Concern expressed about the abolition of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and Tasmanian Community Fund

The SDOHAN Advisory Group determined it appropriate that we write to the Premier about the recently proposed abolition of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and Tasmanian Community Fund Boards. You will find a copy of the letter’s content below. 

8^th September 2014

The Honourable Will Hodgman

Premier of Tasmania

Tasmanian Government

GPO Box 123

HOBART TAS 7001

Dear Premier

Abolition of Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and Tasmanian Community Fund

We write to express concern about the planned abolition of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and Tasmanian Community Fund Boards. Particularly in relation to the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation it appears as though the Foundation itself will cease to exist. While we understand that the Tasmanian Community Fund will still exist in some form but with a different decision-making body, we are concerned that it will not be truly autonomous from Government decision-making processes. We are writing to seek clarity on these matters, to ask you what will replace these organisations, and how you will ensure that the visions and missions of the organisations will not be lost within the Government system. 

Early childhood is a crucial developmental period. Children who have a good start in life not only have healthier and happier childhoods, but also enjoy far-reaching beneficial effects in adulthood.

There is significant evidence in Tasmania that many children do not experience optimal early life conditions (e.g. 16% of children under 15 years live in poverty, 48% of children in Tasmania are in the bottom child social exclusion quintile, in the last 10 years the number of child protection notifications involving children under 5 years has more than doubled ^{(NATSEM 2013 and Kids Come First 2013)}), and this is why the work of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation is so important.

What could be more important than giving every Tasmanian child the best possible start in life as a foundation for a healthy, happy and positive future? This is the vision of the Foundation.

The Foundation has provided many opportunities, in partnership with the Tasmanian community, to support children and their families, and raise awareness and a commitment to the early years of childhood. The Foundation has worked collaboratively to maximise the potential of Child and Family Centres, and much work has been done to support organisations and workers at the coal-face to develop and implement quality, evidence-informed program and initiatives.

We would like to express our deep disappointment at the Government’s proposed abolition of the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation and ask that you please explain to us why this decision has been made. Is this really going to save significant amount of money? Surely the health and wellbeing of our children is more important? And isn’t it vital that we have a prominent organisation that sits outside of Government to champion the needs of children in early life?

In respect of the Tasmanian Community Fund Board, again we wish to express our concern at your announcement of its cessation. Many organisations depend on the Tasmanian Community Fund to develop programs and build capacity. We believe it is important that grant programs such as this should operate at arms-length from Government. Can you please clarify for us on what basis this decision has been made?

We are also concerned that there appears to have been no consultation with key stakeholders, or the community at large about these decisions. As a result of this, we are writing this letter and would greatly appreciate your response to these matters.

Kind regards

Miriam Herzfeld

Convenor, Social Determinants of Health Advocacy Network

cc.

Hon. Michael Ferguson MP, Minister for Health

Hon. Jacquie Petrusma MP, Minister for Human Services

Rebecca White MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services, and Labor Spokesperson for Children

Michelle O’Byrne MP, Shadow Minister for Education

Cassy, O’Connor MP, Greens

Hon. Ruth Forrest, MLC

Free forum on 4 September: Social determinants of child mental health

Conception to community

Social determinants of child mental health &

Developing an infant and perinatal mental health service in Tasmania

A presentation & discussion led by Dr Fiona Wagg,

Senior Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, DHHS

Thursday 4^th September 2014, 1.15pm-2.30pm

Pharmacy Department, 5^th Floor, D Block, Royal Hobart Hospital

ALL WELCOME - FREE EVENT

Video-conferencing available: id # 172427 

Enquiries & RSVP: socialdeterminantsofhealthtas@gmail.com 

For the Social Determinants of Health Advocacy Network   

School gardens...here's something for you...

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Are you a Tassie school interested in joining the Program? We're heading your way with Program Delivery Training on 26/27 August in Hobart.

Now is the time to join, here's how:

http://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/join-the-program/join-the-program

SDOH Information Out & About

1. How to create easy to read information for the community

In this practical workshop you will:

Work on reviewing or developing a resource (e.g. flyer, pamphlet or brochure) that you bring to the workshop

Look at the things to consider when developing resources- for example, layout, font size, language and readability

Learn about resources and support available.

