b'Partnerswith purposeOur Consumer Partnerships program creates a space where we can work as equalsensuring consumers are truly involved in the services we provide. Forging powerful, purposeful partnerships with our people, we can improve service planning, design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.Helping vulnerable Whatever they want to say, we give consumers different ways of having theirVictorians be heardvoices heard.The fines system can impact societys most Our program identifies a series of pathsvulnerable, trapping them in a loop of debtor roles that consumers can explore. Theyand re-offence. can become decision-makers as ConsumerWhile participating in our Alcohol and Other Drugs Consultants, deliver training as Consumerand Mental Health services, 3 people shared their Partners or share their lived experience asstories of the fines systems negative impact on Consumer Participants. their world. Consumers collaborate in a training course,When it was time for the Victorian Governments which covers concepts like strengths- review of the fines reform program, they wanted based approaches, understanding powerto have their voices heard.and trauma-informed care. Everyone isreimbursed for their preparation, time, livedWith our support, they described howexperience and expertise.fines impacted their lives, especially whileOur ambition is that Consumer Partnershipsin recovery. Putting their experiences at the are well understood, consistent, linked,heart of the review, their stories helped lead resourced, and embedded in Unitings values.to meaningful reform, to protect some of Achieving this ambition will require a culturalVictorias most vulnerable. change in our organisation. These 3 consumers were thanked in the summary To strengthen this cultural shift, ourreport, which was released in December 2020. teams have mapped partnership activities,The Government has reviewed the report and is introduced new policies, guides, resources,in the process of implementing and undertaking coaching, and a Community of Practice forfurther consultations with stakeholders.staff, and shared consumer perspectives on what makes a successful partnership.38 Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2020-2021'