Funding and Program Guidelines
- Will all services be re-funded at 1 July 2011 and what is the process?
- Will there be any changes to Family and Children's Services funding?
- Will providers have to retender for services from 1 July 2011?
- Will indexation be included to reflect rising costs of service delivery?
- Will there be one set of Program Guidelines for the whole program and when will these be available?
- Will there be one financial acquittal to complete per year?
Will all services be re-funded at 1 July 2011 and what is the process?
The Department is not considering any wholesale re-tendering or major tender rounds. There will be no significant shifts in funding. Negotiation of new funding agreements with providers is expected to begin in March 2011 and changes to service delivery for most organisations are expected to be minimal.
Will there be any changes to Family and Children's Services funding?
The FSP will bring together a range of existing Family Relationship Services and Children and Parenting Services into the new Family and Children's stream, within the existing budget appropriation. Streamlining over 20 different service types into four broader service groupings, will give service providers more flexibility in the way they use their funding to meet the needs of families in their area. There is no plan for any major tender rounds or shifts in funding at this stage.
Will providers have to retender for services from 1 July 2011?
No major tender rounds are planned to implement the changes to the FSP from 1 July 2011. The implementation of the changes has been planned so that the process causes minimum disruption to service providers and service users.
Will indexation be included to reflect rising costs of service delivery?
Funding for many programs of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), including the FSP, is adjusted annually from July at the start of the new funding year. Annual indexation rates are determined by the Department of Finance and Deregulation as part of the annual Budget process, taking into account a range of financial and economic factors.
The Australian Government supports a strong and effective community sector that is adequately resourced. On 30 October 2009, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed to work with the Australian Services Union to support Fair Work Australia in developing an appropriate equal remuneration principle for the federal jurisdiction. The Government has also committed to work through the funding implications of any increase in wages awarded as a result of the Australian Services Union’s national pay equity case in partnership with the affected unions, employers and the States and Territories.
Will there be one set of Program Guidelines for the whole program and when will these be available?
Yes, there will be one set of Guidelines for the FSP and they are expected to be available in March 2011 when discussions about funding offers commence with service providers.
Will there be one financial acquittal to complete per year?
Funding agreements will be streamlined so that most services will have one acquittal per Funding Agreement and a single acquittal per year.