Volume 1, Issue 2
November 2006
Inside This Issue
- Message from the ISC Chairperson
- SAAP Case Management Resource Kit
- New SAAP Data and Case Management Tool - SMART 6
- SAAP Data Linkage Key
- SAAP Education Linkages Research Project
- Update on Client Self-Reliance Research
- SARRP
- SAAP/Homelessness Clearinghouse
- SAAP/Homelessness Knowledge Management Pilots
- ISC Member Profiles
- Calendar of Events
- Sector Contributions
- ISC Members Contact Details
Message from the ISC Chairperson
Welcome to this second issue of the ISC Newsletter. As you will see, the ISC has been busy working on a large number of information related activities. In this issue you will find information on a broad range of activities that will involve SAAP agencies and, in some instances, offer support and opportunities for agencies to gain and share knowledge and information.
SAAP is now over 21 years old and as a “mature” program has lots of good practice examples which would be wonderful to share nationally. Read on to learn about possible ways of doing this.
Doug Limbrick
ISC Chairperson
SAAP Case Management Resource Kit - a "refresh"
Just above the computer on the bookshelf in most SAAP agencies, rests the blue ring folder with the words "Case Management Resource Kit for SAAP Services" written across the spine. This casework and agency resource was produced in 1996 and still receives favourable comment from agencies - but frankly, it's showing its age and needs to be updated.
Consultants, Geevers, Goddard, Jones have produced a report that scopes the requirements for updating the kit. The SAAP sector was asked for input to the report via a questionnaire and 375 responses were received from SAAP agencies. An update of the kit was supported by 81% of the agencies that responded.
While building on, and 'refreshing' the kit in 2007, we will also showcase the good practice casework developments that have occurred in the ten years since the kit was first published. If you have ideas about SAAP casework practice techniques, innovative ways of working, or models that are particularly effective contact David Ramsay on 02 6244 6939 or email David.Ramsay@facsia.gov.au
The current kit is available on the FaCSIA website.
New SAAP Data and Case Management Tool - SMART 6
Many SAAP agencies are aware a new version of SMART (SAAP Management and Reporting Tool) is under development. This new tool will not only collect National Data Collection information, but will have a number of improvements to assist case management. Customised screens will be available and a number of special tools can be activated by services. Testing of the new version will begin soon to minimise the possibility of bugs. The roll-out to SAAP agencies is scheduled to commence in 2007. For further information contact David Ramsay on 02 6244 6939.
SAAP Data Linkage Key
As many of you may be aware on 1 July 2005 a new core data set was introduced along with a new SAAP Statistical Linkage Key (SLK) that replaced the previous alpha code.
Those who work with SAAP program data are aware of limitations of the old ‘alpha code’ that reduced the usefulness of the collection. For example, a number of clients shared the same code making it difficult to estimate the number of clients and the repeat SAAP usage of those clients.
One of the advantages of the new key is that it enables SAAP data to be linked to a range of other data sets to provide aggregated information on SAAP clients. This will allow researchers to look into SAAP client interactions with the health system (e.g. mental health), disability, children in care, corrections and a range of other programs in a way that will not identify individual clients or groups of clients. This research will provide powerful information for SAAP agencies, program planners and, as a consequence, assist SAAP clients.
The National Data Collection Agency, FaCSIA and the States and Territories made a commitment during the sector information sessions (conducted in early 2005) to consult with the sector on the development of data linkage protocols for any projects that may be conducted that would link the SAAP data with other data sets using the SLK. We have consulted sector peaks on the best way to conduct this work.
The National Community Services Information Management Group (made up of the Commonwealth States and Territories) has funded initial work looking at developing a methodology for undertaking data linkage between child protection, juvenile justice and SAAP data - no actual data will be linked. We will be keeping you informed of the results of this project. For further information contact: David Ramsay on 02 6244 6939 or David.Ramsay@facsia.gov.au
SAAP Education Linkages Research Project
The Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), on behalf of the National SAAP Coordination and Development Committee (CAD), has contracted RPR Consulting to undertake a research project into existing and potential linkages between SAAP and the education system.
