Human Services

Human Services

At its simplest, human services involves ensuring that people’s fundamental human needs are met. Human needs are complex and intersectional, as are the people who need support, so solutions and supports must reach across the sector.

Improving outcomes for vulnerable people and families, including those experiencing domestic and family violence, requires a multidisciplinary approach as the complex issues cannot be addressed in isolation. People who come into contact with human services providers often have been doing so over many generations and this presents a systemic disadvantage that must be understood in designing policy and programs.

As government and society’s understanding of vulnerability continues to develop, the human services system is evolving to identify and respond to the complexity, vulnerability and risk earlier.

The breadth of our consultants’ work includes disability; children, youth and families; housing and homelessness; and communities and wellbeing support.

Our consulting services include

Policy and strategy development

Policy and strategy development is the earliest stage of addressing human services challenges by government and the social sector to ensure high-impact approaches and programs. Our consultants have experience supporting clients with the full scope of policy development, from identifying a policy issue to selecting the appropriate policy instrument and assessing policy options.

Program design and evaluation

Quality program design sets human services providers up to deliver maximum impact and value for money through their programs. Our consultants work with human services clients to design and evaluate program strategy, engage with stakeholders, use research and data, and develop outcome reporting.

Organisational design and strategy

The right organisational design is crucial for human services providers to set, perform against and achieve their social missions. Our approach to organisational design is guided by the Nous Organisational Architecture Framework, which describes how an entity is set up to deliver value to its people, customers and other beneficiaries.

System design, delivery and implementation

System reform in human services is undertaken to improve the impact and efficiency of the sector as a whole in order to increase individual and community wellbeing. Our consultants have expertise in operating model design and delivery, business model transformation, market shaping and regulation.

OUR TEAM
INSIGHTS
Mental health and homelessness

Mental health and homelessness services need to work together better. Here’s how.

Disability support navigation

The complexity of the disability system is here to stay. We need to get better at helping people navigate it.

NEWS

Child Link journey maps win 2021 Good Design Award

Our use of human-centred design to transform the sharing of information to enhance child wellbeing and safety has won a 2021 Good Design Award.