Family Responsibilities Commission

Report to the Family Responsibilities Board and
The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs

Quarterly Report
No. 17

July 2012 to September 2012

Report prepared by the Family Responsibilities Commission under the leadership of Commissioner David Glasgow

Executive Summary

During quarter 17, 862 agency notices were received by the Family Responsibilities Commission (the Commission) which were within jurisdiction, an increase of 151 from last quarter.  There were 451 conferences held for the same period, representing an increase of 81 from last quarter.  One Family Responsibility Agreement (FRA) was entered into, 50 orders were made to attend community support services and 97 Conditional Income Management (CIM) orders were issued.  When compared to last quarter this represents a decrease of 8 FRA’s and 4 orders to attend community support services, with an increase of 46 orders for CIM.  

Community members are continuing to support Voluntary Income Management (VIM), an option which allows people to manage their budgets and meet the costs of everyday essentials.  Since the commencement of the Commission, 53 VIM agreements have been processed.  

The Commission case managed 193 clients during the quarter.  The Commissioners made 103 referrals relating to 54 clients, a decrease of 12 referrals from last quarter.  Further activity during the quarter consisted of 2 Show Cause conferences held, a decrease of 4 from last quarter and 27 Applications to Amend or End Agreements or Orders received, an increase of 12 from the previous quarter.

Readers of this quarterly report should note that in order to align with the 2011-2012 annual reporting requirements published by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Commission has adopted a more condensed reporting format. The new format presents information in a concise manner which provides a balanced and transparent account of the Commission’s quarterly performance. 

Following extensive stakeholder and community consultation regarding the future of the Commission, on 31 August 2012 the Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier, the Honourable Glen Elmes MP, announced the extension of the Cape York Welfare Reform (CYWR) trial until 1 January 2014.  Subsequently the Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill 2012 was introduced to Parliament.  The Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill 2012 is a pre-condition for the extension to occur.

Subject to the closure of the Commission on 31 December 2013, the Commission, together with the Family Responsibilities Board (the Board), will review exit strategies to ensure a smooth transition for the communities, and will consider what priorities to set for its final year of operations to best capitalise on the gains achieved to date.

The Commission looks forward to building upon its existing partnerships in quarter 18 and continuing to support the empowerment of the individuals and families living in the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge.

Table of contents

1.  Activities and Trends		4
2.  Observations, Challenges and Future Direction	10
3.  Financial Operations		10

Abbreviations
CIM		Conditional Income Management
CYWR		Cape York Welfare Reform
DETE		Department of Education, Training and Employment
FRA		Family Responsibilities Agreement
FRC		Family Responsibilities Commission
VIM		Voluntary Income Management
Also:		
Family Responsibilities Commission (the Commission)
Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 (the Act)
Family Responsibilities Commission Registry (the Registry)
Family Responsibilities Board (the Board)

Family Responsibilities Commission
Cape York Welfare Reforms

Report to 30 September 2012.
1.  Activities and Trends

Notices
In quarter 17 the Commission received 1,206 agency notices.  Some individuals may have been the subject of more than one agency notice.  Of that figure 862 notices (71 percent) were within the Commission’s jurisdiction and 344 notices (29 percent) were outside the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Within jurisdiction notices comprised of:

	270	Magistrates Court notices
	550	School Attendance notices
	39	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	3	Housing Tenancy notices

Of the 344 notices not within the Commission’s jurisdiction, there were 274 Magistrates Court notices, 64 School Attendance notices and 6 Child Safety and Welfare notices.

