Foreword
Part A – Information about the Services and Support for People with Disability Program
Program overview
Part B – Information about Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability
- Activity Information
- Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Performance
- Financial
- Evaluation
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Security of information
- Complaints
- Legislative requirements
- Funding Agreement
- Contact information
- Glossary
Foreword
These Program Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide the framework for implementing and administering the Program. They describe the business relationship between the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA or the Department) and service providers. Read these Guidelines in conjunction with the Funding Agreement.
FaHCSIA reserves the right to amend these guidelines from time to time and will provide reasonable notice of these amendments.
Part A – Information about the Services and Support for People with Disability Program
Program overview
Services and Support for People with Disability Program Objective
To provide supported employment and improve access to information, advocacy and services for people with disability so they can develop their capabilities and actively participate in community and economic life.
Program component objectives
Services for People with Disability
Provides social support and community-based care for people with disability, their carers and families, to promote independence, self reliance and participation in the community. This is achieved through providing supported employment services, improving access to information and advocacy (including through peak bodies), and assistance with access to practical services.
Services for People with Disability (Special Account)
The purpose of this Special Account is to manage receipts and expenses on projects which relate to the National Disability Agreement.
Program Key Performance Indicators
- Percentage and number of individuals, parents and carers who report they were assisted to access choices and options that enabled them to manage their needs;
- Percentage and number of supported employees that achieve an employment outcome (at least eight hrs per week for at least 13 weeks from commencement in a supported employment place);
- Percentage and number of supported employees/clients with reduced reliance on income support payments (sufficient income to affect DSP);
- Percentage and number of people with disability receiving support services;
- Percentage and number of clients from Indigenous/CALD backgrounds; and
- Percentage of clients reporting that the services received were appropriate to their needs as parents/carers
Program deliverables
Activities include a booking service for Auslan Interpreting Services, employment assistance, advocacy, print disability services, postal concessions for the blind, respite, outside school hours care, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) early intervention services, education and support services, ASD playgroups and ASD website.
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Part B – Information about Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability
Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability is an Australian Government initiative providing teenagers with disability, aged 12 to 18 years with appropriate outside school hours care. Outside schools hours care includes before, after and holiday care.
1 Activity Information
1.1 Participants/clients/recipients
Students with disability aged 12 to 18 years.
1.2 Services
The Activity provides:
- quality outside school hours care for students with disability; and
- their parents and carers with time to work or participate in the community.
By:
- providing flexible and appropriate care; and
- providing stimulating and age-appropriate developmental, social and recreational activities.
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2 Responsibilities and Accountabilities
2.1 The Department
The Department is accountable for expenditure of Australian Government funds under the Program. The Department is responsible for providing support and assistance to service providers by:
- establishing contractual arrangements through Funding Agreements;
- administering payments in a timely, accountable and efficient manner;
- providing clear program guidelines;
- providing clarification of policy or operational requirements;
- providing reporting templates; and
- ensuring that services provided under the Funding Agreement are consistent with the Funding Agreement and Program Guidelines by:
- assessing reporting documentation provided by service providers;
- periodically conducting compliance visits; and
- providing high level program management, administration and analysis.
2.2 Service providers
Service providers must understand their rights and obligations in the Funding Agreement, and comply with the Terms and Conditions specified therein. These include complying with professional standards, maintaining required levels of insurance coverage, ensuring appropriate codes of conduct are in place and abiding by privacy and confidentiality obligations.
Service providers are required to demonstrate sound corporate governance, recognising that the Australian Government and the Australian public it represents are key stakeholders in their operations. This includes implementing processes and controls to maximise operational efficiency and ensuring the appropriate use of Australian Government funding.
Service providers must maximise outcomes for which the Australian Government has provided funding. Key elements of good corporate governance include sound record keeping practices, transparency in decision making and adherence to all relevant laws and regulations governing the industry within which the service operates.
Service providers are responsible for:
- administering funding in accordance with their Funding Agreement;
- delivering the services specified in the Funding Agreement;
- working within the Program Guidelines;
- ensuring that staff are well supported and have appropriate skills and qualifications to deliver the services;
- providing a complaints handling mechanism;
- adhering to the Terms and Conditions of the Funding Agreement; and
- ensuring the ongoing viability of services through sound business governance practices and prudent use of Government funding.
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3 Performance
Service providers are required to report on specific Performance Indicators. These requirements are in the Schedule of the Funding Agreement.
Service providers must report on progress and outcomes in meeting the following Performance Indicators:
- number of clients receiving outside school hours care;
- number of clients from Indigenous/CALD backgrounds; and
- percentage of parents/carers reporting that services were appropriate to their needs.
Other reporting requirements are outlined in the Funding Agreement.
