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REPORT ON ANNUAL AND FINANCIAL REPORTS 2011-2012

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O N H E A L T H , A G E I N G , C O M M U N I T Y A N D

S O C I A L S E R V I C E S

M A Y 2 0 1 3

REPORT 1

R E P O R T O N A N N U A L A N D F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T S 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

Committee membership

Dr Chris Bourke MLA (Chair)

Mr Jeremy Hanson CSC MLA (Deputy Chair)

Ms Yvette Berry MLA

Mr Andrew Wall MLA

Secretariat

Mrs Nicola Kosseck Secretary

Ms Lydia Chung Administrative Assistant

Contact information

Telephone 02 6205 0129Facsimile 02 6205 0432Post GPO Box 1020, CANBERRA ACT 2601Email [email protected] www.parliament.act.gov.au

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/

mailto:[email protected]

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O N H E A L T H , A G E I N G , C O M M U N I T Y A N D S O C I A L S E R V I C E S

Resolution of appointment

On 27 November 2012 the Legislative Assembly for the ACT agreed by resolution to establish legislative and general purpose standing committees to inquire into and report on matters referred by the Assembly or matters that are considered by the committee to be of concern to the community, including:

c) a Standing Committee on Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services to examine matters related to hospitals, community, public and mental health, health promotion and disease prevention, disability matters, drug and substance misuse, targeted health programs and community services, including services for older persons and women, families, housing, poverty, and multicultural and indigenous affairs;

The Assembly agreed that each committee shall have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the relevant standing committee appointed during the previous Assembly.1

Terms of reference

At its meeting on Thursday, 14 February 2013, the Assembly passed the following resolution:

“That:

(1) the annual and financial reports for the calendar year 2012 and the financial year 2011-2012 presented to the Assembly pursuant to the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 stand referred to the standing committees, on presentation, in accordance with the schedule below;

(2) the annual reports of ACT Policing and the Legislative Assembly Secretariat stand referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety and Standing Committee on Public Accounts respectively;

(3) notwithstanding standing order 229, only one standing committee may meet for the consideration of the inquiry into the calendar year 2012 and financial year 2011–2012 annual and financial reports at any given time;

(4) standing committees are to report to the Assembly by 16 May 2013; and

(5) the foregoing provisions of this resolution have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.2”

1 Legislative Assembly for the ACT, Minutes of Proceedings No. 2, 27 November 2012, pp. 24-27, accessible at http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/393899/MoP_2.pdf

2 Legislative Assembly for the ACT, Minutes of Proceedings No. 7, 14 February 2013, pp. 81-85, accessible at http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/419228/MoP_7.pdf

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/419228/MoP_7.pdf

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/393899/MoP_2.pdf


Reports referred to the Committee

Reports referred to the Committee were:

ANNUAL REPORT REPORTING AREA MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIO STANDING COMMITTEE

Community Services Directorate

Community Affairs—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services


Community Affairs—Ageing

Minister for Ageing Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services


Community Affairs—Multicultural Affairs

Minister for Multicultural Affairs



Community Affairs—Women

Minister for Women Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services


Community Development and Policy

Minister for Community Services



Disability and Therapy Services

Minister for Disability, Children and Young People



Housing ACT Minister for Housing Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services


Children, Youth and Family Services

(Care and protection services)




Official Visitor — Children and Young People Act 2008



Health Directorate Minister for Health Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services


ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACT Australian Capital Territory

Health Directorate

ACT Government Health Directorate: Section of the ACT Government responsible for health policy, services and administration.

ACTPS ACT Public Service

COAG Council of Australian Governments

CSD Community Services Directorate

NAPLAN National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN commenced in Australian Schools in 2008. Every year all students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed on the same days using national tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

OCYFS The Office for Children, Youth and Family Services

NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Committee ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services

TCH The Canberra Hospital


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Committee membership................................................................................................i

Resolution of appointment............................................................................................ii

Terms of reference.........................................................................................................ii

Reports referred to the Committee...............................................................................iii

Acronyms and abbreviations.........................................................................................iv

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S .........................................................................................V I I

1 I N T R O D U C T I O N ...............................................................................................1

Conduct of Inquiry.........................................................................................................1

Purpose and intent of annual reporting.........................................................................2

Timing and presentation of annual reports....................................................................4

2 C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E S D I R E C T O R A T E .......................................................5

Introduction...................................................................................................................5

Disability and Therapy Services......................................................................................5

Housing ACT..................................................................................................................7

Office for Ageing............................................................................................................8

Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.....................................................8

Office of Multicultural Affairs.......................................................................................11

ACT Office for Women.................................................................................................11

Community Services.....................................................................................................12

Care and Protection Services........................................................................................13

3 H E A L T H D I R E C T O R A T E ................................................................................1 7

Introduction.................................................................................................................17

Key areas of inquiry.....................................................................................................17

4 C O N C L U S I O N .................................................................................................2 1

A P P E N D I X A : P U B L I C H E A R I N G S ...................................................................2 3

14 March 2013.............................................................................................................23

15 March 2013.............................................................................................................23

22 March 2013.............................................................................................................24

4 April 2013.................................................................................................................24

A P P E N D I X B : Q U E S T I O N S T A K E N O N N O T I C E ............................................2 5


RECOMMENDATIONS

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N 1

2.14 The Committee recommends that the ACT Government consider central data collection for information on cross-border access of ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services.


