Agenda of Children's Services Reference Group

Minutes of the Children's Services Reference Group

Meeting Date: Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 4.06pm

The following members were present:

Clr Nina Cheyne – Chairperson

Cathy Ryman – Family Day Care

Leisa King – Noah’s

Kim Stouse-Lee – Shoalhaven Preschool

Melissa Wicks – Illawarra Area Child Care

Michelle Woszatka - Anglicare

Linda Windley – Community Representative

Tara Leslie – Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child & Family Centre

Nicole Dyball – South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation

Ian Patrick - South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation

Others Present:

Helen Waterhouse – Community Development Officer

Melissa Andrews – Community Development Officer

Apologies / Leave of Absence

An apology was received from Clr Alldrick, Clr White, Clr Findley, Bernadette Pullen, and Alison Grills.

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Cathy Ryman / Linda Windley)

That the Minutes of the Children's Services Reference Group held on Tuesday 07 February 2017 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Reports

CS17.6 Resignation - St Georges Basin Public School

HPERM Ref: D17/100243

The Committee discussed the replacement of this membership.

Action – Staff to contact DEC Network Specialist Facilitator Robyn Dowling – Melissa Andrews

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That Council:

1. Accept the resignation of Kathy Rembisz and Shannon Chessher (St Georges Basin Public School representatives)

2. Write to Kathy Rembisz and Shannon Chessher and thank them for their contribution to the Committee.

3. Contact all Primary Schools in the Shoalhaven to seek interest in filling the vacancy

RESOLVED (Clr Cheyne / Linda Windley)

That Council:

1. Accept the resignation of Kathy Rembisz and Shannon Chessher (St Georges Basin Public School representatives)

2. Write to Kathy Rembisz and Shannon Chessher and thank them for their contribution to the Committee.

3. Contact all Primary Schools in the Shoalhaven to seek interest in filling the vacancy.

CARRIED

CS17.10 Additional Item - Membership Audit – Children’s Services Reference Group

The Committee discussed various positions that may be open to other organisations that would like to attend the meetings. It was agreed that an audit of membership take place in order to open the membership up to other areas.

It was noted that Bernadette Pullen has resigned from Noahs therefore her position on the Committee would be open to another person from Noahs.

The Committee were advised that Melinda Wren is no longer representing The Basin Preschool and that her name needs to be removed from the membership.

Action – Investigate if the Membership on this Committee is Organisations or if its nominated persons. – Governance

RESOLVED (By consent)

That:

1. An audit of the membership take place and any vacancies that arise, expressions of interest be called through the Community Development Networks

2. A letter be sent to Bernadette Pullen, thanking her for her contribution to the Committee

3. Melinda Wren be removed from the membership and call for a new representative from the Basin Preschool

CARRIED

CS17.7 Children's Week Celebrations

HPERM Ref: D17/125010

Helen advised that Council in conjunction with other services are trying to organise an event to Hatch the Paint Shoalhaven REaD Black & Yellow Reading (PSRBY) Egg.

The event will be on Thursday 26 October at the Showground and the Navy may have an input into the event.

Council is calling for services in the area to contribute to the event to provide activities which will coincide with Children’s Week Celebrations and the PSRBY egg hatching event.

Council is looking to collaborate and combine the 2 events with support from the community and services. The event would be similar to the Women’s Wellness event.

Services may wish to host different activities such as reading tent, gardening tent, activity tent etc and host a picnic day.

The aim is to focus on early years and early childhood.

Action – Send out a save the date and discuss with PSRBY Committee (Including Elders). – Helen Waterhouse

Action – Send out an EOI to Service providers to invite them to have their Children’s Week Events promoted in Council’s Calendar of Activities. – Helen support the PSRBY Committee to hold an National Children’s Week Event

Recommended (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Children’s Services Reference Group (CSRG) collaborate to participate in National Children’s Week Event during the week 21 – 29 October.

RESOLVED (By consent)

That:

1. The CSRG collaborate with our existing networks to participate in National Children’s Week Event (21-29 October 2017).

