Proposal: Creating the Wimmera Social Services Community of Practice (WSSCP)

Proposal: Creating the Wimmera Social Services Community of Practice (WSSCP)

An Initiative for Social Services Data Mapping and Sharing

Stage 1: Establishment

Federation University Australia

The WSSCP is defined by the following characteristics:

• A group of agencies working together to share information, build knowledge and develop response strategies to systemic issues.
• A customised, single point of access, end user portal for information sharing and information accessthat will allow for: 1) data sharing and enhanced information exchange; 2) the building of an evidence base of both primary local data and research informed repositories of evidence for best practice; and, 3) the use of spatial technology for mapping and trend identification.
• A program of research to measure: 1) the impact of the portal on decision making and practice; and, 2) data discoveries – issues and characteristics of the social services arena that have previously been hidden but which the portal makes visible as research ready data sets.

The project seeks to present a new model, using information technology to access a range of data sets (existing digital data, hard copy information, reports, new data) from across discipline areas to maximise the potential for preventative and responsive work in the social service system in the Wimmera region of rural Victoria.