New South Wales Government Research Articles

Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network (MRID.net) A Statewide Collaborative Multidisciplinary Care Model

Objective: People with intellectual disability (ID) frequently have multiple co-morbidities requiring a complex network of supports. Integrated care is essential to optimize outcomes and minimize adverse events such as unnecessary hospitalisation, but access to specialized expertise can be particularly challenging for underserved and rural/remote regions. The goal of the MRID network project is to pilot an innovative service model that would leverage existing resources to improve access to coordinated specialist health services for children, adolescents and adults with ID in regional areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: The MRID network project was funded by the NSW Government’s Ministry of Health. We adopted a partnership approach including local needs analysis and ongoing formative evaluation to ensure the co-production of a specialist service model meeting the changing needs of consumers, carers, and local government, non-government, health, disability, mental health, and education services. A hub-and-spoke service model was combined with telemedicine support. Key features included: • A multidisciplinary team of paediatric, medical, psychiatric, specialist nursing and allied health staff providing access to range of specialised services • A co-design model engaging local stakeholders from government and non-government sectors to provide readily accessed, client-centred, holistic, coordinated care complemented by family and carer support • Capacity building of local services through provision of educational resources, specialist support and networking World Congress on Integrated Care 2014, Sydney, November 23-26, 2014. International Journal of Integrated Care – Volume 14, 8 December – URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1-116677– http://www.ijic.org/ • Implementing a flexible clinic structure, including clinics in various locations such as schools and group homes and the use of Telehealth to provide assessments and consultations at the right place and time for the client • The co-development of a “Referral Guide” for disability service providers to request specialist clinical support • Development of data linkage systems to support coordinated care. Key Findings: Partnerships were developed with NGO disability service providers, ADHC, DEC, and health in ten localities across NSW. As of 30 June 2014, fourteen different sites had been developed to host a range of comprehensive psychiatry, medical and school clinics, and 688 clients had been registered, including children, adults, and older adults. The resulting MRID model successfully changed the focus in participating services from ongoing management by specialists, with severe constraints due to limited resources, to a consultative model emphasizing support and education of more generalist services. Increased access to expertise reduced unnecessary hospitalisations. Conclusions: The MRID model demonstrated that an innovative service model could enhance outcomes and access to specialist services for people with ID in regional NSW. The model can be used as the foundation for the development of a state-wide service model for specialist ID service delivery.

‘We get the most information from the sources we trust least’: residents' perceptions of risk communication on industrial contamination

This article provides insight into associations between risk communication, trust and risk perception through empirical research examining residents' trust in sources of risk communication about contaminants from industrial sites in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The research addresses a gap in empirical research within Australia, and responds to a broader call for further research to improve the understanding and use of risk communication practices. In 2009, a survey of 800 randomly sampled residents living near two industrial source sites were gathered, and focus groups held with 80 of the surveyed residents. The research found that community groups and local councils were the sources that residents trusted most for information about contaminant risk. However, they actually received most risk communication from the sources they trusted least – namely the media, the NSW government and industry. This has implications for the efficacy of risk communication, given that focus group findings suggest that the level of trust people placed in these sources influenced their risk perceptions and behaviours. Findings also suggest that residents' levels of trust in a source was influenced by whether or not they perceived it to share their interests and values, as well as by its current and past performance.

Health Impact Assessment in New South Wales & Health in All Policies in South Australia: differences, similarities and connections.

BackgroundPolicy decisions made within all sectors have the potential to influence population health and equity. Recognition of this provides impetus for the health sector to engage with other sectors to facilitate the development of policies that recognise, and aim to improve, population outcomes. This paper compares the approaches implemented to facilitate such engagement in two Australian jurisdictions. These are Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in New South Wales (NSW) and Health in All Policies (HiAP) in South Australia (SA).MethodsThe comparisons presented in this paper emerged through collaborative activities between stakeholders in both jurisdictions, including critical reflection on HIA and HiAP practice, joint participation in a workshop, and the preparation of a discussion paper written to inform a conference plenary session. The plenary provided an opportunity for the incorporation of additional insights from policy practitioners and academics.ResultsComparison of the approaches indicates that their overall intent is similar. Differences exist, however, in the underpinning principles, technical processes and tactical strategies applied. These differences appear to stem mainly from the organisational positioning of the work in each state and the extent to which each approach is linked to government systems.ConclusionsThe alignment of the HiAP approach with the systems of the SA Government increases the likelihood of influence within the policy cycle. However, the political priorities and sensitivities of the SA Government limit the scope of HiAP work. The implementation of the HIA approach from outside government in NSW means greater freedom to collaborate with a range of partners and to assess policy issues in any area, regardless of government priorities. However, the comparative distance of HIA from NSW Government systems may reduce the potential for impact on government policy. The diversity in the technical and tactical strategies that are applied within each approach provides insight into how the approaches have been tailored to suit the particular contexts in which they have been implemented.

