Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Family and Community Development Program FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The Hon. K.L. VINCENT Legislative Council FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (3 May 2011). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling): The Minister for Families and Communities is advised: The savings measures announced by the State Government in the 2010-11 Mid-Year Budget review. 1.	Funding through the Family and Community Development (F&CD) Program must be targeted to those in the community who need it most. The F&CD Program has not been reviewed since it was introduced in the early 1990s and funding allocations have become historically based, rather than needs based. This is why, in May 2010 prior to the Budget, the Department for Families and Communities (DFC) commenced a reform of the F&CD Program. The reform is focused on achieving value for money and measurable community outcomes, as well as providing an excellent opportunity to ensure that services funded are achieving the best outcomes both for the Department and the most vulnerable in our community. 2.	DFC has made a commitment to consult and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders during the reform process. From the early stages of the reform, DFC has informed the community services sector peak bodies and non-government organisations on various components of the reform and most importantly, requested their comments on the evidence-based management framework. Representatives from the community services sector peak bodies and two independent representatives from UniSA and Australian Bureau of Statistics, as requested by the South Australian Council of Social Services (SACOSS), were appointed to the evidence groups. A SACOSS representative was also invited to be a Member on both groups. 3.	There is sufficient expertise within the Department to effectively undertake this review process. The review has proceeded as intended and significant progress has been made to date. The Family and Community Development (F&CD) Program will operate in its current form until 30 June 2012 and all service agreements will continue to be honoured until this date.