Human Services update
Improved service delivery in rural and remote communities is just one of several priorities for the new Human Services department, which brings together community services, ageing, disability services, housing, juvenile justice and Aboriginal affairs.
The Department is now in place and led by Director-General Jennifer Mason, former Director-General of DoCS.
The former departments are now agencies. Community Services is headed by Annette Gallard who previously held the role of DoCS Deputy Director-General Operations.
Human Services priorities include:
- improved service delivery in rural and remote communities in Western NSW
- improved services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- better and more integrated services for complex and challenging clients, particularly adolescents
- action to strengthen the NGO sector and reduce red tape
- improving service delivery for Aboriginal children, families and communities.
As part of Keep Them Safe, a Human Services Child Wellbeing Unit is being established for staff within Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Housing NSW and Juvenile Justice.
This unit will support the new model for prevention and early intervention by providing advice to mandatory reporters in assessing whether a child meets the new risk of significant harm threshold and on possible service responses.
Youth programs, including Better Futures, are now the responsibility of the Commission for Children and Young People, within the new Communities NSW department.
The new NSW Government logo and agency names will be introduced progressively to minimise costs and enable changes to be made with existing resources.
Community Services has a new ABN 87503966787. Other contact details remain unchanged.