Mr Kaplan, right, pictured with FamilyCare chief executive David Tennant at the launch of FamilyCare’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
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Victoria’s Social Services Regulator visited regional social services providers in Bendigo, Echuca and Shepparton last week, focusing on understanding how they are working to keep local clients safe from avoidable harm.
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Jonathan Kaplan is Victoria’s Social Services Regulator, an independent statutory authority established in July 2024.
Mr Kaplan is in charge of overseeing the regulation of services in Victoria including family violence, sexual assault, homelessness, supported residential services and disability services not within the National Disability Insurance Scheme, as well as government-funded children, youth and family services.
On Thursday, May 1, Mr Kaplan met with staff at Amicus Community Services in Kangaroo Flat, a service provider supporting adults and young people living with a disability in the Bendigo region.
Afterwards, he headed to Echuca to visit Vivid, which provides a range of disability support to clients across north-east Victoria, including residential support and day programs.
Mr Kaplan with staff from Primary Care Connect Shepparton, acting chief executive Andrea Caia and board chair Wendy Ross.
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On Friday, May 2, Mr Kaplan was in Shepparton to meet with two community-based child and family services providers — Primary Care Connect and FamilyCare — and to attend FamilyCare’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan launch.
New legislation introduced in July 2024 requires all Victorian social services to register with the Social Services Regulator.
Regional visits allow the regulator to connect with providers on the ground and hear about their experiences and any unique challenges they face in delivering services to their community.
“Hearing directly from local service providers in Bendigo, Echuca and Shepparton this week about the work they do, the challenges they face and how we can work together to create positive outcomes for social services users has been really valuable,” Mr Kaplan said.
“Everyone living with a disability or facing social, health and other life challenges in regional Victoria deserves to feel safe and supported, and it’s great to see so many local services working hard to make this a reality.”
The regulator is committed to supporting providers across regional Victoria and has previously met with services in Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Geelong, Warragul, Morwell, Sale and Lakes Entrance.
For information about the Social Services Regulator, visit ssr.vic.gov.au
