| Northern Rivers Social Issues Forums |
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To strengthen NRSDC's advocacy and social justice function, NRSDC is implementing a new consultative structure with the social and community services sector. A major part of this consultative structure is the creation of the Northern Rivers Social Issues Forum. This forum, along with other strategies [eg, research such as regional social data analysis, joint consultations with other peaks - NSW Shelter, NCOSS etc] will better inform the work and priorities of NRSDC. The Northern Rivers Social Issues Forum is a concept built on previous structures that have assisted and guided NRSDC, they are the Northern Rivers Regional Interagency, and the Northern Rivers Social Priorities Project. As is common with most interagency structures, the Northern Rivers Regional Interagency, which commenced in 1996, began to lose steam after two years. In 2002, a social prioritisation process was developed, which effectively replaced the Northern Rivers Regional Interagency. Additional funding in 2004 enabled NRSDC to maintain and continue the social prioritisation process which took place in 2002. In 2006, the Northern Rivers Social Issues Forums have been initiated to assist NRSDC in keeping it's social priorities relevant and consistent with the social issues identified by social and community services in the region. Priorities and How they are Determined NRSDC has been actively identifying social issues within the region for 30 years. With increased resources through the HACC, Public Transport, and Regional Community Services Development Projects, NRSDC has been able to able to create stronger links with sections of the community services sector and identify priority regional social issues. Through various consultative structures such as interagency meetings and forums, NRSDC has been able to identify 6 key regional social priority areas. To ensure these priority areas remain contemporary and reflect the reality on the ground, NRSDC continues to monitor and analyse social-demographic data and other relevant research. The Northern Rives Social Issues Forum with be a major initiative for NRSDC to assess the current regional social priorities and to make changes where new priority areas are identified. Who should attend? Ideally, those people who provide direct service provision and who are aware of the social conditions and context of their clients, and individuals affected by identified social issues who are able to articulate their situation within a public forum, should attend the forums. We will achieve a more accurate picture of the main social issues if those attending the forums represent the broad cross section of the community and service provision types. Representation from the following Population groups including, but not limited to:
Service Provision type including, but not limited to:
Representatives from the following sectors:
The forums will be held on the following dates: Clarence Thursday 12 October 10.30 - 2.30 Grafton Community & Function Centre 59 Duke Street GRAFTON Tweed Tuesday 24 Oct 10.30 - 2.30 South Tweed Heads Community Hall
Richmond Thursday 9 Nov 10.30 - 2.30 Goonellabah Community Centre 27 Oliver Avenue GOONELLABAH Please RSVP to Valerie to indicate your willingness to participate. Upon registration you will receive six fact sheets outlining the regional priorities that NRSDC has been working on. These fact sheets will form the basis of discussion throughout the forums. I strongly urge you to participate and help inform the future direction of NRSDC's work, as well as ensuring currency when issues affecting our region are taken to state and national arenas. |