report on statewide 2016-17 diversity implementation plans · diversity planning includes planning...

Report on Statewide 2016-17 Diversity Implementation Plans September 2017

Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Themes ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Data Collection.............................................................................................................................................................. 2

Implementing the plans ................................................................................................................................................. 3

Diversity planning process ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Statewide data for 2016-17 ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Statewide Diversity Planning data by special needs group ................................................................................... 5

People from Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander backgrounds ................................................................................ 5

People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds ........................................................................ 6

People living in rural and remote areas ........................................................................................................................ 7

People experiencing financial disadvantage or socially disadvantage ......................................................................... 8

People who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless .................................................................................. 9

Veterans ...................................................................................................................................................................... 10

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) .................................................................. 11

People who are care leavers ...................................................................................................................................... 12

People affected by forced adoption or removal .......................................................................................................... 13

Dementia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Next Steps .................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Introduction

On 1 July 2016, the funding and administration of the Home and Community Care (HACC) program services

changed significantly. People seeking access to community care services now access services based on their

age.

Services for older people (people aged 65 and over and Aboriginal people aged 50 and over) are now

provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) funded by the Commonwealth

Department of Health (DoH);

Services for younger people (people aged under 65 and Aboriginal people aged under 50) will continue to

be provided by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under the HACC program

for younger people (HACC PYP).

The Bilateral Agreement specifies that Victorian HACC providers that transitioned to the CHSP will be required to

continue to undertake Diversity Planning for 3 years to the end of June 2019. Diversity planning will therefore be a

requirement for both CHSP funded and HACC-PYP funded organisations.

In Victoria there are 414 service providers jointly funded under the HACC-PYP and CHSP. This report is based on

the information provided by 361 service providers who had submitted a Diversity plan by the due date in December

2016. Diversity Advisors continue to work with service providers who are still progressing with their diversity plan.

Statewide Diversity Plan report 2016-17 2

Service providers were required to demonstrate an understanding of both their target population and their existing

client population, identify barriers to service access and service responsiveness and develop diversity planning

priorities for 2016-17. Providers were required to submit a population planning spreadsheet and a Diversity

Implementation plan for the period December 2016 to December 2017 and a review of their previous plan.

Diversity planning includes planning for the special needs groups as well as other diversity characteristics that may

be a barrier to accessing services such as dementia, age, socioeconomic status, gender, faith or spirituality.

The ASM and Diversity Information Kit 2016-17 provided information on statewide areas for the development of

their forward plan. The focus areas for the 2016-17 diversity plans included the CHSP special needs groups,

implementation of My Aged Care, increasing use of the DHHS Language services credit line, training and

workforce and the recruitment of staff and volunteers. The information kit was distributed in October 2016.

This report is a summary of the data and information collected through the state-wide analysis of Diversity Plans. It

provides a statwide picture of diversity work that organisations are doing in 2016-17 to support the special needs

groups to improve access to services and to receive culturally responsive services.

The information and data analysis contained in this report is based solely on the submitted Diversity plans and

information relating to the nominated priority areas.

The analysis will assist DHHS, DoH and in particular the Diversity Advisors to identify areas of innovation or issues

and to plan for the following 18 months.

Themes

This statewide report will focus on the following themes:

People from Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander backgrounds

People from Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrouds

People living in rural and remote areas

People experiencing financial disadvantage or social disadvantage

People who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless

Veterans

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI)

People who are care leavers

People affected by forced adoption or removal

Dementia

Data Collection

The Diversity Advisors utilised a standardised excel spreadsheet format in order to allow for a comparison of the

regional data. The data collection tool also allowed each region to filter and generate reports on specific areas of

importance to them. Under each specific needs group, data is collected under the following sub categories:

Partnerships, links or MOUs with new groups or organisations

Recruitment strategies (e.g. staff with diverse backgrounds or targeted skills)

New or updated policies/procedures/practice tools

New or updated practices (e.g. service coordination)

New or updated client/community information materials

New or updated service responses (e.g. PAG service model)

other

Most regions supported service providers to undertake their diversity planning by conducting regional/sub-regional

workshops and visiting agencies as requested.


