CO-LOCATION - AN ANSWER TO A FRAGMENTED SERVICE SYSTEM IN BOURKE NSW? Rural Health Conference Jo Thomson, Senior Policy Analyst, Child Protection and Wellbeing Unit
Bourke, NSW + Located 755 km s west of Armidale + 2,465 population a third of which are Aboriginal + Unemployment rate 17% Aboriginal v 2% non Aboriginal + Aboriginal population significantly over-represented in CP & JJ systems + Fragmented service system + Need targeted, integrated and accountable services 2
NSW Ombudsman s Review 2010 - The NSW Ombudsman conducted an inquiry and review into the delivery of community services to the Brewarrina and Bourke communities in response to concerns raised by community leaders about service sector inefficiencies, and the limited reach of major early intervention and prevention programs 3
School day in Bourke 4
Maranguka + Maranguka initiative developed by the Bourke Aboriginal Community Working Party is a grassroots vision for true empowerment of the Aboriginal and wider community. + Maranguka means 'caring for others' is designed to create better coordinated support to vulnerable families and children in Bourke. + NSW Ombudsman critical of delays by Government agencies in implementing commitments made to Maranguka 5
Slow progress + May 2014 Deputy Ombudsman, Steve Kinmond requested discussions between NSW Kids and Families,. Department of Education and Communities (DEC) and Family and Community Services to progress the Maranguka proposal with alignment to NSW Health-led Family Referral Services (FRS) funded under Keep Them Safe 6
What is the Hub? + Partnership between Government, NGO and Aboriginal organisations + Multi-agency Hub where vulnerable families can come as a first point of contact to discuss issues or problems they may be experiencing, and seek help in accessing appropriate assistance in relation to their health and wellbeing needs. + The Hub opened in May 2015 7
Hub Partners + Bourke Aboriginal Community Working Party (Maranguka) + Western NSW Family Referral Service (UnitingCare Burnside) + Office of Kids and Families (NSW Health) + Bourke Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service + Family & Community Services, Western NSW District & Central Sydney Office 8
Swimming 9
Family Referral Service (FRS) + At the centre of the Hub is the Western NSW FRS + 11 FRS in NSW delivered by NGO s under contract with the Office of Kids and Families. + Voluntary child protection and wellbeing services linking vulnerable children, young people and their families with appropriate support services in their local area. + Priority is given to clients with multiple and complex needs. + Clients may self-refer or be referred by government or non-government Mandatory Reporters, including the Child Protection Helpline and Child Wellbeing Units. 10
Footy is culture 11
Still early days.. Successes + Successfully recruited 2 new staff to work in the Family Referral Service + Joint interagency agreement developed - Memorandum of Understanding signed in Sept 2015 + Local families are accessing the Hub and being linked to services for parenting/family support, health, housing 12
Challenges + Establishing community partnerships can be difficult, and maintaining enthusiasm and commitment even more so + Geographical co-location is not enough collaboration requires equal investment, shared goals with shared outcome measures individual parties must act differently in this sense this takes significant resourcing and time. + Support Maranguka s development of a community report card 13
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