Expression of Interest Documentation 

• 1. Important information
• 2. Selection process
• 3. Background Information
• 4. Draft National Online and 1800 Counselling Service Requirements
• 5. Key Considerations
• 6. Glossary
• 7. Information to be provided as part of the Expression of Interest

1. Important information

This Expression of Interest (EOI) document outlines the stages of the selection process that the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (the Department) is considering using to select a provider for the National Online and 1800 Counselling Service (hereafter referred to as the 'Service'), and the conditions of lodgment that interested Eligible Organisations must satisfy.

Please note that the lodgment of a fully completed EOI is mandatory for further participation in any Service selection process.

Information provided by Eligible Organisations as part of their EOI, will be used by the Department to assess the level of suitable interest in the market to provide the Service to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families and to inform the Department in its consideration of the service requirements and/or whether or not to proceed with a selection process.

The information provided with or pursuant to this EOI represents the Department's present intentions. The Department can change, without notice and at any time, any or all, of the information provided with or pursuant to this EOI. In addition, the Department is not under any obligation to proceed with anything described in this EOI, including proceeding with the 'Invitation To Apply' process as described in paragraph 2.2.2.

Nothing in this EOI creates a funding agreement or contract between the Department and the Eligible Organisations. The Department accepts no responsibility for any of its action(s) and/or any action(s) any Eligible Organisations may take, or any cost(s) any Eligible Organisations may incur, as a result of any information provided by the Department in the context of this EOI.

The Eligible Organisation is assumed to have read and understood all relevant information associated with the EOI and is satisfied that their EOI is complete and correct.

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2. Selection process

Identifying and selecting the most appropriate and effective provider is critical to the successful delivery of the Service.

This section provides information on the process that the Department is considering using to select the provider who will deliver the Service should the Department determine that there is suitable interest in the market to provide the Service and does decide to proceed with Stage 2 of the selection process.

If the Department proceeds with the selection process only suitable Eligible Organisations who have completed an EOI would be invited to apply for funding.

2.1 Eligible Organisations

An Eligible Organisation for the purpose of the Service funding cannot be an individual or unincorporated organisation.

2.2 Selection process elements

The Department presently envisages that the selection process will consist of two key elements:

2.2.1 Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) - (Extended)

Interested Eligible Organisations need to register their interest in applying for funding to establish and provide the Service by submitting the EOI form at Section 7 of this document.

2.2.2 Stage 2: Invitation to Apply

Eligible Organisations that have registered their interest in applying, and meet the EOI requirements as outlined in Section 2.5, may be invited by the Department to submit an application(s) for the provision of the Service.

The Department will send a letter acknowledging receipt of your EOI. If the Department proceeds to Stage 2 of the selection process and your organisation is selected for the second stage, an Invitation to Apply and application package will be sent to registered Eligible Organisations.

The application package will provide potential applicants with information about the Service intentions and service requirements.

2.3 Indicative selection process timeline

Some key activities and proposed target dates are set out below to assist interested Eligible Organisations with their planning. The Department may change these dates at its sole discretion. Not all activities are identified in this indicative timetable.

2.4 How to find out more

Phone: Freecall 1800 505 619 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm EST)
Note: To ensure that the selection process is fair the Department's staff cannot give you:

• their own views or interpretation on what parts of the EOI documentation mean;
• advice on how to respond to the EOI documentation content; or
• any more information, other than that included in the context of the EOI documentation.

Write to: Any requests for further information or clarification should be made in writing to: violencehelpline@fahcsia.gov.au
Internet: The Department will post frequently asked questions and answers on its website www.fahcsia.gov.au

2.5 Expression of Interest Requirements

Please ensure that you have read the information provided before you start work on this EOI.

• You must submit your EOI in hardcopy.
• The Department will not accept emailed, faxed or electronic registrations, or registrations on computer disk.
• You must lodge the original EOI plus one (1) copy.
• Please ensure that all the information relevant to your organisation is provided to avoid delays in processing your registration.
• Eligible Organisations must mail, courier or personally deliver the EOI and a copy to the submission address.
• Tender Box
  FaHCSIA/09/RFT666
  Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
  Module B Reception
  Tuggeranong Office Park
  Athllon Drive
  Tuggeranong ACT 2900
• The EOI must be received at the submission address by 2.00 pm AEST 30 October 2009.
• Late EOI's will not be accepted.
• Provide a brief of how your organisation will deliver the services as indicated at Section 4. Please do not exceed 10 pages in 12 point Arial font. Attachments are not required.

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3. Background Information

The Australian Government's goal is to reduce all violence in our communities.

