Change is challenging. Change is complex. Change can be confronting.
As we reform the ACT human service system, change is inevitable. While we can agree in-principle that changes are necessary, when it creates uncertainty, it can feel disruptive rather than constructive.
We certainly felt that during the pandemic, as many services ‘transitioned’ delivery methods to respond rapidly to community needs.
Late last year we asked you – government and non-government organisations – to share your experiences of service transitions. What has worked well and what has not.
Your valuable insight has brought us here.
We need more than training, templates, and guides on how to transition services.
While working on capability supports have progressed, there is more to be done with the more complex and challenging transitions issues.
If we are to reform the ACT human service system effectively and for the benefit of our community, then we need a Transition Framework.
Our ACT Human Service System Transition Framework will include:
- considered service transition policy
- clear service transition processes
- practical service transition capability supports
- methods to monitor the effectiveness of transitions
We have started this significant work as many organisations need clarity and direction over the coming year.
Given the complexity, there are many elements the ACT Government is actively working through before sharing and piloting the draft policy, process, capability supports and monitoring approach with the sector.
Some of the critical policy considerations for managing transitions include:
- how we define the likely transition scenarios
- how we apply transition guidance to services, as well as programs and the whole system
- how we financially support organisations undertaking complex transitions.
- what the expectations are for service continuity and client management
- how we determine reasonable timeframes to manage transitions effectively
- how we manage sector sustainability, capability, and skills impacts
Soon the ACT Government will share and collaborate on the draft Service Transitions Policy with the non-government sector to make sure we have agreed an official guide for transition decisions.
Following quickly, will be clear processes and capability supports that can be piloted or immediately applied yielding insights to help us all transition as we reform the ACT human service system by 2030.
What are transitions? A service transition can be from one organisation to another, or within an organisations where we change from one service model to another, or because client need changes or in response to new service requirements or even insolvency.
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Page updated: 05 Mar 2024
