National Compact Signing Planned
18 February 2010 at 1:39 pm
The Rudd Government is sending out invitations for Not for Profits to be in Canberra in March to sign on to the much discussed National Compact in a bid to strengthen the working relationship between the Government and the NFP sector.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens says the National Compact would be launched at an official signing ceremony at Parliament House on 17 March.
The announcement of the date also comes with the Government release of the National Compact Consultation Report.
The report summarises the feedback from consultation with stakeholders including a broad range of sector organisations, state and territory governments, peak bodies, academics and individuals. The Federal Government describes the Compact as an opportunity to develop a new way of working together to address key social, economic and environmental challenges.
While no-one has seen the final document that the Sector representatives will sign in March, the Consultation Report says the priority action areas are:
- document and promote the value and contribution of the Sector;
- protect the Sector’s right to advocacy irrespective of any funding relationship that might exist;
- recognise Sector diversity in consultation processes and Sector development initiatives;
- improve information sharing including greater access to publicly funded research and data;
- reduce red tape and streamline reporting;
- simplify and improve consistency of financial arrangements including across state and federal jurisdictions;
- act to improve paid and unpaid workforce issues; and
- improve funding and procurement processes.
Senator Stephens says the Compact launch and signing ceremony will be a landmark day for both the community and the Government.
Senator Stephens also announced the appointment of the members of a National Compact Sector Advisory Group to be chaired by Dr Ron Edwards.
Dr Edwards is already a member of the Rudd Government’s Social Inclusion Board and founding member of the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation supporting Indigenous youth.
Senator Stephens says the Government and the Sector Advisory Group will develop concrete plans to implement the Compact’s shared principles and aspirations.
The Consultation report says action plans will include an overarching Commonwealth action plan focused on the eight priority action areas to be developed by April 2010 and, over the next 12 months, the development of joint action plans by portfolios with key Sector relationships with their Sector partners, specific to their work together.
Details about the Sector Advisory Group can be found on the social inclusion website at www.socialinclusion.gov.au/partnerships/compact.
The National Compact Consultation Report is available to download from www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/communities/pubs/national_compact_consultation/Pages/default.aspx
