Living Change community meeting in Halls Creek
13 June 2012
On Wednesday 16 May 2012, Wunan hosted a community meeting on its Living Change initiative at the Shire Hall in Halls Creek. Around 80 people attended the meeting, which was a chance for people to read the interim community report on consultations to date in Halls Creek, discuss the proposed model, ask questions and receive answers.
Ian Trust, Executive Director of Wunan started the meeting by describing the need for change in Halls Creek using his “river diagram”. Paul Isaachsen then described how Living Change would work: the community would agree a set of responsibilities; a community panel would be established to support people who are not meeting their responsibilities and engage local services to help those people; and the panel would be able to place on the Basics Card people who continue not to meet their responsibilities.
Ian, Paul and Emma Carlin then answered questions from the floor. Here are some of the questions asked and responses given.
How would panel members be selected?
People would be able to nominate and asked to address criteria such the extent to which they meet the responsibilities, their knowledge of lore and culture, and their connection to Halls Creek. It is proposed that nominations would be selected by a panel made up of representatives from key organisations such as the KLC, KALACC, KLRC and Shire of Halls Creek.
How would a panel be established?
It is proposed that the panel would be established by legislation, which would protect panel members from threats of harm and being sued, and ensure that people meeting the panel are afforded natural justice and privacy. Panel members would have a similar status to a Justice of the Peace, receive appropriate training and be paid for their time.
How would families be referred to the panel? What about confidentiality?
When responsibilities have not been met, the panel would receive referrals from the schools and government agencies. The proposed legislation would address confidentiality issues.
What if people don’t meet the panel as requested?
People would be asked at least twice to attend. If they don’t and the panel is satisfied that there are no other options, the panel would place the person on the Basics Card.
What is the opinion of the services you are trying to move in on?
Living Change would not “move in” on existing services. It is seeking to wrap around families the services that are needed and ensure existing services support families to meet their responsibilities.
What about people who are on the Basics Card but don’t change their behaviour?
There will always be some people who don’t meet their responsibilities. Living Change would seek to support people who aren’t yet meeting their responsibilities but are capable of doing so.
If you are interested in hearing more about Living Change, please contact Paul Isaachsen on paul.isaachsen@wunan.org.au.