Important Information
Closing Time and Date
All applications close at 2pm AEDST 9 March 2010
FaHCSIA may not accept any application lodged after the closing date.
How to submit your application
An electronic application form should be completed and submitted to Children and Parenting Services by the time specified above. Applications sent with a date and time after the closing date will not be included in the assessment process. If it is not convenient for you to electronically lodge your application form then you may post it (see below).
For applicants not lodging their application electronically, four hard copies of this documentation must be posted and received by the time / date specified above to the address below. Documentation must be lodged as Original, Copy 1, Copy 2 and Copy 3. Documentation received after the closing date will not be included in the assessment process
Address for applications not submitted electronically:
FaHCSIA/09/RFT683
Tender Box,
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs,
Module B Reception,
Tuggeranong Office Park, Athllon Drive
Tuggeranong ACT 2900.
[ top ]
Questions and Answers
If you have questions regarding ISP or the selection process during the application period, please provide details via email address above.
Answers to questions received will be posted on the website each Thursday during the application period. Please note that to ensure consistency of information to all Applicants; the Department will make questions, along with their responses, available to all applicants. For this reason applicants should avoid including confidential information in their questions. If an Applicant believes that it is unavoidable for a question to involve information that is confidential, it must clearly identify this information as Commercial-In-Confidence.
The Department will stop taking questions at 2 March 2010.
National Relay Service (NRS)
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the NRS to contact any of the Department's listed phone numbers. To access an 1800 FaHCSIA number NRS users should phone 1800 555 677 or visit the NRS Website at www.relayservice.com.au.
[ top ]
Section 1. Overview of the Family Support Program - Intensive Support Playgroups (ISP)
On 16 February 2009 the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP; Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), announced the Australian Government was bringing together a range of families, parenting and children's services under the Family Support Program to streamline administrative arrangements and provide more flexibility to better assist families improve outcomes for themselves and their children.
The Family Support Program is a key element of the Government's investment in supporting families and children. Together with financial support provided through payments such as the Family Tax Benefit and a range of community based programs such as the Community Investment and Financial Management Programs, the Government is working to deliver, in collaboration with other levels of government and non-government organisations, better coordinated and more flexible support services for children and families.
Community & Family Partnerships is the Commonwealth Government's key response to provide intensive, targeted and coordinated support for parents and children who are vulnerable, at risk or in disadvantaged communities, to improve child development, child safety and family functioning.
Community and Family Partnerships provides funding to a range of services to improve child development, safety and family functioning. These services also enhance parenting skills, reduce harmful behaviours, build more connected, resilient communities, reduce locational disadvantage and increase social and economic engagement.
The Intensive Support Playgroup (ISP) model is based on the findings of a two-year pilot program, undertaken between 2000 and 2002 in both mainstream and Indigenous sites. Since the pilot more ISPs have been implemented and there are currently 17 ISPs operating across Australia; in Alice Springs, Wadeye, Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Adelaide, Mildura, Dandenong, Wentworth Shire, Macquarie Fields, Bega Valley/Wallaga Lake, Tweed Heads/Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Murray Bridge and Cooktown. Eleven of these sites are predominantly assisting Indigenous families.
[ top ]
1.1 What are Intensive Support Playgroups (ISP)?
Intensive Support Playgroups provide developmentally and culturally appropriate mobile playgroup activities as well as providing individualised family support to the parents/caregivers to assist them to access other appropriate community services.
ISPs are initiated and facilitated by skilled family support and early childhood workers delivering mobile playgroup services across a number of sites. They are targeted at locations where the living arrangements of families (and often other circumstances) are impacting adversely on the capacity of caregivers to parent effectively.
ISPs aim to promote positive early childhood development and contribute to increased child safety and wellbeing for particularly disadvantaged families with young children. ISPs provide extensive support to assist isolated and disadvantaged families to stabilise their circumstances by building linkages to a wide range of community services.
