Solaris Therapeutic Community
Download
Report
Transcript Solaris Therapeutic Community
Developing Throughcare :
A better way of doing policy?
Simon Rosenberg
Deputy CEO
Three ways to “do” policy
The Consultation Approach
The Advocacy Approach
The Partnership Approach –
Throughcare as case study
1. Policy by Consultation
Govt identifies a policy issue
Govt develops a draft policy or consultation
paper, and seeks reaction through forums or
submissions
Community sector organises its response
Govt accepts, adapts or ignores sector input
Govt provides feedback on the outcomes –
sometimes!
2. Policy by Advocacy
Community sector identifies unmet needs,
gaps in services
Sector does research and consults internally
on the issues and solutions
Policy Paper/Submission developed to
present to Govt.
Govt accepts, adapts or ignores sector views
3. Policy by Partnership
Community sector (or Govt) identifies unmet
needs, gaps in services
Sector approaches Govt (or vice versa) to work
jointly on issues and solutions
Policy Paper/Submission(s) developed – may be
joint or separate, but with common elements
Govt and sector reps maintain their
accountabilities, but work together as far as
possible
Ideally, a final policy position emerges that has
govt and sector ownership.
Community Integration
Governance Group (CIGG)
Cross-sectoral community agencies’ forum set up late 2009
Focus on Throughcare, ie continuity of services and
support for offenders pre and post release from AMC,
Bimberi, and broader justice system.
Problem identified: new facilities with rehab and human
rights focus, but no systemic planning or coordination of
throughcare services to help prevent reoffending.
Whole of Govt, whole of community (WoG/WoC) problem
Developed initial policy position for Throughcare
CIGG explicitly aimed to work with govt
CIGG achievements
Participation from all relevant sectors
Comprehensive submission to AMC review
Engagement with ACTCS and CMD initially,
then all key govt agencies
Input to paper for Policy Forum (Dep CEOs)
Policy Forum agreement to development of
Throughcare Policy collaboratively between
ACT Govt and CIGG.
What made it work?
Trust and openness
Role clarity
Accountability
‘Selling’ the value of the sector's input
Patience
The ‘Partnership’ was genuine
What are the risks?
Confidentiality
Co-option
Role confusion
Delay
What are the benefits?
An alternative way of doing policy – community
sector has earlier input, and outcomes more likely
to be jointly owned
Particularly useful for ‘wicked problems’ – often
need WoG/WoC joined-up approach*
Implementation issues get better consideration at
policy development phase
Greater understanding of each other’s constraints
Enhanced trust and respect for further work
A practical expression of the Social Compact!
Conclusion
Community sector should explore opportunities for
policy development through partnership with govt
Sector needs to more actively share and learn from
experiences of what has worked and what has not
Partnership approach most useful for WoG/WoC*
Value connecting/networking skills.
[email protected], ph. 0400 507757
* For more info see APSC, “Tackling Wicked Problems: A Public Policy
Perspective”, 2007