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Annual Report 2015–2016

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Annual Report 2015–2016 Annual Report 2015–2016 ACWA Annual Report 2015 – 2016 1 Contents About ACWA ................................................................................ 5 Chair Report ................................................................................. 8 CEO Report ................................................................................... 12 Policy and Membership Report ........................................... 16 Learning and Development Report .................................... 30 Treasurer Report ........................................................................ 36 Financial Report ......................................................................... 40 ACWA Board ................................................................................. 62 ACWA Members ......................................................................... 64 Organisational Chart ................................................................. 69 ACWA Staff .................................................................................... 70 Acknowledgements .................................................................. 76 2 2015 – 2016 ACWA Annual Report ACWA Annual Report 2015 – 2016 3 About ACWA The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) is the non-government peak body for NSW and the ACT representing the voice of community organisations working with vulnerable children, young people and their families. With a membership of more than 100 agencies, ACWA works with members, partners, government, non-government and other peak bodies to bring about effective reforms that will deliver better outcomes to the lives of vulnerable children, young people and their families. Within ACWA, the Fostering NSW Recruitment and Retention of Foster Carers project is a public awareness-raising campaign to promote fostering and provide comprehensive information on care options, via its website and enquiry line. The ACWA Best Practice Unit (BPU) strengthens practice, fosters local innovation and builds capacity in the sector by providing ACWA’s member networks with relevant training packages, policy advice and participation in research. The Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT) is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) providing cost effective and accessible training opportunities for people working across the community welfare sector — with a particular focus on organisations working with vulnerable children, young people and families. CCWT provides calendar-based and in-house training as well as specialised programs, coaching and supervision and is the largest not-for- profit, non-government, community services training provider in NSW. 4 2015 – 2016 ACWA Annual Report ACWA Annual Report 2015 – 2016 5 Reports 6 2015 – 2016 ACWA Annual Report ACWA Annual Report 2015 – 2016 7 Deirdre Cheers Chair Report ACWA Board Chair Over the past 12 months it has been representation, we have a recognised government catchment area divisions process currently being determined a great privilege to continue as ACWA national footprint and our CEO (from Regions to smaller Districts, and at the local level. We note that as a Board Chair. In what has been as Andrew McCallum is known and recently back to larger Districts again part of these reforms FACS is now always a busy year, the financial year influential throughout Australia. — RIGS, DIGS, SPIGS!) and consequent anticipating the procurement of period just ended has also been a impact on local NGO relationships. evidence based models to meet time for the Association and many of The pace of the NSW reform specific needs. our member agencies to reflect on environment has been fast and furious There have been numerous the bigger picture for children and this year and can be anticipated projects involving ACWA in 2015- The year has also seen the Royal children’s rights, and the role of ACWA to continue as we move into the 2016. To mention a few of these Commission into Institutional going forward into the next period of forthcoming period of re-contracting specifically, this includes work on Responses to Child Sexual Abuse child and family policy implementation and recommissioning for non- models of residential care, and on announce closure of private hearing in our own state and also throughout government agencies. Government the development of a definition of registration at the end of September, Australia. contracts have been extended to therapeutic care for both foster care with the ongoing release of papers June 2017, and ACWA member and residential care which has been and findings leading to increased ACWA is the largest specifically care agencies are currently participating endorsed by the ACWA Board and is national focus on building child safe and protection focused child and in government led meetings and currently, as we understand, sitting organisations. It is unclear at this stage family welfare peak body in Australia. workshops about evidence based with the Minister. I note particularly how the recommendations pertaining We have continued over the past models of service delivery, program here that while the Board endorsed to a Financial Redress scheme will be year to work closely with colleagues types, outcomes and quality assurance a proposed definition for therapeutic finalised, an issue which may have a in our own state including Aboriginal, reporting, and the costs of out-of- care, it was not presented with, nor significant impact on the sector. family support, homelessness and home care (OOHC). Members have did it endorse, the recently released youth directed peaks, and also of also been participating in quarterly FACS commissioned report by Verso ACWA continues to meet the needs course NCOSS (the NSW Council of OOHC Recommissioning Forums Consulting which recommends of member agencies by providing Social Services). At the national level attended by the Minister, with ACWA the establishment of residential high quality training via CCWT, and ACWA continues to work closely and having a strong advocacy presence assessment units throughout accessibility has been expanded via in collaboration with more general for children as well as agencies. In NSW. This proposal requires closer increased capacity to link up with family based peaks such as Families addition, ACWA sits at the table of the consideration by ACWA as there is no regional members by video and Australia, as well as SNAICC and also new Safety and Permanency Advisory evidence of adequate availability of webinar technology. the Australia Council of Social Service Group meeting (chaired by FACS throughput from such services within (ACOSS). Secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter) and the suggested 12-week residential It is now eight years since the Wood associated sub-committees. ACWA placement period. The sector has Special Commission of Inquiry into While ACWA’s primary emphasis policy staff continue to engage with also been consulted and involved in Child Protection in NSW provided is on the NSW context and as well FACS staff at all levels, and have been a major Targeted Early Intervention a blueprint for child protection has strong ACT member agency monitoring the impact of changes to reform process, with outcomes of this policy reforms. Three Ministers (and 8 2015 – 2016 ACWA Annual Report ACWA Annual Report 2015 – 2016 9 including a change of government) old) that most do not find stability in later the policy context has changed this form of care. We must not delude from ‘Keep Them Safe’ to ‘Safe ourselves as a sector that care and Home for Life’ — subtle wording but protection and OOHC workers can a powerful shift away from ‘saving’ create stable relationships for children individual children and towards a by any other means than ensuring more holistic focus on the needs that Care Plans are for life. Regardless of vulnerable children within the of good staff retention rates in some context of a continuum of service agencies, the person providing direct delivery across both government care for a child is the most important departments and non-government piece of the puzzle in stability of care. organisations. The thrust of Safe Home None of us here should deliberately for Life is permanency for vulnerable make choices as a direct result of the children who come into care within policies we develop and support or the child protection system, within the Care Plans our NGO staff make a legally defined hierarchy of direct for children. Social workers move care alternatives — restoration to on, to condemn children to a life of family where ongoing safe can be discontinuous and disrupted care. If guaranteed, Guardianship (placement we wouldn’t agree to it for our own with kin), Open Adoption, and lastly children and grandchildren then long term foster care. This hierarchy it shouldn’t be good enough for was proclaimed in NSW Care children who are in the care of the legislation in 2014, two years ago now, government. and is clearly and individually focused on child need. While this arguably In closing this year I say farewell as subtle change may not yet be fully ACWA Board Chair, having completed understood by some professionals, the maximum number of terms in and we are yet to realise the changes this role. I publically thank our CEO it will make to stability for vulnerable Andrew McCallum and Deputy Wendy children over time, the way forward Foote for their diligent commitment to for children is clear. There must be no the support of our sector over the past turning back on creating permanency year and ongoingly,
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