Fifty corporate volunteers participated in packing the Christmas presents over a number
of weeks, along with 12 community volunteers. Four volunteers helped us collect the
presents from participants, all from the Berry Street Masonic Support Group.
As in 2008, Hyundai provided a van for the transporting of gifts etc, again providing
artwork (Berry Merry branding) at no cost.
7.
Knowledge – Berry Street generates and uses
knowledge, innovation and advocacy to meet changing
needs
7.1
Overview
During 2009 the role of the Policy and Service Development team has continued to
evolve and grow. A constant challenge for the team is to balance the demands of
supporting service areas to demonstrate their compliance with a variety of regulatory
frameworks with our need to pursue longer term public policy and practice reforms.
Added to the above has been our contribution to supporting the agency to diversify our
service delivery. This includes working on the preparation of tenders and submissions in
collaboration with senior staff from across our regions and groups. Successful tenders
have supported the establishment of new services including the establishment of Open
Place – the support service for Victoria‟s Forgotten Australian‟s. Combined with our
existing services in the early years and the Early Years Strategic Plan Berry Street our
involvement in the lives of children and families is now very much across the entire life
course.
The team is completing work on a diversity of resource development projects focussed
on areas including leaving care and living independently, embedding the charter of
rights of children and young people in OOHC, supporting young people in care to „Be Net
Wise‟ and parenting support. These resources will add significantly to the tools available
to support our practice and work with families, children and young people.
In preparation for 2010 the team undertook a review of the Policy and Service
Development core purpose and our capacity to manage an increasingly diverse set of
functions for a diversifying spectrum of services. Guided by the BS Strategic Plan with its
emphasis on Knowledge the outcome has been to more clearly define our internal
consultancy role and explore how the team will continue to adapt as the challenges of
2010 and beyond emerge. The team can proudly reflect on 2009 achievements and look
to 2010 with confidence.
7.2
Innovation and Service Development
During 2009 innovation and service development focused particularly on building our
service continuum with emphasis on the early years - working with families prior to their
formal involvement in the child protecting system and post care support. As noted above
the development of Open Place represents a very significant milestone in Berry Street‟s
history. The service has been established in a short time period without compromising
on our commitment to have Forgotten Australians‟ at the centre of decision making in
relation to all aspects of how the service will operate.
Alongside this the continued growth of ELF through its expansion into new regional
communities and its adaptation for Sudanese and Afghan communities is testament to
the programs current relevance and future potential.
31