Christopher Stone

📉 Nerd Alert! Lots of discussion at the moment about Arts Council project grants success rates. ACE don't publish this % figure, nor the total number of applications (which would allow applicants to work it out). Anecdotally, it's very low at the moment. Why does this matter? It's critical for artists: a) to decide whether ACE is worth bothering with, given the overly complex and time consuming application process. b) to think about how their practice and career may need to shift, if public subsidy is not realistic option. I've summarised below the data on recent project grants (not DYCP/NPO) which is made public. My initial takeaways: - If we assume the number of applications stayed the same over last 6 years, then the ACE's decision to increase the 'small grants' limit has, on its own, led to a 25% reduction in grants awarded. That's 25% fewer artists with an ACE grant to make art and to build a career. - If we assume, I think correctly, that the number of applications has increased (with the introduction of a strategy which is arguably broader in focus), then the success rate will have taken even more of a hit. They've reduced the number of grants because of their change of grant limit. AND they've reduced the chance of success, by increasing the number of applications. It could well be argued that supporting fewer artists, with larger grants, is a better approach. Likewise, it's great if more, and a broader demographic of artists, are applying. But I feel you have to be really explicit, transparent, and open about that approach. And recognise that it has an impact in terms of hundreds of thousands of extra wasted hours by artists already living precariously. Time they could have spent more productively. Is any of this avoidable? I think so, yes. Top of head: 1. Publish all application numbers, and success rate %, in large font. What's the big secret? 2. Find a way to have a dialogue with applicants and ask them if they're really, really, really, ready to apply. Often this leads to a better approach. 3. Radically simplify the application process, if you want to run a higher volume/broader access/lower success rate model. To be clear, none of my issue is about ACE, Let's Create strategy, NPOs, art forms etc. I'm just talking about project grants, communication, and respect for people's time. Which in the end is all we have. (All data from https://lnkd.in/e7MZaj3Y please double check, this is a quick and messy version. Love to hear any errors in my dodgy grasp of stats!)

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In 2018, ActionStation supported local communities to make establishing Māori wards easier and improve Māori representation at a council level. Together, we were successful in changing the legislation that led to Māori wards flourishing around the motu. But the Coalition Government plans to reverse this legislation, force an impossible ultimatum on post-2022 Māori wards and go back to enabling a small minority of racists to disestablish Māori wards in the future. There are too many reasons why this is a bad idea. It takes us backwards in our Te Tiriti relationship, causes unnecessary racism and uncertainty towards existing Māori ward councilors, wastes time and public money, and distracts councils from the real issues they need to focus on. Our team has reconnected with local community leaders who pushed for Māori wards in the first place, and will be doing whatever we can to protect Māori wards into the future. If you are working on this kaupapa, or are interested in getting involved - kōrero mai at [email protected].

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The Aboriginal Authority for Restoring Children is coming. But it won't happen overnight. It envisions long term system change that enables a built up and sustainable ACCO sector, while getting children home at the same time focusing on restorative justice and family healing. Developing this model, in collaboration with Aboriginal communities and sector stakeholders, will take time, as will securing the funding. Until then, don't leave those children in long term OOHC behind! For those working with families in the permanency space, pay close attention to those families. Do parents want their children home- if you don't know, ask. Do children want to go home- ask. If they don't, what narrative have they been told about their family and whose narrative is it? What are the carer's views- how have they been informed about the family's situation, and how much weight are you giving to what they want? What experience of systemic abuse and injustice have the family experienced- could the removal have been prevented to begin with? Don't blindly follow business as usual- question, challenge, agitate from within the system.

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Great to see critical insights and analysis based on data and evidence pushing the frontier of economic understanding. Especially exciting to see non-market and unpaid effort being included when measuring economic impact.

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After an excellent FPIC workshop, there are a range of things organisations can do to clarify and define their FPIC principles and invest in systemic and policy reform to convert them into processes. This has to go hand in hand with a deliberate cultural capability uplift program. In my view, unpacking and understanding ‘Consent’ and cultural authority in the Australian context is a challenge we face. With an unratified UNDRIP, how can we work with the concept of consent in contexts where agreement making is often not backed by legislation? Looking forward to finding innovative solutions to this.