Implementing the plans

In addition to the state-wide review, each Diversity Advisor produces a regional summary that informs their

individual work plans. This information is reported back to regional alliance meetings. Alongside the regional

alliance meetings, Diversity Advisors attend network meetings and facilitate workshops to help embed diversity

planning and support service providers to successfully achieve priorities outlined in their plans.

This approach ensures that service providers are supported to implement their priorities and receive ongoing

support on effective ways to remove the barriers clients experience.


Diversity planning process

The majority of agencies used a population based planning approach and took advantage of assistance provided

by the Diversity Advisors to support the development of their plans.

Data collected by the Diversity Advisors shows that:

78% of providers based their diversity plan on the population characteristics in their local government area

as evidenced by the submission of a completed population planning spreadsheet.

82% of providers had contact with their regional Diversity Advisor for support to complete the plan or they

attended an information workshop.

Statewide data for 2016-17

Diversity Plans submitted by region

Statewide submitted plans by provider types

ACCO, 19 Community health service, 38

Health/nursing service, 76

Local government, 69

Multicultural/ethnospecific, 38

Other non-government

organisations, 121

Fig 2: Statewide number agencies that submitted a 2016-2017 diversity plan, by provider type


Statewide Diversity Planning data by special needs group

People from Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander backgrounds

Working in partnerships, strengthening links or developing MOUs with Aboriginal organisations or groups remains a

high priority in 2016-17 with 172 providers (48%) identifying this as an intended area of work. This work is

supported by the Aboriginal Development Officers (ADOs), who are boosting the links between ‘mainstream’

providers and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations (ACCOs). The ADOs support a range of work

including helping providers to be realistic in developing partnerships with ACCOs because there are many more

mainstream providers compared to ACCOs. ADOs have been working to assist providers with the recruitment of

Aboriginal workforce and supporting the implementation of ‘Imagining Cultural Competence’ training.

Service providers developed priorities that focused on connecting with Aboriginal organisations and workers with

the aim of understanding the needs of the community, improving access to services, promoting services and

hosting events to promote positive examples of Aboriginal clients and community. One example of this was an art

exhibition featuring the work of an Aboriginal client. Further, service providers highlighted a commitment to

developing and implementing Reconciliation Action Plans, undertaking cultural audits, reviewing their access and

service delivery processes and developing policies that ensure local elders are invited to community launches to

conduct a Welcome to Country.

020406080

100120140160180200220

172

25

116 116

94

71 73

11

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 3 : Number of providers that included Aboriginal actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds

Diversity Advisors report a renewed emphasis on the effective use of interpreters. This has been highlighted by

providers supporting clients through the transfer to the NDIS and the My Aged Care system. Providers are also

working on effective communication and translation of service brochures. Partnerships and links between

providers to support people from CALD backgrounds was identified by 158 providers, making it the most common

action undertaken by providers.

Service providers plans included developing and hosting culturally specific events as well as attending established

cultural events in the community in order to reach out to new clients and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive

environments. Others have noted they plan to provide transport opportunities to support CALD communities to

access their service and a number will use cooking and gardening as engagement activities. There is also a focus

on faith groups with some service providers building connections with faith leaders as ways to opening up access

for potential clients whilst others are linking in to established senior citizen clubs. Some service providers noted

that they aim to improve their intake process and make them available in specific languages and others are looking

to celebrate the involvement of the CALD community within their organisation through social media and other

communication platforms. There is an increased focus on training for staff to support the use of interpreter

services.

