VCOSS

DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Partnership Agreement

In June 2010, the then Secretary, DEECD and the CEO, Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) came together to sign the DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Partnership Agreement 2010-14.

The Partnership Agreement recognises the community sector as an important partner to the Department in the development of policy, the delivery of services and the improvement of outcomes of all Victorian children and young people, particularly for those Victorians who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage.  It commits the Department and the community sector to increased collaboration, consultation and engagement.

The aims of the Partnership Agreement are achieved through annual action plans agreed to by the Department and VCOSS, who is responsible for furthering the partnership on behalf of the sector.

Some of the achievements to date include:

• The establishment of the DEECD- Victorian Community Governance Group
• The establishment of the DEECD- Victorian Community Sector  Research and Evaluation Working Group
• DEECD- Community Sector Roundtables- 14 October 2010 and 28 April 2011
• The development of the DEECD Victorian Community Sector Collaboration and Consultation Framework (forthcoming)
• Joint training for DEECD, DHS,  DH and the community sector on effective partnering

Click here for a copy of the Partnership Agreement

DEECD-Community Sector Collaboration and Consultation Framework

On November 11, 2011 the Secretary and CEO of VCOSS launched the DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Collaboration and Consultation Framework.

The Framework outlines the way the signatories to the DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Partnership Agreement 2010-141 will strengthen collaboration and consultation. It articulates what effective collaboration and consultation between the Department, peak bodies and the community sector involves, as well as ensuring the right enabling processes are in place to realise this.

For more information, see: DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Collaboration and Consultation Framework (PDF - 325Kb)

DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Partnership Governance Group

Established under the Partnership Agreement, the Governance Group is responsible for supporting and strengthening the partnership between the Department and Victorian community sector. Its membership comprises DEECD and community sector representatives, and meets four times per year.
The Governance Group is responsible for:

• Overseeing the development of annual Partnership Agreement action plans
• Facilitating evaluation of the partnership agreement and each year’s action plan
• Strengthening the partnership between DEECD and the community sector
• Providing a forum for exchange of information about administrative or policy issues affecting the community sector as a whole, and
• Coordinating bi-annual roundtables to be co-hosted by the DEECD and VCOSS.

DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Roundtable, 14 October 2010
Major opportunities for reform – A series of thought starters

On Thursday 14 October 2010, senior executives from the Department and the community sector came together for the first DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Roundtable under the auspices of the DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Partnership Agreement 2010-14.

The roundtable featured a series of short, ‘thought starter’ presentations by eminent community sector executives on policy issues of particular importance or offering particular opportunity. The themes of the presentations were:

• Early childhood development (Barbara Romeril – Community Child Care and Emma King – Kindergarten Parents Victoria)
• Early childhood intervention (Michelle Harvey – Early Childhood Intervention Australia)
• Educational outcomes for children in out-of-home care (Sarah Pollock – Wesley Mission and Sarah Wise – Anglicare Victoria)
• Education affordability (Michael Horn – Brotherhood of St Laurence and Tony Keenan – Hanover Welfare Services)
• Education outcomes for Indigenous students (Muriel Bamblett – Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Association)
• Education outcomes for rural and regional students (John Bonnice – St Lukes Anglicare) and
• Student voice (Jen Rose – Victorian Student Representative Council and Kate Walsh – Youth Affairs Council of Victoria).

The presentations were followed by discussion between department and community sector executives, facilitated by Tony MacKay, Executive Director, Centre for Strategic Education, further elaborating on these policy issues and opportunities.

DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Roundtable, 28 April 2011
A conversation between Ministers and the community sector

On Thursday 28 April 2011, the Minister for Higher Education and Skills and the Minister Responsible for the Teaching Profession, the Hon. Peter Hall MLC, the Minister for Education, the Hon. Martin Dixon MP, and the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, the Hon. Wendy Lovell MLC, joined executives from the Department and community sector organisations at a roundtable under the auspices of the Partnership Agreement.

The roundtable was an opportunity for the new Ministers to give short presentations on their Portfolio priorities and on the importance of partnerships. The presentations by Ministers was followed by discussion between Portfolio  Ministers and community sector executives, facilitated by Tony MacKay, Executive Director, Centre for Strategic Education. The discussion focused on issues of mutual interest and concern, including:

• Implementation of flexible learning options and enabling funding to follow the child
• Outcome of the Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) Review
• The Family Statement, and ensuring family-centred responses
• Breaking down silos – particularly between departments and the sector
• The importance of Primary Welfare Officers and the need to provide culturally safe schools
• The importance of well resourced school based partnerships
• The importance of support for mentoring programs
• The ongoing skills reform process, and skills widening/deepening
• The importance of advocacy with the Commonwealth Government
• Dealing with the costs of education as a barrier (particularly technology)

When asked to provide feedback about the event, participants suggested that some of the highlights were having the opportunity to meet and ask questions of the Ministers as well as the opportunity to network with others in the community sector.

DEECD-Victorian Community Sector Roundtable, 11 November 2011

A conversation about Youth Partnerships the Secretary of DEECD Richard Bolt.