2. The CSRG support Council’s Calendar of activities by hosting Children’s Week activities and promoting.

CARRIED

Note: As advised the Paint Shoalhaven REaD, Black and Yellow won’t be hatched during NAIDOC week, at the advice of Aboriginal Elders.

CS17.8 Changes to Australian Government Funding	HPERM Ref: D17/124976
It was noted that many families won’t pass the work and study test, which means that many of the families and children will be affected.
Note: Cathy Ryman left the meeting at 4.51pm
Recommended (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That Shoalhaven City Council support communication between Early Childhood Services that have families affected by any changes to funding as they relate to the Work and Study Test which may result in a major reduction in access to Child Care Benefit.
RESOLVED (By consent) That Shoalhaven City Council support communication between Early Childhood Services that have families affected by any changes to funding as they relate to the Work and Study Test which may result in a major reduction in access to Child Care Benefit. CARRIED
Action – Staff to follow up with ECA for other advocacy opportunities. – Melissa Andrews

CS17.9 Governance Training - Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre	HPERM Ref: D17/128408
As stated in the report, Cullunghutti are hosting a Cert 4 in Governance Training (12 weeks), which is Nationally accredited.
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That Shoalhaven City Council receive this for information.
RESOLVED (By consent) That the report regarding Governance Training – Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre be received for information. CARRIED

GENERAL BUSINESS

CS17.11 Additional Items

The following matters were raised as additional Items for information.

Helen – Council has received an invitation to the South Coast Child Wellbeing Network Conference at the Kiama Pavilion on Tuesday 29 August 2017. Tabled the invitation for information.

Helen – Telethon Kids Institute plan to conduct a research project with 4 year olds in the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands the week of 5 June being 1 in Nowra and 1 in Bowral. It was suggested to the organisation that they also conduct a session in Ulladulla. Seeking advice on suggested venues.

It was suggested that Family Day Care would be an appropriate location.

Note: Melissa Wicks left the meeting at 5.16pm

Kim – NDIS is holding an inclusion information session at Noahs (Mundamia) at 4.00pm on Monday 8 May 2017.

Kim – Northcott PDSP inclusion training is being held on Thursday 8 June 2017 at Archer Resort

Helen – Early Childhood Directorate consultation is on 24 May at 9.00am.

Leisa King – Noahs in conjunction with UOW is looking for support about inclusion and services across the Shoalhaven.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 5.33pm.

Clr Nina Cheyne

CHAIRPERSON

Children's Services Reference Group – Monday 16 October 2017

Page 5

CS17.12 Planning Session Report

HPERM Ref: D17/253134

Group: Finance Corporate & Community Services Group

Section: Recreation Community & Culture

Attachments: 1. Facilitator’s Report - Children's Services Reference Group - Planning session - 26 July 2017 ⇩

2. Community Strategic Plan Key Priorities Mapped to UN Rights of the Child - Children's Services Reference Group - September 2017 ⇩

Purpose / Summary

To inform the Children’s Service Reference Group about the outcomes from the group’s annual planning session and request that the Group review and complete the mapping document attached to this report.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Children’s Services Reference Group:

1. Receive this report for information.

2. Review and complete the mapping document attached to this report.

Background

At the Children’s Services Reference meeting on 7 February 2017 the Group recommended following changes to the terms of reference be adopted

- The group to meet four (4) times per year, 1 in each school term, with one (1) being a planning day.

- The planning day to be held in July each year

The planning session was held on July 26, 3pm – 6pm and was facilitated by Katie Fox from Illawarra Forum. Following is an overview of the planning session:

- Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country, overview & Expectations

- Overview of FACS’ Targeted Earlier Intervention Programme Reform

- What do you think is the purpose of the Group? Why do you come?

- Review Terms of Reference

- Identify Priority actions for the year

- Agree Action Plan

The facilitators report is attached to this report for your information and for the Children’s Services Reference group to work through during the year.