020406080

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158

31

137

110 115 139

102

9 No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 4 : Number of providers that included CALD actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People living in rural and remote areas

Innovative practices in this client group includes new service responses by some providers that are actively

reaching outwards to remote communities. PCPs have helped in this space through the ‘Bridges out of poverty’

run by the community development officers. Tele-health and skype usage continues to grow. Providers are

identifying issues such as the need for providers to work together to support the needs of men living in remote

areas. This group, in particular, farmers do not respond well to the traditionally female oriented workforce in

community organisations i.e. ‘women telling them what to do’. Providers are recognising this barrier to services

and working on strategies to support farmers in remote areas and other men.

020406080

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46

3 11 25 29 24 21

3

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 5 Number of providers that included Rural and Remote actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People experiencing financial disadvantage or socially disadvantage

Financial and social disadvantage areas are often interrelated and providers tend to look at strategies in this way.

One challenge highlighted in the plans is the changing role of intake. With the introduction of My Aged Care there

has been an increase in the identification of financial disadvantage. Providers are looking at partnering with

organisations that can support a person with financial and related issues.

Service providers identifying a priority under this theme are aiming to connect with partner organisations,

Supported Residential Services, housing support services and active ageing committees to establish connections

and ensure the needs of people who are financially or socially disadvantaged are being addressed and they are

better placed to accommodate these people. Service providers will aim to improve service coordination for these

groups by working together to create better pathways to services. There is also a commitment to review

promotional and marketing materials to specifically target these groups and promoting home visit options to clients

who have transport problems and issues accessing community based services. Service providers also highlighted

a need to update policies and procedures related to fees, ensuring their services are affordable and removing any

financial barriers that may be preventing access to services. The way services are organised and managed will

also be reviewed with some noting that they will utilise volunteers and community partners to make connections

with potential clients. Many regions will be undertaking activities to raise the general awareness of the specialist

services and referral pathways available.

020406080

100120140160180200220

75

2

42

66 55

41 44

0

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 6 : Number of providers that included financial disadvantage or social disadvantages, by type of action.


People who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless

The data reported for this group is intertwined in the work that providers do with people at risk of financial or social

disadvantage.

Whilst there is a certain amount of overlap between priorities focusing on those who are financially disadvantaged

and those that are homeless or at risk of homelessness, there are some specific priorities identified under the

homelessness theme. These include, developing relationships with Support Residential Services and

homelessness services to improve referral pathways, piloting the ‘at risk of homelessness’ screening tool through

intake and assessment processes and providing council staff as points of contact for advice, advocacy and social

connections.

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46

0

26 32 22 16 17

2

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 7 : Number of providers that included homeless or at risk of becoming homeless actions in their diversity plans, by type of action.


Veterans

Service providers are in the process of identifying the specific needs relating to people who are veterans. This is a

new focus area for providers.

Service providers focused their actions primarily on developing relationships/partnerships with RSL organisations in

order to connect and appropriately communicate with Veterans, building the capacity of their staff to understand the

needs of veterans through workshops and trainings and reviewing policies and procedures to ensure their needs

are appropriately responded to. Most providers already have a relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs

for service provision.

020406080

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21 1

16 11 2 7 5 2

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 8 : Number of providers that included people who are veterans actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI)

Staff training represented 40% of the actions identified by providers under the theme of LGBTI. An increase in

providers setting up LGBTI specific support groups based on local areas has been noted in the plans. One of the

key actions under the ‘new or updated policies/procedures/practice tools is that more providers are undertaking

work related to achieving the Rainbow tick i.e. self-assessment and planning tool, LGBTI inclusive practice

workshops.

The plans reflected the need to build relationships with LGBTI networks in order to increase the visibility of the

services offered and understand the barriers faced by the community. Service providers also highlighted the need

to review their communication and marketing materials and will focus on incorporating LGBTI images into their

marketing materials, developing content for newsletters specifically relating to LGBTI issues, raise rainbow flags

during IDAHOBIT day and reviewing the HACC Pack for support in creating LGBTI inclusive environments. Other

service providers will attend Pride March to demonstrate their support and commitment to the community, organise

specific LGBTI seniors’ events and offer social support opportunities for identified clients.

