The Tasmanian Government is committed to improving departmental structures to deliver better services and outcomes for Tasmanians.
In line with recommendations made through the Tasmanian State Service Review undertaken by Dr Ian Watt, particularly in relation to the current siloed approach of our departmental structures, we will strengthen our departmental administrative structure to deliver better services and outcomes for children, young people, individuals and families.
The changes will be phased in from 1 July 2022, in a staged approach to be completed by 30 September 2022 and the Department of Communities will not exist after this date, subject to the passage of legislation for a new Housing entity.
Importantly, this isn’t about efficiencies, and no one will lose their job. In fact there will be increased investment across these services.
In 2016 we launched our nation leading Strong Families, Safe Kids reforms to deliver improvements, however, more needs to be done.
As a key part of this plan, we will consolidate the major functions supporting children and young people from within the Department of Communities, to the Department of Education, to strengthen skills and resources through shared capabilities. The new Department will be called the Department of Education, Children and Young People.
The change will ensure our systems, policies, processes and procedures are strong, consistent and build a culture where a child’s development, education and their safety, is everyone’s responsibility – from when a child is born, to when they complete their education and training.
On housing, we must also consolidate all our efforts across Government to deliver improved housing services and access to, and the supply of, social and affordable housing.
That’s why we will establish a new statutory authority, Housing Tasmania, reporting directly to the Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing to increase housing supply, continue to make housing affordable and ensure we leave no stone unturned to deliver the stock of houses and the services required to cater for growing demand.
The new statutory authority will have a skills-based board and will be able to use its balance sheet to leverage even more investment to create more housing options. The new authority will commence by 30 September 2022 subject to the passage of legislation, and next week in Parliament we will outline a range of strategies to further assist with access to and supply of housing in Tasmania.
The remaining functions from the Department of Communities will move to other departments where shared capabilities and alignment strengthen strategic outcomes, including Disability services, Women, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Family and Sexual Violence, Veteran’s Affairs and Community Services and Development to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, while Sport and Recreation will transfer to the Department of State Growth.
Communities Tasmania Secretary, Professor Michael Pervan, will work with other Heads of agency and oversee the transition plan over the next four months to ensure it is seamless and there is no impact on current services and staff.
Professor Pervan will transfer into the vacant position of Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, effective from 1 July this year, which is a vitally important state-wide leadership role for the State Service and is currently vacant.
As one of our most experienced secretaries I have confidence his extensive skills, background and experience will stand Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania in good stead and I know this agency will be in good hands under Professor Pervan’s stewardship.
I want to acknowledge Tasmania’s public servants for the work they do. By uniting capabilities across Government we will build better skills, systems and processes that in turn deliver better services and outcomes for Tasmanians.