Early childhood workers engage children in culturally and age appropriate play-based activities that support their social, emotional and physical development.
A Family Support Worker provides referrals for parents and caregivers and, if required, supports them in their dealings with services such as Centrelink, Legal Aid and Housing and with issues such as family violence, health, finances and substance abuse.
[ top ]
1.2 What is the focus of Intensive Support Playgroups?
Intensive Support Playgroups (ISPs) support vulnerable families with young children whose housing and other circumstances may be impacting on their capacity to parent effectively. ISPs operate in most Australian states and territories, focussing on areas where families in crisis live in insecure, overcrowded or problematic housing arrangements and/or there are high levels of transient families and/or there is a risk of homelessness.
ISP participants may include, but are not limited to:
- families from a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background
- Indigenous families
- families with mental health and/or disability issues (parent and/or child)
- teenage and young parent families
- families who are socially isolated and/or disadvantaged.
[ top ]
1.3 What are the planned outcomes for Intensive Support Playgroups?
ISPs aim to promote positive outcomes for vulnerable families with young children in the targeted sites through playgroup based strategies that focus on early childhood development and contribute to increased child safety and wellbeing as well as increased support for parenting in the following areas:
Strong parenting skills and family support
- Parents and caregivers have access to a regular quality playgroup experience.
- Parents and caregivers enhance their relationship with their children in a supportive environment.
- Parents and caregivers have increased understanding, skills or confidence in supporting their child's cognitive, social, emotional and physical development needs.
- Parents and caregivers have increased awareness of and access to parenting and family support information.
Improved wellbeing of children
- Access to a regular, quality playgroup experience.
- Improved self esteem and emotional development leading to enhanced relationships with parents, caregivers, other adults, siblings and peers.
- Improved cognitive and physical development.
- Increased capacity and confidence in handling periods of transition to child care, pre-school and school.
[ top ]
Stronger Communities
- Increased community engagement and participation of a positive nature.
- Support for the ISP has increased from community organisations.
Section 2 - Statement of Requirement
2.1 Eligible Organisations
An eligible organisation recognised by FaHCSIA for the purpose of this selection process must be not-for-profit and one of the following:
- Incorporated Associations (incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have 'Association' or 'Incorporated' or 'Inc' in their legal name)
- Incorporated Cooperatives (also incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have "Cooperative' in their legal name)
- Not-for-profit proprietary companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001) - (limited by shares or by guarantee)
- Aboriginal corporations (incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006)
- Organisations established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or State/Territory legislation (many public benevolent institutions, churches, universities, unions etc)
- Partnerships
- Trustees on behalf of a Trust; or
- State, Territory and Local Governments.
[ top ]
The following categories are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply for this funding:
- bodies that are not legal entities or do not have a sponsoring organisation that is a legal entity
- commonwealth/state/territory government departments
- individuals
- third parties seeking funds on behalf of others; or
- for-profit organisations.
2.2 Required Services
Following the identification of this location as a site for an Intensive Supported Playgroup, FaHCSIA is seeking applications from eligible organisations to implement and manage this service in this site.
FaHCSIA will fund an organisation to:
- Manage the delivery of the identified ISP site to assist isolated and disadvantaged families who are experiencing insecure or inadequate housing to stabilise their circumstances.
- The ISP priority target groups should be consistent with the demographic profile of the local community within the identified site and include, but are not limited to:
- Families from a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families
- Families with mental health and/or disability issues (parent and/or child)
- Teenage and young parent Families
- Families who are socially isolated and/or disadvantaged.
- For Mt Druitt it is anticipated that there will be a mixture of families from any of the above priority target groups.
- Engage two part-time qualified and/or experienced Early Childhood Workers to deliver culturally and developmentally appropriate mobile playgroup services to families with young children across a minimum of four locations within the identified site during each of the six monthly reporting periods.