*This workshop requires participants to do some before and after workshop activity to support learning.

When: Friday 29 August 2014, 10am-3pm

Where: Level 5, 25 Argyle St, Hobart

What to bring: A paper copy and electronic copy of a resource you would like to work on

Registrations are essential via https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HLAugust2014

before 18^th July 2014. For more information please email jennie.gorringe@dhhs.tas.gov.au or rebecca.essex@dhhs.tas.gov.au

*This session is delivered at no cost and in partnership with Population Health DHHS, Health Promotion South THOS, and Health Promotion North THON.

2. Disability in Australia 2014: the Potential, the Reality and the Journey

Leading disability and health development advocate Rhonda Galbally, AO, will deliver the 2014 TasCOSS Dorothy Pearce Address on Thursday 17 July, 5pm-7pm, at the C3 Convention Centre, South Hobart. Dr Galbally -- a board member of the National Disability Insurance Agency and deputy chair of the NDIS Advisory Group --  will speak on the theme Disability in Australia 2014: the Potential, the Reality and the Journey. 

We invite you to come along to hear this inspiring speaker talk about an era of major change -- change that will affect many Tasmanians and many service providers.  There will be conversation over light food and refreshments in the foyer afterwards.

Dr Galbally's many previous roles have included CEO of the Myer Foundation, founder of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, co-founder and CEO of Our Community, chair of Philanthropy Australia, establishment CEO of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency and chair of the National People with Disability and Carers Council. 

Cost: $20/$10 TasCOSS members and concession. This is a catered event so please RSVP by Tuesday 15 July. 

Register: http://tascoss.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db23a6b53535f285c9da58dd7&id=53f1ea57ed&e=7d1870925a 

or phone (03) 6231 0755 or email admin@tascoss.org.au

3. Entries are invited for the 2nd annual Gavin Mooney Memorial Essay Competition. 

The topic is: The social and cultural determinants of mental health: collective responsibilities; individualism; austerity; entitlements.

More details are here:http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2014/07/05/entries-sought-for-essay-competition-focusing-on-mental-health/

And this link is to Prof Tony McMichael’s review of the previous competition’s top essays on climate change and equity: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2014/07/06/book-review-commendable-reading-on-climate-change-and-equity/

4. The latest edition of The Health Wrap is a comprehensive update of national and global public health news: from Frances Gilham at the Sax Institute. 

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2014/06/27/the-health-wrap-big-tobacco-arguments-fad-diets-and-pills-fairness-equality-and-human-rights/

5. Social security review leaves Australia’s carers in limbo

Carers received relatively little attention in the interim report of the Review of Australia’s Welfare System. This was despite early media reports that the Carer Payment would be a target for reform. 

Read more: https://theconversation.com/social-security-review-leaves-australias-carers-in-limbo-28660

6. GP co-payment would increase emergency department wait times

The introduction of a GP co-payment could see average emergency department visits increase by between six minutes and almost three hours, new modelling shows, as more patients opt for free hospital care…

Read more: http://theconversation.com/gp-co-payment-would-increase-emergency-department-wait-times-28658

7. The Political Economy of Health Inequalities: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NCTYqAub8g

8. “Money makes you healthier”: Health and wealth in the City of Ottawa

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/health-and-wealth-in-the-city-of-ottawa

9. Ageing and Employment Policies: France 2014- Working Better with Age

People today are living longer than ever before, while birth rates are dropping in the majority of OECD countries.  In such demographics, public social expenditures require to be adequate and sustainable in the long term.  

Read the report here: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/ageing-and-employment-policies-france-2014_9789264207523-en#page2

10. Person-in-Environment

This bibliography deals with the concept “person in environment” as a practice orienting perspective for social work practice and education. This perspective is based on the notion that an individual and his or her behavior cannot be understood adequately without consideration of the various aspects of that individual’s environment (social, political, familial, temporal, spiritual, economic, and physical). A person-in-environment perspective is said to provide a more adequate framework for assessing an individual and his or her presenting problem and strengths than an approach that focuses solely on changing an individual’s behavior or psyche, or one that focuses solely on environmental conditions. This perspective is also thought to increase the range of interventions available to the practitioner—with the options to intervene directly with the individual or into aspects of the environment or both... 

