Department of Family and Community Services (New South Wales)

NSW Department of Family and Community Services
Department overview
Preceding agencies
Jurisdiction New South Wales
Headquarters Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Ministers responsible
Department executive
Website www.facs.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Department of Family and Community Services, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsible for the delivery of services to some of the most disadvantaged individuals, families and communities in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

The department provides services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and young people, families, people who are homeless, people with a disability, their families and carers, women, and older people. It was formed as a cluster agency from the former Department of Housing, Department of Community Services, and the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

Structure

The department is led by its Secretary, currently Michael Coutts-Trotter, who reports to the Minister for Family and Community Services, Minister for Social Housing, and Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, presently the Hon. Pru Goward MP; the Minister for Ageing, presently the Hon. Tanya Davies MP; and the Minister for Disability Services and Minister for Multiculturalism, currently the Hon. Ray Williams MP. Ultimately the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

Agencies within FACS include:

  • Disability Council of New South Wales
  • Home and Community Care Program Advisory Committee
  • Home Care Service of New South Wales
  • NSW Businesslink Pty Ltd

Funding of homelessness services

During the mid-1970s in Australia, a number of youth refuges were established in New South Wales. These refuges were founded by local youth workers, providing crisis accommodation, soon began getting funding from the NSW Government. These early refuges include Caretakers Cottage, Young People's Refuge, Taldemunde among others.[2]

In 2012, Minister Pru Goward announced a comprehensive reforms affecting the funding of homelessness services. The reform, known a "Going Home Staying Home", sought to shift funding from historical agreements to census based allocations.[3]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/About%20Us/Reports%20Plans%20and%20Papers
  2. ↑ Coffey, Michael. "What Ever Happened to the Revolution? Activism and the Early Days of Youth Refuges in NSW." Parity. Volume 19, Issue 10. Another Country: Histories of Homelessness. Council to Homeless Persons. (2006): 23-25.
  3. ↑ http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/326083/GoingHomeStayingHomeReformPlan.pdf
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