivering human services to the community.

The Department funds more than 2,800 agencies from its overall budget of $8.54 billion, which represents about 40 per cent of the State Government budget.

Of this funding $156 million is committed to local government.

Another Partnership Agreement—between the Department and the health, housing and community services funded sectors—has also been signed.

The Protocol with local government and the Partnership Agreement with the funded sector will together provide a sound basis for the practical reforms planned by the Department’s Partnership Flagship Project.