Details of notices within jurisdiction for each community are set out below:

•	Aurukun’s 447 notices constitute 51.9 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction across the four CYWR trial communities:

	128	Magistrates Court notices
	302	School Attendance notices
	17	Child Safety and Welfare notices

Five Magistrates Court notices and 10 School Attendance notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Coen’s 56 notices constitute 6.5 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	19	Magistrates Court notices
	35	School Attendance notices
	2	Child Safety and Welfare notices

Two Magistrates Court and 14 School Attendance notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	
Hope Vale’s 293 notices constitute 34.0 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	88	Magistrates Court notices
	191	School Attendance notices
	14	Child Safety and Welfare notices

Twelve Magistrates Court notices, 40 School Attendance notices and 4 Child Safety and Welfare notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Mossman Gorge’s 66 notices constitute 7.6 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	35	Magistrates Court notices
	22	School Attendance notices
	6	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	3	Housing Tenancy notices

Two hundred and fifty-five Magistrates Court notices and 2 Child Safety and Welfare notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

Since its commencement the Commission has received 11,531 agency notices within its jurisdiction.  Total notices increased from 1004 in quarter 16 to 1206 in quarter 17.  Of those notices in jurisdiction, Magistrates Court, School Attendance and Child Safety and Welfare notices increased, whilst Housing Tenancy notices decreased.

Magistrates Court notices increased this quarter to 270 from the 207 received in the previous quarter.  Aurukun increased by 55 notices, Hope Vale increased by 20 notices and Mossman Gorge increased by 16 notices.  Coen decreased by 28 notices.

School Attendance notices increased from 462 in quarter 16 to 550 in quarter 17.  All communities experienced an increased in notices for the quarter.  Aurukun notices increased by 21, Coen notices increased by 18, Hope Vale notices increased by 35 and Mossman Gorge increased by 14.

Child Safety and Welfare notices increased from 36 in quarter 16 to 39 in quarter 17.  Aurukun, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge increased by 6 notices, 2 notices and 4 notices respectively whilst Coen decreased by 9 notices.

Housing Tenancy notices decreased to 3 from the 6 received in the previous quarter.  Mossman Gorge recorded a decrease of 3 notices, whilst no notices were received for Aurukun, Coen and Hope Vale.

The Commission receives school attendance data from the Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE).  The release of relevant data relating to quarter 17 was not available at the time of writing this report, however, the available data provided by DETE is published on the Commission’s web page at http://www.frcq.org.au.

Table 1: In jurisdiction notices by type and quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Notices by Agency Processed	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Magistrates Court	211	358	310	207	270	
Education Queensland	426	443	445	462	550	
Child Safety	45	37	43	36	39	
Housing Tenancy	7	13	6	6	3	
TOTAL	689	851	804	711	862	

Table 2: In jurisdiction notices by community and quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	358	492	423	365	447	
Coen	26	49	40	75	56	
Hope Vale	242	234	276	236	293	
Mossman Gorge	63	76	65	35	66	
TOTAL	689	851	804	711	862	

Over the life of the Commission 84.0 percent of clients have received more than one notice with 48.1 percent of clients receiving more than five notices.  Frequently this illustrates multiple child school absences for the one family or multiple Magistrates Court notices relating to one incident.  To date, 16.0 percent of clients have received only one notice.

Table 3: FRC clients by number of notices 1 July 2008 to 30 September 2012.

Number of Notices Received	Number of Clients	
1	218	
2	166	
3	128	
4	95	
5	100	
>5	654	
TOTAL	1361	

(Note:  Counting rules stipulate that where multiple charges are received each charge is counted as an individual notice or each child’s absence is counted as one notice – i.e. if three children from the one family were absent, that was counted as three notices).

Conferences
Four hundred and fifty one conferences were held across the four communities in quarter 17 resulting in 1 FRA being entered into, 50 Orders made to attend community support services and 97 CIM orders as well as no further action, rescheduling and scheduling to return for review with compliance.  Twenty-eight new clients were conferenced during the quarter.  Details of conferencing activity in each community for quarter 17 are as follows:

	253 conferences were held in Aurukun
	30 conferences were held in Coen
	126 conferences were held in Hope Vale
	42 conferences were held in Mossman Gorge.

Conferences increased from 370 in quarter 16 to 451 in quarter 17.

