2009-13 Strategic Plan

• Director-General's message
• Our vision
• Our purpose
• Our values
• Our environment
• How our strategic plan works
• About us
• How to contact us

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Director-General's message

I am pleased to present the Department of Communities '2009-13 Strategic Plan', which outlines how the department will support the development of fair, cohesive and vibrant communities in Queensland.

Following machinery-of-government changes in March 2009, a number of former departments and entities were brought together to form the new Department of Communities. The department has responsibility for the following key services: child safety; community and youth justice; disability; home and community care; community mental health; housing and homelessness; multicultural; sport and recreation; and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, seniors and women.

The Department of Communities has four Ministers, each with discrete portfolio responsibilities:

• Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
• Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport
• Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women
• Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs.

The Ministers work closely together on areas of common interest to their portfolios.

The formation of the new department brings together the areas of government which have a community focus and will strengthen the provision of integrated services. We will also embed a ‘no wrong door' approach to streamline clients' access to services. We will achieve this through direct government service provision and funded services delivered by our non-government partner organisations.

This change also provides the Department of Communities with the opportunity to be a major contributor to social inclusion and community development activities across the state, focusing on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of Queensland's communities.

During 2009-13, the Department of Communities will concentrate on aligning services for improved client and community outcomes and delivering value for money by investing in proven and effective programs.

I look forward to working with our staff and stakeholders to make a difference to the future of Queensland's communities.

Linda A. Apelt
Director-General

Our vision

Fair, cohesive and vibrant Queensland communities.

Our purpose

Providing integrated community services that strengthen Queensland.

Our values

The department will undertake the delivery of its outputs in line with the following values:

• Client focus
• Collaboration
• Diversity
• Innovation
• Professional integrity.

Our environment

There are a number of environmental factors that shape the strategic direction of the department:

• increasing expectations for better access to comprehensive and quality services and pathways through complex systems
• increasing demand for, and cost of delivering, community services and facilities to a diverse and growing client base, comprising some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Queenslanders
• population growth and changing demographics, including changes in family and social structures due to greater mobility and employment patterns
• the impact of low levels of physical activity on people's health status, wellbeing and inclusion in community life
• the gap in life outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders
• major national reforms, with significant investments and performance commitments agreed by the Council of Australian Governments.

The global economic downturn may exacerbate some of these factors, as well as impose resource constraints on all levels of government and the not-for-profit and private sectors.

The strategic objectives detailed in this plan have been developed to respond to these environmental factors.

How our strategic plan works

Our strategic plan (PDF 621 kB) identifies our department's key priorities for the next four years. It achieves this by aligning our strategic objectives and associated strategies against the following four areas.

• Our key priorities for clients and stakeholders
• Our financial enablers
• Our business process and innovation enablers
• Our people and learning enablers

About us

The Department of Communities has been created to deliver services that contribute to building fair, cohesive and vibrant communities in Queensland and to promote positive community outcomes.

The department is a key driver of integrated community service delivery and a major contributor to social inclusion and community development across Queensland, especially for groups such as: women; children; families; people from culturally diverse backgrounds; seniors; youth; people with a disability; people with a mental illness; volunteers; carers; Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people. We also actively promote community participation by funding integrated services for individuals and families who experience disadvantage.

The department is committed to achieving the Queensland Government's ambitions of a fair, healthy, smart and green Queensland, as outlined in 'Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland'. It does this through the following outputs:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, including leading reforms to reduce the gap in life outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to affirm their cultures and assisting all Queenslanders to benefit from reconciliation
• Child Safety services, including leading the provision of services to ensure the safety of children and young people who have been harmed, or who are at risk of harm, enhancing the wellbeing of children in its care and administering adoption legislation in Queensland
• Community and Youth Justice services, including leading integrated service delivery to support vulnerable individuals, families and communities, providing effective youth justice services and encouraging seniors to participate in their community
• Disability, Home and Community Care and Community Mental Health services, including leading integrated service delivery to assist people with a disability, people with a mental illness and people who are ageing to participate in their community
• Housing and Homelessness services, including providing integrated social housing and housing services to low-to-moderate income families and individuals and providing assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Multicultural services, including leading the promotion of cultural diversity and enhancing community cohesion
• Sport and Recreation services, including services to encourage Queenslanders to lead active and healthy lifestyles, from participating in community sport and recreation activities to achieving at elite levels
• Women's services, including strategy and policy coordination and advice to government on issues affecting women, with a view to improving the economic security and health and wellbeing of women in Queensland.

How to contact us

Department of Communities

Address:

111 George Street
Brisbane Qld 4000

Postal address:

GPO Box 806
Brisbane Qld 4001

Phone:

13 13 04 (cost of a local call)

Fax:

(07) 3404 3570

TTY:

(07) 3896 3471

Email:

enquiries@communities.qld.gov.au

 

Last reviewed: 01 October 2009

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