NFP Panel Sets its Sights on Collaboration

A collaborative panel made up of eight Not for Profit peak bodies and supported by philanthropic funding is spearheading projects aimed at building capacity in the aging, disability and mental health sectors.

The Ageing, Disability and Mental Health Collaborative Panel was established through a funding initiation by State Trustees Australia Foundation and additional support from the Lord Mayors Foundation.

The aim of the collaborative panel is to prepare for the transformational changes associated with government reforms, including the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and the introduction of the Aged Care Gateway and related funding reforms over four years.

Panel representatives are from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), Carers Victoria, COTA Victoria, Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, National Disability Services (NDS), State Trustees Australia Foundation, Victorian Council of Social Service and Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV).

Chair of the panel and CEO of Carers Victoria, Caroline Mulcahy, told the Not for Profit forum on the panel’s progress that their aim was to develop good practice in response to the reforms in relation to consumer led service delivery, to develop new training approaches, share their experiences and collaborate.

She said many small Not for Profits were still grappling with the transition into the NDIS and the panel had initiated four projects about moving to consumer led care.

Mulcahy said the establishment of the collaborative panel was “a unique opportunity” within the Not for Profit sector to find out what the sector needs and share the findings extensively.

“The Collaborative Panel has worked to identify and scope a series of projects to respond to key areas for collective action [within the Not for Profit sector],” Mulcahy said.

These include developing a targeted training package to promote the adoption of consumer-led service delivery, a project to share “best practice” service models, a study of the opportunities and challenges that emerge through the transition to the NDIS, and a feasibility study into the options to better support cross-sector learning and development, including a clearinghouse to manage and share the information.

The CEO of VICSER, Kim Koop, told Pro Bono Australia News that many Not for Profits were talking to each other about what they were doing, but very few of them were actually talking about how they could work collaboratively.

Part of the VICSERV project is to identify the gaps in meeting the needs of consumers and organisations and where possible develop capacity building opportunities.

The State Trustees Foundation said the philanthropic funding of the collaborative panel allowed it to offer a different way of thinking while supporting charitable organisations that make a difference in the community.