Table 4: Conferences by community and quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	264	296	216	188	253	
Coen	11	25	17	33	30	
Hope Vale	91	96	80	86	126	
Mossman Gorge	50	41	30	63	42	
TOTAL	416	458	343	370	451	

Referrals
Referrals to service providers decreased from 115 in quarter 16 to 103 in quarter 17, relating to 54 clients.  Since commencement the Commission has referred 702 clients to service providers resulting in approximately 51.2 percent of clients on 12 month service referral plans.  Referrals in the communities during the quarter were as follows: Aurukun decreased by 3; Coen increased by 6; Hope Vale increased by 7; and Mossman Gorge decreased by 22.

Table 5: Referral Pathways by Referral Type and Quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Referral Type	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
MPower	24	42	31	27	27	
WBC	21	40	35	28	28	
SCMF	7	7	0	8	4	
Parenting Program	20	32	2	14	13	
EFV Program	17	34	26	26	24	
AFP	7	4	1	4	5	
Other	0	0	0	8	2	
TOTAL	96	159	95	115	103	

Conditional Income Management
Ninety-seven CIM orders were made in quarter 17, an increase of 46 from quarter 16.  Since the commencement of the Commission 859 CIM orders inclusive of original orders, extensions and amendments have been made relating to 496 clients.  During the quarter an increase was experienced in all four communities.  Aurukun increased by 27, Coen increased by 3, Hope Vale increased by 7 whilst Mossman Gorge increased by 9 orders for the quarter.

Commissioners report that many clients have been given numerous opportunities to attend conference or take action to have CIM orders amended (such as attend service providers) and have refused.  As at 30 September 2012, 36.2 percent of the Commission’s clients have been subject to a CIM order over the past four and a quarter years.  As at 30 September 2012 there are 199 clients subject to a CIM order which equates to 14.5 percent of clients and 11.9 percent of CYWR trial population on a CIM order at a point in time.

Since the commencement of the Commission in 2008, 53 VIM agreements have been processed relating to 48 clients.  Those clients that request a VIM agreement use income management as a savings and budget tool, often for a specified period and to deter family members from accessing their savings.

Table 6: Conditional Income Management Orders by Community and Quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	33	39	33	34	61	
Coen	0	4	0	1	4	
Hope Vale	12	14	6	11	18	
Mossman Gorge	8	10	8	5	14	
TOTAL	53	67	47	51	97	

Case Management
As at 30 September 2012, 193 clients were being case managed, an increase from 175 in quarter 16.  Since the last quarter the number of clients being case managed in Aurukun and Coen has increased by 11 and 12 respectively, while Hope Vale decreased by 5 and Mossman Gorge remained unchanged.

Show Cause Notices
During quarter 17, 2 Show Cause hearings were held in Aurukun.  These matters resulted in:

	1 Client Income Managed and ordered to comply with a case plan
	1 Client Income Managed

Table 7: Show Cause Notices by community and quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	0	5	3	5	2	
Coen	1	0	0	0	0	
Hope Vale	0	1	2	1	0	
Mossman Gorge	0	0	0	0	0	
TOTAL	1	6	5	6	2	

Applications to Amend or End Agreements or Orders
Twenty-seven Applications to Amend or End a Family Responsibilities Agreement or Order were received in quarter 17, an increase of 12 from quarter 16.  Outcomes of the 27 applications received are as follows:

	12 Income Management agreements and orders revoked
	10 Applications dismissed
	3 Applications received at the end of the quarter, decisions pending
	1 Income Management order revoked and client ordered to comply with a case plan
	1 Application rescheduled.

The Commission views the figures for applications to amend or end agreements or orders as an indication of client confidence in the Commission to provide a fair, just and equitable process.

Table 8: Applications to Amend or End FRA or Order by community and quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	7	10	9	3	12	
Coen	1	1	2	1	2	
Hope Vale	8	6	7	9	10	
Mossman Gorge	2	2	4	2	3	
TOTAL	18	19	22	15	27	

2.  Future Direction and Challenges

Future Direction

The Commission welcomed the announcement by the Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier, the Honourable Glen Elmes MP, extending the CYWR trial until 1 January 2014.  Amendments to the Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 (the Act) to allow for the operations of the Commission to continue until 1 January 2014 are currently being considered by Parliament.  The extension of the Commission will allow further opportunity to consolidate the gains achieved by the Commissioners in community and will also provide time for the results of an independent evaluation of the trial to be considered in determining future welfare reform initiatives.

