Latest Update – December 2025
Program Logic Paper
A Program Logic Paper has been developed to provide additional guidance for creating program logics that align with the Mental Health Commissioning Framework outlined in the Mental Health Non-Government Organisation Strategic Investment Plan (SIP).
The Program Logic Paper has been created to complement the SIP and the Mental Health Commissioning Framework which were released in November 2025.
Tranche 1 Timelines and Applications
Tranche 1 consists of Direct Grant Processes for the Residential Community Supports and Individual Advocacy Funding Streams.
Applications for the Individual Advocacy stream are open and will close in February 2026. Detailed information about the grant process has been provided directly to the relevant organisation.
Applications for the Residential Community Supports stream will be open from January 2026 to late February 2026. Detailed information about the grant process will be provided directly to relevant organisations.
The Commissioning Team will continue to provide updates on timelines for all future tranches through our webpage and email newsletter. All open grants will be advertised on Funding and support - ACT Government.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We will publish answers to key Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) throughout the Invest Phase. The FAQ document will be uploaded to our website and sent to our mailing list.
If you have a question about the commissioning process for the FAQ, please contact: mentalhealthcommissioning@act.gov.au
Subscribe to Mailing List
Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates throughout the Invest Phase.
Discover and Strategise (completed)
These phases concluded in February 2022 and provided an opportunity for Mental Health Policy and Strategy to engage with carers, consumers, service providers, Peak NGOs, and partners within the ACT Government to highlight what the community sees as priorities, needs, and challenges in the mental health system.
This included looking at what is currently working well in the community mental health sector, what is not working as well, and any service gaps. The workshops and consultations within this phase of commissioning was guided by the Discovery Paper.
Through the Strategise phase the Mental Health Commissioning team ran two workshops to support discussion around the Discovery paper, and ten questions included within the Answers to the Discovery Questions. These workshops provided a number of valuable insights and themes that have been captured in a Listening Report and a Companion Document, which provides the raw answers to every question.
Design (completed)
The Design phase is where essential collaboration between commissioner, sector partners, service providers and other stakeholders takes place. The Design phase enables us to examine, shape, and align key service models and characteristics with desired health and wellbeing outcomes for the community. The Mental Health Commissioning team have developed an Insights report which synthesises the feedback that was heard throughout all consultation activities from May – July 2023. This Insights Report also includes an appendix that includes a summary of all the feedback received during the Design Phase to date across each individual consultation activity. You can access the Design Phase Insights Report here [PDF 955KB] [Word 603KB] |
Invest (in progress)
The Invest phase provides an opportunity to define our approach to market and procuring health services which meet the needs of the ACT community, in accordance with the Territory’s Value for Money Considerations.
The Investment Phase commenced in November 2025 and is informed by Design and all consultation that has occurred across all of the previous phases.
Progress | Activity | Date | Output |
In progress | Tranche 1 - Approach to Market | December 2025 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 1 - Contract Negotiations and preparation of Deeds of Grant | April 2026 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 2 - Approach to Market | TBC | |
Not yet started | Tranche 2 - Contract Negotiations and preparation of Deeds of Grant | TBC | |
Not yet started | Tranche 3 - Approach to Market | TBC | |
Not yet started | Tranche 3 - Contract Negotiations and preparation of Deeds of Grant | TBC | |
Deliver (not yet started)
The Deliver phase is all about delivering high quality health services, monitoring the reach and impact of health services and drawing on lessons learned to inform future Commissioning cycles.
Integrate (not yet started)
The Integrate phase is about integrating the knowledge and experience gained from previous commissioning cycles into future commissioning cycles as part of a quality improvement and continuous system reform approach.
How to participate
You can have your say by registering and participating in a scheduled commissioning activity.
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
- How to ensure services are delivering and reporting on outcomes
We will use your views to
- Innovate ways we can address the service gaps
- Refine outcomes in line with the ACT Wellbeing Framework
- Design and improve service models
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: 22 Dec 2025