2.19 The Committee recommends that future annual reporting for all ACT Government Directorates include five-year data trends on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment within the ACT Public Service.


2.24 The Committee recommends that the Minister for Women report back to the Committee outlining the likely alternatives to the International Women’s Day awards and identifying the preferred future approach to the recognition of women by the ACT Government.


2.33 The Committee recommends that CSD consider utilising data on the number of Care and Protection related complaints addressed to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner when reviewing the successes of the Directorate’s new complaints unit and independent decision review processes.


2.35 The Committee recommends that future CSD Annual Reports provide additional detailed data on the recruitment and retention of staff within Care and Protection Services.


3.6 The Committee recommends that the Minister for Health provide the Committee with a detailed update of each health infrastructure project currently underway or in planning by 30 June 2013.


INTRO DUCTIO N

1.1 On 27 November 2012, the ACT Government’s annual and financial reports for 2011-12 were tabled in the Legislative Assembly. On 14 February 2013 they were referred to the relevant standing committees for inquiry and report.

1.2 Annual reports referred to the Standing Committee on Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services were:

ACT Government Health Directorate; and

ACT Community Services Directorate (excluding ArtsACT, Arts Policy, Advice and Programs, Child and Family Centre Program, Children Services and Youth Services).

CONDUCT OF INQUIRY

1.1 The Committee held five public hearings over four dates for the Inquiry. Details of the hearings are in Table 1.1. A full list of witnesses is at Appendix A.

TABLE 1.1 – PUBLIC HEARINGS – SUMMARY DETAILS

DATE DIRECTORATE/ AREA OF SCRUTINY MINSTER

14 Mar 2013 Community Services Directorate

Community Affairs (Output Class 3.2):

o Multicultural Affairs o Women

Children, Youth and Family Services (Output Class 4.2)

Joy Burch MLA

15 Mar 2013 Health Directorate Katy Gallagher MLA

22 Mar 2013 Community Services Directorate

Disability and Therapy Services (Output Class 1)

Joy Burch MLA

4 Apr 2013 Community Services Directorate Community Affairs (Output Class 3.2):

o Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairso Ageing

Housing (Output Class 1.1)

Shane Rattenbury MLA

4 Apr 2013 Community Services Directorate

Community Services (Output Class 3)

Mr Andrew Barr MLA

1.2 Transcripts of the hearings can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly website at http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2013/comms/default.htm#health.

http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2013/comms/default.htm#health

1.3 A total of 21 questions were taken on notice during the hearings. Responses were received to all the questions taken on notice by Ministers during the public hearings. A full list of the questions is available at Appendix B and responses to these questions are also available on the Committee website at http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing_committees/Health,-Ageing,-Community-and-Social-Services/annual_and_financial_reports_2011-2012?inquiry=438189.

PURPOSE AND INTENT OF ANNUAL REPORTING

1.1 The primary function of annual reports by ACT government agencies is to report to the Legislative Assembly and the general public on the work of the agency. They provide information about the achievements, issues, performance, outlook and financial position of the agency at the end of each reporting year. Annual reports are also a means through which the Legislative Assembly can review the actions of the Executive.

1.2 Agencies’ annual reporting requirements are set out in the Annual Report (Government Agencies) Notice 2012 (No 1).3

This Notice includes the Chief Minister’s Annual Reports Directions (the Directions) which are issued under the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 (ACT). That Act requires that agencies comply with the Directions, rendering them mandatory.4

1.3 As key accountability documents concerning management performance, annual reports reflect on the agency’s performance, achievements and outcomes during the reporting year. They are also a concise way of accounting for the expenditure of public monies.

1.4 Agencies account for management performance through Ministers to the Legislative Assembly and the wider community. Since annual reports are tabled in the Assembly, they are historical documents on the public record, and are available for use by stakeholders, including educational and research institutions, the media and the public. Annual reports are also key reference documents, and documents for internal management.

