Stronger Stream – Community Services, Volunteering & Disability Services:

• Recommendation that transport policy, urban design policy, economic policy and social policy be integrated – the community needs to be shown how the NSW Liberals & Nationals view policy across all portfolios.
• More support for young people with a mental illness is required – ensuring schools are equipped to deal with children who have a mental illness and have resources available to support them.
• Community cohesion is already occurring in the Hunter region with the NSW Fire Brigade, Lands and Forestry regularly meeting to integrate services and combine their efforts, information and resources.
• Concern there is not enough integration and cooperation between Local and State Governments – there needs to be more focus on increased partnerships between the two levels to improve service delivery.
• Increased focus on closing the gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of the community – encouraging social cohesion.
• Concern that parents are not taking enough responsibility for the actions and bad behaviour of their children. Needs to be a focus on parental behaviour when actioning early intervention and prevention.

Healthier Stream:

• Maitland Hospital Emergency Department drop off is not as efficient as it could be – needs financial support.
• Recommendation for an integrated health care facility in Morisset – funding is necessary to ensure community receives the services it needs.
• IT systems between Area Health Services and in different hospitals are not compatible, leading to inefficient service delivery & possibly jeopardising patient outcomes.

Safer Stream – Police:

• Community concern that volunteers in the NSW Rural Fire Services and the NSW Police Force are not properly trained – programs and courses must be made available to ensure individuals in these organisations are educated and equipped.