- Engage an appropriately qualified Family Support Worker to provide parenting support services including crisis intervention and referral services to assist parents/caregivers improve their capacity to parent effectively within the identified site.
- Develop effective and sustainable links with community, welfare and government agencies, to assist with providing support to the families within the identified site.
- If requested, organisations will be required to participate in the development of data collection methods, including online if appropriate, for program performance and evaluation purposes.
- Work with FaHCSIA to ensure the agreed activity meets the objectives of the new Family Support Program as notified by the Department from time to time.
[ top ]
2.3 Funding Agreement period
Following the Selection Process, the Department aims to enter into a Funding Agreement with the successful applicant after of the applicant has been notified of its success.
The successful applicant will be invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Department with funding to 30 June 2011.
2.4 Amount of Funding Available
Funding is available to 30 June 2011.
The amount of funding for the first full year of the Mt Druitt ISP service is $162,132 (GST exclusive) and may be prorated.
In the second year funding of $162,132 plus indexation (GST exclusive) is available.
[ top ]
2.5 Use of funding
Funding may be used for the following items, providing they are in direct relation to the implementation and/or management of the Intensive Support Playgroup:
- Staff salaries and on-costs;
- Staff training
- Professional support and development costs;
- Vehicle purchase or leasing and running costs;
- Venue hire;
- Materials and equipment;
- Operating expenses, such as office materials, utilities, insurances, telephones, travel, book keeping, auditing, etc.;
- Travel within Australia related to the Project;
- Expenses involved in conducting formal and informal evaluation; and
- Delivery of an Intensive Support Playgroup to the standard as indicated in these Guidelines.
Funding may not be used for the following categories of costs, whether or not the Project may otherwise meet the Selection Criteria:
- Costs that are not directly and specifically related to the program, e.g. ongoing staff wages, rent, overheads and administrative costs of existing operations;
- Overseas travel;
- Relocation costs; or
- Retrospective costs, including costs incurred in the preparation of this Application.
[ top ]
2.6 The Funding Agreement
The Funding Agreement is the legal agreement between the Department and the service provider over the funding period. In managing funding provided, the service provider must comply with all the requirements of the Funding Agreement.
Funded service providers are responsible for ensuring that:
- the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement are met,
- service provision is effective, efficient, and appropriately targeted,
- highest standards of duty of care are applied, and
- services are operated in line with, and comply with the requirements as set out within all State and Territory and Commonwealth legislation and regulations.
Providers should also be aware of any case based law that may apply or affect their service delivery.
2.7 Performance Reporting
Please refer to the Community and Family Partnership Guidelines for more information.
[ top ]
Section 3 - Selection Criteria and Selection Process
Following the Application Closing Date, the Department will conduct an assessment of all Applications. To enable a comprehensive and accurate assessment of Applications against the Selection Criteria, applicants must provide the information required in the format, and to the extent specified in the Application Guidelines and Application Form.
Current service providers will still need to respond fully to the Selection Criteria in the Application Form and provide the information required in the format, and to the extent specified in the Application Guidelines and Application Form.
The Department will assess Applications primarily on the basis of the information provided in the Application Form. FaHCSIA may use information about an Applicant that is, or becomes known to FaHCSIA in the course of FaHCSIA's business, as well as any publicly available information.
Decisions on the parameters and methodology for assessment of applications will be final.
3.1 Principle
The overriding principle guiding the Selection Process is value in social service delivery to the Australian Government (See glossary). The Department has funding principles in place to guide Selection Processes. The selection process will be conducted in accordance with these principles.
[ top ]
3.2 Process
The process will be an Open Selection Process.
3.3 Selection Criteria
Please Note:
- For Mt Druitt it is anticipated that there will be a mixture of families from any of the following priority target groups.
- Families from a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families
- Families with mental health and/or disability issues (parent and/or child)
- Teenage and young parent Families
- Families who are socially isolated and/or disadvantaged.
