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November 2021 Edition
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A Conversation with Dr Lindy Annakin
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“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Martin Luther King Jnr
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Dr Lindy Annakin will be addressing many questions about advocacy, speaking out and listening to those who do so in her keynote presentation at our Platform 1225 Forum on 20th April 2022. She’s dedicated her life and her work to honesty and truth and finding ways through complex systems to enable those telling their stories to be heard.
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She’s committed herself to this process through her PhD on Whistleblowing entitled: In the Public Interest or Out of Desperation? She’s further advanced her work through various roles in the government and non-government sector and as the lead writer of the out-of-home care chapter of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Reponses to Child Sexual Abuse. Dr Annakin is also the Coordinator of the Children in Care Collective.
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In conversation with Dr Annakin, we initially asked for her perspective on recent movements such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo when considering the complexities of speaking truth to power.
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“To me it feels a bit like the 1970s whereby we saw dramatic changes in activism, social attitudes and moral commitment. It’s an interesting reflection of that time of civil rights, anti-war and student protests. It is also about time for these issues. I think the demonstration of courage is emboldening for people raising issues. Someone showing moral courage also becomes a standard bearer for people generally when speaking to such important issues.”
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For more information about Dr Annakin’s keynote presentation and Platform 1225, click here
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Congratulations Gold Coast!
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Gold Coast Youth Foyer is Open
The $12.3 million project consists of 40 self-contained apartments, communal spaces and offices with 24-hour on-site supervision and support for young people aged between 16-25 who are at risk of homelessness. The Queensland Government partnered with the Gold Coast Youth Service and Community Housing Queensland Ltd to manage the project.
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Minister for Communities and Housing, Leeanne Enoch, noted that young people are eligible for this program if they are willing to show a genuine commitment to education, training or employment and contribute 25% of their income to rent. The Youth Foyer provides pathways to independence through training, education and employment support as well as skills for maintaining a rental property. Gold Coast Youth Service CEO Maria Leebeek said Youth Foyers provide pathways out of poverty and the cycle of homelessness.
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“Through on-going support, stable, affordable accommodation and linkages to education training and employment, young people can achieve genuine independence and have positive, hopeful futures.”
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Click above for 7News Gold Coast video
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Mandatory Vaccinations
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This paper, facilitated by QCOSS on behalf of Queensland Peak Networks, provides general legal guidance regarding mandating the COVID-19 vaccination for staff and service users. Read here
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A webinar was held Tuesday 30th. The recording is available here
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Free Financial Counselling
Tenants Queensland is offering a free financial counselling service to assist with areas of debt including:
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- Rental arrears (overdue or outstanding rent) in current or previous properties
- Debts in utility bills such as water, electricity, gas and phone
- Credit debts including loans, credit cards and consumer leases
- Fines – at any stage
- Complaints about your utility or credit
- Analysing your current financial situation
- Budgeting & Managing debt
- Advice and information around credit and bankruptcy
- Referring to other services to help in other areas outside of TQ’s scope
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Phone: 1300 744 263 | 9am-5pm Monday - Friday
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(up to 7pm Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
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AOD resources for youth workers
This short package created by Dovetail is designed to give workers, services and communities who engage with young people an overview of the Youth Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) field.
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You will learn about how you fit into the Youth AOD Sector, some key terms associated with youth AOD work, the other major players in the sector, and some basic information about working with young people affected by alcohol and other drug use.
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This module takes around an hour to complete.
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For more awesome AOD resources, click here
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New User Friendly QDN Website
The website has been purpose-built and designed by people with disabilities and their advocates for Queenslanders with disabilities and their carers to connect to local champions as part of a virtual community to help them access the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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The website covers various topics focused on assisting people to obtain information, support, resources, and tools they need around NDIS, health, housing, transport and much more!
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You can check it out here
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One-stop-shop for education, health and community services
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As part of Queensland’s first FamilyLinQ school, Kingston State School are hosting a one-stop-shop for education, health and community services. The Byran Foundation, Minister Grace Grace and the Palaszczuk Government have partnered to deliver the program. The program is about community care and creating opportunities for families to get the health and employment support they need.
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The school-based hub will connect local families with health services and training initiatives for parents and will open in 2023. Another FamilyLinQ hub is set to open at the new primary school in Logan Reserve in 2024.
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Features of the hubs include onsite health services, a soft entry space including a kitchen and informal lounge and central play space, as well as adult education training programs to build parent’s skills and qualifications. Children who are already enrolled at the schools or future students, their parents, carers, siblings and other family members will all be able to access the hub.
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Queensland Housing Investment Growth Initiative (QHIGI)
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Expressions of interest for the QHIGI are open.