Local Co‐Governance and Environmental Sustainability in New South Wales Local Government: The Lake Macquarie City Council Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program

New South Wales (NSW) local government is in the throes of a vigorous debate over the best methods of improving its operations through a comprehensive reform programme. An Independent Local Government Review Panel, set up by the NSW Government, has proposed addressing the “key challenge” of local environmental sustainability by forcibly amalgamating local councils, especially in the metropolitan regions of the state. Using the community participation model, local co‐governance structures established by Lake Macquarie City Council (LakeMac) in its Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program (SNAP) as a case study, this study argues that co‐governance programmes of this kind represent by far the most promising avenue for tackling the environmental challenges facing NSW local government. We seek to demonstrate that the ground‐breaking efforts being undertaken by LakeMac show that NSW local government already enjoys the necessary legislative foundations to initiate successful local co‐government initiatives through local community participation. Rather than divisive and expensive compulsory council mergers, we contend that the Panel should instead have recommended that the NSW Government focus on encouraging NSW local government to emulate LakeMac's example in discharging its environmental responsibilities.

To what extent ‘an entirely new approach to how planning is done’? Tracing planning system reform in New South Wales

Prior to the 2011 New South Wales (NSW) state election the Liberal-National Coalition campaigned strongly on planning system reform, mobilising inefficiencies in the system and concerns over corruption as central election platforms. A new planning system and legislation were the ultimate objectives. The NSW Government has engaged in an ambitious reform process that has seen the release of a Green Paper, a White Paper and draft legislation. On releasing the White Paper, the premier claimed that the reforms would ‘return more powers to local councils’, promote ‘genuine consultation [and] provide certainty’. The intent of the planning reforms was to simplify the law and have a greater strategic focus supporting economic growth. In this paper, we explore the reform process, focussing on its underlying objectives and, in some cases, the tensions between them. Despite the Minister for Planning's claim that the government ‘is delivering an entirely new approach to how planning is done’, by focusing on a few key elements, we question the extent to which the reforms are as innovative as claimed and assess the barriers to implementation. We conclude that, as presented in the Planning Bill, the reforms are not revolutionary but rather represent an evolutionary change in planning law and policy.

Amenity enhancement and biodiversity conservation in Australian suburbia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically explore the historical background and current approach of the most common statutory instrument to maintain green landscapes in private residential gardens in cities and townships in suburban New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The narrative presents a transdisciplinary study. While its emphasis is on law and town planning, it also encompasses local government and legal history while touching upon environmental management and ecological science. This panoply of areas reflects the sheer complexity of the topic. While the presentation is initially descriptive, it moves on to a critique of the NSW Government's recent statutory approach. Findings – The paper demands that further attention must be paid to improving the design and architecture of statutory plans and underlying policies to not only improve urban biodiversity but also retain, as far as practicable, the visual beauty of the suburban landscape. This means reliance on local government to devise their own acceptable approaches. Flexibility rather than rigidity is warranted. Originality/value – The amount of scholarly material on this topic is relatively rare. The majority of information relies on excellent on-ground research and experience on the part of local experts, namely council employees and consultants. Academic and practical material must be drawn together to improve biodiversity conservation at both the local and regional spheres.

Under Cover of Westminster: Enabling and Disabling a Public Service Commission in New South Wales

Under Cover of Westminster: Enabling and Disabling a Public Service Commission in New South Wales

The solar photovoltaic feed-in tariff scheme in New South Wales, Australia

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) electricity systems are part of Australia's energy supply matrix. In the case of New South Wales (NSW), the state government has had to deal with a complex policy problem. In order to play its role in the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, the NSW government initiated the 7 year Solar Bonus Scheme in 2010. However, in attempting to maximise community investment in small-scale solar PV systems, it relied on faulty financial modelling that applied a generous Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and underestimated the level of investor participation and installed capacity. Consequently, the scheme has resulted in very high public costs that will require policy changes that bring investors and energy retailers into conflict, and unpopular electricity retail price adjustments. This paper uses a structured case and stakeholder analysis to critically analyse the FiT policy, while also highlighting important lessons for policymakers engaging in FiT design.

