Future Solutions - NOW

A forum bringing together some of the most innovative social issues thinkers in Aotearoa New Zealand will look at how families and whānau can be better supported without blowing the state’s services budget.

The 50 Key Thinkers Forum, on Wednesday 11 May in Wellington, will focus on how New Zealand can effectively address family and whānau wellbeing, within the constraints of the economic environment.

Chief Families Commissioner Carl Davidson says, “The Commission is focusing on how we advise Government on the best ways to ensure that family and whānau are getting the support they need, in the right kind of ways. This includes the support delivered by government, local authorities, health authorities, NGOs, community organisations, iwi and whānau organisations and son on.

“We’re keen to develop a knowledge base on how New Zealand can maximise the opportunities for each sector to contribute appropriately and effectively; and how we can disseminate, in ways that bring about positive change, knowledge of effective and innovative family and whānau support activities already occurring.”

Mr Davidson says there are real question as to whether current support systems can meet the needs of families and whānau in the future, and whether they can be sustained within the current economic environment.

“What the forum won’t be, however, is a coordinated plea to Government to throw more money at social issues. We know that’s not possible. Neither is it, by itself, a solution. Already many community-based whānau and family service organisations have found new ways of doing things to get better results out of the same resources for the people they work with. We want to connect with those innovative thinkers and practitioners, and share and grow those ideas for the whole nation”.

While the participants have been selected for their independent and innovative thinking, they will get the chance to hear about the challenges they are being asked to address from Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett. The political representation, Mr Davidson says, is a sign that the Government is open to some innovative and gritty thinking about the future.

“Following the forum,” Mr Davidson says, “our role at the Families Commission will be to ensure the ideas and solutions generated are turned into real action. We’ll be challenging participants to take the outcomes of their conversation back to their own businesses and organiations, but we’ll also be working with government and government agencies to ensure the momentum for innovation and change gets past the bureaucratic barriers so that it can have a real impact upon policy and service delivery decision making.”

Notes:

Further information about the forum can be found at http://www.nzfamilies.org.nz

The Key 50 were chosen using these criteria:

• All must be innovative thinkers
• All must be able to form an overview of service delivery
• Some should have on the ground experience
• Some should be community leaders
• Some should have credibility as champions for the interests of families

The Commission has emphasised innovation, creativity, and passion. We have also tried to produce a mix of people, including entrepreneurs, business representatives, funders, organisers, providers, and community leaders. And, we have tried to pick representatives of the youth, aged, and disability sectors along side representation from Māori, Pacific, and Ethnic communities.

The Commission expects that this will be the first of a number of conversations with Key Thinkers about innovation and effectiveness in family and whānau support.

© Scoop Media