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The QHIGI has been delivered through the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025, with the aim of accelerating the delivery of over 6000 new social homes for Queenslanders by 2025. The Queensland Government plans to invest $1.813 billion in an integrated capital investment program to establish more sustainable housing outcomes for vulnerable Queenslanders.
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The Qld Government are partnering with the private sector to deliver new infrastructure as well as calling on the property sector, institutional investors and local governments to team up with the community housing sector to come forth with ideas. There are three different programs to submit expressions of interests under, which are:
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- The Housing Investment Fund
For developers, institutional investors, Registered Community Housing Providers (RCHP’s) and eligible government entities: to bring forward innovative proposals to add new social home and affordable housing builds, refits or redevelopment across Queensland. Click here to learn more and get involved
- Quick Starts
For RCHP’s: this is a capital investment program accelerating planned construction and redevelopment expenditure to deliver a variety of housing types for people who are eligible for social housing. The Government are seeking proposals for priority projects (set to commence 2021-2022-23) and/or pipeline projects (can commence from July 2023-25). Click here to learn more and get involved
- Help to Home
For property owners, landlords and RCHP’s: to partner together to deliver private rental outcomes for people who are eligible for social housing, using properties that will be sub-leased to RCHP’s. RHCP’s will be invited to apply to deliver social housing services from selected properties from 28th October 2021 – 18th November 2021. Click here to learn about the application and evaluation process
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Click here for more information
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Adjust our settings
An approach to cyberbullying
In line with the recommendations of Adjust our settings – A community approach to address cyberbullying among children and young people in Queensland, Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy developed internet-based resources in consultation with QYHC. Read here
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In October 2020, the Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF) was amended to include a requirement to have anti-cyberbullying policies and procedures in place.
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Calling For Case Examples
Changes to the Queensland Criminal Code: New legislation requires every adult in Queensland to report information relating to child sexual offences committed by an adult in relation to a child under 16 years of age to the Queensland Police Service. Failure to do so is punishable by 3 years in prison. The Queensland Criminal Code (Child Sexual Offences Reform) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020 received assent in Parliament on the 14 September 2020 and commenced in Queensland on the 5 July 2021.
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Following information and practice forums across the Youth, Women’s and Sexual Assault sectors a Working Group has been formed to further assist organisations in implementing this legislation.
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If anyone has feedback or case examples to share, please contact the working group via Lorraine on 0448 073 463 or lorraine@qyhc.org.au
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To read more about the Laws targeting sexual offences against children, click here
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Gambling Community
Benefit Fund (GCBF)
There have been some changes to the GCBF. For the first time, annual grants of up to $100,000 will be available in a GCBF super round.
Super Round
The super round will be available to eligible organisations in the first round of 2022, which will close on 28 February.
Organisations planning to apply for the super round, should read the funding guidelines before applying for funding in rounds prior to the super round as there are some restrictions.
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GCBF encourages all organisations to apply for funding, including those from some of our under-represented applicant areas including domestic and family violence services, multicultural groups and those located in regional and remote Queensland.
Other changes to the GCBF program include:
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- Four funding rounds each year, instead of five.
- The first round of every year will be a super round, and the remaining three rounds will have funding of up to $35,000 available.
The closing dates for 2022 are:
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- 28 February
- 31 May
- 31 August
- 31 October
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Find out more about the grants and how to apply here
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The social and emotional wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ youth
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Despite increasing social acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) people in Australia, many young people continue to have experiences that negatively impact their social and emotional wellbeing. To differing extents, mainstream service providers are working to understand the needs of this group and respond accordingly. However, there continues to be a gap in the evidence on LGBTIQA+ young people and how best to respond to their social and emotional needs.
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This webinar will help practitioners adopt an inclusive approach to working with young people with diverse sexuality, gender or variations of sex characteristics. Specifically it:
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- Presents findings from the largest ever study on the health and wellbeing of LGBTQA+ youth aged 14-21, Writing Themselves In 4
- Shares a first-hand account of seeking help from services
- Presents practical considerations to engage and respond to LGBTIQA+ young people.
This webinar will be of interest to professionals working in domestic and family violence, mental health, child protection, out-of-home care and other social services.
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REGISTER HERE and tune in on Thursday, 9 December 2021, 12pm-1pm AEST, 1pm-2pm AEDT (Find your timezone here)
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A report undertaken by researchers from RMIT University, Curtin University and Monash University examines the housing, homelessness, mental health, alcohol and drug and juvenile justice service usage pathways for out-of-home care (OHC) leavers in Victoria and Western Australia.