Applicants for the delivery of the ISP will be assessed against the following Selection Criteria:
- Demonstrated strong understanding of issues associated with providing family support services to severely disadvantaged families with young children particularly where insecure housing and other social disadvantage is impacting on the ability of parents/caregivers to parent effectively. In addition, the experience and/or capacity to provide such family support services in a culturally and contextually appropriate manner
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of evidence based early childhood learning and development, particularly in relation to delivering playgroups in a culturally and contextually appropriate manner
- Demonstratedknowledge of the child and family support services available in the site and has established or can establish effective partnerships and relationships within the site in a culturally and contextually appropriate manner
- Demonstratedability to manage, deliver and report on the project, including the capacity to employ suitably qualified and experienced staff to deliver ISP services and to support these staff
- Demonstrated project planning and budgeting skills to make the ISP operational in a timely manner and within the anticipated budget for this project.
The Applicant will also be required to
- demonstrate financial viability;
- provide information required for the Department to determine that it is meeting the requirements of the discretionary grant funding processes under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and
- indicate their ability to comply with the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement.
3.4 Stages in the Assessment Process
Stage 1 - Registration of Applications, Initial Screening for Compliance
Following the registration of applications, there will be an initial screening for compliance of applications to ensure:
- Eligibility of organisations;
- Applicants comply with the terms and conditions detailed in the Application Guidelines and Application Form; and
- Complete information has been provided in the Application Form to enable a fully informed assessment to be made.
Stage 2 - Assessment of Applications against selection criteria
An Assessment Team will undertake assessment of Applications and will consider the Applicant's response to each Selection Criterion against a 6-point (0 to 5) scale (see Table below). A short list may be prepared on the basis of an initial assessment for further consideration.
An Assessment Team will assess Applications primarily on the information provided in the Application Form.
FaHCSIA may use information about an Applicant that is, or becomes known to FaHCSIA in the course of FaHCSIA's business, as well as any publicly available information.
[ top ]
Table 1: Six-point rating scale for selection criteria
| Rating |
Score |
| Excellent quality -excellent claims against the criterion, exceeds expectations, supporting information confirms consistent superior performance |
5 |
| Very good quality-very good claims against the criterion, meets all expectations to a high standard with complete and comprehensive supporting information |
4 |
| Good quality -good claims against the criterion, meets all expectations with convincing supporting information |
3 |
| Satisfactory quality-adequate claims against the criterion, mostly meets expectations, but may be lacking detail and/or supporting information |
2 |
| Marginal or poor quality-poor claims against the criterion, does not meet expectations, has deficient supporting information |
1 |
| Does not meet criterion at all |
0 |
Stage 3 - Financial Viability Assessments
Applications will be subject to Financial Viability Assessments.
Note: The Department may not fund Applicants that are assessed as high-risk in terms of Financial Viability.
Information required from Applicants for the Financial Viability Assessment is gathered via the information requested in Part 4 of the Application Form.
[ top ]
Stage 4 - Approval
An Assessment Report is completed by the Panel with the recommended provider to be approved by Minister Macklin.
Stage 5 - Entering into Funding Agreements
The successful Applicant will be invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Department. The Funding Agreement will contain the entire Agreement between the parties. There is no binding Agreement on any parties until the Funding Agreement is agreed to and signed by the Delegate and the Applicant's Authorised Representative.
The Funding Agreement is the legal agreement between the Department and the service provider over the funding period. In managing funding provided, the service provider must comply with all the requirements of the Funding Agreement.
Funded service providers are responsible for ensuring that:
- the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement are met,
- service provision is effective, efficient and appropriately targeted,
- highest standards of duty of care are applied, and
- services are operated in line with and comply with the requirements as set out within all State, Territory and Commonwealth legislation and regulations.
Unsuccessful Applicants will be provided with feedback on their Application upon request.
Any or none of the Applications under this selection process may be accepted.
