August 2023

Commissioning Conversations, commissioning for outcomes

Yuma Commissioners and Community Partners,

Welcome to your regular commissioning update. In this edition:

Commissioning and the ACT Budget
Invest series – choosing investment pathways
Invest series – top 10 tips for grant applications
Have your say on the draft transitions policy and framework
Community Central Referral Service commissioning underway
Get involved with the Sector Sustainability Program
Case study: commissioning for mental health outcomes
What we are hearing about commissioning
August commissioning cycles update
Key upcoming dates and activities in 2023

Commissioning and the ACT Budget

The ACT Budget provided an additional $20 million to the non-government sector for homelessness services.

This additional funding was influenced directly by evidence from the commissioning cycle.

Invest series – getting the most out of commissioning

Choosing investment pathways

An investment pathway can be different for each commissioning cycle.

Whether it's grants, tenders or a mix of both, commissioners consider several factors when choosing an investment pathway for the community and health sectors.

Find out more

Top tips for grant applications

Hear from experienced panel members who have assessed hundreds of applications.

Following the success of the recent ACT Community of Social Services (ACTCOSS) grant writing workshops, we share tips to help you write effective applications.

Find out more

Have your say on the draft transitions policy and framework

The framework provides valuable guidance for government and the sector to manage effective service transitions.

Government and non-government organisations have informed the development of the framework over the past year.

We are seeking your views on the draft policy and framework. Read the draft and send through your views by 1 September.

Have your say on the draft framework

Commissioning for community referrals

We are commissioning for a central referral service for community services, supports and programs.

The new service will refer those who need it to programs such as

homelessness services
child, youth and family support services
the child protection sector.

We are in the Discovery phase of the commissioning cycle. We invite you to review what we've found so far and provide your feedback by 1 September.

Find out more and provide feedback

Case study: commissioning for mental health

Mental health supports are needed in many commissioning cycles, including homelessness and youth services.

Find out more about taking a collaborative approach to including mental health support in the commissioning cycle by reading our latest case study.

Read the case study

What is happening and what are we hearing

Get involved in the Sector Sustainability Program

The Sector Sustainability Program is working to identify how and where funding needs to be directed for a more sustainable sector.

Get involved by

nominating for the Sector Sustainability Program Governance Committee (formal)
expressing your interest to participate in the Sector Sustainability Program Sounding Board (informal).

Nominate or express your interest by Thursday 24 August.

Find out more and apply

What we are hearing

While we are working through the analysis and insights of the 2023 Commissioning Annual Survey, we are also taking stock of what needs improvement.

We are developing action to drive improvements in communications, management of timeframes and capacity – in the sector and in government as well as financial investment in services.

Find out more