1. Setting SaiL
Centrelink as a site for developing community engagement
Greg Hall

2. - What is SaiL ?
- How did it come about?
- Consultation Process
- What we learnt
- A ‘humanising’ principle
- How this relates to outcomes – community engagement
- Some broader benefits

3. What we faced with marginalised clients
Little or no contact with family/friends /services,
(fragile helping network)
Staff don’t have time, skills or framework to follow up
Discloses issues to Centrelink but reluctant to address further
Accepts a referral or action but doesn’t follow it through
May have a ‘bad’ history with agencies or distrust new referrals
Reluctant to access help through shame, fear or perception that no-one cares

4. Approx 80% clients have improved their engagement in the Logan community in a diversity of ways not previously imagined
Total of 179 connections made
Friends/family: includes colleagues and neighbours also
Health services: includes hospital, antenatal, GP, community health, indigenous health services
Mental health services: includes psychologist, psychiatrist, counselling, MH support groups, Canefields, online MH programs and forums, grief counselling, relationship counselling.
Accommodation: includes Dept Housing, accommodation services, supported accommodation
Hobby/sport/social groups: includes sporting clubs, art/craft groups, playgroups, PCYC, Logan Women’s Health Centre
Legal/offending services: includes Legal Aid, lawyers, probation/parole office, SPER, court support service
Government depts/agencies: includes DSQ, CSA, Child Safety
ESPs: includes JNMs, DENs, PSPs, VRS, ACCESS
Cultural/religious groups: includes cultural groups, priests, churches, youth groups
DV services: includes DV connect, WAVSS, refuges
Drug and alcohol services: includes Rehab, ATODS, detox
Other: includes parenting assessment and support (the SPOT), saiL participant action research group, local MPs

5. 1 in 5 have found some paid work 1 in 4 have got involved in training, voluntary work or personal development.
24 instances of work, education or training were recorded for participants.
Vocational training/education = any course that results in some sort of qualification eg certificates, licences, year 11 & 12, TAFE etc
Personal development = courses/training that does not result in a formal qualification eg parenting courses, confidence building, life skills, and basic computer courses that do not result in a qualification.

6. Some broader benefits
- Qualitative relationships with clients ...“more valued” ...”more trusting”
- Staff well being in the program is very high (with ‘challenging’ clients).
Social workers and customer service staff perception.
Practice learning - Pattern of clients moving from informal to formal help.
- New diversity of relationships with community agencies and state government.
- Activity guide for workers
State Care leavers guide - all of QLD (now a published Centrelink product)
New service relationships with other marginalised groups e.g. Parents who lose care
Lessons for working with young homeless applicants