CAFFSA Committees, Networks and Working groups
CAFFSA offers a range of meetings, forums and working groups for members to participate in.
For more information or to nominate email admin@childandfamily-sa.org.au
Committees
CAFFSA Policy and Advocacy Committee
The Policy and Advocacy Committee is currently chaired by Amalie Mannik from Centacare. Member agency representatives contribute to sector wide policy development and advocacy efforts that direct, influence and inform changes in government policy, practice and legislation and assist CAFFSA to further the organisation’s advocacy role as the state’s peak body for non-government child protection and family support services.
Terms of Reference
Broadly, the Policy and Advocacy Committee provides input, feedback and advice on whole-of-sector policy issues and policy problems and assists in the development of advocacy strategies and proposed policy outcomes. It assists in shaping whole of sector policy advice to government in the domains of child protection, child development, family support, prevention and early intervention and ensures policy positions are aligned to best practice and are evidence based.
CAFFSA Co-convened Meetings
CAFFSA co-convenes and co-chair a range of forums with the Department for Child Protection.
CAFFSA is committed to working in partnership with government stakeholders and ensuring that collaboration and problem-solving feature strongly in all of our discussions with our colleagues within DCP.
CAFFSA / DCP Executive Meeting
The DCP – CAFFSA Executive Forum was first convened in order to bridge discussions between the Department for Child Protection (DCP) and the non-government sector which is funded to deliver residential and out-of-home care services for children and young people in care. The DCP – CAFFSA Executive Forum comprised of the DCP Executive Team and the CAFFSA Board, CEO and Deputy CEO.
The forum’s Terms of Reference provide for robust discussion around issues and challenges facing the entire sector, government and non-government alike. It allows CAFFSA an opportunity to engage in solutions-focussed negotiation with our DCP colleagues, and also provides an opportunity to identify issues of joint strategic importance and areas for further collaboration, cooperation and partnership.
Residential Care Taskforce
The DCP and CAFFSA co-convened Residential Care Taskforce is focused on developing a sector wide approach to building capacity to deliver safe quality residential and supported independent living services to meet demand and individual needs of young people.
The Taskforce has a key role in building sector capacity for specific cohorts of young people, including Aboriginal young people and young people with disabilities, and developing pathways into family based care and independent living. Partnership and collaboration between DCP and non-government partners is crucial to ensuring that the needs of young people who need specialised responses are met.
For more information or to nominate for this meeting email admin@childandfamily-sa.org.au
Disability Working Group
Co-convened in 2023, the group focuses on strategies such as:
- improving the capacity to respond to demand, including the needs of different cohorts e.g. Aboriginal young people and young people from a CALD background
- ensuring safe and high quality services
- improved capacity to work within NDIS
- sharing best practice, learnings and resources
For more information or to nominate for this meeting email admin@childandfamily-sa.org.au