Read more: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195389678/obo-9780195389678-0092.xml

11. 2013 Attitudes and Beliefs about the Social Determinants of Health Report

This report highlights the attitudes and beliefs about the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) of Halton adults aged 18 and over using self-reported data collected from the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) in 2013. The SDoH influence the environments where we live, learn, work, play and age. These environments are important because they shape our opportunities to be healthy, and strongly influence the health outcomes of Canadians. Addressing the SDoH can be a challenge as the public’s perception of factors related to our health tend to not include things related to socioeconomic status such as income, education, and employment. This report provides us with information that can be used to better frame and target communication messages about the SDoH.

Read the report here: http://www.halton.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=120854

Don't forget - Medicare Forum in Hobart Next Week

Medicare Forum in Hobart

Feeling Sick: Medicare Co-Payments and our Health

TasCOSS and The Medicare Action Group would like to invite you to a freeLunchtime Policy Forum, for a public discussion about the impacts of co-payments for Medicare services.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently told local radio listeners in Hobart that there is nothing wrong with contributing a modest co-payment when we visit health services.  But just how will a “modest” co-payment affect Tasmanians, our already strained health system, and our community in general?

Come and hear an expert panel, including health policy analysts Jennifer Doggett and Martyn Goddard, present their ideas. Then join us for what promises to be a robust audience and panel discussion.

Details:

Baha’i Centre

Tuesday 10 June 2014, 12 noon – 2 pm.

Bring along your lunch; tea and coffee will be provided.

Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tascoss-lunchtime-policy-forum-feeling-sick-medicare-co-payments-and-our-health-tickets-11758316441

Please register by Thursday 5 June.

Any queries, please contact Pauline@tascoss.org.au or phone on 6231 0755.

E-book: Rise of the Empowered Citizen

The web means the opportunity for ordinary Australians to make a difference has never been greater.

As change.org hits two million Australian users, one in every ten with internet access, new survey data is putting a lie to the popularised notion that citizens are "disengaged" or "apathetic".

Australians are going online to have their say on issues that matter to them – and winning change every week.

This booklet takes the pulse of this new digital form of politics. Exploring the rise of the empowered citizen, trends in online campaigning and what's in store for the future – and it lays down the challenge for our politicians, CEOs and other decision makers to get on board. 

Download or read on right now: https://www.change.org/en-AU/about/e-book

On political engagement:  "The truth is that the idea of the “disengaged citizen” is a myth. 

Trust in old-school party politics may be at all-time lows, but the public’s interest in the issues that affect their daily lives has never been greater."

On power shifting: "Everyday people are gaining a voice at the table – and it is proving a significant challenge for those in power to deal with and make sense of."

On online activism: "The stereotype of an online activist as young, ideologically-driven and technologically-savvy is way off the mark, according to a survey of change.org’s two million Australian users. Instead, your average online activist is more likely to be a middle-aged mum."

"The potential of this new form of politics and consumer engagement is extraordinary..."

Medicare Forum in Hobart

Feeling Sick: Medicare Co-Payments and our Health

TasCOSS and The Medicare Action Group would like to invite you to a free Lunchtime Policy Forum, for a public discussion about the impacts of co-payments for Medicare services.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently told local radio listeners in Hobart that there is nothing wrong with contributing a modest co-payment when we visit health services.  But just how will a “modest” co-payment affect Tasmanians, our already strained health system, and our community in general?

Come and hear an expert panel, including health policy analysts Jennifer Doggett and Martyn Goddard, present their ideas. Then join us for what promises to be a robust audience and panel discussion.

Details:

Baha’i Centre

Tuesday 10 June 2014, 12 noon – 2 pm.

Bring along your lunch; tea and coffee will be provided.

Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tascoss-lunchtime-policy-forum-feeling-sick-medicare-co-payments-and-our-health-tickets-11758316441

Please register by Thursday 5 June.

Any queries, please contact Pauline@tascoss.org.au or phone on 6231 0755.