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Here we go 🙄: Draft #NDIS Supports List… It beggars belief that a decade into the scheme, an exhaustive list of what is & is not a fundable support is being proposed/released, when most of what is described in what IS fundable is already explicit in the PAPL (Pricing arrangements & price limits). I beg to differ though, Bill Shorten, that the likes of somatic therapy, yoga therapy, neurofeedback & hypnotherapy are deemed "not value for money/not effective or beneficial" for #psychosocial participants. According to which criteria have you measured their 'ineffectiveness'? This randomized controlled study?: https://lnkd.in/gxy3zD5F Or perhaps this one?: https://lnkd.in/gY873Ysf But then again, NDIS is an individualised support scheme, whereby the effectiveness of supports is measured against the individual's 'progress', with an emphasis on upholding #selfdetermination of those supports through the exercise of individual choice & control, as enshrined in legislation (NDIS Act section 17A (3) (a) and (b). The draft NDIS Support list then goes on to define what is excluded for mental health: Any pharmaceutical Treatment for drug & alcohol dependency, eating disorders, gambling & other addictions. Acute, subacute emergency and outpatient clinical services delivered through public & private hospital mental health services. Supports related to mental health that are clinical in nature, including acute, ambulatory & continuing care, rehabilitation Any residential care where the primary purpose is for inpatient treatment or clinical rehabilitation, or where the services model primarily employs clinical staff The above reiterates how ill-informed the NDIA is to support people with psychosocial challenges & its reductionistic, limited understanding of the complexities & intersectionality of living with such psychosocial challenges. Where is the logic in accepting, for example, a person into the scheme on the basis of a diagnosis of C-PTSD & the functional limitations created by this condition, which excludes behaviours, lifestyles & choices (eg. alcohol/drug dependency, gambling, eating disorders as excluded above) developed as a coping mechanism of said trauma & the functional limitations caused by these coping mechanisms upon which the person is granted access to the scheme?!? Furthermore, the narrative is continued in this list of excluding acute/subacute care for conditions accepted by the scheme that are episodic & fluctuating by nature without addressing the disjoint between NDIA & State-based health systems, & then endless game of passing the buck between the two. "MIND THE GAP", because it's widening & engulfs people at their most vulnerable moments. May I ask, Bill, what co-design measures were in place to create this support list?

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Exciting news – our ARC Linkage application got funded: “Social prescribing: Linking Australian social, health and community sectors”. Research team includes Candice Oster Ashleigh Powell Claire Hutchinson Sahar Faghidno, a collaboration between Flinders University Centre for Social Impact and Flinders Caring Futures Institute. We are looking forward to collaborating with our industry partners: Department of Human Services SA, Adelaide PHN, City of Onkaparinga, City of Marion, Semantic Consulting, and AnglicareSA (in partnership with MarionLIFE Community Services, Uniting Communities and Baptist Care (SA) Inc). The project aims to: 1) Identify key elements that enable place-based social prescribing in Australia, and use these to co-design a technology-enabled social prescribing model.  2)Implement the new social prescribing model in two high-needs communities.  3)Evaluate the model’s implementation, effectiveness, and social return on investment. https://lnkd.in/gmXkVUr6

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Today’s musing: Stakeholder Engagement: A Crucial Element in Addressing Youth Crime and Social Justice Engaging stakeholders—ranging from community leaders, law enforcement, educators, to youth themselves—is fundamental in addressing youth crime and fostering social justice. Effective stakeholder engagement creates a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are heard, ensuring that strategies reflect the real needs of the community. By involving various groups, we can develop tailored interventions that address the root causes of youth crime, such as poverty, lack of access to education, and systemic inequalities. This holistic approach not only enhances the effectiveness of crime prevention programs but also empowers young people, helping them feel valued and understood within their communities. Moreover, stakeholder engagement fosters transparency and trust, which are essential for successful implementation of social justice initiatives. When community members participate in the decision-making process, they are more likely to support and champion the strategies developed. This collective ownership leads to sustainable change, as it encourages ongoing dialogue and collaboration among all parties involved. By prioritizing stakeholder engagement, we can create pathways for youth that promote safety, equality, and opportunity, ultimately leading to healthier, more resilient communities. Together, we have the power to reshape the narrative around youth crime and work towards a more just society for all.

