Department for Community Development Annual Report 2003/2004 our c mmunit es CONTENTS Contents. 1 Director General’s highlights . 2 The Department. 4 Vision . 4 Mission . 4 Outcomes and outputs . 5 Principles . 6 Values . 6 Structure and management . 7 Ministerial responsibilities. 7 Statutory authority . 7 Administrative structure. 7 Directorates and offices . 8 Department’s contribution to the Strategic Planning Framework . 13 People and communities . 13 The economy . 15 The environment. 16 The regions . 17 Governance . 18 Customer profile. 26 Children and young people . 27 People experiencing family and domestic violence . 27 Seniors . 27 Volunteers . 28 Women . 28 Report on outputs . 29 Output 1: Community development . 29 Output 2: Children’s and young persons’ policy . 35 Output 3: Positive ageing policy . 37 Output 4: Women’s policy and progress . 39 Output 5: Volunteering policy and coordination . 41 Output 6: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy coordination . 42 Output 7: Care and safety services . 44 Output 8: Family and domestic violence coordination . 58 Output based management measures . 62 Performance indicators. 66 Outcomes, outputs and performance information. 67 Indicators of effectiveness . 68 Indicators of efficiency . 74 Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2004 . 80 Appendices . 105 Appendix 1: Acts administered by other authorities . 105 Appendix 2: Office locations . 106 Appendix 3: Evaluation and research projects . 110 Appendix 4: Sponsors . 115 Appendix 5: Funded services 2003/2004 . 118 Appendix 6: Publications . 131 Appendix 7: Advisory committees . 134 Appendix 8: Awards . 139 1 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S HIGHLIGHTS When I commenced as the Department’s then acting Director and their families a voice in the system designed to protect them. General in 2001, I wanted to see some key issues addressed In particular, it is imperative that children and young people in care to improve our responsiveness to the communities we serve. have a say in their care, along with parents, and other significant For example: people in their lives, including grandparents and foster carers. • I wanted to see all areas of the Department working together The launch of the Western Australian Family and Domestic Violence more effectively to strengthen and support families, children, State Strategic Plan 2004-2008 was another milestone this year. The individuals and communities. plan will guide all government departments in future planning and • I saw increased opportunities for collaboration between the implementation of policies and programs aimed at the safety of Department and our community partners – collaboration women and children. with other government departments, not-for-profit agencies, the business sector, parents, foster carers and community In May I was privileged to attend part of the inaugural Indigenous organisations is essential to achieving the Department’s vision staff conference, Solid Change: Our Kids, Our Communities – New • I believed the Department’s culture needed to be examined Opportunities. As well as being the first of its kind in the Department, and in particular that we needed a specific focus on enhancing this conference was unique across the Western Australian public opportunities for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff – sector. Approximately 160 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff the employment and support of these workers is a key strategy from across the state shared ideas and information, discussed local in helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and and regional issues of concern and celebrated the richness and communities overcome the effects of past government polices. diversity of Australian Indigenous cultures and the value they add to • I saw the need for increased focus on assisting culturally and the work of the Department. Strong relationships were established linguistically diverse individuals, children, families and communities. between staff. • I was also concerned that the Department strengthened the voices of children and young people. The Department implemented a number of strategies in 2003-04 to attract and retain staff in regional and remote locations and Each year I have taken the opportunity in this section of the annual provide career development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres report to highlight just some of the exciting new initiatives which Strait Islander workers. Attention was also given to developing a particularly demonstrate the way we are addressing these issues. comprehensive package of support services for these workers. Details of these initiatives can be found in the following sections, especially the report on the Department’s outputs. Building positive relationships with families and communities and helping communities to deal with their own issues in ways which The Department’s focus on the protection and care of children are relevant to their environment are two key new challenges for is a strong as ever. However, we have strengthened our focus on the Department. This includes building the capacity of funded supporting families, people and communities to make their own organisations, and the not for profit sector overall. choices about how to manage the issues they face. In 2003-04 the Department responded to these challenges in a Over the last year the Department has been helping to create a number of ways. For example: strong and lasting framework for community development and I am very proud of our achievements. We have also been working with • payments for foster carers were increased – the first increase other government and non government organisations to further since January 1992. The first of three ten percent increases was the Government’s ‘Children First’ agenda and other key across- made in January 2004 and a clothing allowance was introduced government priorities such as the response to the Gordon Inquiry, for non wards the Early Years Strategy, the State Homelessness Strategy and the • training for foster carers was enhanced to ensure they are Active Ageing Strategy. well-prepared for their role in providing for children and young people For example, 65 new positions were created in the Department • new community capacity building workers began to engage local during the year to address issues highlighted during the Gordon community groups and community members to help them find Inquiry. locally relevant solutions to issues of concern to.