Part C: Application Information for the Community Investment Program Indigenous Community

Part C: Application Information for the Community Investment Program – Indigenous Community Links

Preface

The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA or the Department) has a suite of documents (the Program Guidelines Suite) which provide information relating to programs. They provide the key starting point for parties considering whether to participate in a program and form the basis for the business relationship between FaHCSIA and the funding recipient.

They are:

-  Part A: Program Guidelines which provides an overview of a Program and the Activities relating to the program;

-  Part B: Information for Applicants which provides information on the Application, Assessment, Eligibility, Selection and Complaints processes; and Financial and Funding Agreement arrangements.

-  Part C: Application Information provides specific information on the Activity, Selection Criteria, Performance Management and Reporting. This part should be read in conjunction with the Standard Terms and Conditions.

-  The Application Form which is completed by applicants applying for funding during a selection process.

This version of the ‘Part C’ Guidelines provides the framework for the implementation and administration of Indigenous Community Links (formally known as Community Support Service), including:

·  The purpose of the Indigenous Community Links Funded Activity;

·  The responsibilities and accountabilities of Indigenous Community Links providers and the Department;

·  Guiding principles and values;

·  Governance arrangements; and

·  Service delivery and performance expectations.

FaHCSIA reserves the right to amend these documents from time to time by whatever means it may determine in its absolute discretion and will provide reasonable notice of these amendments. Readers are advised to note version changes and where they have queries to check with their FaHCSIA contact point.

Contents

Preface 2

1 Program overview 4

1.1 Program Outcomes 4

1.2 Aims and objectives 4

2 Activity Overview 5

2.1 Aims and objectives 5

2.2 Participants/clients/recipients/target group 5

2.3 Service provider eligibility 5

2.4 Funding for the activity 6

2.5 Eligible and in-eligible activities 6

2.5.1 Use of funding 7

2.6 Activity links and working with other agencies and services 8

2.7 Specialist requirements (eg: Legislative requirements) 8

2.8 Information technology 9

2.9 Activity performance and reporting 9

3 Application Process 10

3.1 Overview of the Application Process 10

3.2 Selection Criteria 11

4 Contact information 14

5 Further information 15

1 Program overview

The Community Investment Program aims to strengthen communities and promote social inclusion and participation of vulnerable people in community life. The Program provides grants and funding to not-for-profit organisations to develop solutions and deliver responsive and integrated services that meet local community needs.

The Community Investment Program consists of four service delivery strategies: Community Projects, Volunteer Grants, Indigenous Community Links (formerly known as Community Support Service), and National Secretariat. These strategies aim to build the capacity of communities and organisations to be able to identify and address local community needs, facilitate partnerships that result in better services and service integration, assist volunteers, develop strategies to increase awareness of access to services, and support organisations in the delivery of services to people.

The Australian Government is providing approximately $41 million in 2012/13 for the Community Investment Program.

1.1 Program Outcomes

Improved capacity for vulnerable people and communities to participate economically and socially and to manage life transitions through targeted support services and community capability building initiatives.

Program intermediate outcomes will be achieved by:

Improving social inclusion through:

o  increased economic and social participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people;

o  Improving responsiveness of service networks to better address the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged people; and

o  Increasing the capacity and sustainability of local service networks.

Service delivery immediate outcomes will be achieved by:

·  Improving the engagement of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in their communities;

·  Providing more inclusive and integrated services and local service networks;

·  Maximising volunteering participation in communities; and

·  Maximising mentoring and leadership development within communities.

1.2 Aims and objectives

The Community Investment Program aims to provide grants and ongoing funding to improve the responsiveness and integration of local community services to increase participation of vulnerable people in community life.

2 Activity Overview

Indigenous Community Links is designed to support Indigenous community members and their families by providing links and referrals to a range of mainstream and Indigenous services, such as welfare and social support, employment, family violence, health (including drug and alcohol services), legal, child care and housing. Services also encourage the development and fostering of relationships with other service providers by promoting access and pathways to their services, including through the provision of Internet access.

As at May 2012, Indigenous Community Links operates through a network of 65 not-for-profit organisations, in 88 locations/clusters, representing more than 140 Indigenous communities across Australia.