1.5 As specified in the Directions, annual reports ‘should not be designed for promotional, marketing, commercial or morale-building purposes’ but should be ‘an objective account, primarily to the Legislative Assembly, of how the entity has performed during the reporting year’.5

1.6 The Directions also specify that an effective annual report will:

provide clear information about the agency’s purpose, priorities, outputs and achievements;

3 Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Notice 2012 (No 1) Notifiable Instrument NI2012–293, accessible at http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2012-293/current/pdf/2012-293.pdf

4 ss5(2)(b) and 6(2) the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2004-8/default.asp.

5 Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Notice 2012 (No 1) Notifiable Instrument NI2012-293, p6-8

2 S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O N H E A L T H , A G E I N G , C O M M U N I T Y A N D S O C I A L S E R V I C E S

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2004-8/default.asp

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2012-293/current/pdf/2012-293.pdf

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing_committees/Health,-Ageing,-Community-and-Social-Services/annual_and_financial_reports_2011-2012?inquiry=438189

http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing_committees/Health,-Ageing,-Community-and-Social-Services/annual_and_financial_reports_2011-2012?inquiry=438189


focus on results and outcomes communicate the success or shortfalls of the agency’s ‐activities in pursuing government objectives in the reporting year, while accounting for the resources used in the process and explaining changes in performance over time;

discuss results against expectations provide sufficient information and analysis for the ‐Legislative Assembly and community to make a fully informed judgment on agency’s performance;

clearly identify any changes to structures or functions of the agency in the reporting period;

report on agency financial and operational performance and clearly link this with budgeted priorities and financial projections as set out in annual Budget Estimate Papers and the agency Statement of Intent and Corporate Plan;

provide performance information that is complete and informative, linking costs and results to provide evidence of value for money;

discuss risks and environmental factors affecting the agency’s ability to achieve objectives including any strategies employed to manage these factors, and forecast future needs and expectations;

recognize the diverse needs and backgrounds of stakeholder groups and present information in a manner that is useful to the maximum number of users while maintaining a suitable level of detail; and

comply with legislative reporting requirements including the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 and the Annual Report Directions.6

1.7 Annual reports, which have been nominated by agencies, may also be assessed for an award by the Institute of Public Administration (ACT Division).7

6 Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Notice 2012 (No 1) Notifiable Instrument NI2012-293, p8.7 Institute of Public Administration Australia [ACT Division], ‘Annual report awards’, accessed 17 January 2013,

http://www.act.ipaa.org.au/annual_report_awards.

http://www.act.ipaa.org.au/annual_report_awards

T IMING AND PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS

1.1 Under section 9 of the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 (the Act), a direction about annual reports must be issued and may include a requirement that annual reports be provided to a stated person by a stated day.

1.2 The Directions for 2011-2012 annual reports required annual reports to be presented to the responsible Minister before the close of business on Monday 24 September 2012, and, unless an extension was granted under section 14 of the Act, to the office of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly by the close of business on Friday 28 September 2012.8

1.3 All reports examined by the Committee were presented to the Speaker by the required date.

1.4

1.5

8 Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Notice 2012 (No 1) Notifiable Instrument NI2012-293, p7.



COMM UNITY SERVICE S D IREC TO RAT E

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Community Services Directorate (CSD) has responsibility for a wide range of human service delivery programs spread across three ministerial portfolios.

1.2 The Standing Committee on Health, Ageing, Community and Social Services shares the referral of the CSD Annual Report 2011-12 with the Standing Committees on Education, Training and Youth Affairs. The referral from the Assembly to the Committee includes:

Output Class 1, Disability and Therapy Services;

Output Class 3, Community Development and Policy (excluding artsACT);

Output Class 4.2, Care and Protection Services; and

Housing ACT, Output Class 1, Social Housing Services.

D ISABILITY AND THERAPY SERVICES

1.1 Disability Services and Policy delivers disability services through government and non-government service providers to people with moderate to severe disabilities. Services include supported accommodation, community access, community support and respite care.9

1.2 Therapy ACT provides a range of professional assessment, therapy and support services for children, young people and adults with a disability and children from birth to age eight with developmental delays.10

1.3 At its hearing on 22 March 2013, the Committee met with the Minister for Disability, Children and Young People and directorate officials. It discussed a number of issues relating to Disability Services and Policy including:

The role of the Disability Information and Support Hub (DISH) in Belconnen and collaboration with Belconnen community arts;11

ACT social enterprise hubs including nine micro-businesses and innovative ways to find meaningful employment for people with a disability;12

The relationship between social enterprise hubs and the NDIS, including employment options under the NDIS;13

9 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p19.10 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p29.11 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp115-119.12 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp119-122.13 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp122-124.