Sexual assault and domestic and family violence are among the most pervasive forms of violence. They have serious and often devastating consequences for victims, their extended families and the community.

In April 2009, following the release of Time for Action: The National Council's Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a telephone and online crisis service to provide professional assessment, referral and counselling for anyone in Australia who has experienced, or is at risk of, sexual assault and/or domestic and family violence at a cost of $12.5 million over four years. This was one of a number of immediate actions to provide support for victims and reduce violence into the future.

Recommendation 3.3.1 of Time for Action is:
Following consultation with the sector, establish a professional national telephone and online crisis support service for anyone in Australia who has experienced, or is at risk of, sexual assault and/or domestic and family violence. The service should integrate and coordinate with existing services in all States and Territories, offer professional counselling, provide information and referrals, use best practice technology, link with other 1800 numbers, have direct links with relevant local and state services, and provide professional supervision and advice to staff in services in isolated and remote areas.

Electronic copies of Time for Action and associated documents can be downloaded from the FaHCSIA website and hard copies can be requested by phoning 1300 764 656.

The Government is also committed to providing national leadership in reducing violence and will work with the State and Territory Governments to implement the immediate actions and develop a long time plan to reduce violence through the development of a National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women, for release in 2010.

• The key areas of difference of the proposed service from the Australian Government's current Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Helpline include:
• providing specialised, experienced and qualified domestic violence and sexual assault counsellors to assess and address issues directly with victims and their families;
• comprehensive integration and coordination with existing State and Territory domestic violence and sexual assault services;
• providing professional support to workers who are dealing with domestic violence and sexual assault victims in crisis who are isolated from a usual supervisory system; and
• establishing an online counselling service.

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4. Draft National Online and 1800 Counselling Service Requirements

Through this process, the Department is seeking a service provider to establish and deliver the Service to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families.

The service provider will be required to:

• offer professional counselling;
• provide online and telephone counselling;
• operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
• provide information and referrals;
• provide professional supervision and advice to staff in services in isolated and remote areas;
• be accessible in all urban, regional, rural and remote areas;
• integrate and coordinate with existing services in all States and Territories;
• have direct links with relevant local and state services;
• link with other 1800 numbers;
• use best practice technology;
• provide counsellors access to regular and needs-based supervision, support and debriefing processes;
• provide an inclusive service of equitable standard to people with disabilities, Indigenous people, young people and callers from culturally diverse backgrounds; and
• cooperate over a service transition phase utilising existing services.

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5. Key Considerations

The criteria against which the Department will assess applications for funding in Stage 2 of this selection process are being developed.

The following considerations are important to the Department. The Department will develop assessment criteria that reflect these key considerations:

1. Telephone and online counselling service including:
• Innovative approach
• Professionalism of the service
• Reliability of the service, especially to accommodate peak demands
• The ability to provide the service to people in urban, regional, rural and remote areas
• Proposed method and capacity to link with existing State and Territory services
2. Management support for the new service including:
• Technology for high quality online and telephone operations
• Resources (recruitment, training and ongoing support of staff)
• Integration and co-ordination of the new service with existing State and Territory services
• Capacity to develop and manage transition arrangements with existing service provider
• Financial viability
3. Relevant experience including:
• Demonstrated experience in providing domestic and family violence and sexual assault counselling, preferably in a telephone and online capacity
• The capacity to provide a national service

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6. Glossary

Applicant

Means an Eligible Organisation or consortium that submits an application under stage 2 of the Department’s proposed selection process for the Service. Individuals will not be eligible to apply.

Consortium

Means a group of incorporated organisations that are lodging a joint Registration of Interest. A partnership consisting of individuals will not be considered a Consortium. If your group or organisations has been incorporated, the incorporated body is not considered to be Consortium for the purposes of this Registration of Interest, but is an organisation in its own right. All members of the Consortium will be jointly and severably liable to the Australian Government.

A Consortium must consist of Eligible Organisations and have a Lead Agency.

Department (the)

Means the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Eligible Organisation

Means an organisation that is described in section 2.1 of this document, including a Commonwealth, State and Territory government and their agencies.

Lead Agency

The organisation that is authorised, in writing, by a group of organisations in a Consortium to act on behalf of the members of the Consortium. The Lead Agency must be an Eligible Organisation and must be authorised to negotiate, act and bind each member of the Consortium.

Potential Applicant

The organisation or Consortium that submits an Expression of Interest and is invited to apply for funding under stage 2 of the Department's proposed selection process for the Service.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Means the form at section 9 of this document that is submitted by an organisation or Consortium.

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7. Information to be provided as part of the Expression of Interest

• Expression of Interest Documentation PDF [132kB]
• Expression of Interest Documentation RTF [2.49MB]