[ top ]
Section 4 - Terms and Conditions of Application
4.1 Application conditions
All Applicants are required to complete the Application Form. Your Application is not an agreement or contract. Meeting the Selection Criteria does not guarantee funding. Funding is limited and Applications will be assessed and prioritised according to the extent to which they meet the Selection Criteria. Only applications meeting the Selection Criteria to a high degree are likely to be funded. All information requested on the Application must be provided to enable your Application to be fully considered.
The Department will not issue Application Forms or accept completed Applications by fax.
Only one Application per organisation/region will be assessed. If more than one Application is submitted, only the latest Application will be considered.
The Department will not accept or respond to any Applicant's requests for information or correspondence about the status or progress of its Application during the assessment phase.
The Department will only respond to requests for information that seek clarification of issues to allow them to better understand the requirements of the Application Form and Application Guidelines (See Important Information on page 2).
At the end of the Selection Process the Department will write to all Applicants about the outcome of the Selection Process.
[ top ]
4.2 Late Applications
FaHCSIA may reject any Application lodged after the Closing Date. If an Application is late, FaHCSIA may determine that there were exceptional circumstances beyond the Applicant's control that meant the deadline could not be met. The Applicant will need to supply documentary evidence to support any exceptional circumstances. FaHCSIA has no obligation to accept a late Application. Any decision by FaHCSIA to accept or not accept a late Application will be final.
4.3 Checks of Applicants
As a part of the Selection Process, the Department may undertake further checks of Applicants. The Department may also conduct checks for non-disclosure of any relevant information.
In addition, any debts that the Applicant has accrued to the Department or other Australian Government agencies may be taken into account when making a decision to offer funding.
The Department reserves the right to use information from:
- The Department's databases,
- other Australian Government agencies, such as the Australian Taxation Office and Australian Securities and Investments Commission,
- state or territory agencies,
- law enforcement agencies,
- credit reference agencies,
- courts or tribunals,
- referees, or
- any other appropriate organisation or person reasonably required as part of these checks.
Information obtained from checks on Applicants described in this section, may be taken into account during the assessment of Applications or in making the final decision to offer funding.
[ top ]
4.4 Applicant's Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that its Application is complete and accurate.
Make sure you keep a copy of your Application and any supporting papers, either electronically or in hard copy, for your own records.
4.5 Liability Issues
The Department is not liable to the Applicant in relation to the Selection Process, including without limitation, when the Department:
- varies or terminates all or any part of the Selection Process or any negotiations with the Applicant,
- decides not to acquire any or all of the services sought through the Selection Process,
- varies the Selection Process, or
- exercises or fails to exercise any of its other rights under, or in relation to the Application Guidelines.
4.6 The Department's Rights
FaHCSIA reserves the right to amend these Application Guidelines by whatever means it may determine in its absolute discretion and will provide reasonable notice of these amendments.
FaHCSIA reserves the right to mark any Application ‘non-compliant' if it has concerns about the genuineness of the information provided or where it feels the Application has not been submitted in the spirit of the program as outlined in this document.
[ top ]
4.7 Disclaimer
The Department and its officers, employees, agents and advisors:
- are not, and will not be, responsible or liable for the accuracy or completeness of any information in or provided in connection with the Application Guidelines and Application Forms;
- make no express or implied representation or warranty that any statement as to future matters will prove correct;
- disclaim any and all liability arising from any information provided to the applicant, including, without limitation, errors in, or omissions contained in, that information;
- except so far as liability under any statute cannot be excluded, accept no responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions contained in any information in the Application Guidelines and Application Forms; and
- accept no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of that person, or any other person, placing reliance on the contents of the Application Guidelines and Application Forms, or any other information provided by the Department.
4.8 Complaints Mechanism
Complaints will be dealt with under the FaHCSIA Complaints Management Scheme. The Complaints Management Scheme ensures that any problems that you have with FaHCSIA's services, decisions or policies, and those of FaHCSIA funded service providers, are taken seriously and dealt with promptly.
