Feedback from our sector partners indicates that commissioning across ACT Health has become more complex and burdensome than originally anticipated. ACT Health is committed to continually reviewing and refining the approach to commissioning. As such ACT Health has decided to refresh the ACT Health commissioning approach to reframe the expectations and subsequent timeframes for commissioning cycles.
The Refreshed Approach will see ACT Health commissioning subsectors streamed into one of three commissioning pathways:
- Intensive Commissioning Approach which will involve a commissioning cycle undertaken as a policy priority, to inform new or innovative service design and investment. Intensive Commissioning Approaches acknowledge that both government and sector partners will require a high level of willingness, readiness and capability to successfully engage with commissioning. Commissioning activities will be highly structured and will be delivered in a consistent manner, while tailored to the circumstances of each subsector.
ACTHD funded Providers who are currently engaged in the Design or Invest phases of commissioning (inclusive of >Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD), Sexually Transmissible Infections and Blood Borne Viruses (STIBBV), Primary Health Services for Young people (PHSYP) and Mental Health (MH)) will progress through the commissioning cycle as planned via an Intensive Commissioning Pathway. These sector partners have engaged with commissioning over several years and have been involved in the development of a Needs Assessment, sector design activities and service/program outcomes. Sector partners are also well prepared for commissioning investment. Process changes for future commissioning (lessons learnt) have been identified and acknowledged.
- Flexible Alignment Approach where providers within eligible subsectors will be offered an immediate contract extension (via a Deed of Variation) to enable sector sustainability for a medium-term commissioning cycle. A Flexible Alignment Approach may be appropriate where there is a commitment to develop a key strategy or plan to inform a commissioning cycle, where additional evidence about need, demand and impact is required to inform commissioning and/or a budget process, or where commissioning is likely to depend on other priority policy work.
- Supported Capability Approach will involve transitioning providers from their Service Funding Agreement to a Deed of Grant to support a longer-term, flexible, and supported commissioning cycle (3+ years duration). The Supported Capability Approach acknowledges that some providers or sectors may be less prepared for commissioning. They may also have a less-developed commissioning capability or a reduced capacity to engage in commissioning because of their size, operations, or staffing mix.
More information on the Refreshed Approach to commissioning, including the streaming allocation of subsectors not identified in Commissioning Pathway #1 (above) will be provided in the 28 November Health Sector Update.
Email healthcommissioning@act.gov.au to join the invite list.
Find out more: Human Service System Transitions Framework and Policy
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Page updated: 28 Feb 2024