Public–private contracting and incentives for public transport: Can anything be learned from the Sydney Metro experience?

The New South Wales (NSW) government created the Sydney Metro Authority to design, build and operate a completely separate underground Metro rail system to supplement the existing public transport network in Sydney. By the time the NSW government abruptly cancelled the entire Metro project in early 2010, the authority had conceived and designed a contract that was proceeding to procurement. This paper examines the nature of the proposed Sydney Metro contract in relation to its performance framework and compares this to the frameworks in current contracts for bus, rail and ferry public transport in Sydney. Against this background, the paper examines the extent to which the Sydney Metro approach has had an impact on subsequent public transport contracts in the context of the literature on public private contracting and incentives for public transport procurement. The paper concludes that little has been implemented, although the other mode contracts now enable more performance measurement and incentivisation. In particular, the decision to award contracts to existing (and mostly public sector) operators appears to have acted as a brake on developing these performance elements.

How optimal was the Sydney Metro contract?: Comparison with international best practice

The New South Wales (NSW) government created the Sydney Metro Authority to design, build and operate a completely separate underground Metro rail system to supplement the existing public transport network in Sydney. By the time the NSW government abruptly cancelled the entire Metro project in early 2010, the Authority had conceived and designed a contract that was proceeding to procurement. This paper compares the elements of the proposed Sydney Metro contract to findings of the literature on optimal contracting and optimal incentives and on PPP best practice. The paper concludes that the Metro seems to have at least implicitly drawn fairly heavily on best practices and principles, but that its ultimate failure to be implemented is an instructive lesson about how operating environment can impede integration of useful knowledge and experience.

Issues affecting therapist workforce and service delivery in the disability sector in rural and remote New South Wales, Australia: perspectives of policy-makers, managers and senior therapists

The disability sector encompasses a broad range of conditions and needs, including children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people with acquired disabilities, and irreversible physical injuries. Allied health professionals (therapists), in the disability sector, work within government and funded or charitable non-government agencies, schools, communities, and private practice. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study of therapist workforce and service delivery in the disability sector in rural and remote New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The aim was to investigate issues of importance to policy-makers, managers and therapists providing services to people with disabilities in rural and remote areas. The project gathered information via semi-structured interviews with individuals and small groups. Head office and regional office policy-makers, along with managers and senior therapists in western NSW were invited to participate. Participants included 12 policy-makers, 28 managers and 10 senior therapists from NSW government agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in providing services and support to people with disabilities in the region. Information was synthesised prior to using constant comparative analysis within and across data sets to identify issues. Five broad themes resonated across participants' roles, locations and service settings: (1) challenges to implementing policy in rural and remote NSW; (2) the impact of geographic distribution of workforce and clients; (3) workforce issues - recruitment, support, workloads, retention; (4) equity and access issues for rural clients; and (5) the important role of the NGO sector in rural service delivery and support. Although commitment to providing best practice services was universal, policy-related information transfer between organisations and employees was inconsistent. Participants raised some workforce and service delivery issues that are similar to those reported in the rural health literature but rarely in the context of allied health and disability services. Relatively recent innovations such as therapy assistants, information technology, and trans-disciplinary approaches, were raised as important service delivery considerations within the region. These and other innovations were expected to extend the coverage provided by therapists. Non-government organisations played a significant role in service delivery and support in the region. Participants recognised the need for therapists working for different organisations, in rural areas, to collaborate both in terms of peer support and service delivery to clients.

How can we do things differently in Aboriginal health? The same challenges seen through new eyes

How can we do things differently in Aboriginal health? The same challenges seen through new eyes

Impact of a population based intervention to increase the adoption of multiple physical activity practices in centre based childcare services: a quasi experimental, effectiveness study.

