Latest Update - April 2025
The Primary Health Services for Young People (PHSYP) commissioning process has reached the end of the Invest phase, which involved an Open Grant opportunity. Applications were assessed by a Grant Assessment Panel, which considered the PHSYP Marking Rubric and advice from two members of the ACT Youth Advisory Council. From this process, two applicants have now been confirmed as successful applicants: Anglicare NSW South/West and ACT and Directions Health Services LTD, in consortium with Woden Community Services and Meridian.
Both providers will provide integrated primary health services for young people who live, work or play in the ACT.
Anglicare will provide primary health care with a holistic focus and Individual Case Management services by a team of doctors, nurses, and youth/social workers. These services will be delivered from Scotts Crossing in Civic, as well as weekly outreach from regular locations.
Directions will provide a two-tiered primary healthcare service for young people who are not well connected to health services. The service will consist of weekly drop-in nurse-led health clinics at five sites across the ACT, including Lanyon, Tuggeranong, Woden and Gungahlin, with the option of stepping up to more intensive wrap-around support services for young people with more complex needs. A fifth clinic will be opened in February 2025.
ACT Health Directorate would like to thank all young people and other stakeholders for their significant contribution to the Primary Health Services for Young People commissioning process.
Background
In the ACT, there are several non-government organisations which provide services that support the health needs of young people aged 12-25 years old. Through commissioning in this subsector, led by the LGBTIQ+ and Social Inclusion team, ACTHD is collaborating with key stakeholders and drawing on the lived experience and expertise of young people, and the organisations and professionals that support them. The goal of commissioning in this subsector is to collaboratively design integrated and holistic primary health service/s that meet the evolving needs of young people in the ACT.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please find below a collation of questions and answers related to the PHSYP grant opportunity. Should you have additional questions or require further clarification, please reach out to healthpolicy@act.gov.au. To uphold the principles of probity, we will provide answers to all questions within this section, which will be updated regularly.
Last updated 23 February 2024.
No. | Question | Response |
|---|
1 | When does the grant application period close? | Monday, 26 February, 4 pm |
2 | How will the ACT Government select its preferred provider(s) to deliver Primary Health Services for Young People? | The current Primary Health Services for Young People commissioning process involves an open market grant opportunity for providers to deliver specific services. ACTHD has conducted extensive research and consultation to establish a clear set of Grant Requirements (pages 13 to 22 provide a succinct overview). The Grant Assessment Panel will assess each application against the Grant Requirements, with reference to the Marking Rubric. To be considered, applicants must explain how they can deliver, and report against requirements. There are compulsory requirements that must be met, as well as highly desirable and desirable requirements that will be weighted to contribute to an overall score. - Compulsory service types and delivery requirements must achieve a score of three or more against the Marking Rubric for the application to be considered.
- “Desirable” service types and “highly desirable” / “desirable” service delivery requirements are important considerations for proposed service models and responses will be weighted accordingly.
Applicants will submit responses via a SmartyGrants application form. They can preview the form before beginning their application. |
3 | Can ACT Health, through commissioning, pay Canberra Health Services? | Commonwealth, state or local government agency bodies are not eligible to apply for the Primary Health Services for Young People (PHSYP) grant and cannot be subcontracted to provide any services under the PHSYP grant. Non-government organisation applicants must be able to provide (either independently, or as part of a consortium arrangement) all services/programs that have been articulated within their grant application. |
4 | Should we build in indexation into the budget year on year, and what level of detail do you require when costs are so variable over such a long period of time (for example transport, insurance)? | No, indexation should not be included in costings. Indexation will be calculated separately and will be provided in addition to the annual allocated funding in the agreement. |
5 | Should we put in a separate proposal if part of our service is to be delivered in partnership with another provider and other parts are not? For example, in an instance where we would like to provide clinical services in partnership with another organisation, but provide other services independently. | Applicants may choose a partnership arrangement with a lead organisation or may nominate other alternative service arrangements to meet the needs of the community and maximise value for money. If some services are to be provided as part of a partnership or alternate service arrangement, and others independently, you should articulate within your application the services for which the consortium arrangement applies and the services for which it does not. - For services involving a partnership or alternate service arrangement, you will need to provide details of both organisations involved within the application.
- You will also need to elect a lead agency for the partnership or alternate service arrangement, and detail within your grant response, how governance, service delivery, finances, reporting etc will be facilitated/managed in a streamlined manner through the arrangement.
- All organisations within the partnership or alternate service arrangement must abide by the terms of the Deed of Grant and other policy/legislative requirements relevant to the proposed service delivery.
Although unlikely, there may be a situation where an NGO wishes to submit two separate applications for the exact same service/program (one application as a consortium arrangement and the other as a sole provider). This will be permitted however the Respondent should articulate a rationale as to why both proposals for the same service/program are being submitted, and whether they intend for the Grant Assessment Panel to choose between the two options. |
6 | Will all the applications be publicly available at any point or are they confidential? | Applications through this grants process will not be made public at any point however a list of the successful applicant/s will be. |
| 7 | Could you please clarify whether the Appendix B –Example Program Logic – Table of Inputs, Outputs and Service Requirements is provided as a sample / guide only or whether grant applicants are required to clear the sample content from Appendix B and populate this table with their program information? The grant guidelines are not clear on the utility of Appendix B. | Appendix B has been provided as an example for reference only. You will notice that it demonstrates the link between hypothetical inputs, activities and the service requirements. Respondents are not able to upload a Program Logic within SmartyGrants. Instead, respondents are encouraged to refer to Appendix B to guide and help structure their written responses to questions that ask for information relating to inputs and activities. Witten responses are to be provided within the relevant text fields. |
| 8 |
Could you please share the table identified here in 5.1.14, as I am unable to locate it in the Grant Requirement Document?
