July commissioning update

Diversion from Custody

• The First Nations Justice Branch currently funds 6 long-term justice support programs for First Nations people in the ACT.
• The Branch and the ACT First Nations community are committed to ensuring the current suite of programs continue to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra, are subject to robust and transparent evaluation and that results are regularly reviewed by all parties.
• The Branch is undertaking a structured Commissioning process to improve service delivery and sector sustainability. JACS will work with the ACT First Nations Community to examine 4 phases of the justice cycle, strengthen existing measures that are working well and collaborate on solutions to identified gaps.
• The First Nations Justice Branch's first Commissioning workshop will be held at Boomanulla Oval on 25 July 2024. The workshop will focus on Diversion from Custody (Post-contact, pre-sentence), including bail, remand and court-support based programs.
• Current programs that will be Commissioned in Diversion from Custody include:
  • Ngurrambai Bail Support
  • Empowerment Yarning Circles
  • Front Up
  • Galambany Court Support
  • Interview Friends.
• A Discovery document will be circulated to stakeholders soon. For any further information, you can contact the branch at jacsfirstnationsjusticeprograms@act.gov.au.

Other programs

• Contract extensions are progressing for multiple existing service providers who receive funding under the Community Development Program and within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Partnerships, Chronic Conditions, Primary Care Support, Family and Inclusion, Palliative Care Support and Aged Care Respite subsectors.
• These extensions will allow time for commissioning and commissioning-related activities to be undertaken in partnership with sector partners and other key stakeholders.

Nil update

Mental Health

• Mental Health commissioning has recently released its Design Phase Insights Report. The Insights report synthesises and contextualises the feedback that was heard throughout all consultation activities so far in the Mental Health commissioning cycle. It also provides some information about the next steps in the commissioning process. This Insights report also includes an appendix with a summary of all the feedback received during the Design Phase across each individual consultation activity.
• Based on the findings from this consultation phase, Mental Health commissioning is now developing an Investment Strategy. This strategy will guide ACT Health Directorate’s (ACTHD) approach to investment in mental health NGO services. There will be additional consultations relating to the development of the investment strategy, and information on these opportunities will be communicated to the community later.

Children, Young People and Family Services Program

• Following consultation earlier this year, the final Children, Young People and Family Services Program Strategic Investment Plan will be released in the second half of 2024 followed by the commencement of investment activities.

• The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Grant opportunities have closed. Negotiations with preferred respondents for the Early Childhood Education and Care, ATOD Treatment Support and Harm reduction and Core Services grant opportunities are underway, and more information about the newly commissioned services will be released shortly.
• The Primary Health Services for Young People (PHYSP) grant opportunity has closed and negotiations with preferred respondents are underway.
• Negotiations with Sexually Transmissible Infections and Blood Borne Viruses (STIBBV) preferred respondents are in the final stages, and formal notification on grant outcomes will soon be released.
• Our Homelessness and Housing subsector is continuing with its staged investment phase. Some activity has moved into the delivery phase.
• The Child Protection and Out of Home Care Services subsector is in the investment phase of their commissioning cycle to establish the new Children, Young People and Families Panel.

Transition planning is underway to ensure a smooth and phased approach to the new panel arrangement following contract execution. Part of the transition process will be to work closely with families, carers and providers to ensure consistency of support and continuity of services.

Nil update