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

Preface

On 18 September 2013, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the Department) became the responsible agency for the majority of Indigenous policies and programmes, including Indigenous Community Links.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the Department) has a suite of documents (the Programme Guidelines Suite) which provide information relating to programmes. They provide the key starting point for parties considering whether to participate in a programme and form the basis for the business relationship between the Department and the funding recipient.

They are:

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

-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 providesspecific 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.

These ‘Part C’ Guidelines provide 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.

The Department 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 Departmental contact point.

Contents

PREFACE……………………………………………………………………………………………………2

1PROGRAMME OVERVIEW - Community Investment Programme …………………..4

1.1 PROGRAMME OUTCOMES ………………………………………………………………………….4

1.2AIMS & OBJECTIVES ……………………………………………………………………………….4

2ACTIVITY OVERVIEW -Indigenous Community Links……………………..…….5

2.1AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ………………………………………………………………………….5

2.2PARTICIPANTS/CLIENTS/RECIPIENTS/TARGET GROUP……………………………5

2.3SERVICE PROVIDER ELIGIBILITY …………………………………………………………….. 5

2.4FUNDING FOR THE ACTIVITY ………………………………………………………………….6

2.5ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES ……………………………………………………………………………….6

2.6ACTIVITY LINKS AND WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND SERVICES…8

2.7SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTS …………………………………………………………………..8

2.8INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ……………………………………………………..…………8

2.8ACTIVITY PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING …………….……………………………..9

3APPLICATION PROCESS …………………………………………………………………………10

3.1OVERVIEW OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS ……………………………………………10

3.2HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ……………………………………………………….10

3.3ASSESSMENT TEAM …………………………………………………………………….…………10

3.4SELECTION CRITERIA ………………………………………………….………………………....11

3.5QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS DURING THE APPLICATION PERIOD …………….12

3.6QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AFTER THE APPLICATION PERIOD………………..12

3.7APPLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………..…..……………………………………….12

3.8ANNOUNCEMENT STRATEGY AND FEEDBACK ….……………………………………..13

4CONTACT INFORMATION …………………………………………………………………….13

5FURTHER INFORMATION…………………………………………………………………….14

Programme overview

The Community Investment Programmeaims to strengthen communities and promote social inclusion and participation of vulnerable people in community life. The Programme 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 Programme consists of four service delivery strategies:

  • Community Capacity Building Projects
  • Volunteer Grants
  • Indigenous Community Links (formerly known as Community Support Service)
  • 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 $43 million in 2013-14 for the Community Investment Programme.

1.1Programme 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.

Programme intermediate outcomes will be achieved by:

Improving social inclusion through:

  • Increased economic and social participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people;
  • Improving responsiveness of service networks to better address the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged people; and
  • 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.

1.2Aims and objectives

The Community Investment Programmeaims 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.

2Activity 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 September 2013, Indigenous Community Linksoperates through a network of 65 not-for-profit organisations, in 88 locations/clusters, representing more than 180 Indigenous communities across Australia.

2.1Aims 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 Linksaims to deliver:

  • Sustainable outcomes through supported referrals and advocacy for Indigenous clients;
  • Information and referrals for Indigenous clients to service programmes 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:

2.2Participants/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.

2.3Service provider eligibility

To deliver Indigenous Community Links, service providers approached to apply 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)Corporations (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.

To be eligible to apply for Indigenous Community Links, service providers will also have the support of the local Indigenous community and must be able to:

  • provide a culturally acceptable and readily accessible place for Indigenous people to access Indigenous Community Links;
  • provide Indigenous community members with information and referrals;
  • provide Indigenous community members with access to free internet services;
  • provide other related support to Indigenous people to access services; and
  • develop and maintain relationships and linkages with other indigenous and mainstream services.

2.4Funding for the activity

Total funding for Indigenous Community Links over the three years from 2012 to 2015 is $42million.

The funding available (GST exclusive) under this restricted selection process for the Kalgoorlie/Coolgardie regionup to 30 June 2015 is:

Location / 2013/14 / 2014/15 / Total
Kalgoorlie/Coolgardie / $125,246 / $166,682 / $291,928

2.5Eligible 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 programmes, 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 Linksservice 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 Linksstaffattend 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:

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

2.5.1Use 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
  • Programmes/classes/groups, either conducting and/or coordinating (e.g. parenting programme, cooking classes, financial management/budgeting programmes, 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.

Annual budget information is required in Part 5 of the Indigenous Community Links Application Form.

2.6Activity links and working with other agencies and services

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.

2.7Specialist 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.

2.8Information 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

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 Linksservice 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 Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (May 2011) which can be found at:

Service providers must ensure that records containing personal information are retained for five years following the expiration of the funding agreement.

2.9Activity performance and reporting

Indigenous Community Links providers must report at least every six months about the use of, and client satisfaction with, the provision of Indigenous Community Links.

The six monthly reports provide the Department with information to allow assessment of the effectiveness of the programme in meeting its objectives at the national and regional level. Reporting is also used by the Indigenous Coordination Centre and/or the State and Territory Officenetwork to monitor the activities of service providers on an ongoing basis. The information is used to assist service delivery improvement and to inform the Department of any performance-related issues.

Data collected includes Key Performance Indicators of:

(1)Percentage of individuals seeking services that indicated the assistance received from Indigenous Community Links met their needs - target 70%.

(2)Percentage of individuals that indicated they were satisfied with the service provided (including service location and accessibility) by Indigenous Community Links – target 70%.

(3)Percentage of individuals seeking services that indicated that the service provided by Indigenous Community Links was culturally appropriate - target 70%.

Indigenous Community Links providers must provide Activity Work Plans and Performance Reports using tools provided by the Department. Service providers may be asked to report progress against Activity Work Plans, according to programme requirements and reporting milestones outlined in the Funding Agreement. Periodically examples of good practice service delivery and/or de-identified good news stories may be sought from service providers. The Department may also conduct site visits and make contact via telephone or email to ensure service delivery activities are on-track.

Indigenous Community Links providers must also collect de-identified data on a daily basis about their interactions with clients. All client interactions need to be recorded, irrespective of the end result. Any information and/or direction given that assists an individual to access services should be counted. There is no minimum level of involvement. This may range from assistance provided to individuals at Indigenous Community Links sites to the provision of information in group settings such as community meetings or events.

Annual financial reporting (including an annual acquittal of funding via an independently audited financial report endorsed by the organisation’s Board of Directors, and provision of the organisation’s annual report) is required by 31 October.

The Department may periodically undertake or commission programme evaluations and reviews to ensure programme outcomes are met through quality, efficient and effective services. Where input is sought from Indigenous Community Links service providers in relation to an evaluation or review, the Department will notify them of: