Personal Helpers and Mentors Program - round three selection process - questions and answers on selection process
Please note: applications for this round closed 5pm Friday 25 July 2008.
1. Can individuals apply to become a Personal Helper and Mentor through this selection process?
No. This is not a recruitment exercise for individuals.
To be eligible to apply for Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) Program round three funding, an applicant must be a non-government organisation. An applicant must also be a legal entity and able to confirm their legal status.
The following entities are not eligible to apply for PHaMs Program round three funding:
- individuals
- local governments
- commonwealth agencies and/or
- state and territory government agencies.
Refer to application guidelines.
2. What level of insurance is required?
An organisation must have the following insurance:
- Public Liability for not less than $10 million for each and every claim; and
- Professional Indemnity for not less than $5 million per claim and in the aggregate, in a year.
Applicants must provide copies of their certificates of currency for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance with their application.
Refer to application form.
3. Can a Consortium apply or can my organisation subcontract some of the work?
Yes, but FaHCSIA will only contract with individual providers. Consortium applicants are referred to as subcontracting arrangements. Applicants may determine that efficient or effective service delivery is best achieved through the use of a network of providers through a subcontracting arrangement.
For those applicants who intend to use subcontracting arrangements to deliver some or all of the PHaMs services, the roles of each subcontractor must be clearly discussed in the responses to selection criterion three of the application form. A successful provider who utilises an authorised subcontracting arrangement will be held liable for all obligations contained in the terms and conditions of the funding agreement. This includes monitoring, management, financial performance, service outcomes, and specifically insurance coverage.
Refer to the application form and the application guidelines.
4. Is a budget required to be submitted with the application?
Yes. An indicative annual budget is required. Successful organisations will be required to finalise this budget during the negotiations of the funding agreement. Please refer to section 3.4 of the application guidelines.
Refer to application guidelines section 2.9.
5. Can an organisation apply in a nominated site if they are not currently operating in the site?
Yes.
An organisation is not required to have existing infrastructure in the site.
In addressing the selection criteria you will need to describe how you will establish yourself and deliver PHaMs services to the site.
Refer to selection criteria from the application guidelines.
6. Can an organisation submit one application form to cover all the sites or is a separate application required for each site?
Applicants who wish to submit applications for more than one site must provide a separate application form for each site.
Refer to the application form.
7. How were the sites selected?
The selection of the sites was through joint consultation between the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) state and territory offices and the State and Territory Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Mental Health Groups.
The State and Territory COAG Mental Health Groups have endorsed sites in each state and territory, based on a range of factors, including:
- demand for services
- availability of existing mental health services
- availability of clinical services for referrals (GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists etc)
- availability of other community services for referrals such as housing support and drug and alcohol and
- availability of suitably skilled and qualified workers.
The mapping has ensured there is limited duplication with programs funded by other jurisdictions, and a mix of metropolitan, rural, regional and remote locations.
8. Where do I find information on the Round 3 sites?
There is a document on the FaHSCIA website which lists all the Round 3 sites.
Please refer to the FaHCSIA website.
9. What period is the Round 3 funding agreement for?
November 2008 to June 2010.
Refer to Section 2.5 of the Application Guidelines.
10. How much is the Round 3 funding agreement for?
The funding allocation is
| Financial Year | Metro Site (GST Exclusive) |
Non-Metro Site (GST Exclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008/2009 | $436,866 | $483,066 |
| 2009/2010 | $428,000 | $474,000 |
Refer to the Round 3 sites document on the FaHSCIA website for metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
11. Is it necessary to provide financial information with my application?
Yes - this information will form part of the assessment of your application. Please refer to Part 3 Financial Viability in the Application Form for more details.
Refer to the Application Form and Application Guidelines
12. Do I need to have 5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff in my proposal?
While the team structure is at the discretion of the service provider organisations, the number of FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors is the equivalent of five for each team and service providers will be funded on this basis. Funding of 5 FTE is provided for each Personal and Helper and Mentor Team. While the team structure is at the discretion of the service providers, when operating at full capacity should consist of a team leader, paid peer support worker, and three other PHaMs workers to make up five FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors in each team.
Flexibility around team size may be necessary in non-metropolitan areas due to less availability of suitably qualified staff, however a team approach will be required as a minimum for debriefing and safety reasons.
Refer to the draft Personal Helpers and Mentors Program Round 3 Guidelines.
13. Do I need to have referees reports?
No. Do not submit referee reports as they will not be considered.
14. Should I send my Annual Report with my application?
No. Applicants should not provide supporting information other than the financial information that is request in Part 3 of the Application Form. Other supporting information will not be assessed.
15. How do I present my application?
Applicants should submit the original application (unbound), two copies and an electronic copy of the application on CD.
Page limits have been identified for responses to each selection criterion. FaHCSIA will not assess information that exceeds the specified page limits.
Refer to the Application Form and Application Guidelines.
16. Are there mandatory compliance requirements?
Yes. Applications that do not meet the mandatory compliance requirements will be marked as non-compliant and will not proceed in the assessment process.
Refer to the Application Form and Application Guidelines
17. Is there a tender box?
No. Applications should be lodged in hard copy by posting to:
Personal Helpers and Mentors Program - Round 3
PO Box 7442
CANBERRA BC
ACT 2610
Closing time and date for applications is 5pm Friday 25 July 2008. Applications must be postmarked on or before Friday 25 July 2008 to be accepted.
18. Do I need to receipt my application?
It is not compulsory. FaHCSIA will not be confirming receipt of application so for your own records you may wish to use a process that allows you to track and/or confirm delivery.
19. Will I get confirmation that my application has been received?
No.
20. Can an organisation obtain an extension of time to complete an application?
No. An extension of time cannot be granted to individual organisations. It is up to organisations wishing to apply to make arrangements so that their application is postmarked on or before Friday 25 July 2008.
21. When will the successful applicants be announced?
It is expected that successful applicants will be announced in October 2008.
Details will be available on the FaHCSIA website.
22. Where can I find the names of the successful applicants?
The successful applicants will be listed on the FaHSCIA website.
23. Why does the financial year for Round 3 finish in June 2010 , the same as Round 2 providers?
Funding agreements for service providers selected to implement Round 3 of the PHaMs program will be until 30 June 2010, with the possibility of extension. The department has authority to enter into multi-year funding agreements until 30 June 2010. This could be extended if the department obtains authority to enter into agreements that extend beyond this date. PHaMs is an ongoing program, the restrictions in the length of Funding Agreements are an administrative issue only.