| This question relates to the Smarty Grants Form, Section 12 Operational Evaluation Criteria, Question a. REPORTING. ‘Articulate the types of data you will utilise in performance reporting against identified outcomes. These could include, for example, service user data, demographic data, administrative data, survey data, service user reference group data, etc. Please refer to table 5.1.14 in the Grant Requirements. (weighting 10%) *’ Please disregard the mention of a table as there is no table 5.1.14 in the Grant Guidelines: this is an error within the SmartyGrants form. |
Discover
The DISCOVER phase is about understanding the challenges, issues, and gaps within and across the sector, and exploring opportunities for innovation. In the DISCOVER phase, we consider and articulate our intentions of Commissioning. |
|---|
The Discover Phase was added into the Commissioning Cycle after commencement of the Primary Health Services for Young People Commissioning Cycle. |
Strategise
The STRATEGISE phase builds on the work undertaken in the Discover phase and provides an opportunity to consolidate a wide range of data and information through a Needs Assessment. In the STRATEGISE phase, we work with sector partners and people with Lived Experience to validate the needs of the community, better understand service provision, identify service gaps and duplication, and consider what service and community outcomes are possible through Commissioning. |
|---|
| | Activity | Stakeholders/Participants | Date | Output Documents | |
| Completed | - Literature review and research
- Needs assessment
- Stakeholder interviews and consultation
- Development of a Discussion Paper
- Roundtable discussion
| - ACT Health Directorate
- Young People with Lived Experience
- Young People consumers and service users
- NGO service providers
- CHS service providers
- Private service providers (GPs etc)
- Academic Institutions
- External consultants
| - April-June 2022: Literature review and interviews with stakeholders
- July-September 2022: Roundtable with stakeholders and consultations with young people
- August-September 2022: Listening report provided to stakeholders to sense-check roundtable and consultation findings
| PHSYP Strategise Phase Discussion Paper PHSYP Design Phase Listening Report | |
Design
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 and shape services and align key service models and characteristics with desired health and wellbeing outcomes for the community. |
|---|
| | Activity | Stakeholders/Participants | Date | Output Documents | |
| Completed | - Review of findings and feedback from the Listening Report
- Survey for design of PHSYP
- First Design workshop: models of service
- Second Design workshop: Development of Strategic Investment Plan
- Integration of feedback into requirements for PHSYP service delivery
- Subsector consultation on Draft Strategic Investment Plan
| - ACT Health Directorate
- Young People with Lived Experience
- Young People consumers and service users
- NGO service providers
- CHS service providers
- Private service providers (GPs etc)
- Academic Institutions and research foundations
- External consultants
| - September 2022-October 2023: Design Phase
- 3 Nov-16 Nov 2022: PHSYP survey
- 16 Nov 2022: First Design workshop
- 14 Dec 2022: Second Design workshop
| Draft Strategic Investment Plan | |
Invest
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. |
|---|
| | Activity | Stakeholders/Participants | Date | Output Documents |
| Completed | - Release of finalised Strategic Investment Plan
| | | Finalised PHSYP Strategic Investment Plan |
Projected
*Indicative only and may be subject to change
| - Release of PHSYP Grant Application
| - ACT Health Directorate
- NGO service providers
| - December 2023-February 2024
| PHSYP grant application open in Smarty Grants |
Deliver
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. |
|---|
| Activity | Stakeholders/Participants | Date | Output Documents |
Completed | | | | |
Scheduled | - Service/s to commence operation
| - ACT Health Directorate
- NGO service provider/s
| | |
Projected *Indicative only and may be subject to change | | | | |
Integrate
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. |
|---|
| Activity | Stakeholders/Participants | Date | Output Documents |
Completed | | | | |
Scheduled | | | | |
Projected *Indicative only and may be subject to change | | | | |
Contact Us
For any questions related to this commissioning process, please contact healthpolicy@act.gov.au.
In the ACT, there are several non-government organisations which provide services that support the health needs of young people aged 12 to 25 years old. Through commissioning in this subsector, led by the Social Inclusion team, ACTHD will collaborate with key stakeholders and draw on the lived experience and expertise of young people and the organisations and professionals that support them. The goal of commissioning in this subsector is to collaboratively design integrated and holistic primary health service/s that meet the evolving needs of young people in the ACT.
The first step in this process was the publication of a discussion paper providing an overview of commissioning, a needs assessment including priority cohorts and health domains, existing services, and next steps. This discussion paper is available here:
Discussion Paper Commissioning Health Services for Young People July 2022 [PDF 835KB] [Word 799KB]
This discussion paper was followed by one-on-one feedback sessions with key stakeholders in the sector, and a roundtable bringing together the sector to share experiences and learnings informed by lived experience and professional practice.
A listening report detailing findings from this consultation period is available here [PDF 660KB] [Word 1.6MB]
A Draft Strategic Investment Plan is now being prepared for consideration by the community. This Strategic Investment Plan will inform the procurement phase of commissioning.
For any questions related to this commissioning process, please send an email to the ACT Primary Health Services for Young People team: healthpolicy@act.gov.au
Page updated: 29 Jul 2025