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A useful paper exploring the nexus of media, gender, violence: https://lnkd.in/g3jbkiFA

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Did you know that if you miss one council tax payment and don’t make it up within a week, you’ll often be asked to pay for a full year’s worth of council tax - on average £1,668 - in one go? And if you can’t pay that, your local authority can send the bailiffs to your door, or, in the worst case scenario, even send you to prison! Speaking to people about council tax since the start of the year, many of us aren’t aware. But for up to 2 million people with mental health problems who are behind on payments, they know the possible consequences of council tax debt collection all too well. The research that Toby Murray and I have been working on for the last 9 months reveals how these debt collection processes have been devastating lives. Our new report shows that people in this group face falling into a council tax trap - where after missing one payment you’re hit by a whirlwind of rapidly escalating debt collection activity, fees and charges, all when you’re potentially too unwell to even open the post. https://lnkd.in/eZc6GTzk These rapid and aggressive debt collection processes are disproportionately impacting those of us with mental health problems, with three quarters (73%) of people in council tax debt who received a bailiff visit having a mental health problem. It’s no wonder, when you’re asking people who are likely already struggling with their money and mental health to navigate complex systems and find money they simply don’t have in a matter of days. So what’s the solution? We want the government to change the regulations which dictate how quickly local authorities chase missed payments — to give people in arrears more time before being hit with bigger bills, extra charges, court summons and bailiff action. We have therefore launched our Council Tax Trap campaigning calling on the national government to end the aggressive council tax debt collection practices. You can support the campaign by signing our online petition and sharing it with your networks. https://lnkd.in/ewA8DrY4 PS - the report is packed full of other research that you’ll likely find fascinating and infuriating in equal measure, and we have a tonne of ideas for how things can change across the whole of public sector debt collection, for both local and national governments.

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New opportunity

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📢 Critical Update on NDIS and Sexuality Supports 📢 The NDIS reform Bill “Getting the NDIS Back on Track No.1” has proposed significant changes to how the NDIS approaches sexuality and relationship supports for people with disabilities – excluding essential services and undermining people’s rights to these important supports. Touching Base and Northcott are inviting disability and allied health organisations to stand together by becoming signatories to a Joint Positioning Statement on NDIS and Sexuality. By joining, you'll be part of a collective voice advocating for the rights and needs of people with disabilities. The statement asserts the following: 1. Importance of Sexuality and Relationship Supports: We oppose any reform that would allow the NDIA to exclude these essential services. The statement highlights the necessity of comprehensive sexuality and relationships supports, which address a wide range of needs including consent education, support for survivors of sexual assault, and assistance for maintaining intimate relationships. 2. Impact of Excluding Sexuality Supports: Removing these services would undermine the fundamental rights and well-being of people with disability, potentially increasing risks, and neglect around this crucial aspect of their lives. We argue for the retention and investment in these services to ensure people with disabilities can achieve improved quality of life and healthy relationships. 3. Need for a Comprehensive Sexuality Policy: We call for the development of a robust sexuality policy that acknowledges the diverse needs of NDIS participants and provides clear, consistent guidelines for accessing supports. 💼 How to Join: - Email your confirmation to [email protected] by August 16th, 2024. - Learn more about NDIS and sexuality supports: https://lnkd.in/gPD-jHSv Let’s work together to uphold the rights of people under the NDIS! 🌟 #NDIS #DisabilitySupport #SexualityAndDisability #InclusiveSupport

