Department of Communities Annual Report 2019-20
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Department of Communities Annual Report 2019-20 Contents ...................................................................................................... 1 Statement of compliance ........................................................................... 1 Accessibility statement ..................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgement of country and peoples ...................................................................... 2 Contact details ................................................................................................................. 2 Overview ...................................................................................................... 3 Director General foreword ................................................................................................ 4 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 6 Our purpose, values and outcomes ................................................................................. 8 Operational structure ...................................................................................................... 10 Agency performance ................................................................................ 20 COVID-19 ...................................................................................................................... 21 Safe children .................................................................................................................. 33 Empowered people ........................................................................................................ 47 Inclusive and accessible communities ........................................................................... 57 A place to call home ....................................................................................................... 68 Strong families and kin ................................................................................................... 78 Performance management framework ................................................... 84 Performance management framework ........................................................................... 85 Resource Agreement summary ...................................................................................... 92 Key performance indicators summary ............................................................................ 95 Disclosures and legal compliance ........................................................ 102 Auditor General’s opinion ............................................................................................. 103 Financial statements .................................................................................................... 107 Key performance indicators .................................................................. 211 Key performance indicators ......................................................................................... 212 Outcome based management reporting framework ..................................................... 213 Other Statutory Information .................................................................. 231 Other statutory information ........................................................................................... 232 Ministerial directives ..................................................................................................... 232 Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 I Pricing policies ............................................................................................................. 233 Capital works projects .................................................................................................. 233 Employment and industrial relations ............................................................................ 234 Governance disclosures ............................................................................................... 239 Government policy requirements ................................................................................. 259 II Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 Statement of compliance Hon Simone McGurk MLA Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services. Hon Stephen Dawson MLC Minister for Environment; Disability Services; Electoral Affairs. Hon Mick Murray MLA Minister for Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering; Sport and Recreation. Hon Peter Tinley AM MLA Minister for Housing; Fisheries; Veterans Issues; Asian Engagement. Hon Dave Kelly MLA Minister for Water; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science; Youth. For the year ended 30 June 2020 In accordance with section 63 of the Financial Management Act 2006, I hereby submit for your information and presentation to Parliament, the annual report of the Department of Communities for the financial year ended 30 June 2020. The annual report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006. Michelle Andrews Accountable Authority 9 October 2020 Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 1 Accessibility statement The Department of Communities strives to achieve online accessibility when delivering information to be inclusive of a wide range of people, including people with disability. This annual report has been designed in both a PDF and accessible Word format. Some parts of the report may not achieve accessibility standards; for example the text size in some financial tables has been reduced to fit an A4 page. If you require an alternative format, please email: [email protected] Acknowledgement of country and peoples The Department of Communities proudly acknowledges Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and recognises their continuing connection to their lands, families and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging. Contact details Department of Communities Address 5 Newman Court Fremantle WA 6160 PO Address Locked Bag 5000 Fremantle WA 6959 Telephone: 08 6217 6888 Country free call: 1800 176 888 Email: [email protected] Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) – Telephone: 13 14 50 If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service. 2 Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 Overview Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 3 Director General foreword I am pleased to present the 2019–20 annual report for the Department of Communities (Communities). This report marks the conclusion of a challenging period for Communities. Thankfully, the strength and quality of our workforce has enabled us to rise and meet the challenges while ensuring that we continued our core work of providing vital services for Western Australia’s most vulnerable people. The COVID-19 pandemic saw the need for Communities to respond to rapidly assist large numbers of people across the State. I was appointed State Welfare Coordinator through the activation of the State Emergency Welfare Plan. The State Welfare Incident Coordination Centre was established within Communities to work alongside other agencies such as the Department of Health and the Western Australia Police Force to coordinate the provision of emergency welfare services at this critical time. It was pleasing to see how our staff adapted quickly to take on a new role providing welfare services such as emergency accommodation, personal support services, registration and reunification and, in some cases, financial assistance. The commitment and dedication of Communities’ staff was evident when I travelled to our regional office in Kununurra and saw first-hand the work being done to deliver emergency relief to people stranded due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. I am extremely proud of their efforts, as I am of the efforts of all our staff who faced added hurdles to meet new health directions. The people who use our services range from those with exceptionally complex needs, to people who need support to live in an inclusive community. Our services range from intensive, to supportive and enabling activities that foster vibrant, inclusive places and communities. Throughout our response to COVID-19, we did not lose focus on our core services of keeping children safe, empowering families, providing affordable homes, delivering essential community services and supporting people with disability as we transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Since being appointed Director General of Communities just over 18 months ago I have sought to ensure that integrity is at the centre of everything that we do. I ordered a wide- reaching overhaul of our systems and processes to support our leaders and teams to restore the trust and confidence of the Western Australian community in this agency following criminal charges being laid against one of our former senior executives. Under the auspices of our Agency Capability Program we have implemented a new senior leadership structure with integrity and reform roles at the heart of our mission. We have appointed an independent chairperson, Rob McDonald and an independent member of the 4 Department of Communities Annual Report 2019–20 Audit and Risk Committee. We have also established a new Finance and Investment Committee with an independent