Timings
We are getting ready to commission with further timings to be shared, this is where we are at:
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Discover July – December 2022
We are assessing what we know already and preparing a Children Services Program Discovery Discussion Paper that will help guide discussion and engagement in the strategise phase
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Strategise February – April 2023
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Design April – August 2023
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Invest August 2023 – May 2024
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Deliver May 2024 – onwards
Latest update - April 2025
The Children’s Services Program (CSP) completed its first commissioning cycle in 2023. Through this process 3 new key pieces of work were established and implemented in the CSP:
- The CSP Community of Practice
- A Flexible Funding Pool
- A Responsibilities Fact Sheet
The CSP is currently in the Integrate and Evaluate stages of the Commissioning Cycle and will move into the Discover phase from October 2025, thus recommencing the commissioning cycle.
For more information contact: childrens.services@act.gov.au
Cycle: 1
Commissioner: Community Services Directorate
Status: Discover
We identify and document what we already know and what could be possible to explore through the commissioning cycle. In this phase we will:
- Undertake a discovery – what do we already know? What questions do we need to explore?
- Identify who could be involved in the commissioning cycle
- Plan the timings of the commissioning cycle through to delivery
- Plan engagement and collaboration activities and timings
- Establish the webpage to keep participants informed
Background
Commissioning is our opportunity to ensure the Children Services Program is meeting the needs of our growing population with the ACT being home to more than 45,000 children and 119,752 families.
The Children Services Program (the Program) currently provides short-term early childhood education and care when a vulnerable family experiences an immediate crisis, is experiencing domestic violence, substance abuse or homelessness. The Program can help a parent or carer attend appointments such as those for court, parenting support, health, and mental health. The Program is also provided to children entering or known to Child and Youth Protection Services or where a child has recently been placed in Out of Home care (OOHC).
Engagement and collaboration
The Commissioner (government) is getting ready to engage with service providers, partners, and people with lived experience of the Children Services Program.
Engagement and collaboration will help assess the Program need and identify service requirements to meet the needs of our growing population.
Contact us
To learn more about the process email Community Services Directorate email: CYFSP@act.gov.au
What we are looking at, listening to, and sharing
We are seeking insights, perspectives and experiences that help us understand:
- What service gaps you have identified
- What emerging needs you have identified
- How your organisation is providing services
- Any new or emerging groups you have identified for targeted services
- What are meaningful measures and indicators
- Lived experiences of people accessing services
- Solutions or ideas or innovations that could meet the service needs
- How to develop better linkages and coordination across service delivery
Who is involved
We will be seeking insights, perspectives, and experiences from a wide range of people including those accessing services or who have accessed services in the past as well as organisations involved in providing support services to children, young people, and families.
We will use your views to
- Innovate ways we can address the service gaps
- Refine program outcomes in line with the ACT Wellbeing Framework
- Design and improve the service model
- Inform contractual principles and approach for new Partnership Agreements in 2024
Related commissioning cycles
We are listening to, connecting with, and drawing from these related commissioning cycles:
Key links
We are referencing the following plans, strategies, and frameworks in this cycle:
Page updated: 17 Apr 2025