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"Cultural practices such as stories, songs and dances have been used as memory aids to transmit knowledge across thousands of generations, and to maintain the Laws and customs handed down by each Dreaming Ancestor... First Nations spirituality promotes a strong sense of interrelatedness and interconnectedness between all things, particularly people and the planet..." A couple of thoughts resurfaced in my mind as I read this: 1) The imperative to change dominant narratives, on which we continue to be socialized and boxed into, has never been more urgent than it is now. Colonialism and current supremacist governance, structures, systems, policies and practices has always seen indigenous ways of living and relating as "uncivilized, unscientific, impractical." The butchering of local knowledge systems continue in various ways. 2) Intersectionality has always been a way of life for collectivist cultures. Over generations. Across thousands of years. It is nothing new for us. We know this because we live this. 3) In today's hyper-connected world, made more so by the worldwide web, there is absolutely no excuse for ignorance. What are we choosing to hear, read and understand? How are we choosing to act to break dominant narratives, break oppressive cycles, dismantle status-quo? Tenkyu for sharing this article Tyson Yunkaporta.

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One of the crushingly disappointing things about the National Cabinet's announcement is that the Expert Panel's recommendation for an audit into the massive gaps in funding for specialist women's, children's and LGBTIQ+SB services appears to have been mostly ignored. There is a possibility that men's DFSV will increase over the coming years and decades - or at least, our efforts across all realms of prevention and response might only be able to stem the tide. Improvements in gender equity is of course crucial, and hopefully these will accelerate. What do many men who use violence do when victim-survivors increase their resistance to his violence, and take major risks to attempt to create more space for action and dignity in their and their family's lives? Many men escalate their violence and/or widen their tactics to try to suppress her resistance. As more men over time lose some of their privilege and gender-based entitlements, as they need to, many will not see this as a 'win-win' for all people and for all genders (while many other men of course will). Many will see this as an attack on men. Is this backlash having an impact on overall rates of men's use of DFSV? If so, will this intensify in the years to come? As we enter an increasingly climate-stressed world, with governments and institutions ill-equipped to respond, there could be multiple pressures and reinforcers for the use of violence and coercion - both on an individual and institutional level. What happens to DFSV rates after a (climate-influenced) natural disaster? What might this be like in 20 or 30 years time with multiple, overlapping climate induced stressors? Our efforts have saved and continue to save so, so many lives that we are not aware of, and have enabled women, children and others to gain precious moments (and months and years) of freedom and dignity. We might be saving more lives than ever before at the same time as demand for our services (and possibly even rates of DFSV) increase. This might be our reality for a while to come, until we get to the other side, where the backlash fades (due to our crucial efforts in upstream primary prevention, among other things), and where (survivor-led) community responses to DFSV have strengthened without the need to rely predominantly on institutional responders. The National Cabinet announcement is a betrayal not only because of the massive strain faced by frontline services in the context of increasing demand, but also as we can't ignore the possibility that demand might continue to increase, or at least not reduce, for some years to come. Will our political leaders have the courage to face the reality of what we are struggling with on the ground? Irrespective of whether this courage arises, we can shoulder each other up in our work. Mutual aid to prevent burn-out is critical. Expressing opinions without violating others and destroying our collegial and solidarity relationships is critical. We have a movement to re/build.

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I understand that some people might support the overall vision of the NDIS review, and because of that, they feel like this particular NDIS Amendment Bill is either net good, mostly good or just plain good. But the Bill is not the review. The review claimed to be about putting people with disability back at the heart of the scheme. It proposed doing away with the 'unhelpful' focus on primary disabilities, and focusing instead on support needs of an eligible population. The Bill however, was drafted by Department of Social Services. Make no mistake, these people are not friends and these people come from an entirely different set of perspectives and principles than the creators of the NDIS. DSS are the people who brought you the Disability Support Payment Impairment Tables, you know the idea that you need 20 points from one impairment to be a CertifiedDisabledTM? DSS' NDIS Bill puts impairments back at the heart of the Scheme. Putting impairments back at the centre of the Scheme means walking away from an inclusion-focused, social-model approach. It means saying, "I don't care how much suffering is being caused because you can't walk, can't get out of bed, don't have the assistive technology you need to go to work, that's not your eligible impairment and it's not my problem." This is not the NDIS anyone fought for. An impairment-driven scheme, where bureaucrats tell us how much of which supports we need for our certified impairments, is not more certainty. I challenge supporters of the bill to consider it against, not the status quo, but against an alternate reform bill. A bill that didn't focus on raising debts against participants, entrenching the concept of an eligible impairment, putting people and supports into 'classes,' and limiting access to creative and mainstream supports. Imagine a bill that started with establishing navigators and foundational supports and cracking down on provider fraud. Think of how different the reaction might be? Think of what a different message that would send. There is always an alternative. If you've convinced yourself there isn't, look again.