BackgroundThere is considerable scope to improve the delivery of practices that increase the physical activity of children in centre based childcare services. Few studies have reported the effectiveness of interventions to address this, particularly at a population level. The primary aim of this study was to describe the impact of an intervention to increase the adoption of multiple policies and practices to promote physical activity in centre based childcare services.MethodsA quasi experimental study was conducted in centre based childcare services (n =228) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia and involved a three month intervention to increase the adoption of eight practices within childcare services that have been suggested to promote child physical activity. Intervention strategies to support the adoption of practices included staff training, resources, incentives, follow-up support and performance monitoring and feedback. Randomly selected childcare services in the remainder of NSW acted as a comparison group (n = 164) and did not receive the intervention but may have been exposed to a concurrent NSW government healthy eating and physical activity initiative. Self reported information on physical activity policies, fundamental movement skills sessions, structured physical activity opportunities, staff involvement in active play and provision of verbal prompts to encourage physical activity, small screen recreation opportunities, sedentary time, and staff trained in physical activity were collected by telephone survey with childcare service managers at baseline and 18 months later.ResultsCompared with the comparison area, the study found significantly greater increases in the prevalence of intervention services with a written physical activity policy, with policy referring to placing limits on small screen recreation, and with staff trained in physical activity. In addition, non-significant trends towards a greater increase in the proportion of intervention services conducting daily fundamental movement skill sessions, and such services having a physical activity policy supporting physical activity training for staff were also evident.ConclusionThe intervention was effective in improving a number of centre based childcare service policies and practices associated with promoting child physical activity. Adoption of a broader range of practices may require more intensive and prolonged intervention support.

Success Stories from an Indigenous Immersion Primary Teaching Experience in New South Wales Schools

A federal report released by the Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA, 2009), entitled Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: The Challenge for Australia, highlighted the inequality that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students based on a restricted access to resources, issues of isolation, staff and student retention, and cultural differences and challenges. In New South Wales (NSW), the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) in 2003/2004 undertook their own review of Aboriginal education in NSW Government schools that revealed significant concerns about the outcomes being achieved by Aboriginal students in NSW DET schools, confirming the more recent FaHCSIA (2009) findings. In 2006 the NSW DET implemented the Enhanced Teacher Training Scholarship Program (ETTSP) to empower 20 final-year education students to successfully engage with Indigenous students in schools and their wider community during their internship period. Using themes, this article explores the experiences of 10 University of New England scholarship holders at the end of their final year of teacher training and immersion/internship experience in 2010. The article puts forward useful recommendations for both teacher universities and students intending to teach in schools with high Indigenous student populations.

Fair‐weather friends: why compacts fail non‐government organisations

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on compacts and their effectiveness in ensuring that non‐government organisations (NGOs) are able to remain independent, critical checks on government.Design/methodology/approachThe experiences of the English Compact and the Working Together for NSW agreement, created in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The analysis of Working Together relies upon interviews conducted with key informants involved in its negotiation. Using these cases the effectiveness of compacts in supporting NGOs, particularly in their role as advocates is examined.FindingsThe paper finds that, despite the similarities between the English Compact and Working Together, the NSW government has not produced similar supporting structures or mechanisms and that no champion exists to drive it within government. As a result, awareness of Working Together is low in both the NSW government and among NGOs, and, unlike the English Compact, it has had little effect on the ability of NGOs to advocate independently. As such, it is suggested that compacts do not offer long‐term solutions to the difficulties in the relationship between governments and NGOs. This is because their efficacy is reliant upon the support of government.Research limitations/implicationsThe list of interviewees is by no means exhaustive. Despite numerous attempts, the authors were unable to obtain interviews from a number of figures approached from middle‐level departments within the NSW state government.Originality/valueThe interviews are original and new to the literature on compacts. This interview material is especially useful as little literature exists that analyses the Working Together for NSW agreement.

