Acknowledgements
- The Jagera and Turrbal people — traditional owners of the land on which we meet
- Dr Ron Edwards, Member of the Social Inclusion Board
- Dr Rochelle Spencer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Macquarie University Centre for Research
- Ladies and gentlemen.
Introduction
Good morning.
It is my pleasure to be here as part of today’s workshop session on ‘Social Inclusion.’ The session description raises many thoughtful questions that highlight the complexities of social inclusion. I am looking forward to hearing your views and those of the panel as we construct a more detailed understanding of how we might work together to build a socially inclusive Australia.
As the first speaker this morning, I thought I might talk a little about what we mean by the term Social Inclusion.
Until recently, the concept of ‘social inclusion’ hardly registered on our national consciousness. There was no policy framework and no national leadership to foster and encourage social inclusion, and focus long overdue attention on the needs of those experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation.
So as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, I am often asked what Social Inclusion is and I have found that it can sometimes be easier to define Social Inclusion in the negative, that is, by looking at its opposite – social exclusion.
I often inspiration from unusual places and Mother Teresa describes it this way:
“Many today are starving for ordinary bread.
But there’s another kind of hunger – the hunger to be wanted, to be loved, to recognised.
Nakedness too is not just the want of clothes, but also about loss of dignity, purity and self-respect.
And homelessness is not just want of a house; there is the homelessness of being rejected, of being unwanted in a throwaway society.
The biggest disease in the world today is the feeling of being unwanted and uncared for.
The greatest evil in the world is lack of love, the terrible indifference towards one’s neighbour.
So when we speak of Social Inclusion, we are talking about more than just single, isolated solutions to individual problems. We are talking about seeking out the causes of social exclusion rather than only dealing with the fallout of that exclusion.
This is because social exclusion is a deeply complex phenomenon. It cannot be simply addressed by isolated activities which reduce poverty or homelessness, nor is it just about increasing employment and education opportunities alone. People become socially excluded when these problems compound and then spread to affect the lives of others in their family. This effect is strikingly apparent in Tony Vinson’s “Dropping of the Edge Report” that confirmed that disadvantage is not only locational but also intergenerational.
Social Inclusion is about breaking the cycle of disadvantage for those individuals and communities who have spent too long waiting for opportunities to make a contribution and participate in a meaningful way. It is about reaching out to people on the margins and drawing them into full engagement in the economic and social life of our country.
Social Inclusion calls for a person-centred approach that says “let’s put the people back at the centre of our activities” because it is clear that the old ways of addressing the problem, not the person, have not worked.
The two-speed economy that has characterised Australia for the past decade is clear evidence of the failure of the old approach. It is a disturbing reality that despite a decade of prosperity, pockets of severe, complex disadvantage remain in our community. And things are only going to get harder for those who are already doing it tough.
That is why the government’s commitment to social inclusion is only going to gain momentum in the face of the challenges facing us as a nation and as a global community.
The government’s Social Inclusion Agenda is about finding new ways to reach those most in need, and about building partnerships within and across government and with the non profit sector so that we can take a holistic approach to breaking entrenched cycles of disadvantage.
We have been working to coordinate our policies and actions across national, state and local governments and with the community sector.
This means working together with a unity of purpose through established mechanisms such as Council of Australian Governments, and creating new partnerships to ensure ‘joined up’ efforts and broad ranging expertise.
I know that the government is not alone in looking at social inclusion approaches to addressing disadvantage. Your organisation’s New Strategic Direction document sets a new agenda for service delivery that is in strong simpatico with the government’s new approach.
Your directions document clearly focused on addressing disadvantage in specific geographical locations by creating opportunities and establishing links back into the community for those who are marginalised; building the capacity of and working with Indigenous Australians; and encouraging the involvement of volunteers in our communities.
I would like to commend your organisation’s important strategic work in adapting your policies and services to better address the needs of disadvantage in the context of a changing world.
