 MAV Advocacy Campaign - Early Years The MAV has launched an election advocacy campaign calling on the Commonwealth Government to significantly increase its investment in the early years and to fully fund all of its early childhood policy reforms. A key focus of the campaign is a request for sufficient funding to local government to build, modify and renovate kinder facilities to cater for the increased hours to deliver the COAG ‘universal access’ policy in 2013 without impacting on vital three-year old kinder programs and playgroups that make up Victoria’s unique integrated service system. The MAV is calling for a $600 million kindergarten infrastructure funding injection from the Commonwealth in response to capacity assessment reports completed by all municipalities. The MAV is also be advocating for additional funding to deliver change management programs for local government; full funding of the additional kinder hours to deliver 15 hours universal access; immediate investment in workforce initiatives to ensure demand for kinder-qualified staff can be met; and more realistic transition timelines. A position paper has been released to all councils as part of the campaign. For further information, email Jan Barrett or phone 9667 5552. Carers Card The State Government has launched the new Carers Card and Victorian Charter Supporting People in Care Relationships. Copies of the Charter will be sent to councils. The Carer Card program commences from 1 July, 2010 and the first carer cards will be issued from 1 August. More than 700 businesses across the state including Harvey Norman, Intrepid Travel, GIO, Subway and Ultra Tune have joined the program by offering discounts on everything from white goods and furniture, to optical, travel and insurance. Many councils have already registered to provide discounted leisure services. For further information, email the Department of Human Services or phone 1800 901 958. Review of councils' summer strategies with HACC clients Thirty-five council representatives attended the MAV workshop to review councils’ summer strategies with HACC clients on 23 June. Greater Shepparton City Council provided a case example of their Heatwave Plan and implementation over last summer, and further work being done in preparation for next summer. The Department of Health’s Environment Unit and consultants presented on the consultation plan for discussions with councils as part of the evaluation of the State Heatwave Plan 2009/10. Jeannine Jacobson from the Department of Health’s Aged Care Branch discussed the work she is doing to prepare some guidelines for continuity of HACC service delivery in high temperatures, and information was provided on the CFA HACC training program developed with assistance of a steering committee and councils participating in a pilot. There was discussion on how councils want to participate in the State evaluation of their Heatwave Plan and Guidelines and methods for better sharing the emerging procedures and practices councils are developing around managing HACC services through high risk weather conditions. The MAV will provide a summary of the workshop, presentations and follow up actions shortly, to all council HACC managers. For further information, email Derryn Wilson or phone 9667 5579. Migrant Access to Aged Care Services The MAV, in partnership with the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health, will hold a workshop for local council officers on 27 July. For more information, email Con Pagonis. Food Safety Legislation Changes The first round of legislative changes to flow from the Food Amendment (Regulation Reform) Act 2009 is due to take effect on 1 July 2010. There has been a considerable body of preparatory work undertaken by the Department of Health, the MAV and councils for these legislative changes. An update on these activities is provided in a recent MAV Members Brief. The Department of Health has also recently (22 June)
provided detailed information about the declaration relating to the new
business classifications, including new registration forms, and
information
flyers that can be provided to food businesses. These materials
are
available by emailing the Food
Safety Unit at the Department of Health. It is important for councils to understand the advice from the Department of Health on registration fees (mostly business as usual until food businesses renew registration). Council officers should also continue to ensure their IT software vendors make the technological changes that are being paid for by the Department of Health. More detailed information about the new local government reporting requirements will be provided as soon as the Declaration is available from the Department of Health. There will also be further advice provided about issues relating to the treatment of community organizations. For further information, email Rosemary Hancock or phone 9667 5520. 2010 - Year of Women in Local Government The MAV, supporting the campaign by the Women’s Participation in Local Government Coalition (WPILGC), is seeking endorsement of the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter by all Victorian councils to mark 2010 as the Year of Women in Local Government. Correspondence has been sent to all Mayors encouraging their councils to endorse the Women’s Charter, nominate a Charter Champion and to develop 3x3 Action Plans. The Action Plans will identify three actions for each of the three principles contained in the Charter – gender equality, diversity and active citizenship. For further information, email Jenny Ashby, WPILGC Consultant or phone 0419 878 025. Local Government Leaders Preventing Violence Against Women Conference All councils are encouraged to attend the inaugural Local Government Leaders Preventing Violence Against Women Conference on Thursday 26 August at the MCG. Keynote speakers includes The Hon. Maxine Morand, Minister for Women; Garth Japhet, Director of Heartlines in South Africa; and Jude Munro, CEO, Brisbane City Council. The conference will examine sector specific prevention strategies Victorian councils are undertaking across a range of settings to build capacity. This provides a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and develop partnerships which foster safe and inclusive environments in which women and men can participate on equal terms. For further details, email Kellie Nagle. Register online Maternal and Child Health Nurses - Transition