Priority 3: Service Investments

Commissioning for child safety and wellbeing outcomes

When distributing government funds to providers, we will work in the spirit of collaboration with a focus on building the capacity of the non-government sector and keeping the voices of children and families central. All funds previously allocated to family preservation and targeted intervention services have been replaced by recommissioned Intensive Family Services. Family support and early intervention services are next to be recommissioned. This will involve investing in evidence-informed service models for families with lower levels of complexity and safety risks. This includes step down services from intensive services as well as services for families who are at earlier stages of vulnerability and risk. Investing in these services will help reduce the demand for more intensive services.

Recommissioning strategy

We have adopted a new funding approach that fosters collaboration between providers rather than competition, with a stronger focus on evidence-informed service models and outcomes for families with complex needs.

New service models

New service models will be designed for areas where there are service gaps in the system. External evaluations will inform service improvement and future investment decisions.

Post-doctoral fellowship program

We continue to support early career researchers in the areas of prevention of child abuse and neglect to deliver culturally informed research to guide policy and service development.

ACCO capability building

Thirty per cent of all funding for Intensive Family Services has been earmarked for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver services to Aboriginal people. We will support ACCOs to play a larger role in the service provision to Aboriginal children and families, and leadership roles in partnerships with mainstream services.

Research to build evidenced-based service improvements

Research collaborations have been established with universities to help build the evidence base for service responses and service model investments.