Deb commences on Monday July 5 and one of her first priorities will to consult with VPSCIIN members about VPSCIIN’s future directions and develop a program of events for the second half of 2010.

Stay tuned for further details.

It was also agreed that the day-to-day management of VPSCIN is the role of the VPSCIN Coordinator and that a new appointment will be made to this role.

As yet, VPSCIN has not transferred to DPC as there are a number of outstanding issues that Victoria Police need to finalise before the transfer can be effected. We are however starting to prepare for the eventual transfer including the appointment of a new Coordinator.

We will provide an update about the transfer of VPSCIN and the appointment of a new coordinator as soon as possible.

Any queries in the meantime should be directed to Maria Katsonis at DPC.

Have an enjoyable Christmas time, a chance to put your feet up and spent time with those who are important to you. We hope to see you all refreshed and re-energised in 2010.

Welcome to Government is an introduction to working in the Victorian public sector.

It explains:

- The system of government in Australia and Victoria
- The role of the Victorian Parliament, Executive and Judiciary
- Victoria’s finances and accountability mechanisms, and
- Employment in the Victorian public sector.

The books are $3 each.

For more information, contact June Wibberley at the SSA (June.Wibberley@ssa.vic.gov.au)

The Plan has four action areas:

• Creating connections between people, ideas and opportunities
• Building innovation capability
• Generating ideas and rewarding good practice
• Sharing information and data.

There are 11 initiatives in the Plan including: VPS Hub – a new web 2.0 platform that will provide the online space for collaboration across the VPS; secondments to the private and community sectors to work on innovation challenges; an innovation tool box with practical innovation resources; and innovation awards to recognise innovation achievement in the VPS.

The Plan is only the first step in making sure innovation is supported throughout the VPS. It builds on existing innovation efforts in Departments and your ideas. A team in DPC is responsible for implementing the Plan and will work closely with communities and networks such as VPSCIN, the Innovation and Improvement Community of Practice, and the Court Innovators Networks. Members of these communities will have a special opportunity to be part of the beta testing of VPS Hub in December.

Check out the Plan (link below) and for further information, email: innovationplan@dpc.vic.gov.au

Link to the plan: Innovation Action Plan

Twenty VPSCIN members will be able to attend the event on Monday 16 November 2009 from 2–5 pm at Level 16/570 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Land Victoria).

Nancy White, will deliver a Master Class on Digital Habitats: stewarding technology for communities.

Nancy is an international practitioner in understanding and practicing online group facilitation of distributed work, learning and community groups (presenter, writer, teacher, coach, facilitator, rapporteur). She is also a technology steward, designer and builder of online interaction spaces (events, teams, learning groups). She has done extensive work with “web 2.0” tools and approaches and community and instructional design.

Recently Nancy, Etienne Wenger, and John D. Smith released their new book Digital Habitats: stewarding technology for communities.   This book explores how technology has changed, what it means for communities to “be together.” It looks at the fact that digital tools are now part of most communities’ habitats. This book develops a new literacy and language to describe the practice of stewarding technology for communities.

To register for the event, simply be one of the first 20 VPSCIN members to email Helen Moreland (helen.moreland@transport.vic.gov.au).

As you will be aware, the position of Chair of the VPSCIN has transferred from Christine Nixon to me. Accordingly, custodianship of the VPSCIN has transferred from Victoria Police to the Department of Transport (DOT).

Please be advised that while the VPSCIN has moved over to DOT, Frank Connolly has elected to stay at Victoria Police.

I have asked Helen Moreland (Manager, Organisational Improvement at DOT) to temporarily look after the VPSCIN on my behalf until next steps for the network, particularly the coordinator role, can be determined.

Please keep an eye on this space for more information about these changes. I expect there to be no disruptions to the VPSCIN events schedule as a result of these changes.

I wish Frank all the best for the future and on behalf of the VPSCIN, thank him for all the good work he has done as coordinator. I am sure you will all join me in wishing him well.

If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Helen Moreland.

Regards

Jim

Congratulations to Andrew Caulfield of Victoria Police who responded with: They are among the most common sources of deadly bacteria. This week’s question is:

In what team is harmony achieved as a result of extreme tension?

The first CIN member in with the correct answer will receive a copy of I am an Idea Factory by Ed Bernacki.