Welcome to Women, Ageing & Community

Responsibility for policy relating to Women, older people and the ACT Community is located in Governance, Strategy and Community Policy, a group within Policy and Organisational Services, Department of Disability Housing and Community Services.

Governance, Strategy and Community Policy is responsible for the following areas:

Organisational Governance
Strategic Policy
Office for Women
Office for Ageing
Women's Information and Referral Centre
ACT Government Concessions Program
Community Services Program
Data and Research

We provide a range of services across the Department, across the ACT Government, and throughout the Canberra community. Information on our activities can be found on the individual pages listed in the left hand column, or in the Current Information and Publications section on the front page of the Department's website.

Latest News

Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

In August 2004, the ACT Government launched Caring for Carers – A Plan for Action 2004-07 (the Action Plan), outlining 34 actions to progress over 3 years in order to achieve the objectives of the Caring for Carers Policy.

Of the 34 actions prioritised, the outstanding was Strategy 3, Action 3B:

conduct a feasibility study to develop a new model of respite care that better recognises and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ preference for kinship and family care. The feasibility study was to include:
- scoping possible models in consultation with ATSI carers;
- researching similar models in other jurisdictions and sectors;
- identifying likely problems with the model; and
- identifying structures and safeguards needed to support the model in consultation with relevant government and community agencies who could potentially fund and deliver services.

In 2008, the Echidna Group – Indigenous Research and Development Consultancy were engaged by the ACT Government to conduct the feasibility study. The final report, Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, documents the findings, including a recommended model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respite care and associated recommendations.

Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples RTF 3mb | PDF 319kb

Review of Industrial Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector

In December 2008, $500,000 was allocated through the 2008-09 second appropriation budget to review community contracts and to provide an improved industrial relations environment for non-government organisations in the ACT.

Subsequently, the Parliamentary Agreement for the 7th Assembly for the ACT commits to ‘Review community sector contracts over the next 18 months to ensure staff wages and conditions are adequate, and develop a funding strategy to address identified needs.’

The Review will be undertaken in two phases over two financial years. HBA Consultants have been engaged to undertake the first phase; to review existing community service funding arrangements and to assess the adequacy of wages and conditions provided by community sector organisations. For the second stage, a consultant will be engaged to improve industrial relations advice for the community sector.

The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services are leading the project. An oversight group led by the Department will work closely with the consultant to provide strategic government advice on the project.

ACT Government Concessions Policy

ACT Government Concessions Policy PDF 51kb | Word 105kb

Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector

In 2008 the ACT Government committed to introducing a Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector by June 2010. The Scheme will allow for community sector workers to transfer long service leave entitlements as they change employers within the sector. It is anticipated that the community sector scheme will increase retention of workers in the community sector.

The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services engaged Urbis to undertake a consultation process with the community sector and DeeDeeRa Actuaries to undertake an Actuarial Study on the ACT Community Sector. These reports will inform the attributes and scope of the Scheme. For the purpose of providing the community with background and scope of the Scheme the Minister for Community Services has released the two reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

ACT Community Sector Long Service Leave Scheme - Actuarial Report PDF 5,832KB | Word 547KB

ACT Portable Long Service Leave Scheme PDF 569KB | Word 655KB

For further information around the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector please email Jolene Clinch at jolene.clinch@act.gov.au

Children and Young People Bill 2008

The Children and Young People Bill 2008 was introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 6 March 2008 by the Minister for Children and Young People, Katy Gallagher and Attorney General, Simon Corbell.

The Bill proposes significant reform to the law relating to children and young people in the Territory, particularly in the areas of care and protection, youth justice, the regulation of childcare services and employment. The Bill will replace the Children and Young People Act 1999.

The Bill has been informed by a comprehensive review of the 1999 Act.

Review of Philanthropy in the ACT

The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services engaged Urbis to undertake a review of the nature and extent of philanthropic giving in the ACT, with the aim of identifying its adequacy, trends, impediments and opportunities for growth. The Report of the Review of Philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory and the ACT Government's response to the report are now available.

Report of the Review of Philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory PDF 121kb
ACT Government's response to the report PDF 1.9mb | Word 138kb