Actions from the planning day are:

Action	Responsibility	Timeframe
Map the rights of the child to the Council’s Community Strategic Plan	Melissa Andrews	Report to CSRG meeting on October 16 (see mapping document attached for discussion)
Promote and highlight the rights of the child as per the communication strategy	All CSRG	Ongoing
Devise actions that address the issues identified in the mapping of the rights of the child to the Council’s Community Strategic Plan	All CSRG	CSRG meeting on October 16 and ongoing

The mapping document attached shows how Shoalhaven City Council’s Community Strategic Plan relates to many of the articles in the UN Convention on the rights of the Child. As recommended above and at the planning day, the Group will use this document to identify actions and activities that reflect the purposes of the Group.

The Revised Terms of Reference are contained in a separate report.

Community Engagement

The planning workshop conducted on July 26^th 2017 provided the community engagement to inform this recommendation.

At the Planning meeting, the Children’s Services Reference Group identified the following stakeholders:

Internal

 All Council Departments

 General Manager of Council

 Directors in Council

 Section Managers in Council

 Shoalhaven City Councillors

External

 Broader Community Services

 Children

 Families

 Services

 Community

 Defence Staff

 Older Community Members

They formed an outline for communication as detailed below:

Internal Communication (how information is shared between members and between council and the CSRG)

 Feedback from meetings through the Council’s Community Development Officer

 Notice of motion or recommendation

 Invite department heads of council to meetings

 Reports

 Agenda Items

External (how the CSRG shares information with the wider community)

 Utilise council departments

Policy Implications

The outcomes from the planning exercise will assist the Group to ensure that their future actions and objectives are in line with council’s Community Strategic Plan and the UN Rights of the Child and have a clear purpose. It is expected that this will inform strong policy decisions into the future.

Children's Services Reference Group – Monday 16 October 2017

Page 17

CS17.13 Revised Terms of Reference

HPERM Ref: D17/253148

Group: Finance Corporate & Community Services Group

Section: Recreation Community & Culture

Attachments: 1. Facilitator's Report - Children's Services Reference Group - Planning session - 26 July 2017 ⇩

2. Children's Reference Group - Terms of Reference - September 2017 ⇩

Purpose / Summary

To request that the group adopt the reviewed terms of reference as decided upon at the planning session on July 26, 2017.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Children’s Services Reference Group adopt the Terms of Reference with the proposed amendments.

Options

1. Adopt the recommendation (as shown in track changes in the attached document).

Implications: This will allow the inclusion of changes to make the Children’s Services Reference Group appropriate and current.

2. Do not adopt the changes.

Implications: The Terms of Reference remain unchanged and fail to reflect the current intentions of the Children’s Services Reference Group.

3. Make other recommendations.

Implications: Unknown.

Background

The current terms of reference were adopted on 28 February 2017 (Policy Number: POL17/11• Adopted: 28/02/2017 • Minute Number: MIN17.150 • File: 46176E • Produced By: Corporate & Community Services Group • Review Date: 1/12/2020)

At the planning session held on July 26 2017, the Children’s Services Reference Group was given the option to review the terms of reference, the facilitators report from this planning session is attached to the report. The Group agreed to review the terms of reference policy and the proposed amendments agreed to by the Children Service Reference Group were minimal, but identified to reflect the revised vision of the group.

The proposed changes are highlighted below and in the attached Policy:

2. STATEMENT

Council recognises the value of investing in programs and is committed to projects that support children and families and embraces a strategic direction that plans for facilities and services to meet the growth and development of children and families in the Shoalhaven.

3.2 Membership

Membership of the Group is open to all members of the community with an interest in advocating on behalf of and protecting the rights of children, and families and/or sharing information and advice to promote the development of children in the Shoalhaven. Every

attempt will be made to ensure that there are representatives from the Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Community and the CALD community in the group.

Any individual, representatives of an organisation, service or agency, who agree to work within the purpose of the Group may become a member. Only one representative from any one organisation may vote.

Membership is by application to the Group.

Policy Implications

Review and amendment of the Children’s Services Reference Group terms of reference to make them relevant and up to date and in line with the Groups direction.

Financial Implications

No additional financial implications result from reaffirming the Children’s Services Reference Group terms of reference.