2.1 Aims and objectives

Indigenous Community Links provides better linkages between Indigenous people and community services and helps in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by facilitating access to community services and information.

Indigenous Community Links aims to deliver:

·  Sustainable outcomes through supported referrals and advocacy for Indigenous clients;

·  Information and referrals for Indigenous clients to service programs across a range of mainstream and Indigenous specific services, e.g. legal, funeral, health, family violence, safe houses, drug and alcohol;

·  Individual capacity and skills to access services and their related outcomes, e.g. employment or training; and

·  Greater use of the Internet to access information.

Indigenous Community Links aligns with the Service Delivery Principles for Services for Indigenous Australians.

(Refer: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/progserv/ctg/Pages/NIRA.aspx#a_1)

2.2 Participants/clients/recipients/target group

The target group for this activity is Indigenous community members and their families in the selected Indigenous Community Links locations. Indigenous people who do not live in the selected locations may also access the service.

2.3 Service provider eligibility

To deliver Indigenous Community Links, service providers must be not-for-profit and one of the following entity types:

a)  Incorporated Associations (incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have 'Association' or 'Incorporated' or 'Inc' in their legal name);

b)  Incorporated Cooperatives (also incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have "Cooperative' in their legal name);

c)  Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001) - (limited by shares or by guarantee);

d)  Aboriginal Corporations (incorporated under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2006);

e)  Organisations established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or State/Territory legislation (many public benevolent institutions, churches, universities, unions etc);

f)  Partnerships;

g)  Trustees on behalf of a Trust; or

h)  Local Governments.

The following categories are not eligible to apply for this funding:

a)  Bodies that are not legal entities;

b)  Commonwealth/state/territory government departments;

c)  Individuals;

d)  Third parties seeking funds on behalf of others; or

e)  For-profit organisations.

There are no circumstances where these requirements can be waived.

2.4 Funding for the activity

Approximately $14 million will be provided each year from 2012/13 to 2014/15.

2.5 Eligible activities

Indigenous Community Links providers will have the support of the local Indigenous community and must deliver the following activities:

·  Provide a coordinator and other staff, as appropriate to the location.

·  Provide a culturally acceptable and readily accessible place for Indigenous community members to access Indigenous Community Links. Services are to be provided for hours suitable to the needs of the location, taking into account any outreach/mobile service and/or Indigenous Community Links related out of office work, as required.

·  Provide Indigenous community members with information and referrals to assist access to a range of mainstream and Indigenous specific services and other community support programs, such as legal, funeral, counselling, employment, health, family violence, safe houses, and drug and alcohol.

·  Provide other related support to Indigenous community members to access services, as required, such as advocacy and attending appointments, and building individuals’ capacity by assisting clients to understand forms, confirming formal identification for employment purposes, etc.

·  Provide Indigenous community members with access to free Internet services at Indigenous Community Links service sites during opening hours, including from outreach/mobile services, where possible.

·  Develop relationships and linkages with service providers to support referrals and to facilitate access and pathways for Indigenous people and their families to mainstream and other Indigenous services. This includes advocacy and community engagement on behalf of Indigenous Community Links, as required.

·  Ensure Indigenous Community Links staff attend at least one (regional or state) provider forum per year as organised by the Department.

·  Handle all complaints in line with the Australian Complaints Handling Standards – ISO AS10002-2006. (Refer: http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/Details.aspx?productID=341668)

Additional guidance about these activities is provided at Section 5 – Further Information.

2.5.1 Use of funding

Indigenous Community Links funding must be used in accordance with the service provider’s Funding Agreement and Terms and Conditions, and may include:

·  Employee salaries and on-costs (full-time and/or part-time) to provide Indigenous Community Links across specified service sites, including outreach/mobile services, administrative support and Indigenous Community Links related activities;

·  Operating expenses directly related to providing Indigenous Community Links, including office materials, utilities, insurances, telephones, bookkeeping and audit;

·  Travel and/or vehicle leasing/purchase - any single items over $10,000 (GST inclusive) requires approval from the Department;

