Vic Department of Health and Human Services | Departments/Agencies

Vic Health deputy secretary to have responsibilities stripped amid state’s second COVID-19 wave

By Shannon Jenkins

Health

The move follows Premier Daniel Andrews' announcement of a judicial review into the hotel quarantine system after a number of coronavirus cases in the community…

WA, Commonwealth deploy staff to assist Victorian health response

By Shannon Jenkins

Health

The WA government on Tuesday said Professor Tarun Weeramanthri has been seconded to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services for an initial four-week…

Vic health officer did not breach VPS code of conduct with Captain Cook tweet, review found

By Shannon Jenkins

News

Liberal MP James Newbury had referred the tweet to the VPSC, alleging it had undermined public confidence. Following an investigation, acting VPS commissioner Julia Griffith…

COVID-19: Vic prepares for ‘worst case scenario’ with $1.3b health sector boost

By Shannon Jenkins

Health

The Victorian government will inject $1.3 billion into its health system in preparation for the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. The funds will secure an…

COVID-19: Tas to close borders, Vic boosts health sector

By Shannon Jenkins

Queensland

Tasmanian will close its borders, Queensland is granting its chief health officer stronger powers, and Victorian is boosting its health system with $437 million, all in…

Vic departments and Melbourne council to hold virtual COVID-19 Business Support Summit

By Shannon Jenkins

Economy & Industry

The City of Melbourne has announced a $10 million stimulus package to keep residents in jobs and support local businesses affected by the coronavirus. The…

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Case studies

‘I never quite believed I would actually be employed’: Rise at DHHS is helping people with autism reach their potential — while improving agency performance

By David Donaldson

Case studies

An innovative recruitment program for people with autism opened up "life changing" new opportunities for employment and met a business need for accurate record keeping.

Victoria launches $5.3 million plan to tackle Aboriginal homelessness

By Shannon Jenkins

Community & Social

The first self-determined strategic policy direction led by the Victorian Aboriginal community has called on governments to help ensure all Aboriginal Victorians have safe, stable…

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Interviews

The ceaseless work of independent Indigenous commissioners for Aboriginal youth justice reform in Australia

By Chris Woods

Australian Capital Territory

Every Australian jurisdiction has run inquiries into Indigenous youth justice, but they vary wildly on follow-through. June Oscar and Justin Mohamed discuss where we are…

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Case studies

Tackling entrenched disadvantage: the four innovative approaches Victoria is trying, from social procurement to place-based services

By David Donaldson

Community & Social

A push for social procurement, better data linkage for users of multiple services, improving place-based service capability, and working more closely with public housing tenants:…

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Insights and analysis

Good money after bad: six reasons why governments ignore evidence of service failure — and how to do better

By David Donaldson

Features

There are some pretty fundamental reasons why governments continue spending money on poorly performing programs, explains DJPR deputy secretary David Clements. But he also has…

Public sector unions lob ‘wage theft’ allegations at Vic government, ABC

By Shannon Jenkins

Health

Up to 2000 employees in the Victorian Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services could be owed up to $300,000 in superannuation…

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How Victoria’s award-winning prescription monitoring system SafeScript is fighting overdose — and won over the AMA

By David Donaldson

Case studies

Each year, more Victorians die from prescription medications than road accidents or illicit drugs. And yet until recently, there was no reliable way for doctors…

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Interviews

Practice saying no and stop under-rating implementation, says Fran Thorn. Then, learn how to convince everyone your idea is not entirely stupid

By David Donaldson

Features

The processes of making decisions might seem perfectly sane and sensible when you’re inside government, but when you’re outside government on the receiving end of…

Fact check: are Victoria’s DHHS staff being transferred to federal agencies?

By Shannon Jenkins

News

Victoria's DHHS held an all-staff forum last week to update employees on the ongoing changes occurring as part of the NDIS. Employees already working in…