The NDIS launch in the ACT:14

Starting in 2014 with 2,500 individuals, growing to just over 5,000 by 2016;

NDIS assessments by the launch transition agency administered by the Commonwealth government as a statutory authority;

Disability grants and assistance to people with a disability in completing grant applications;

Assistance with transition from school for young people 18-25 years old with complex needs;

Community sector service providers and benchmarking of service pricing by the national launch transition agency;

ACT Government consultation with stakeholders on the NDIS launch; and

Provision of services to those over 65 years old through NDIS or aged-care service.

The future of respite services centres for children, teenagers and adults and how to better use the existing facilities;15

Developments in innovative accommodation options for people with a disability including the intentional communities project, Project Independence and CatholicCare model;16

Respite care eligibility and care by community sector service providers17

Before and after school care for children with a disability;18

Therapy services in schools including speech pathology in the Koori preschool, professional development and therapy assistance;19

Support for aids and equipment including hearing aids and the children’s equipment and loan scheme;20 and

Implementation of the disability employment strategy.21

14 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp124-137.15 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp137-138.16 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp138-140.17 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp140- 142.18 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, p142.19 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp142-144.20 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp144-147.21 Transcript of Evidence, 22 March 2013, pp147-150.



HOUSING ACT

1.1 Housing ACT provides and manages public housing tenancies and properties in addition to providing support and resources to homelessness services and community housing providers.22

1.2 Responsibility for housing and homelessness services rests with the Minister for Housing. The Committee met with the Minister and directorate officials on 4 April 2013.

1.3 The Committee heard from the Minister for Housing at its hearing on 4 April 2013. A number of Housing issues were discussed including:

Growth in public housing supply including new purchases, preferred locations and planning for future population growth in the ACT;23

Extent of tenant participation grant use for community-building within neighbourhoods or high-density public housing developments;24

Cessation of public housing tenancies through eviction, including due to change in eligibility status of higher income tenants and due to behavioural issues. Support for tenants likely to be evicted;25

Waiting times for priority housing including average wait times and long wait times for specific housing needs;26

Increasing demand for public housing across all categories, supply of public housing and availability and affordability of housing in the private market;27

Sale-to-tenant and shared equity schemes;28 and

Processes for responding to complaints about tenant behaviour and the Supporting Stronger Communities program.29

22 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p75.23 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp167-170.24 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp170-171 &QTON CSD18.25 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp171-175 & 179.26 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp175-176 & 181-182.27 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp176-179.28 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp179-181.29 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, p183.

OFFICE FOR AGEING

1.1 The Office for Ageing promotes positive ageing, within the framework of the ACT Strategic Plan for Positive Ageing. It ‘coordinates policy and strategies to ensure a cross-government, intersectoral approach to addressing the issues affecting older people in the ACT.’30 The Office for Ageing also provides secretariat support to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing.

1.2 At its hearing on 4 April 2013, the Committee discussed a range of issues relating to Ageing with the Minister for Ageing including:

Demand for additional aged care facilities given increase in ageing population;31

Priorities arising from the survey on age-friendly city and the aim for the ACT to become a member of the World Health Organisation age-friendly city network.32

Plans for a 2013 older person’s assembly and a conference prior to the next older person’s assembly.33

Allocation of available seniors grant and sponsorship funding across the number of applicants including the suitability of applications;34 and

Affordable housing for older people and applications under the lease/licence scheme (long term leases).35

OFFICE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS

1.1 The Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs provides strategic advice to the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the ACT. The Office coordinates a whole of government approach to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and administers the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traineeship Program. It also provides secretariat and administrative support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and the United Ngunnawal Elders Council.36

1.2 Issues discussed at the Committee’s hearing on 4 April 2013 included:

Consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body including the 2012 Annual Report of the Elected Body;37

30 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p48.31 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp161-162 & QTON CSD 15.32 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp162-163 & 165-166.33 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, p163.34 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp164-165 & QTON CSD 16&17.35 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp166-167.36 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p48.37 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp151-152.



The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traineeship program including recruitment processes, retention rates, additional support;38

Leadership program grants for individuals in the community;39

Delivery of the ACT Genealogy project and opportunities for future consensus on formal recognition of families local to the ACT region;40

Bimberi cultural program,41

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs across the ACT Government and progress towards closing the gap targets;42 and

Volatility of ACT data relating to Indigenous outcomes and achieving closing the gap targets including a whole of government approach to improving outcomes with ongoing work by the Strategic Board and Strategic Board subcommittee;43 and

Cross-border access of ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services including health, education.44

1.3 The Committee heard that data on the numbers of NSW residents making use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services in the ACT is captured on a service-by-service and program-by-program basis. Health data is therefore captured within the health system and Education data by the Education and Training Directorate. 45 The Committee considers that there may be some value in central data collection on cross-border service usage to inform strategic planning and decision making on Indigenous programs across the ACT.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that the ACT Government consider central data collection for information on cross-border access of ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services.