·  Non-capital items relating to Indigenous Community Links premises, including consideration of additional service sites, appropriate to the funded location/s (e.g. rent, furniture, office equipment, minor repairs/maintenance and insurance);

·  Items to assist to make service areas inviting (e.g. water coolers, books/publications, children’s toys, Indigenous artwork);

·  Purchasing additional equipment (office equipment, computers, laptops, mobile phones for coordinators, stationery) - any single item over $10,000 (GST inclusive) requires approval from the Department;

·  Computer/software upgrades and security protection in relation to provision of Internet access for clients;

·  Developing and producing Promotional materials (e.g. signage, posters, brochures, banners, resource kits, badging).

·  Community activities (Barbeques/ luncheons, sporting events, exhibitions, opening days, attending events including NAIDOC);

·  Training/study and related materials to assist staff in their capacity to provide Indigenous Community Links to the community (e.g. dealing with aggressive clients, baseline counselling/social/grief support, cultural awareness, submission/application writing, stakeholder engagement/management);

·  Attendance at relevant conferences/forums;

·  Excursions (staff and/or clients to go on outings/excursions e.g. NAIDOC events, meetings, health days, Elder/men/cultural events);

·  Lectures (guest speakers/lectures on various topics for staff and/or clients); and

·  Programs/classes/groups, either conducting and/or coordinating (e.g. parenting program, cooking classes, financial management/budgeting programs, yarning groups, men’s groups).

Indigenous Community Links funding must not be used for:

·  Costs that are not directly and specifically related to Indigenous Community Links, e.g. ongoing employee wages, rent, overheads and administrative costs of other existing operations not connected with Indigenous Community Links;

·  Purchase or lease of capital assets;

·  Overseas travel;

·  Relocation costs; and

·  Retrospective costs, including any costs incurred in the preparation of an Application.

2.6 Activity links and working with other agencies and services

The Indigenous Community Links coordinator and staff must have knowledge and understanding of a broad range of Indigenous specific and mainstream services/programs within the local area and be able to advise clients on the service options available. Service providers may be able to access information about services and programs within their local area from their Funding Agreement Managers.

The Indigenous Community Links coordinator and staff must develop relationships and linkages with service providers to support referrals and to facilitate access and pathways for Indigenous people and their families to mainstream and other Indigenous services. This may include advocacy and community engagement on behalf of Indigenous Community Links, and working with community organisations and/or community groups as a means of promoting and/or providing Indigenous Community Links to client groups.

Engagement with end-service providers may be required on a range of levels to help facilitate pathways and build more effective relationships and positive service responses on the part of end-services with Indigenous clients. The use of specific tools or mechanisms for facilitating this interagency work, such as a register, database or training workshops, is at the discretion of service providers.

2.7 Specialist requirements (eg: Legislative requirements)

Referrals for children under sixteen years of age

Referrals can be made for children less than 16 years through Indigenous Community Links. Service providers must comply with any applicable legal requirements in the locality in which they operate.

These legal requirements include, but are not limited to, any applicable state and territory legislation about working with children. Service providers must ensure that all staff or volunteers have the relevant Working with Children checks, as required.

Indigenous Community Links providers must also meet funding agreement obligations regarding police checks.

2.8 Information technology

Indigenous Community Links providers must ensure that information technology is adequately protected with appropriate software and is compliant with the Government’s secure and safe Internet standards. Information about these standards is published at http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au.

Indigenous Community Links providers must provide clients with access to free Internet services when service sites are open to the public. Mobile workstations and/or laptops may be used either within the Indigenous Community Links service site or for use with outreach or mobile services. Service providers may also assist clients with using the Internet. This may include:

·  Helping clients to find information;

·  Showing clients how to use search engines; and/or

·  Navigating around the Internet.

Security of information

Indigenous Community Links providers are required to store records in a secure place and dispose of them in an appropriate manner. A copy of all reports and records or account books in original form must be retained in accordance with the FaHCSIA Standard Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (May 2011) which can be found at: www.fahcsia.gov.au/grantsfunding/general/Pages/funding_terms_conditions_july2011.aspx. Service providers must ensure that records containing personal information are retained for five years following the expiration of the funding agreement.