Australian Social Inclusion Board
To inform our own work in this area, the government established the Australian Social Inclusion Board as a key body to advise us on how to achieve better outcomes for the most disadvantaged in our community.
The Board comprises experts from different backgrounds with a common goal: to make a significant contribution to Australian society by advancing the Social Inclusion Agenda. Among those on the board is Mr Ron Edwards, my co-presenter here today. I understand that Ron will be providing more information on the board’s activities in his presentation, including the board’s priorities and its work in these areas.
Working together
For the government to progress our Social Inclusion Agenda, we need to ensure the links and partnerships between governments, service providers, non-profit and voluntary organisations are strong.
The non-profit sector has been the source of many important social innovations – initiatives like community housing, self-help groups, and participatory environment programs.
It is vitally important that you have the space in which to continue this creative thinking.
Social change including new community priorities, decreasing numbers of people able to volunteer, capacity constraints, and ageing infrastructure are just a few of the challenges the sector is confronting.
The Government is committed to helping your organisation focus on its mission and reducing the burden of fragmented, competing and duplicated funding models operating across agencies.
We will also be keenly interested in the findings of the Senate Economics Committee’s inquiry into disclosure regimes for charities and non-profit organisations, due to report next week. This inquiry laid bare the complexities of regulation with which you currently have to contend. Taxation issues were at the forefront of the evidence and I expect some of the Inquiry recommendations will be considered as part of the Henry tax review.
We have also been working within government and with the states and territories through the Council of Australian Governments to address the sprawling rules and regulations that define the current non-profit operating environment.
You can see from this work that the government has a broad agenda for third sector reform, working with the sector to strengthen sector organisations and their sustainability. And that is why we have been engaged with the sector this year in consultations around a possible national compact.
Compact
The development of a mechanism such as a National Compact or agreement between the Government and the non-profit sector is a practical demonstration of our commitment to collaboration and partnership.
The Compact will be an historic national agreement that will outline how we will work together to improve and strengthen our relationship, now and into the future.
Through this agreement, we will be able to work collaboratively with organisations to develop and implement innovative new ideas.
It will contribute to new accountability measures that look at how services and programs are working to meet social inclusion priorities.
The initial consultations on a national compact have concluded. However there will be opportunities for further consultation and to have your voice heard in the coming months.
I am heartened by the large number of people and organisations who provided feedback and ideas. There is a level of passion and commitment to ensuring the success of a compact between the Government and the non-profit sector that holds much promise for our continued dialogue next year.
Volunteering
Australian Red Cross has over 60 000 volunteers. They provide the support and determination that allows you to continue the fantastic work you do.
In strengthening the relationship between the Government and non-profit organisations, we are acutely aware that volunteers are the lifeblood of communities and charities.
That’s why we’re determined that volunteers occupy an important place in our Social Inclusion Agenda.
Where disadvantage, poverty and exclusion divide communities, volunteers unite communities. Volunteering provides experiences that allow people to grow in confidence, build social networks, become involved, and be seen and valued in their communities.
But there are many challenges in attracting and retaining volunteers in this hectic modern world. The ABS 2006 Voluntary Work Survey shows that, of all persons aged 18 years and over, the rate of regular volunteering was 20.5 percent.
But while the number of people volunteering has increased, the average median hours of voluntary work is decreasing. And while the number of volunteers continue to grow, the rate of growth has declined since 2000.
We believe that a national volunteering policy framework will provide opportunities for consistency, accreditation and skills transfer across the states and territories for volunteers.
Over the coming months I will be continuing this conversation with you about what I see are the opportunities to develop a national vision and commitment to volunteering.
Conclusion
I would like to end by applauding the Australian Red Cross and the work that you do as you embark upon your new strategic focus. The Australian Government welcomes the contribution, wisdom and experience of organisations like Australian Red Cross, who are nurturing and enriching the lives of those who in our society who are disadvantaged and isolated.
By committing to social inclusion in all that we do, we can look forward to making real advances as we continue to work together to foster stronger and more inclusive communities.