38 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp152-155.39 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, p153.40 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp155-157.41 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, p157 & QTON CSD13.42 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp157-158.43 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp158-16044 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp160-161.45 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp160-161.

1.4 The Committee also enquired about progress against the targets of the ACT Public Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy across both CSD and Health Directorate. It was advised that, as of 13 March 2013, there are 40 staff members within CSD who identify as having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.46 Health Directorate noted that just under 0.94% of the ACT Public Service health workforce identifies as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.47

1.5 From a Whole-of-Government perspective, the CSD Annual Report states that:

As of 30 June 2012, self-identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 0.9% of the total full time equivalent of the ACT Public Service workforce. The ACT Public Service has set a target to more than double the employment level of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to 2% of the total full time equivalent of the ACT Public Service.48

1.6 That is a targeted increase from 176 to 407 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in the ACT Public Service by 2015.49 CSD advised the Committee that, whilst overall the ACT public service was ‘tracking reasonably well,’ the ACT had not met its 30 June 2012 targets.50

1.7 The Committee believes ACT Public Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment data could be presented in more detail within the Annual Report framework. It would like to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment data provided by all Directorates over a number of consecutive years so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment trends can be monitored. This data could include recruitment and retention numbers, uptake of training and employment programs by individual Directorates and average full-time-equivalent employment numbers for each financial year.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that future annual reporting for all ACT Government Directorates include five-year data trends on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment within the ACT Public Service.

46 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p14 & QTON CSD 3.47 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp98-99.48 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p187.49 ACT Public Service, Employment Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, 2011, p8.50 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p15.

1 0 S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O N H E A L T H , A G E I N G , C O M M U N I T Y A N D S O C I A L S E R V I C E S


OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

1.1 The Office of Multicultural affairs ‘provides strategic advice to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs on issues affecting multicultural communities living in the ACT.’51 It provides secretariat and administrative support to Act Muslim Advisory Council and the Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Humanitarian Entrant Coordination Committee and administers the Work Experience and Support Program.52

1.2 At the Committee’s hearing on 14 March 2013 a range of Multicultural Affairs issues were discussed, including:

The Register of Multicultural Advisors used by Directorates looking to achieve diversity amongst the representatives on advisory boards and committees and the self-referral process;53

Support for, and growth of, the local Mon Community;54

Numbers of emerging and established ethnic and cultural communities in the ACT;55

Survey of participants in the Multicultural Festival and feedback from stallholders;56

Inspection of stallholders at the 2013 Multicultural Festival;57 and

English language support programs including Community Language School Grants, CIT courses, Education and Training Directorate Introductory English Centres; and Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services courses.58

ACT OFFICE FOR WOMEN

1.1 The Office for Women works to enhance the status of women in the ACT, overseeing the implementation of the ACT Women’s Plan 2012-15 and the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Strategy 2011-17 – Our Responsibility: ending violence against women and children. It provides strategic direction in the development of policies and programs as well as secretariat support to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Women and the Governance Group. The Office for Women also administers a number of grant and scholarship programs.59

1.2 Issues discussed at the Committee’s hearing on 14 March 2013 relating to the Office for Women included:

51 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p48.52 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p48.53 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp39-40 & QTON CSD5.54 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp40-41.55 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp41-43 & QTON CDS7.56 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp48-49.57 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp49-50 & QTON CDS 6.58 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp51-53 & QTON CDS8.59 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p48.

The reasons behind the abandonment of the 2013 International Women’s day awards and plans for the future of the awards;60

The requirements for return to work grant applicants, target demographic and promotion of the Women’s Information Referral Centre;61

Incentives for business to create flexible working arrangements, workforce participation grants and the micro credit scheme;62

Capacity building grants: Companion House leadership and cultural program for Sudanese women (including creating the CD ‘Singing our Culture’);63 and

Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women including women’s grant for elders nannies group, early-childhood scholarship program and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership grants.64

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that the Minister for Women report back to the Committee outlining the likely alternatives to the International Women’s Day awards and identifying the preferred future approach to the recognition of women by the ACT Government.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

1.1 Community Services administers a range of concessions and benefits to low income earners, manages community facilities and provides a variety of community support and development activities. It has responsibility for Whole of Government policy development for carers, volunteers, community sector viability matters and coordination of concession policy. 65

1.2 Issues discussed at the Committee’s hearing with the Minister for Community Services on 4 April 2013 included:

Community sector reforms;66

Equal remuneration case for the non-government sector;

Red tape reduction for community organisations including reporting requirements to government and review of contracting arrangements with the ACT Government;

60 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp43-45.61 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp45-47.62 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp47-48.63 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp50-51.64 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p51.65 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p41.66 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp184-189.



