Policy and Engagement

Welcome to Strategic Policy and Community Engagement

The Strategic Policy and Community Engagement team works on a broad range of whole of department and whole of government policy activities, and provides support for intergovernmental activities and policy advice to the Executive and Ministers.

Strategic Policy

Key Policy activities:

• Oversight of inter-governmental policy matters
• Co-ordination of whole of government policy projects
• Co-ordinating input into whole of government policy initiatives and proposals
• Review of Statutory Oversight and Community Advocacy Agencies
• Strategic policy advice and support to the departmental Executive and the Office of the Minister.
• Co-ordination of briefings for the Community and Disability Services Minister’s Advisory Council and the Community and Disability Services Minister’s Conference
• Progress initiative to address gambling policy issues
• Progress community sector reforms
• Implementation of Service Partnership Agreements
• Implementation of the Caring for Carers Policy and Action Plan.
• Carers Supports Services 78Kb Carers Support Services 68Kb
• Review of the Children and Young People Act 1999
• Development of the Departmental Service Delivery Platform
• Oversight of Service Partnership Agreements
• Secretariat for the Joint Community Government Reference Group

Community Engagement

Key Community Engagement activities:

• Implementation of the Community Engagement Initiative
• Implementation of the Community Sector Funding Policy
• Implementation of The Social Compact
• Development of a Whole of Government Volunteering Policy

Community Engagement Initiative

The Community Engagement Initiative was launched on 16 June 2005 by John Hargreaves MLA, Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services.

The Initiative is comprised of:

• A Community Engagement Service Charter for ACT public servants, which is a statement of ACT Government principles of community engagement;
• a Community Engagement Manual, Your Guide to Engaging with the Community, which includes tools and techniques to assist government officers involved in community engagement;
• ACT Community Engagement Online, located under the Engagement link on the DHCS website, that provides resources and information on community engagement, a calendar of ACT Government engagement activities, regular community forums that provide opportunities for community engagement, and a feedback function; and
• a Learning and Development Strategy for community engagement.
  

For further information on the Initiative, for copies of the publications and for queries relating to ACT Community Engagement Online and the engagement activities calendar, please call 02 6205 0404 or email ceu@act.gov.au.

Community Sector Funding Policy

The Community Sector Funding Policy was launched in 2004. The Policy replaces the former purchaser/provider model with a more collaborative approach where the ACT Government and community organisations work together to maximise consumer outcomes.

Service Funding Agreement template (108 kb)

The Social Compact

The Social Compact is a statement of understanding about the relationship between the ACT Government and the community sector. It sets out undertakings to which each sector is committed in working together for the public good.
The Social Compact
The Social Compact