Although SAAP services play a critical supporting role, their involvement with accompanying children and their parents is time-limited and resource constrained. Strong links between SAAP and the education/early childhood service sector will help to achieve the best possible outcome for SAAP clients and their accompanying children, and to assure their future well-being.
The research project aims to identify best practice approaches to working collaboratively with schools and early childhood services, and will include:
- a review of Australian and international research on collaborative practices between services for the homeless and education/early childhood services;
- a short online survey of SAAP agencies to gauge the extent of existing collaborative practices and identify good practice examples within SAAP;
- telephone interviews with 25 SAAP agencies who have been identified as demonstrating good practice in establishing links with schools/early childhood services;
- telephone interviews with State/Territory education departments to explore the potential to strengthen links with the SAAP sector.
Invitations to participate in the online survey were sent to all SAAP agencies that assisted at least 10 accompanying children in the 2004-05 financial year. The survey is being hosted during November and we encourage agencies to lodge their responses by 15 November 2006. Responses to the survey will help inform the development and promotion of strategies that may assist SAAP agencies to effectively develop linkages with schools and early childhood services.
The results of this research project are expected to be available in March 2007. For more information about the project, or if you would like to participate in the survey and have not received an invitation, please contact Zeah at RPR Consulting on 02 9712 5055 or by email at zeah@rprconsulting.com.au
Update on Client Self-Reliance Research
The Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the University of New South Wales has commenced their research on SAAP impact on client self-reliance.
A questionnaire is being developed to collect information about clients’ circumstances, their view on how their life has changed since receiving assistance from SAAP, how helpful SAAP agencies have been and what continuing support clients think they will need after leaving the service. The survey will also include some open-ended questions on how clients see self-reliance, what they feel they have done themselves to develop it and the barriers to achieving it.
SPRC plans to conduct the survey in November/early December 2006 and is seeking at least 750 responses from clients of randomly selected SAAP agencies across the country. For further information, please contact Rose Lai of FaCSIA on 02 6244 7133.
SARRP
Seven research reports under the 2004-05 Services and Regional Research Program have been published on the SAAP Information Management Plan website.
The site also contains earlier SARRP reports and the SAAP Ethical Research Protocols that apply to all SAAP research projects.
SAAP/Homelessness Clearinghouse
An important task for SAAP V is the establishment of a national SAAP/homelessness Clearinghouse. The web-based clearinghouse will have three main components:
- Information Repository, containing research into homelessness and other relevant information;
- Discussion Forums, required to enable SAAP stakeholders to discuss matters of interest, for example, good practice and dealing with specific client needs; and
- Homelessness Encyclopedia, providing a dynamic platform for capturing and disseminating information and knowledge with an emphasis on sector-identified good practice service delivery.
The Clearinghouse will have the capacity to generate emails automatically to advise interested groups when relevant material has been posted on the website.
A report that includes user specifications for the Clearinghouse has been completed, and a tender document produced. It is envisaged that the project will go out for open tender in early November 2006 with projected establishment in the first half of 2007. For further information contact Peter O'Brien at FaCSIA on 02 6244 6454
SAAP/Homelessness Knowledge Management (KM) Pilots
CAD agreed that FaCSIA will work with Queensland and Western Australia to develop a pilot survey of SAAP agencies to:
- map formal and informal information sharing networks in jurisdictions;
- gauge the sector’s needs in regards to KM; and
- inform the sector about the Clearinghouse and seek their views.
A KM Pilot Steering Committee has been established comprising WA, QLD and FaCSIA representatives. A single KM contractor will be engaged, via a select tender process, to conduct the pilots in both jurisdictions, including a number of stakeholder forums. Tender documents are currently under development.