Procurement reforms for the community sector including opportunities for shared back-of-house responsibilities, co-location in hubs, shared administration and possible access to government contracts; and

Duration of government contracts and prequalification processes;

Role of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex council;67

Combating homophobia in schools and sport.

CARE AND PROTECTION SERVICES

1.1 Care and Protection Services is the statutory child protection agency in the ACT, providing care and support to children, young people, their families and carers when children are unable to safely reside with their parents.68

1.2 This output now includes adoption services which were previously included under Children’s Services. 69

1.3 At its hearing on 14 March 2013, the Committee discussed a number of issues relating to Care and Protection Services including:

The OurPlace accommodation scheme for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;70

The work of the Milestone Review Panel, monitoring the progress of the Government commitments against the Public Advocate’s recommendations in the Review of the Emergency Response Strategy for Children in Crisis;71

Care and Protection complaints directed to the Commissioner for Children and Young people and internal complaints-management mechanisms within the Directorate;72

Child protection staffing levels, recruitment and retention practices including the costs and processes for international recruitment and the OCYFS workforce development strategy;73

67 Transcript of Evidence, 4 April 2013, pp189-190.68 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p67.69 Community Services Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, vol1, p67.70 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p3.71 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp3-5.72 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp5-10.73 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp10-13.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment within CSD including recruitment, training initiatives and contracting arrangement with the private sector;74

High representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care including outreach, early intervention programs and cultural care plans;75

Progress implementing the recommendations in the Auditor General’s report on care and protection:76

Information systems and data sharing with external service providers and across government;

Annual visitation of all children in care by care and protection staff;

Monitoring of community service providers providing out-of-home care;

Co design of services with families that have across-government needs; and

Coordination with the Education and Training Directorate to assist children of families at risk including parent and child interactive therapy programs and Australian early development index.

The effects of the termination of the Parentline contract for Information, Engagement and Coordination Service under the Child, Youth and Family Service Program;77

The refreshing the service culture plan:78

Organisational realignment;

Integrated management system;

Five-year forward out-of-home care strategy;

Reception centre for emergency placements; and

Partial legislative review.

Child protection case conferencing;79 and

Care and protection intake processes and mandatory reporting.80

1.4 The Committee noted that in his presentation to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, the Commissioner for Children and Young people highlighted concerns about the number of Care and Protection complaints addressed to his office:

Care and protection complaints currently account for about 50 to 60 per cent of my workload but I just do not have the resources to deal with them effectively. I will not be simply turning those people away; we will be encouraging them to go back to the department and work closely with the directorate to encourage them to improve their internal complaints-handling mechanisms. But I am not convinced that is going to bear

74 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp14-16 & QTON CSD3.75 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp17-21.76 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp21-31.77 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp31-34 & p38; QTON CSD 4.78 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp34-37.79 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p37.80 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp37-38.



much fruit.81

1.5 He acknowledged that not pursuing care and protection complaints raises particular risks but was confident that he could work with CSD to help improve their internal complaints mechanisms.82

1.6 The Committee also heard that Care and Protection has ‘established an independent decision review process’ and supports the Commissioner’s view that complaints should be firstly addressed to the relevant area of the Directorate where possible and all of the Directorate’s internal complaint-management processes should be exhausted before the Commissioner is involved. The Committee heard that a complaints unit has been established within OCYFS and ‘the majority of complaints that it is taking are resolved within a few days’ because they can quickly contact relevant caseworkers or source the necessary information to handle the issue.83

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that CSD consider utilising data on the number of Care and Protection related complaints addressed to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner when reviewing the successes of the Directorate’s new complaints unit and independent decision review processes.

1.7 The Committee notes that staff retention rates in Care and Protection Services may be influenced by the 18-month period that overseas recruits are contracted to the Directorate.84 The Committee believes additional data on recruitment and retention rates should be reported in future CSD Annual Reports so that retention trends can be assessed, particularly once the 18-month period has expired for the 2011 overseas recruits.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that future CSD Annual Reports provide additional detailed data on the recruitment and retention of staff within Care and Protection Services.

81 Transcript of Evidence, Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, 13 March 2013, p54.82 Transcript of Evidence, Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, 13 March 2013, p54.83 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, p6.84 Transcript of Evidence, 14 March 2013, pp10-13.