3.  Financial Operations

Governance

Part 12 of the Act provides for the establishment of the Board.

The Board has a mandate to give advice and make recommendations to the Minister about the operation of the Commission and similarly to give advice and make recommendations to the Commissioner about the performance of the Commission’s functions.

The Board must meet at least every three months and each member must be present at each meeting.  The Board’s membership consists of:

•	Mr Jon Grayson		Director General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
•	Mr Noel Pearson 		Director, Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership
•	Mr Finn Pratt	Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Operational
In meeting obligations under Part 3 of the Act, the Family Responsibilities Commission Registry (the Registry) commenced operations on 1 July 2008 with a central Registry office established in Cairns and local Registry offices operating in each of the four CYWR trial communities.

The Registry, managed by the Registrar, provides corporate and operational support to the Commissioner, the Local Commissioners and the Local Coordinators.

Financial
The total funding budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year is $3.3 million, $1.5 million from the Australian Government and $1.8 million from the Queensland Government.
Income:
•	Income received by the Commission for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 September 2012 totalled $1.514 million.  This income consisted of:
•	$1.0 million received from the Queensland Government
•	$0.5 million received from the Australian Government
•	$0.007 million received in interest
•	$0.007 million received in sundry revenue.
The balance of available funds in the bank as at 30 September 2012 is $1.213 million and the balance of receivables is $1.0 million.

Expenditure:
•	Expenditure for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 September 2012 was $0.868 million (Table 9).  This total represents 21 percent of the projected annual expenditure of $4.135 million as stated in the 2012-13 projected expenditure and disclosed in the Queensland State Budget 2012-13 Service Delivery Statements.

Table 9: Unaudited expenditure in quarter 17.

1 July 2012 to	Expenditure	1 July 2012 to	Expenditure	
30 September 2012	Qtr 17	30 September 2012	Qtr 17	
 	 	 	 	
Salaries and recruitment	$544,318	Property costs	$37,519	
IT costs	$80,554	Financial services	$35,921	
Operating costs	$54,029	Motor vehicles	$22,520	
Travel	$48,128			
Local Commissioner employment	$45,330	Total	$868,320	

Quarter 17 disbursement of expenditure by category and percentage of total expenditure.

Table 10: Total FRC Operating Costs 1 July 2012 to 30 September 2012.

Expenditure Category	Percentage of Total Expenditure	
Staff employment costs	62.7%	
IT costs	9.3%	
Operating costs	6.2%	
Travel	5.6%	
Local Commissioner employment costs	5.2%	
Property costs	4.3%	
Financial services	4.1%	
Motor vehicles	2.6%	

Regional operational expenditure by location and quarter.

Table 11: Operating Costs by remote location 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Aurukun	$149K	$173K	$151K	$194K	$121K	
Coen	$45K	$42K	$29K	$45K	$41K	
Hope Vale	$103K	$100K	$74K	$113K	$89K	
Mossman Gorge	$27K	$39K	$30K	$56K	$36K	
TOTAL	$324K	$354K	$284K	$408K	$287K	

Cairns Registry expenditure for quarter 17 compared to the previous four quarters.

Table 12: Quarterly Operating Costs Cairns 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2012.

Community	Qtr 13	Qtr 14	Qtr 15	Qtr 16	Qtr 17	
Gov/Board Reporting	$54,802	$42,488	$26,054	$25,610	$36,032	
Operations	$275,616	$240,884	$192,877	$312,810	$290,233	
Corporate Services	$386,407	$421,725	$363,764	$457,067	$255,243	
TOTAL	$716,825	$705,097	$582,695	$795,487	$581,508	

APPENDIX A
DRAFT SITTING CALENDAR 2012
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION
1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012	

