Click to start searching

News

Stay up-to-date with the latest law and policy updates impacting your not-for-profit.

Victorian Social Services Regulation Reform Information Session

19 May 2022

The Victorian Government is developing a new regulatory framework to help keep people who use Victoria’s social services safe from avoidable harms such as abuse and neglect.

Services within the scope of the new regulatory framework include:

  • out of home care services for children and young people, including secure care services
  • community based child and family services that are required to register under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 such as early parenting, intake services, Aboriginal liaison services and counselling services
  • disability services that are not covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including disability services provided or funded by the Transport Accident Commission or Workcover
  • supported residential services
  • family violence services including case management, support and accommodation services provided to people experiencing family violence and services for perpetrators
  • sexual assault services
  • homelessness services such as referral, support and accommodation services


Between January 2022 and March 2023, rules are being developed which will set in place some important parts of the framework, such as common service standards for all Victorian social services.

The Victorian Government has established a taskforce to support and guide the development of the rules and the taskforce has been meeting since April. The Department of Families Fairness and Housing invites you to meet members of the taskforce.

An information session will be held online on Wednesday 25 May 2022 from 2pm to 4pm, and repeated two weeks later (date to be announced). The sessions will be recorded. To register your interest in either session, please email regulationreform@dffh.vic.gov.au.

The aim of the session is to increase your understanding of the scheme and to help you work out when and how you can be involved in upcoming consultations on the new rules.

This session will provide:

  • an update since previous consultations on the legislation and the legislation passing Parliament in September 2021,
  • an introduction to regulation and the role of a regulator,
  • an overview of the legislation, whose in scope, key requirements, and matters to be prescribed in regulations, and
  • next steps


Update 7 June 2022

The next information session will be on Tuesday 14 June.
Time: 1.00 – 3.00 pm
Location:  Online – register through the Eventbrite link

Presenters:
Simon Corden, a public policy expert will present at the session
Tim Eaton, Executive Director, Regulation and Reform Branch, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Jenny Hughes, Director, Social Services Regulation Reform, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Any questions about the session can be raised with the department at regulationreform@dffh.vic.gov.au.