HEALTH D IREC TO RAT E

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Health Directorate aims to achieve good health for all residents of the Territory by planning, purchasing and providing quality community based health services, hospital and extended care services, managing public health risks, and promoting health and early care interventions.85

1.2 The Health Directorate operates six key health service delivery areas:

Acute Services;

Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services;

Public Health Services;

Cancer Services;

Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care; and

Early Intervention and Prevention.86

KEY AREAS OF INQUIRY

1.1 The Committee met with the Minister for Health and departmental officials on 15 March 2013. A broad range of issues were examined throughout the hearing including:

The Calvary Bruce Precinct Master Plan and Network Agreement;87

Usage of the nurse-led walk-in centre at TCH and opportunities for additional walk-in centres with a different service model as part of the Tuggeranong and Belconnen health centres;88

Progress of various projects under the Health Infrastructure Program:89

A new high security adult secure mental health facility;90

Staging and Decanting ‘moving to our future’, relating to the overall Health Infrastructure Program and where service are relocated permanently or temporarily whist works are underway;91

Health Infrastructure project management;92

85 ACT Government 2011-12 Budget Paper No.4, p217.86 Health Directorate Annual Report 2011-12, pp128-184.87 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp55-56.88 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp56-59.89 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp59-66 & 73-8090 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp59-62.91 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp62-64.92 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, p64.



Postponement of the clinical services redevelopment and Canberra Hospital design;93

Planned relocation of central sterilising services to TCH from Mitchell including re-scoping work;94 and

The new subacute and non-acute University of Canberra Public Hospital, timing and additional bed capacity.95

Usage of TCH and Calvary emergency departments and patient choice of hospital;96

Growing demand for public hospital birthing services including the flow-on effects of private obstetrician costs, staffing at the new TCH birthing centre and patient transfers between hospitals;97

Additional services to be provided at the Belconnen community health centre including breast screening, renal medicine, child and adult dental health, obesity services, aged care rehabilitation and mental health services;98

Neonatal intensive care - The new facility at TCH has increased capacity and a new layout including space for parents to spend time with their babies;99

Opportunities for more private sector provision of support services such as imaging and pathology;100

Introduction of Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (PCEHR) in the ACT, which operates on an opt-in basis;101

The ACT immunisation strategy including a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation levels, adult immunisation and immunisation awareness for overseas immigrants;102

Death Cap mushroom awareness campaign in schools, universities, tourist information centres and with multicultural groups in addition to improved signage at known sites;103

Public hospital bed capacity and transferring patients to private hospitals:104

purchasing beds from the private hospital system;

patients electing to transfer to private health care; and

effects of cross-border patients on bed numbers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment numbers including traineeships, cultural competence training, data collection and an inclusion officer;105

93 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp64-66.94 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp74-76.95 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp76-80. & QTON HD 1.96 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp66-67.97 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp67-73.98 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp80-82.99 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp82-83.100 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp84-85.101 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp85-87.102 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp87-89.103 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp90-92.104 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp92-98; p102; QTON HD 2 & QTON HD3105 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp98-99.

Progress of the bush healing farm development;106

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) particularly mental health support and transition of service providers to the new scheme;107

The upcoming nurse, doctor and visiting medical officer enterprise bargaining agreements;108

The proposed new Belconnen air quality monitoring station;109

Evaluation of the General Practitioner aged day care service;110

The extent of staff shortages across the Directorate and training, recruitment and retention initiatives;111

Extent of outsourcing of aged day care programs such as the men’s dementia group;112 and

The success of the alcohol and drug services early intervention program.113

1.2 The Committee sought an update on the health infrastructure program including particular projects that have been delayed or re-profiled. The Minister advised that a number of projects have been, or are currently, subject to review and re-scoping, following consultation and strategic planning. The Committee heard that in some cases projects have been delayed such as the TCH clinical services buildings (the tower blocks) whilst alternatives are considered.114

1.3 The Committee would like further clarification of the status of the health infrastructure projects, particularly details on how far planning work has progressed to date and the likely timeframes for decisions on which projects will proceed and in what form.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Recommendation 2 The Committee recommends that the Minister for Health provide the Committee with a detailed update of each health infrastructure project currently underway or in planning by 30 June 2013.

106 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp99-100.107 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp100-101.108 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp101-102.109 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp102-103.110 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp103-105 & p112.111 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp105-109.112 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp109-111.113 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp111-112.114 Transcript of Evidence, 15 March 2013, pp59-66 & 73-80



CONCL USIO N

1.4 This report presents a summary of the Committee’s inquiry into the work of sections of the Community Services Directorate and the Health Directorate for the financial year 2011-12.

1.5 The Committee made six recommendations in response to its scrutiny of the annual reports, and associated evidence.

1.6 The Committee thanks the ACT Government Ministers and accompanying directorate officials for providing their time and expertise as witnesses at public hearings for this inquiry.

