Sydney Zero Local Leadership Group May Meeting

By-Name List

BNL usage in Inner Sydney is at the highest level we have ever had with 562 active clients on the BNL. It is feasible that a ‘quality’ BNL will be achieved by the end of June.

Data integration with the HOMES system is an important project and is progressing. In the interim, approval is being sought for the HOST team to update manually housing information in the BNL for case coordination clients in Sydney.

The Early Engagement Module continues to be a priority. Design work will begin by the end of May and it is anticipated that the module should be available for use by the end of August.

Voice of Lived Experience

The Local Leadership Group (LLG) recognises the importance of including the voice of lived experience in Sydney Zero at all levels. StreetCare has been invited to be part of the LLG. It was further agreed that peer support workers from Sydney Zero organisations (Salvos, Kirketon Rd, SVHA, Neami and StreetCare) will be included in the co-design of appropriate practices, starting with guidance on explaining to people rough sleeping the benefits of participating in the BNL.

Membership of Sydney Zero

Currently, 19 organisations are part of Sydney Zero.  A workshop was held with the Aboriginal Case Coordination Group (ACCG). Generally, there was positive feedback on the ability of the BNL and participation in Sydney Zero to improve the way things work. Innari and ACHRCS will have their staff trained and on-boarded for use of the BNL. The ACCG will then move to use BNL reports for its meetings.

Rare, Brief and Non-recurring

The Sydney Zero Leadership Report was tabled and discussed. This includes measurement of the rare, brief and non-recurring objectives. Accurate and complete measures for these objectives will emerge once the information on the BNL reaches a ‘quality’ standard. This standard relates to the number of people on the BNL (more than 90% of the target cohort), the number of organisations using the BNL (more than 90% of those providing services) and the depth of information per person (all key fields on the simplified BNL being updated).

The Leadership Report will also allow tracking of other measures of system effectiveness, such as the number of clients with their support needs identified and being met, and the number of clients with an effective housing pathway.

Systems Change

It was recognised that phase 1 of Sydney Zero has been focussed on establishing the project and introducing the simplified version of the BNL. We will now shift to phase 2 of the project which will be increasingly focussed on using the insights from the BNL to improve outcomes for rough sleepers.  It was agreed that every second meeting of the Leadership Group should focus on improvement projects aimed at achieving systems change.

One particular barrier discussed at the LLG relates to the need for people seeking extensions of time in TA to show evidence that they are taking action to seek to solve their homelessness. The discussion was how to ensure that this process does not become overly onerous.

Support from Business Sydney

Business Sydney has agreed to promote the work of Sydney Zero. A booklet is to be produced that will be provided to businesses, members of the NSW Parliament, the press and other stakeholders.