Victoria Expands Services Connect
13 October 2014 at 9:56 am
The Victorian Government is set to expand a new model of human services in a move it claims will help create jobs and support more than 5000 adults and children over the next two years.
Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge said the Government would invest $9 million to to expand Services Connect to eight new areas across the state.
The Government describes Services Connect as a new model for integrated human services in Victoria, designed to connect people with the right support, address the whole range of a person’s or family’s needs, and help people build their capabilities to improve their lives.
Wooldridge said in a Victorian first community services would come together in new Services Connect partnerships to test models of integrated child and family support, mental health, alcohol and drug treatment, family violence, housing, disability and Aboriginal specific services.
“The Napthine Government is reforming the way we deliver community and human services to give people greater choice and control over their lives, while also connecting them to the right level of support,” Wooldridge said.
“The next phase of developing Services Connect draws on the expertise of the non-government sector to deliver the model in their local communities.
“Around 180 organisations have already put their hands up to take part, which shows just how committed the wider community sector is to reforming the way we do things for clients.”
Wooldridge said the Services Connect trials had shown improvements in the lives of participants “but this investment in Partnerships acknowledges that we must join government with the community sector to achieve the best possible outcomes for vulnerable Victorians”.
“Everyone in the community sector has a role to play in these reforms over the coming years as we work together to build the human services system of the future,” she said.
In July the Government said it had committed $9 million over two years to expand the partnership to the community sector. About $30 million had already been committed to develop and deliver the Services Connect model.
Wooldridge said the community sector delivered the vast majority of services in Victoria and their involvement in Services Connect was a critical step forward.
“To date Services Connect has primarily been tested with clients of DHS, however taking the next step of working in partnership with the community sector to implement Services Connect is tremendously exciting for both government and the sector,” she said.
Services Connect Partnerships will begin testing from 31 October.
