Kids in Focus - Application Guidelines 

2.1 Eligible Organisations

An eligible organisation recognised by FaHCSIA for the purpose of this selection process must be 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)
• Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 – may be not-for-profit or for-profit proprietary company (limited by shares or by guarantee) or public companies)
• 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; or
• Trustees on behalf of a Trust.

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;
• State, Territory and Local Governments; or
• third parties seeking funds on behalf of others.

2.2 Required Services

The Department is seeking eligible organisations to support families’ substance misuse problems through supporting parents to parent more effectively and overcome their substance misuse and supporting children by normalising their lives (school, sport, regular routines, etc), targeted counselling and intervention through the child protection system where necessary. 

Examples of the type of services to be offered under the refocused program could include:

• One on one long term family support
• Residential parenting support
• Advice and/or referral services
• Brokerage to assist in normalising children’s experiences through involvement in activities such as sport, childcare, school participation as an example
• Intensive aftercare support for families where parents have left alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services
• Early intervention support for families accessed through the health care system such as intensive long term support for pregnant women where they or their partners have a substance misuse problem
• Telephone advice service to Family Support Program providers to identify and support children at risk of harm or long term disadvantage.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the outcomes of the ANCD Report  and the type of services and activities to be delivered that the Report identified as preferred or required services by participants across the FSP, child protection and alcohol and drug service sectors.

Funding will provide support for

• Children of substance-using parents in an identified geographical area of high need;
• Children of families affected by drugs in the identified geographical area of high need;
• Vulnerable and at risk families including Indigenous, Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) families and their family members to cope with substance misuse in the identified geographical area of high need; and/or
• Family Support Program providers across the State or Territory.

2.3 Funding Agreement period

Following the selection process, the Department aims to enter into Funding Agreements with successful applicants by the end of April 2010.  Funding Agreements will operate until
June 2013.

2.4 Amount of Funding Available

Funding will be offered to one service provider in each State or Territory to deliver Kids in Focus.  Indicative amounts for each State/Territory are:

2.5 Use of funding   

Funding may be used for:

• Staff salaries and on-costs – project management/establishment only;
• Staff training;
• Accommodation for the Project;
• Materials and equipment directly related to the implementation of the Project / Activity;
• Operating expenses directly related to the implementation of the Project such as office materials, utilities, insurances, vehicle leases, telephones, economy class travel, bookkeeping, and audit
• Travel within Australia related to the Project, including the annual Departmental Kids in Focus Conference
• Delivery of services to standards as indicated in the Program Guidelines; and
• User support and training

Funding will not be provided 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 Project, e.g. Ongoing staff wages, rent, overheads and administrative costs of the applicant’s existing operations
• Overseas travel
• Relocation costs; and
• Retrospective costs, including costs incurred in the preparation of this Application

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

Performance must be reported in progress reports and a final report as outlined in the funding agreement with the Department.  Annual audited financial acquittal reports and a final, audited acquittal report will also be required. 

2.8 Performance Management Framework 

The Department intends to introduce a performance management framework for Kids in Focus.  The new Framework will be applied progressively during the funding period.    

Performance indicators will be included in the schedule to the final draft Funding Agreement, which will be offered to successful Applicants.