Gill CallisterSecretary, Victorian Department of Human Services

3 September 2012

Governance to Strategy Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Conference

Human Services: The Case for Change

Purpose:To set out the case for change in human services and present a vision for a new, more effective and efficient human services system for Victoria.

The document is intended to:• Begin a dialogue across the human

services sector• Outline the rationale and evidence for

reform• Present consolidated feedback from

the sector about the challenges and potential ways forward

Local areas: deliver services where people live, work and connect, when and how they need them

Integration: move from a program and problem focus to a person and place focus; break down silos; greater focus on long term outcomes

Demand: move services to where people need them; reflect trends in population growth and demand; manage demand

Rural Victoria: investing to shift executive positions and increase flexibility of resource allocation for areas of high demand

Local decision-making within a strong accountability framework: push decision-making closer to the frontline

DHS Organisational Restructure: features of our new world

Services Connect

Services Connect is the improved way DHS and our service providers will deliver support to our clients in the future.

By understanding our clients better, and working with them in smarter ways, we will be able to better target services according to need.

The Services Connect changes will drive better client outcomes and improve the productivity of the human services system.

Key features of the new Services Connect system:

Areas of Focus

Key Areas:Productivity Connected Services Co-ProductionIncentives that Make Sense