The Importance of Building Networks Kimberly Taylor: Support Facilitator – Footprints

Snapshot of Brisbane’s Network Working Group – Initiative of the Brisbane Homelessness Community Action Plan Case Co-ordination Group – Initiative of the Working Group Forum held during 2012 Small initiatives within NGOs and housing services Council involvement from BCC, MBRC and LCC

Why Networking is Important Builds service system response capacity Alleviates fragmentation Opens opportunities for learning and discussion Avoids the potential for doubling-up Prevents service provider isolation and burn-out Creates opportunities for greater coordination Identifies areas of over spending/resource waste

Benefits of Networking For the service providers: Assists providers to deliver a coordinated response for consumers accessing numerous services Clear expectations for objectives are set from the beginning of engagement Offers ability to capture and document engagement, including identified needs and action plans in a centralised location Significantly improves consistency of service delivery and offers opportunities for quality improvement Streamlined information sharing and consistency of information gathering Allows for use of efficient resources and referral pathways Improves overall operational efficiency

Benefits of Networking For the consumers: No Wrong Door – regardless of what service is contacted, it opens up referral pathways for many Therefore, consumers are only linked with the most appropriate services Service availability and waitlist times are current and referral pathways are transparent Greater opportunity to appropriately identify needs leading to more appropriate and efficient support Consumer is not required to continually repeat story to numerous providers

Who Needs to be Involved? In short, EVERYONE!

What MNBML PIR Has Been Doing Regular meetings with Housing Providers A joint collaborative effort (BBC, MBRC, Government and NGO inclusion) Reframe of policy and procedures for working with H&S cases Co-chair of the monthly Case Coordination Group Participation in The Working Group monthly meetings to progress work in the area (i.e. Innovation Fund)

Future Prospects Replication of work completed within United States Greater capacity for case coordination groups Emergence of additional service providers = capacity growth Potential for additional funding avenues similar to Innovation Fund Increased awareness within the system leading to an improved overall response