WEEK COMMENCING	Commissioner	COEN
Mon	AURUKUN
Tues/Wed/Thurs	HOPE VALE
Tues/Wed	MOSSMAN GORGE
Thurs	OFFICE CAIRNS	
2 JANUARY	DRG					Office week	
9 JANUARY	DRG					Office week	
16 JANUARY	DRG					Office week	
23 JANUARY	DRG				Public Holiday	26 Australia Day
23, 24, 25, 27	
30 JANUARY	DRG		31, 1, 2			30 Jan, 3 Feb	
6 FEBRUARY	DRG			7, 8	9	6, 10	
13 FEBRUARY	DRG	13	14, 15, 16			17	
20 FEBRUARY	DRG			21, 22	23	20, 24 
20 FR Board Meeting	
27 FEBRUARY	DRG		28, 29, 1			27 Feb, 2 March	
5 MARCH	DRG			6, 7 		5, 8, 9	
12 MARCH	DRG		13, 14, 15			12, 16	
19 MARCH	DRG			20, 21	22	19, 22, 23	
26 MARCH	DRG	26	27, 28, 29			30	
2 APRIL	DRG				3	6 Good Friday	
9 APRIL	DRG	Public Holiday				9 Easter Monday	
16 APRIL	DRG	16	17, 18, 19			20	
23 APRIL	DRG			23, 24
25 Public Holiday	26	25 ANZAC Day
27	
30 APRIL	DRG		1, 2, 3			30 April, 1, 2, 3, 4 May	
7 MAY	DRG	Public Holiday				7 May Day Holiday
Commissioner Week	
14 MAY	DRG			15, 16	17	14, 18
14 FR Board Meeting	
21 MAY	DRG	21	22, 23, 24			25
21 FR Board Meeting	
28 MAY	DRG			29, 30	31	28 May, 1 June	
4 JUNE	DRG		5, 6, 7			4, 8	
11 JUNE	DRG	Public Holiday		12, 13	14	11 Queen’s Birthday
15	
18 JUNE	DRG	18	19, 20, 21			22	
25 JUNE	DRG					Office week 	
2 JULY	DRG					Office week
NAIDOC Week	
9 JULY	DRG			10, 11	12	9, 12, 13	
16 JULY	DRG	16	17, 18, 19			20 Cairns Show Day 	
23 JULY	RC			24, 25	26	23, 25, 27	
30 JULY	DRG		31, 1, 2			30 July, 3 August	
6 AUGUST	RC			7, 8	9	6, 10
8 FR Board Meeting	
13 AUGUST	DRG	13	14, 15, 16			17	
20 AUGUST	DRG			21, 22		20, 23, 24	
27 AUGUST	DRG		28, 29, 30			27, 31
27 FR Board Meeting	
3 SEPTEMBER	DRG			4, 5	6	3, 7	
10 SEPTEMBER	DRG	10	11, 12, 13			14	
17 SEPTEMBER	DRG			18, 19		17, 20, 21	
24 SEPTEMBER	DRG					Office Week	
1 OCTOBER	DRG	Public Holiday			4	1 Queen’s Birthday extra	
8 OCTOBER	DRG		9, 10, 11			8, 12	
15 OCTOBER	DRG			16, 17	18	15, 19
16/17 Estimates	
22 OCTOBER	DRG	22	23, 24, 25			26	
29 OCTOBER	DRG			30, 31		29 Oct, 1, 2 Nov	
5 NOVEMBER	DRG		6, 7, 8			5, 9
5 FR Board Meeting	
12 NOVEMBER	DRG			13, 14	15	12, 16	
19 NOVEMBER	DRG	19	20, 21, 22			23
19 FR Board Meeting	
26 NOVEMBER	DRG			27, 28		26, 29, 30	
3 DECEMBER	DRG		4, 5, 6			3, 7	
10 DECEMBER	DRG			11, 12	13	10, 14	
17 DECEMBER	DRG					Office Week	
24 DECEMBER	DRG		Public Holiday	Public Holiday		27, 28 Office closed for Xmas	
31 DECEMBER	DRG		Public Holiday			31 Office closed for Xmas