Dr Chris Bourke MLA

Chair

2 May 2013


APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEARINGS

Witnesses

1.7 The following witness appeared before the Committee and gave evidence:

14 MARCH 2013

COMMUNITY SERVICE S D IRECTOR ATE

Ms Joy Burch MLA, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Ms Natalie Howson, Director-General, Community Services Directorate

Ms Maureen Sheehan, Deputy Director-General, Community Services Directorate

Ms Christine Nolan, Executive Director, Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

Ms Jillian Paul, Senior Director, Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

Ms Helen Pappas, Director, Care and Protection Services, Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

Mr Paul Wyles, Director, Early Intervention and Prevention Services Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

Mr Nic Manikis, Executive Director, Policy and Organisational Services

Ms Jancye Winter, Director, Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Ms Fiona Baker, Senior Policy Officer, Office for Women

15 MARCH 2013

ACT G OVERNM ENT HEALTH D IRECTOR ATE

Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, Minister for Health

Dr Peggy Brown, Director-General

Mr Ian Thompson, Deputy Director-General, Canberra Hospital and Health Services

Dr Paul Kelly, Chief Health Officer, Population Health

Prof Frank Bowden, Principals Medical Advisor

Mr Grant Carey-Ide, Executive Director, Service and Capital Planning

Mr Ross O’Donoughue, Executive Director, Policy and Government Relations

Ms Judy Redmond, Chief Information Officer, Health and Clinical Records

Ms Linda Kohlhagen, Executive Director, Division of Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care

Ms Katrina Bracher, Executive Director, Division of Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services

Ms Elizabeth Chatham, Executive Director, Division of Women, Youth and Children

Mr John Woollard, Director, Health Protection Services

22 MARCH 2013


Ms Joy Burch MLA, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People



Mr Graham Hambleton, Director, Disability ACT

Ms Kate Starick, Director, ACT National Disability Insurance Scheme Taskforce

Ms Meredith Whitten, Executive Director, Policy and Organisational Services

Ms Jacinta Evans, Senior Manager, Therapy ACT

4 APRIL 2013


Mr Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Mr Andrew Barr MLA, Minister for Community Services



Ms Bronwen Overton-Clarke, Executive Director, Housing and Community Services

Mr David Collett, Senior Director, Housing and Community Services

Ms Alice Tibbitts, Director, Housing ACT

Ms Meredith Whitten, Executive Director, Policy and Organisational Services

Mr Nic Manikis, Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Mr Robert Gotts, Director, Community Sector Project



APPENDIX B: QUESTIONS TAKEN ON NOTICE

NUMBER TOPIC DATE ASKED

ANSWER RECEIVED


CSD 1 Retention rates for OCYFS overseas recruits 14/3/13 25/3/13

CSD 2 Cost of overseas recruitment 14/3/13 25/3/13

CSD 3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff numbers in the Community Services Directorate

14/3/13 22/3/13

CSD 4 Job losses arising from the termination of the Parentline contract 14/3/13 25/3/13

CSD 5 Register of Multicultural Advisors 14/3/13 25/3/13

CSD 6 Inspection of stallholders at the 2013 Multicultural Festival 14/3/13 26/3/13

CSD 7 Ethnic and cultural community numbers 14/3/13 27/3/13

CSD 8 Language assistance programs 14/3/13 25/3/13

CSD 9 Availability of centre-based respite and in-home respite in the ACT compared with other State jurisdictions

22/3/13 4/4/13

CSD 10 Access to hearing aids/funding assistance for costs/support [referred to Minister for Health]

22/3/13 11/4/13

CSD 11 Proportion of employees with a disability (full time/part time/ casual) 22/3/13 12/4/13

CSD 12 Employees with a disability: Grants to smaller business units to compensate for a person who is not full-time equivalent

22/3/13 8/4/13

Minister for Health

HD 1 Increase in sub-acute and non-acute bed numbers resulting from the University of Canberra public hospital

15/3/13 26/3/13

HD 2 Purchase of beds at private hospitals and transfer of public patients to private service

15/3/13 26/3/13

HD 3 Use of private hospital beds for public patients. Statistics on patients sent from Emergency Departments straight to National Capital Private. Patients already admitted to The Canberra Hospital or Calvary and then moved.

15/3/13 26/3/13

Minister for Ageing, Housing, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

CSD 13 Bimberi cultural program. Number of participants through the program, take-up rate and success of the program

4/4/13 15/4/13

CSD 14 Support given to non-government schools to address NAPLAN results for year 7 4/4/13 15/4/13

CSD 15 Ageing population increases in the ACT compared to other capital cities 4/4/13 11/4/13



NUMBER TOPIC DATE ASKED

ANSWER RECEIVED

[referred to the Chief Minister]

CSD 16 & 17

Office of Ageing seniors grants:

numbers of applications, number of eligible applications;

number of applications that were not successful

4/4/13 22/4/13

CSD 18 Tenant participation grants – Housing ACT. Examples of funded projects 4/4/13 15/4/13

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