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Monday 27th May marks the start of National Reconciliation Week 2024, with the theme this year “Now More Than Ever”.   Recently I participated in a workshop hosted by SNAICC - National Voice for our Children in relation to the National Child and Family Investment Strategy – an action under the Safe and Supported: National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children. The Families Australia Changing the Balance Project, of which I have too been a part, also informs this Strategy.   The Strategy, which forms part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan within the National Framework, aims to shift funding in the child and family service sector towards two important areas: investment into early, targeted, holistic, and culturally safe support services, and more proportional investment into delivery of services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled sector. I feel strongly about contributing to these critical improvements, and helping to support the necessary changes that can bring genuine service improvement and cultural safety to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, and greater funding into the ACCO sector.   First Nations peoples have long identified that improving the outcomes for Aboriginal children requires a self-determined response, but a self-determined response is not possible without the funding to provide it. While government policy has recognised the necessity of transfer of funding and authority to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, change has been slow.   The Strategy recognises an uncomfortable truth within our child protection systems: that while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are disproportionately represented in the service system, the funding for services that serve and support this population is not proportionate to their representation.   I have been pleased to see these two projects develop and I hope that they will drive much needed action to enable transition of investment to occur. A change that is needed now more than ever.

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Some information was released overnight about the LNP Housing Plan, ahead of today's State Budget reply speech. While there are still many details to come, it's encouraging to see some of the proposed measures in scope, including shared equity programs and major infrastructure partnerships with local government to increase housing supply. New and innovative concepts for maximising church-owned land and utiliising vacant bedrooms make for interesting reading. And if the reports are accurate, there is a strong commitment to achieving housing targets leading up to 2046. Q Shelter is looking forward to unpacking all the details and providing useful budget analysis for the sector. This will include areas of convergence with the major parties on housing policy and differences in approaches. https://lnkd.in/g6FcR_Qh Stay tuned. #StateBudget #Housing #Homelessness #HomeMatters #BetterTogether #Queensland

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This is new & exciting - Check out the link in Emily Gillmartin bio - #ReflectivePractice #generalpractitioners #burnoutprevention #professionalgrowth #medicalpractitioner

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What drives women to use violence?  This week’s guest is Anna Motz.  Anna spoke to David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy about this very issue. Three Key Takeaways: - 🔍 Understanding Complexity: It’s crucial to consider both the social circumstances and the unconscious motivations of women offenders to foster a more nuanced understanding and effective therapeutic interventions. - 📘 The Power of Stories: Storytelling is not only compelling but necessary for challenging prevailing stereotypes and enhancing public understanding of these sensitive issues. - 🏥 Specialized Training and Cultural Change: Initiatives like the OPD pathway are transforming staff training in handling complex cases of women in forensic settings, emphasizing the importance of psychoanalytic expertise and cultural sensitivity in therapeutic practices. Don't miss this enlightening discussion that brings to light the intricate blend of personal trauma and societal issues contributing to women's violence. Tune into the newest episode of "Locked Up Living" for more in-depth insights and thought-provoking conversations! 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/dTm8x7SV Or click the link for the transcript #forensicpsychology #forensicpsychotherapy  #violence #offending #prisons #trauma #justicesystem https://lnkd.in/eBsrCzcN

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