This pilot project may identify existing sector networks that could be supported to facilitate greater sharing of good practice service delivery across the sector. The SAAP/homelessness Clearinghouse would be an important enabler of this information sharing process. For further information, please contact Rex Direen of FaCSIA at rex.direen@facsia.gov.au or on 02 6244 5746.
ISC Member Profiles
Dr Stephen Mondy – Expert Member
Stephen has been involved in the community welfare sector since the early 1980s in England as a social worker in local government social services and as a manager of an alternative education unit in inner London. Following his return to Australia in the late 1980s, he worked as a youth worker and then manager of crisis and medium-term SAAP services in Mount Druitt in Western Sydney. Stephen completed his PhD in psychology at Macquarie University and took up a Research Fellow position at the ARC-funded Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science.
Stephen is currently an Executive Manager with Marist Youth Care in Western Sydney and oversees a range of Out of Home Care, SAAP, Education, and transition to independent living services, including young women-specific and Indigenous-specific SAAP services, generic youth SAAP services, post-release support services, a brokerage service, and family restoration and casework programs.
Stephen has particular interests in child protection, child development, cognitive psychology, and strengths-based approaches. In line with the Marist approach, Stephen acknowledges that it is often necessary to go beyond recognised limits of care and tolerance when working with children, young people and families, and in an under-resourced sector, it is easy to become overburdened, over-stressed, and overwhelmed. Fortunately, the little successes that he sees workers and clients making each day seems to keep that at bay.
Kedy Kristal – AFHO Representative
Kedy started working in women’s refuges in 1982 and since 1992, has been employed by the Patricia Giles Centre and is now the CEO, managing four separately funded services for the Centre:
- a 24 bed refuge for single women and women with children to eighteen years and four medium to long term houses;
- a crisis counselling service for women who are living in or who have left abusive relationships, the Domestic Violence Advocacy and Referral Service;
- a children’s crisis counselling service for children living in ten women’s refuges in the Perth metropolitan region, the Domestic Violence Children’s Counselling Service; and
- Coorrt Coolong, an in home parenting support service for Indigenous families with children up to three years old.
In 2005, Kedy completed a Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies at Murdoch University and now works with Justices to increase their understanding of domestic violence and to support changes to the operations of courts and the understanding of domestic violence by court staff. Kedy also provides training to the police recruits at the Joondalup Police academy on the issue of domestic and family violence.
Kedy has been the WA representative on the Women’s Service Network (WESNET) from 1995 until 1997 and from 2002 to the present. In 2004, Kedy was elected Chair of the Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services, the WA peak for women refuges and domestic violence services. In 2005, Kedy joined AFHO as one of three WESNET representatives and was nominated as the AFHO representative on the ISC. Kedy has stated that “2006 has been a steep learning curve for me on the issues of SAAP research, evaluation and data collection”.
Calendar of events
AHI Coming Events
Homelessness SA: State Conference: |
AHURI: Affordable Housing Concepts, Strategies and Models
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ACOSS National Congress: Australia |
Qcoss Conference
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New Web site: |
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Sector Contributions
Contributions are warmly welcome from people working in the SAAP sector. If you have an announcement to make about, for example, an upcoming seminar or workshop, or if you have anything to say that you think would be of interest to the SAAP sector, please let us know. Contributions can be forwarded to:
Rex Direen
ISC Newsletter Editorial Desk
Email: rex.direen@facsia.gov.au
Phone: 02 6244 5746
ISC MEMBERS CONTACT DETAILS
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT |
ACT
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VICTORIA |
NDCA
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NEW SOUTH WALES |
EXPERT MEMBER Marist Youth Care
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QUEENSLAND |
AFHO REPRESENTATIVE Email: pgc1@iinet.net.au
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TASMANIA |
COMMUNITY MEMBER Email: MarilynR@somerville.org.au
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
COMMUNITY MEMBER Email: andrew@jyss.org.au
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
NORTHERN TERRITORY Email: jill.rechner@nt.gov.au
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ISC SECRETARIAT |
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