Culturally Informed Addendum to the DHHS Standards evidence guide project Department of Health & Human Services
Overview DHHS Standards and evidence guide Aboriginal Cultural Competence Framework The Addendum to the DHHS Standards evidence guide project Training and Implementation
Department of Health and Human Services On 1 January 2015, the Victorian Government established the Department of Health & Human Services, bringing together the former Department of Health, Department of Human Services and Sport and Recreation Victoria. The Department has been established with a unified vision and focus on wellbeing. Alignment and integration of policymaking, programs and service delivery to improve the wellbeing of all Victorians.
The Health & Human Services Standards (Standards) The Department of Health & Human Services Standards, represent a single set of service quality standards for department funded service providers and department-managed services. The Standards comprise the department s four service delivery standards and the governance and management standards of a department endorsed independent review body.
The standards are summarised as: Empowerment: People s rights are promoted and upheld. Access and Engagement: People s right to access transparent, equitable and integrated services is promoted and upheld. Wellbeing: People s right to wellbeing and safety is promoted and upheld. Participation: People s right to choice, decision making and to actively participate as a valued member of their chosen community is promoted and upheld.
Evolution of the Addendum Aboriginal Cultural Competence Framework Developed by VACCA in 2008 to assist community child and family service providers to meet the former Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations (CSOs) which were a requirement of the Children Youth and Families Act 2005. Describes the understandings, principles and service context that underpin Aboriginal cultural competence for the child and family services system in Victoria.
Evolution of the Addendum In July 2012, the department streamlined into a single set of service standards the former Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations, the Industry Standards for Disability Services, and the Homelessness Assistance Service Standards. Department of Human Services Standards (the Standards) - The current standards and accompanying evidence guide represent a single set of service quality standards for service providers delivering services to clients The Department of Human Services evidence guide was developed to assist CSOs funded by the department to meet the Standards. Aboriginal Cultural Competence Framework - no longer encompassed the breadth of services applicable to the current Standards Project to develop a culturally informed addendum to the current evidence guide to assist CSOs to meet the Standards.
Addendum to the DHHS Standards evidence guide Addendum Project This project engaged VACCA in late 2014 to develop a culturally informed addendum to the Standards evidence guide that included practice advice and detailed examples to support improved service delivery to Aboriginal peoples. The former Department of Human Services required the project to be delivered under very tight timeframes. The Addendum includes a Cultural resource tool-matrix, that includes specific measurable indicators to assist independent review bodies and organisations to reflect on and assess cultural competency. The addendum aligns with the current Standards and evidence guide and with other relevant policies and frameworks.
Addendum to the DHHS Standards evidence guide Addendum Project The addendum will be culturally informed, inclusive of the breadth of services delivered by the department and funded organisations, and incorporates evidence indicators to support: Service providers and Independent Review Bodies to be culturally aware in the application/review of the standards Service providers and Independent Review Bodies to assess their practice and strengthen their workforce and organisational capabilities Aboriginal people to experience the culturally appropriate and inclusive services, irrespective of the mainstream service provider they access Overall Improvements in service delivery to Aboriginal peoples
Training and Implementation In May 2015 the Addendum was finalised and endorsed by an internal Project Steering Committee Currently being prepared for publication and release 1 July 2015 The department is currently exploring options in regard to training and implementation of the Addendum and to embed it into existing training
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