Providers are embedding LGBTI training as part of diversity orientation/training for staff, volunteers and board

members.

020406080

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No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 9: Number of providers that included LGBTI actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People who are care leavers

Care Leavers is also a new special needs group for service providers to consider in their plans. The data collection

reflects lower numbers of providers have chosen care leavers as a priority. Diversity Advisors are beginning to

work with groups who represent care leavers to gain an awareness of the issues. Providers need to understand the

needs of this group and how to work with them in a planned and respectful way.

Service providers highlighted the need to build staff capacity in this area and will undertake a range of training and

education sessions. To support this training service providers will also look to develop relationships with

organisations supporting this community and then use their acquired knowledge to review and amend their policies

and practices as appropriate.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

16 0

45

11 5 3 1 0

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 10: Number of providers that included care leavers actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


People affected by forced adoption or removal

People affected by forced adoption or removal is another new special needs group for service providers to consider

in their plans. The data collection reflects lower numbers of providers have chosen this special needs group as a

priority. Diversity Advisors are working with specific peak agencies who support people affected by forced adoption

or removal such as Vanish, Forgotten Australians and the Stolen Generations. It is important that agencies fully

understand the issues and gain an awareness of how to work inclusively with people from this group.

The service providers creating priorities under this theme will seek to improve awareness of lived experience of this

group and the barriers they can experience in accessing services. Central to this awareness raising will be

developing relationships with peak body organisations and reflecting on any current clients who may fit within this

group and could benefit from additional support.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

12 5 22

7 1 3 1 0

No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 11Number of providers that included parents separated from children by forced adoption or removal actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


Dementia

Dementia is not listed as a special needs group because it is considered core business for funded service

providers. Staff training or professional development remains the most common action under the Dementia area

with 31% of providers identifying training needs. In particular this has been highlighted as an area by Aboriginal

Community Controlled organisations (ACCOs) to undertake the ‘Increasing awareness of dementia’ and ‘working

with people with dementia’ training. Also among the ACCOs there is an increased recognition by providers of the

prevalence of dementia within the LGBTI Aboriginal community.

Service providers continue to have an ongoing commitment to supporting people living with dementia and memory

loss. Alongside the professional development of staff there are a number of priority areas identified in plans.

Across the state there is a strong focus on partnerships and specifically participating in dementia network, working

with dementia specialist organisations, local providers and Carers Victoria. There is also a commitment to improve

community information available on dementia related services. Service provider will use a variety of approaches to

engage people with dementia into their service and make it more accessible including:

open day sessions with carers and potential clients;

increasing CALD communities awareness of dementia and support available;

building the capacity of the wider community so they can support local residents living with dementia as

part of a dementia friendly communities project;

reviewing and redeveloping the way exercise groups are organised so they are appropriate for people with

dementia;

piloting a new younger onset dementia social inclusion day program;

supporting a person with younger onset dementia to work as a volunteer;

coordinate mixed social inclusion programs that include people with dementia; and

developing referral pathways with organisations that facilitate the transition for people with dementia from

work to post-work life.

020406080

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90

4

112

73 74 59

72

7 No

. of

age

nci

es

Fig 12 Number of providers that included dementia actions in their diversity plan, by type of action.


Next Steps

The Diversity Advisors will continue to support providers to ensure barriers to service provision for people with

diverse needs are identified and addressed. Part of this work includes ongoing training requirements across the

range of special needs groups. Staff training remains an ongoing priority for providers. While service delivery

responses and practice associated with special needs groups improves the next focus for the workforce is

understanding the concept of diversity within diversity.

Regional summaries have been developed by Diversity Advisors and are available for more specific information

within each region.

Organisations are encouraged to continue taking an whole of organisation approach to diversity planning and to

measure and evaluate the outcomes from successful collaboration between organisations for improved access for

all clients.

For information about this report please contact: Christine Robinson, Acting Manager Sector Development

on email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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