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Partnership Forums & HSPIC

Partnership Forums

The bi-annual Partnership Forum is an important event in the partnership between DHS, community sector organisations and local government. Convened by the Secretary of the Department, it provides an opportunity for Peak organisations and senior Departmental staff to meet together to exchange information and discuss cross program or whole of human services issues.

15th Partnership Forum - 11 June 2009L-R: Paul McDonald (DHS), David Wright-Howie (Council to Homeless Persons), Janet Jukes (Salvation Army) and Sam Biondo (Victorian Alcohol & Drug Association) attended the Partnerships Forum

Partnering - the New Now was the theme of the 15th Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee (HSPIC) forum, held on Thursday 11 June 2009.

In welcoming participants, DHS Secretary Fran Thorn reflected on the good work being done and the strength of relationships and partnering during what has been a time of crisis and change.

Presentations included an overview of State Budget impacts for the Department of Human Services and the community sector. Executive Director Financial and Corporate Services, Alan Hall, said the allocation of funding to DHS and the sector was higher than anticipated despite the current economic environment. Using overview statistics prepared by an independent contractor as part of a recent price review of DHS' budget, Mr Hall also emphasised that over 95% of the DHS (non acute health) budget is spent on service delivery by the department's staff and community service organisations.

Margaret Crawford, Executive Director Housing and Community Building, talked about the new housing opportunities being created through the Nation Building initiative. Ms Crawford then introduced Deb Tsorbaris who is on secondment to the department from her role as CEO of the Council to Homeless Persons saying 'Deb will challenge the way we approach homelessness'. Ms Tsorbaris presented on the new Victorian homelessness strategy, as well as other housing and homelessness initiatives, stating that, while there was much work to be done, Victoria is a leader nationally and internationally in its responses to homelessness. Structures will be established to support ongoing conversations with all other programs in DHS and the community sector during the development of the new housing and homelessness strategies.

The Secretary led discussion around the current issues of emergency management and the continuing recovery effort after the Black Saturday,fires, as well as the response to the H1N1 (human swine flu) virus. She spoke about the impacts of the global economic downturn, and provided an update of the COAG process and likely impacts in Victoria.

In closing, the Secretary reflected on the challenges and learnings of the past six months, highlighting 'the strength of partnerships at these times'.

The next partnering forum is scheduled for November 2009.

 

Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee (HSPIC)

The HSPIC is a joint committee of peak bodies and Departmental representatives that was established under the Partnership Flagship project and meets monthly to address partnership activities in DHS and the sector. Cath Smith, CEO, Victorian Council of Social Service and John Leatherland, Regional Director, Eastern Metropolitan Region, co-chair the HSPIC meetings.

HSPIC members

  • Valerie Callister (Co Chair) - Regional Director Gippsland Region, DHS
  • Cath Smith (Co Chair) - Victorian Council of Social Service
  • Clare Hargreaves - Senior Policy Advisor, Municipal Association of Victoria
  • Coleen Clare - CEO, Centre for Excellence
  • Trevor Carr – CEO, Victorian Healthcare Association
  • Kerry Presser - State Manager, National Disability Services Victoria
  • David Wright-Howie - A/ CEO, Council to Homeless Persons
  • Sam Biondo - Executive Officer, Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association
  • Sandie de Wolf - CEO, Berry Street Victoria
  • Timothy Moore - Senior Policy Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation (VACCHO)
  • Kim Koop – CEO, Vicserve
  • Jane Bennett – Operations Division, DHS
  • David Ali - Financial and Corporate Services Division, DHS
  • Joanna Birdseye – Policy & Strategic Projects Division, DHS

2009 Meeting Date

25 August
20 October
15 December

HSPIC Forum Dates

November (TBA)


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