Uncovering and Understanding Australia’s First Railway

In 1831 the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) began operations of its fi rst coal mine in Newcastle to serve the growing colony of New South Wales (NSW). It honoured an agreement (and contract of 1824) to take over the sourcing of coal from the NSW Government, which since 1801 had been carried out ineffi ciently using convict labour under supervision of the military. The mine was developed on “The Hill” overlooking Newcastle’s Harbour and was connected to a staith (coal loader) on the wharf by a railway. With an offi cial opening date of 10 December 1831, the railway can rightly claim to be Australia’s fi rst. However, for many years little was known about the design, history or archaeology of this railway to give this claim substance and credibility. This paper will fi rst explain the historical background to the AACo’s coal mine and railway based on evidence unavailable until recently. This evidence includes sketches of the mine and accounts from the AACo’s records. It suggests that AACo carefully designed and resourced its fi rst mines with technology of the time that was developed for mines in the northeast of England. In a second part, this paper will describe recent archaeological evidence and research that shows that the design of the mine and the supply of equipment for the railway was of a high standard for that time (c. 1826). The opportunity to do this follows a very fortuitous uncovering of an iron relic from the early AACo mines by local historian and co-author, David Campbell. Recent research of early rail line technology has provided an understanding of this relic and its historic provenance. International inquiries have led to the discovery that the railway line may be contemporary in design and supply with some of the very early English railways. Railway historians in the UK are also surprised that a rare, cast iron “fi sh-belly” rail section, similar to that used on their famous Stockton to Darlington Railway of 1825, could be found from a railway in Australia.

Effects of climate scenarios on simulated intake of sheep grazing native pastures in northern New South Wales, Australia

Interpolated climate data were used as inputs for simulations in a biophysical model to predict the proportion of the total intake provided by native pasture for wethers and ewes for three climate scenarios on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. These climate scenarios compared the 1961–90 historical baseline climate with two climate projections for 2030 based on (i) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A1B scenario in 2030 for a site near Barraba, and (ii) a report to the NSW Government indicating that the climate of Tamworth (~85 km south-east of Barraba) could become similar to that of Warialda (~95 km north-west of Barraba). A third scenario compared historical data for the Barraba location for 30-year ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ periods, in the first and second halves of the 1900s, respectively. Model simulations indicated that the largest differences in the predicted proportion of wether and ewe intake provided by the pasture occurred for the historical ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ periods. For the reference climate normal (1961–90) v. 2030 A1B scenario and the Tamworth–Warialda comparison, there were few substantial differences in the predicted proportion of pasture intake. Additionally, there was only a small effect of a variation (up to 20%) in rainfall distribution and inter-annual variability on pasture intake by sheep. Since the largest predicted differences in sheep intake of pasture occurred for historical ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ periods, it was apparent that climate variability would continue to have a major influence on grazed native pastures on the North-West Slopes of NSW.

Trends in the Placement of Students in Segregated Settings in NSW Government Schools

This brief report describes recent data on the enrolment of students in New South Wales (NSW) government special schools and special classes. There has been an increase in both special school and special class enrolments since 1998 with large increases among students with emotional disturbance. This pattern is briefly discussed in relation to government policy and legislation, social and political factors as well as the notion that there may be a threshold for the extent of inclusion of students with special needs in NSW government schools.

Trends in the Placement of Students in Segregated Settings in NSW Government Schools

This brief report describes recent data on the enrolment of students in New South Wales (NSW) government special schools and special classes. There has been an increase in both special school and special class enrolments since 1998 with large increases among students with emotional disturbance. This pattern is briefly discussed in relation to government policy and legislation, social and political factors as well as the notion that there may be a threshold for the extent of inclusion of students with special needs in NSW government schools.

Who Owns Callan Park? A Cautionary Tale

Objective: To investigate circumstances in which there was: (i) an attempt by the New South Wales (NSW) government to sell a psychiatric hospital site, Callan Park, for private development, without realistic compensation for services for people with mental illnesses; and (ii) a public campaign to pressure that government to give the site to the local community, also without regard to the best interests of people with mental illnesses. Conclusions: On the surface it appears that the debate over Callan Park is over. In the face of a noisy ‘Save Callan Park’ campaign, the NSW government relented and subsequently passed legislation to protect this site from development ‘forever’ (Sydney Morning Herald 21.10.2002) amended by the Upper House to prevent long-term leaseholds (December 2002). Both sides of this debate have been misguided, obscuring three important issues: (i) that the site is not ‘terra nullius’ and does not, as has been often claimed, belong ‘to the people of NSW’ but ‘to the people in NSW with mental illnesses’; (ii) that most people with mental illness are better off being cared for in the community than in psychiatric hospitals; and (iii) that providing such alternative care requires much more government investment, equivalent to the value of such sites. Either selling or giving away psychiatric hospital sites without proper recompense to people with mental illnesses is unjust.