The Department assesses, through reports and other compliance mechanisms, a service provider’s performance in delivering the Activity.
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4 Financial
Service providers must ensure the efficient and effective use of public monies, maintain viable services and prevent fraud upon the Commonwealth. Service providers must only use funding provided for the purposes for which it is provided.
5 Evaluation
The Department will review all documentation and outcomes of the Activity to define future funding requirements. A formal evaluation of the Activity is scheduled for 2010-11.
6 Privacy and confidentiality
Service providers must comply with the privacy and confidentiality requirements covered in the Funding Agreements.
Service providers must have policies and procedures to manage privacy and confidentiality for families, child care workers, staff and other relevant parties. Service providers must also have mechanisms for the storage of confidential information.
Privacy and confidentiality guidelines should include the rights and responsibilities of parents and roles and responsibilities of the staff of the service. This information should be available to both parents and service staff.
6.1 Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) gives the public the right to access information in the possession of the Department with certain limited exceptions. Information collected or held by the Department may be made available on request, unless exempted under the relevant provision of the FOI Act or under specific legislation that provides for the confidentiality of that information.
The Department has a statutory obligation to comply with the FOI Act and must help all applicants make a valid application under the Act. The Department will conform to strict time frames when acknowledging and responding to requests made for access to documents under the FOI Act. Any application made under the FOI Act must be in writing, either by letter, declaration or (where available) by completing a form.
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7 Security of information
7.1 The Department
The Department is required to maintain all records (hard copy and electronic) in accordance with the Archives Act 1983 and the Department’s Records and Document Management Policy and Guidelines.
7.2 Service providers
Service providers must store records in a secure place and dispose of them appropriately. Service providers must retain copies of all reports; records or account books in original form in accordance with the Funding Agreement.
Service providers are to ensure records containing personal information are retained for five years following the expiration or termination of the Funding Agreement.
All records must be available to Australian Government officers on request. These include data and performance reports as specified in the Funding Agreement. Service providers should refer to Family Assistance Law or the current Child Care Service Handbook (if CCB approved) for more information on record-keeping obligations.
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8 Complaints
8.1 Service provider
The service provider can contact the complaints service with complaints about FaHCSIA’s service(s) or the service of another FaHCSIA funded service provider.
Details of what constitutes an eligible complaint is available on the Complaints Management System page of the FaHCSIA website. The service provider can lodge a complaint through the following channels:
Telephone: 1800 634 035
Fax: (02) 6204 4587
Email: complaints@fahcisa.gov.au
Mail: FaHCSIA Complaints, PO Box 7576. Canberra Business Centre, 2610
If a provider is at any time dissatisfied with the Department’s handling of a complaint, they can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.gov.au or 1300 362 072.
8.2 Client/customer
Service providers are to have their own complaints recording systems and handling procedures in place. A model for handling complaints is provided in the current Child Care Service Handbook.
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9 Legislative requirements
9.1 Vulnerable Persons, Police Checks and Criminal Records
Service providers are required to be familiar with and comply with the provisions of the current Government’s Child Protection legislation.
All States and Territories require specific child-related occupations such as childcare employees or volunteers to be screened for criminal offences.
Service providers must also comply with the Additional Obligations stated in the Funding Agreement. These conditions require service providers to warrant that their personnel, or any other person they engage who will be involved with children, are not prohibited by law of the State or Territory from being employed in child-related employment or working with children.
These conditions also require service providers to comply with the applicable law of a State or Territory in which care is being delivered, and undertake (and appropriately respond to) Police Checks on individuals prior to engaging them in any capacity, where they will be involved with children.
Service providers are to contact FaHCSIA if they need further clarification on their Funding Agreement obligations.
9.2 Commonwealth, State and Territory Legislation
Services are to ensure they operate in line with, and comply with the requirements as set out within all State and Territory and Commonwealth legislation and regulations. These include but are not limited to the:
- Privacy Act 1988;
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975;
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984;
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992;
- any applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws;
- any applicable state or territory law relating to discrimination; and
- any State/Territory laws regarding young people who are under 18 years of age such as mandatory reporting
- requirements and police checks (Youth Programs).
10 Funding Agreement
The Department uses standard Funding Agreements for the provision of funding which details the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Department, representing the Australian Government, and the service provider. Service providers must agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Funding Agreement which cannot be changed.
11 Contact information
The primary contact for service providers is the Departmental Officer identified in the Funding Agreement. Direct any inquiries in relation to the Activity to this person in the first instance.
Direct any enquiries about the Program in general to:
Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability Manager
Respite and Other Carer Support
Disability and Carers Programs Branch
FaHCSIA
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610
Email: otdp@fahcsia.gov.au
12 Glossary
“Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability” – formerly known as “Extra Support for Children with Disability Program”.