actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

THE ACT SOCIAL COMPACT
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between the community sector and ACT
should operate within the framework
ACT Social Compact. The Compact represents
to partnership between the community
and government, and outlines their respective
and responsibilities. The two core principles
inform the Compact are recognition and
These principles require mutual respect
recognition by each sector of the respective
function of the other, and a mutual commitment
working together to deliver social services to the
The Compact, together with the ACT
Plan and the Community Sector Funding Policy,
a significant shift from a purchaser/ provider
partnership relationship.
Compact defines the role and contribution of
sector as being:
… directed to building community involvement
and participation, addressing social needs and
strengthening community capacity. 52
identifies a number of functions which the
sector fulfils, including:
Providing community services;
Playing a role in community development;
Supporting a range of community and
leisure activities;
Enriching community life;
Providing advocacy;
Providing pathways for volunteering;
Contributing to planning and government
policy development; and
Supporting and empowering consumers. 53 At the same time, The Compact outlines the role
and contribution of Government as legislator, policy
maker, funding body and service provider. It describes
the relationship between the government and the
community sector as operating through consultation
processes, joint policy work, funding arrangements,
training and the development of new services and
community initiatives. 54
Finally, the Compact articulates key principles for
partnership between the two sectors. Each of these
principles should underpin government/community
sector relationships in all areas of engagement.
However, in the area of community mental health
services, those most pertinent include:
• Valuing the distinct and complementary roles
each sector plays;
• Respect for the diversity and independence of
community organisations and groups; and
• Innovation and continuous improvement in
community and government processes and in
the planning and delivery of services. 55
This paper builds on the Compact’s foundation
and details the respective roles of government and
the community sector in the delivery of services to
mental health consumers. Further, it responds to
the perception that, despite general commitments
to a change in mental health policy direction
and to inter-sectoral collaboration, there is little
detailed guidance as to how to implement these
commitments. This paper reflects the community
sector undertaking in the Social Compact to work
constructively with government in planning and
policy development processes. 56 Consistent with
the relevant undertaking, we have consulted with
consumers and consumer groups as well as with the
wider sector and included Indigenous organisations
in consultations. This paper accurately reflects the
input we received from independent consultations,
of
a
role
to
the
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52 At 8.
53 ACT Government, The Social Compact at 8
54 Ibid at 9.
55 Ibid at 10.
56 Ibid at 13.
17 Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 NO WRONG DOORS