Latest Update – May 2026
Commissioning overview
Tranche 1 - New contracts to commence by 1 July 2026
- Individual Advocacy and Residential Community Supports
(Direct Grants Process): Applications for Tranche 1 closed in February 2026 and the grant process is ongoing.
Tranche 2 - New contracts to commence by 1 July 2027
- Child, Youth and Families (Open Grant Process): Applications for the Child, Youth and Families Stream are expected to open in July 2026. The Commissioning Team will provide more information about the grant application process and timeframes through the Mental Health Commissioning Webpage and Newsletter when available. All open grants will be advertised on the ACT Government Funding and support page.
Tranche 3 - New contracts to commence by 1 July 2027
- Adults and Older People (Open Grants Process): This grant process will open later in the second half of this year. The Commissioning Team will provide more information about the grant application process and timeframes through the Mental Health Commissioning Webpage and Newsletter when available. All open grants will be advertised on the ACT Government Funding and support page.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing (Select Grants Process): The Commissioning Team will provide updates on timelines through the Mental Health Commissioning Webpage and Newsletter when available. This process will be targeted at Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Detailed information about the grants process will be provided directly to relevant organisations.
Child, Youth and Families Stream
In response to sector feedback, the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) identified an opportunity to explore a collaboration with Child Youth and Families Services Program (CYFSP) Commissioning. The Mental Health Commissioning Team and CYFSP have been working closely to ensure alignment between the two processes where possible, and to minimise the risk of service duplication.
The Mental Health Child, Youth and Families Stream is planned to occur at a similar time to the grants process delivered by CYFSP. Organisations seeking funding from both processes will need to submit a separate application for each grant process.
The grant assessment processes will be designed to consider the wider service system outcomes that government is seeking, including a more integrated service system.
Mental Health Sector Support Opportunities
Mental Health Commissioning has engaged Mental Health Community Coalition (MHCC) to provide sector development opportunities to community organisations to support the commissioning processes.
MHCC will be delivering skills building workshops and preparedness activities, that are available to all organisations that would like to participate.
Updates about the available opportunities can be found of MHCC’s website as they become available: Mental Health Community Coalition - Events.
Transition Processes
As we approach commissioning all organisations, including those currently funded by Mental Health Commissioning and those interested in applying for the upcoming commissioning process, are encouraged to consider transition planning (in and out) in preparation for the upcoming grants process. Effective transition planning is an important part of regular business planning and will help to support everyone applying for grants.
It is recommended that services currently funded by Mental Health Commissioning review the 3-month transition requirements outlined in their Deed of Grant.
Resource Library
We have compiled all relevant Mental Health Commissioning documents to ensure they are easily accessible for the commissioning process.
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 commissioning health services which meet the needs of the ACT community, in accordance with the Territory’s Value for Money Considerations and the Commissioning Principles.
The Invest Phase commenced in November 2025 and is informed by Design and all consultation that has occurred across the previous phases.
Progress | Activity | Date | Output |
In progress | Tranche 1 - Approach to Market | December 2025 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 1 - Contract Commencement | July 2026 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 2 - Approach to Market | July 2026 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 2 - Contract Commencement | July 2027 | |
Not yet started | Tranche 3 - Approach to Market | TBC | |
Not yet started | Tranche 3 - Contract Commencement | July 2027 | |
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: 19 Jun 2026