to new national health registration scheme from 1 July The MAV has received formal notification from the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) of the transfer of regulatory powers to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The new scheme will be effective from 1 July 2010 under the Health Practitioner National Law (Victoria) 2009. The change to accreditation and registration for all health professionals supports COAG’s decision in March 2008 to provide a more flexible workforce in Australia. A number of key changes for nurses and midwives have been introduced including criminal history and identity checks for new registrants, requirements to have professional indemnity insurance prior to practicing, mandatory reporting of health professionals who have engaged in professional misconduct, and mandatory continuing professional development of at least 20 hours per year in each register. The registration process will be streamlined to create a single national registration body. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) will be the national administration body for all relevant health professions with the national and state offices both located in Melbourne. Further information about the transition arrangements and the new NMBA can is available here. From 1 July, MCH nurses will be registered in two registers – one for nurses and one for midwives. Recognition of the additional qualification of MCH nurse will no longer be a notation on the register as previously with the NBV. MCH nurses will still be able to practice in Victoria. The MAV will convene a meeting with MCH representatives, other key stakeholders and university course providers to respond to issues relating to MCH nurse recruitment and professional development. For further information, email Helen Rowe. Evaluation of the Implementation of the Revised Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Key Ages and Stages (KAS) Framework The evaluation of the Implementation of the Revised Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Key Ages and Stages (KAS) Framework will be conducted over three years between 2010 and 2012 and is based on an outcomes framework involving process and impact evaluation. It will focus on the MCH nurse and families attending the MCH service. The evaluation seeks to establish if changes introduced through the Revised KAS Framework have made a difference to families and the MCH workforce, and if it has facilitated the consistent delivery of a quality ‘evidence based’ service. All MCH nurses across Victoria will be invited to complete a survey. Other evaluation activities will be conducted in 15 selected local government areas representing demographics of the general population, including parent surveys, parent focus groups, MCH nurse focus groups and semi-structured interviews and local service provider focus groups. Senior MCH managers will also be invited to attend focus groups. For further information contact Cathy Grove at the Centre for Community Child Health on 9345 4823 or 9345 6685. Changes to Australian Citizenship Test Australian Citizenship is primarily conferred through local government, usually by Mayors. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship has recently announced a number of changes to citizenship testing designed to ensure everyone who wishes to become an Australian citizen is given a fair opportunity to do so. Local Government and Multiculturalism Conference Keynote speakers and workshop themes for the 'Local Government & Multiculturalism Conference: Innovation & Leadership on the Ground', to be held on Friday 27 August in Wangaratta have been announced. Speakers include The Hon. Minister James Merlino, Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs; Cr Bill McArthur, President, MAV; and Mr Pino Migliorino, Chairperson, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia. In addition, there will be workshops on health and ageing; promoting change within councils; international students/temporary resident; and community relations. Guests are also invited to attend the pre-conference dinner on Thursday 26 August, which will include local entertainment and an address by Cr Geoff Lake, President, ALGA. Don't miss the opportunity to ensure your council is at the forefront of planning for culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse communities! Registrations will open the second week of July, and forms are available at the VMC’s website. For more information, email Dianne Tran or phone 9651 0629. This conference has been organised by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, in partnership with the Standing Committee on Local Government and Cultural Diversity, MAV and Wangaratta Rural City Council. Online Community Web Resource Victorian local councils have contributed to a recently launched international web resource which brings together policy makers and practitioners from around the world to share good practice on improving relations among migrants and their new communities. This “online community” highlights successful models and new initiatives. It illustrates the positive impact of migration and the benefits it can bring as new arrivals contribute to our economic, cultural and social life. Councils that have not submitted good practice case studies are encouraged to do so. For more information, email Con Pagonis. New migrant arrivals to your municipality The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Settlement Reporting Facility provides councils with statistical data on recently arrived migrants and refugees to their municipality. This settlement database profiles permanently visaed arrivals to Australia for the past five years by municipality. Instructions on how to use this resource are available. Any problems or queries can be emailed to the Department. Multifaith Victoria Forum The Victorian Multicultural Commission is convening a Multifaith Victoria Forum on Thursday, 5 August at Melbourne Town Hall. The Forum is for local government staff interested in engaging with local faith communities, establishing connections and networks, and undertaking multifaith activities. It will showcase Victorian multifaith initiatives and provide an opportunity to reflect and build upon the momentum generated by the Parliament of the World’s Religions, held in Melbourne in December 2009. Call for Award Nominations
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