CURRICULUM VITAE
Monsignor DAVID JOHN CAPPO AO.
‘In the current GFC climate, the relationship between many governments and their citizens is under severe strain. A new civic relationship must be built and TRUST must underpin this relationship. Part of the response needs to be the building and resourcing of communities. And power needs to be more centred in the community away from the bureaucracy.
And this approach has been successfully tried in South Australia with approx 10 years (2002-2011) of experience and evidence with an innovative model of governance in a sub national government to achieve outcomes more quickly than is the usual experience’. David Cappo.
CITIZENSHIP
Dual Citizenship Australian and Italian (European Union)
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified Social Worker Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (1981 SAIT now University of SA)
David Cappo is a reformer in social inclusion and social justice policies in Australia
ACADEMIC WORK
2012 Appointed Senior Research Fellow in the School of Social and Policy Studies at Flinders Universtiy South Australia.
INTERNATIONAL WORK
While based in Adelaide South Australia, David Cappo will engage in an International advisory role on homelessness, models of governance and joined up services in New York City in 2012.
STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Developed a highly successful and unique model of governance in a sub national (State) government to achieve social inclusion reform and social justice outcomes more effectively and in a shorter time frame than in usual circumstances
Key to the success of this model is giving power to local networks and individuals rather than systems and bureaucracies. Also, innovation in joining up and integrating systems is fundamental to the success of this model.
The model of governance was underpinned by a board of independent social policy experts and a unit of staff embedded in the department of the head of government, but responsible to an independent champion outside of government. This independent commissioner was given the power by the head of government (and worked closely with the head of government) to intervene at any level of government to achieve agreed upon social inclusion outcomes. The power to intervene and to clear blockages in the system was crucial to the success of this model in achieving outcomes in a shorter time frame than in normal circumstances.
David Cappo led this model of governance for approximately 10 years between 2002 and 2011 to achieve:
A significant reduction in homelessness in South Australia
Over 50% reduction in rough sleeper homelessness in the City ofAdelaidehas been achieved
A major reform of the Mental Health system in South Australia
A world class integrated ‘stepped model of care’ mental health system with the community mental health services having key governance of the whole system
Innovation in addressing Juvenile Crime
BREAKING THE CYCLE Report delivered innovation in responding to the ‘hard end’ of juveniles in the system. The Breaking the Cycle approach focussed on key individuals and their networks rather than broad general policies
A major reform of the Disability system in South Australia
STRONG VOICES: A blueprint for the transformation of disability services in SA delivered, that gives power and control to individuals and families over systems and bureaucracy
Innovation in tackling intergenerational unemployment
A highly successful innovation in working with ALL member of a family with long term unemployment called BUILDING FAMILY OPPORTUNITIES delivered to families by non government organisations. This program builds family skills and connects them to employment
Innovation in connecting disadvantaged young people back to education and training
An innovative and award winning model called ICAN (Innovative community action networks) that took school retention from 67.2 % in 1999 to 84.2 % in 2010. In this model power is delegated to community networks to fund innovation in school retention programs
This model involves the community as the key stakeholder in getting young people back into education and training
KEY POSITIONS
| 2002-2011 | Chair, Social Inclusion Board of the South Australian Government |
| 2006-2011 | Commissioner for Social Inclusion in the State of South Australia |
| 2005-2011 | Independent Adviser, Executive Committee of SA Government Cabinet |
| 2003-2010 | Member, Economic Development Board of the South Australian Government |
| 2009-2010 | Member, Sustainable Budget Commission SA Government |
| 2008-2012 | Member, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation |
| 1971-1980 | Community Welfare Officer and then Senior Community Welfare Officer in the State Government Department for Community Welfare, working in family counselling and caring for children who were neglected or abused; probation work with juvenile offenders |
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Contributed to the development of a joined up social welfare and social justice model for the Commonwealth Government of Australia
Provided leadership at the national level in the development of an integrated national mental health plan with emphasis on a joined up system with employment and housing supports
Provided leadership in the development of place based approach to combating social disadvantage
KEY POSITIONS
| 2008-2011 | Deputy Chair, Australian Social Inclusion Board |
| 2011 | Deputy Chair, National Advisory Council on Mental Health |
| 2011 |
Member of Commonwealth Government Expert Advisory Group on Mental Health |
| 1995-1996 | Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness |
| 1995-1997 | Member of the Commonwealth Government Employment Services Regulatory Authority (ESRA) National Consultative Committee on Case Management |
| 1993 – 1994 | Executive Member of the Commonwealth Government’s International Year of the Family, National Council |
| 1990-1991 | National Chair of Catholic Family Welfare Agencies inAustralia |
| 1992-1995 |
National Director of the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission, Canberra |
MINISTER OF RELIGION
David Cappo is a Catholic Priest
Ordained 1984
KEY POSITIONS:
| 2000-Jan 2012 | Vicar General (Chief Executive) of the Archdiocese of Adelaide |
HONOURS/COMMISSIONS
| 1976 | Commissioned a Justice of the Peace forSouth Australia |
| 2002 |
Appointed a Prelate of Honour with the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul the Second |
| 2003 |
Awarded the Centenary Medal by the Commonwealth of Australia |
| 2003 |
Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem |
| 2005 |
Awarded Citizen of the Year by the City of Adelaide |
| 2007 |
Appointed an Officer (AO) in the Order of Australia |
KEY PUBLICATIONS
| Cappo D |
(2009) People and Community at the Heart of Systems and Bureaucracy. South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative Government of South Australia |
| Cappo D |
(2008) Six years On. A review of South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative: The Social Inclusion Model – how it operates and why it works Address to the Don Dunstan Foundation 21 April |
| Cappo D |
(2005) Keynote speech give to the Institute of Public Administration Australia(SA Branch) Seminar. Reclaiming the Cutting Edge in Public Sector Management. February |
| Cappo D and Cass B |
(1995) Families: Agents and Beneficiaries of Socio-economic Development. United Nations Occasional Papers Series No 16 |