For the ISP selection process the initial contact person is:
Project Manager
Children and Parenting Support
Family Support Program Operational Branch
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610
If you still feel this has not been successful, and your issue or complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily then you will need to contact a FaHCSIA Complaints Officer on 1800 634 035. They will work with you to satisfactorily resolve the complaint or suggest further action if appropriate.
If you are dissatisfied at any time with our handling of your complaint, you can also contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
For more information please see: Compliments, Suggestions and Complaints
[ top ]
Section 5 - Glossary
Applicant
Means an organisation that submits an Application. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Application
Means the Application for funding submitted by an Applicant. The Application must be filled out in accordance with the requirements in the Application Guidelines, on a prescribed Application Form and submitted by the Closing Date (See page 2).
Application Form
Means the Application Form made available to Applicants to submit an application for funding. The Application must be submitted in accordance with the instructions on Page 2.
Application Guidelines
Mean these Application Guidelines accessed by organisations interested in submitting an Application.
Application Pack
Means the material made available by the Department for Applicants to help ensure Applicants understand their requirements for submitting a completed Application Form by the closing date. The Application Pack consists of the Application Guidelines, Application Form and draft Funding Agreement. Other information may also be included on a program-by-program basis.
Application Period
Means the period for Applicants to complete and submit their Application Forms. It commences from the time the funding round is advertised and Application Packs are made available and finishes on the Closing Date for submitting Applications. During this period the Department will only respond to requests for information that seek clarification of issues or material that allow them to better understand the requirements of the Application Form and Application Guidelines.
Closing Date
The Closing Date is that date beyond which Applications will not be accepted. For details see Page 2.
[ top ]
Commercial-In-Confidence
Means information in the Application Form that the Applicant clearly identifies as confidential and is not information that is:
- a) in the public domain, or
- b) already known to the Department other than through an obligation of confidence.
Consortium
FaHCSIA will only contract with individual providers. Applicants may determine that efficient or effective service delivery is best achieved through the use of a network of providers through a sub-contracting arrangement. This can be recorded in responses to the Selection Criteria. A successful provider who utilizes an authorised sub-contracting 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.
Decision Maker
The Minister or his/her delegate will approve all projects and successful applicants, with reference to a report on the Selection Process outcomes provided by the Department.
Department (the)
Means the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Eligible Organisation
See section 2.1, of these Application Guidelines.
[ top ]
Funding Agreement
The Funding Agreement is the agreement that is signed by the Departmental Delegate and the Applicant's Authorised Representative. The Department's standard Funding Agreements are performance based, legally enforceable agreements between the Commonwealth and the funding recipients that set out the terms and conditions governing the funding. Funding Agreements are used where the Department is providing funding to another party to deliver services or undertake certain activities, on behalf of the Department, to the community.
Selection Criteria
Means the Selection Criteria for assessing Applications as outlined in the Application Guidelines and the Application Form.
Selection Process
Means the process for the selection of funding recipients outlined in the Application Guidelines and the Application Form.
Successful Applicant
The Selection Process will result in a short list of recommended Applicants. The short list will be forwarded to the Decision Maker for their consideration. Successful Applicants will be advised of their success or otherwise. The decision by the Department regarding successful Applicants is final.
Supporting Material
Means additional material provided by the Applicant with their Application that clarifies the claims within their application, but which does not alter the content of the Application in any material sense.
Value in Social Services Delivery
Value in Social Services Delivery is the optimum combination of quality and cost with minimal risk to the Australian Government. The Department seeks best Value in Social Service Delivery. Best value does not mean monetary value alone or lowest cost. A funding proposal that represents best value for the program will:
- meet the objectives of the department - such as strong and resilient communities,
- meet the aims of the program,
- meet community requirements, and
- be delivered in an efficient and effective way.