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Using Victorian Government data from the 1,848 young people who’d left care in 2013 and 2014, the study revealed that in the four years after they’d left care, 54 per cent experience homelessness; 11 per cent were admitted to hospital for a mental health issue; 8 per cent were admitted to hospital for self-harm; and 31 per cent had received either a custodial or community youth justice sentence.
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The research found a distinct lack of transitional planning for young people leaving OHC and that this exacerbates the fact that care leavers have few options, limited material, social and family supports, and few or no safety nets to fall back on should they experience hardship or difficulty. Read the report here.
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Undertaken by researchers from The University of Sydney, this report examines discrimination across age, gender, race and indigeneity in existing policy, law and practice in Australia’s private rental sector, including the impact of informal tenancies and the increasing role of digital technologies.
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The research finds there is a growing number of informal and shared tenancies, increasing the potential for discrimination. Informal tenants have few renter’s rights and those in share-housing can also face discrimination by other tenants, including via little-regulated digital technologies.
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The report also examines the role of digital housing technologies in mediating discrimination across the rental system. At present, they reflect the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, however international examples show they can be used to support tenants. Read the report here.
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“Our message is clear - we want Queensland women and children to live a life free of violence” - Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
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The theme of this year’s White Ribbon Day was ‘How Can Men Make Change? Learn, Give, Take Action’ - a reminder of the critical role men play in changing attitudes and behaviours, which contribute to domestic and family violence.
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The Year 6 Highlights Card of the Queensland Government’s 10 year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy (2016-2026) draws heavily on the Queensland Social Survey 2021 (also recently released), which measures Queenslanders attitudes toward domestic and family violence.
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The Premier said the report shows that more Queenslanders are recognising what constitutes domestic and family violence, including controlling and intimidating behaviours.
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“There’s been an enormous effort to increase awareness of domestic and family violence in all its forms – in the classroom and in the workplace,” the Premier said. “However, we recognise more needs to be done to increase community confidence to report domestic and family violence incidents, and we will continue to work to educate and empower Queenslanders on how they can intervene in a safe, proactive and respectful way.”
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Other key results from the Year 6 Highlights Card include:
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- 100,976 calls were made to support lines in 2020-21 compared to 128,829 in the previous year
- In 2020-21 police attended nearly 120,000 DFV related matters, a 13 per cent increase on the year before
- 69 per cent of Queenslanders reported they would call the police if they were aware of physical domestic and family violence involving a neighbour, compared to 78 per cent in 2020 and 79 per cent in 2017
- Duty lawyers provided 25,099 hours of legal assistance and advice to aggrieved and respondent persons involved in domestic and family violence matters, increasing from 22,592 hours in 2019-20
- 26 per cent of domestic and family violence court applications were dealt with in a specialist court environment with dedicated magistrates and specialist wrap around support services.
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To read the Year 6 Highlights Card, click here
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Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices):
Securing Our Rights, Securing Our Future Report
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National Housing Conference 2022
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NHC Melbourne 2022 program includes an overview of the five conference plenary sessions as well as the first 12 concurrent sessions. The theme for next year’s NHC is Resilience, Connection, Transformation.
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For more information, click here
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Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
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Find services in oneplace
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oneplace is an online directory for Queensland parents, families and professionals that lists community service throughout Queensland. There are more than 58,000 services that provide help with a range of issues including parenting, domestic and family violence, legal issues, mental health and counselling, housing, financial and food assistance. It is free and easy to use. View it here
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Human Rights in Housing and Homelessness
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The Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) came into effect on 1 January 2020 and requires the consideration of an individual’s human rights in the delivery of government services. This includes public services delivered by non-government providers.
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There are 23 human rights protected in Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld). It is worth being familiar with the rights, and keep this poster handy as a quick reference guide.
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QCOSS is delivering a range of engagement activities to support the housing and homelessness sector to act compatibly with the Act and increase human rights literacy. QCOSS is providing 1:1 assistance to help you implement the Act in your workplace. You can speak to QCOSS about a specific situation, a policy approach, or any general human rights questions. To talk to one of the QCOSS team, call or register for a call back on the support request page here
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QCOSS Human Rights Champions can be found here
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RESOURCES:
Introducing the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld)
to new staff and others
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Considering human rights as we make service delivery decisions is the best way to engage the human rights of everyday Queenslanders. You can make sure you are giving proper consideration by following QCOSS’s easy 4 step process.
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There are a range of resources to help staff to understand the Act and consider human rights in service delivery decisions. You can view existing resources here or sign up to the community of practice, ensuring you will receive new resources as they are released.
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The following resources are introductory, designed to introduce the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld). These are helpful resources for staff and board member induction processes.
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