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QCOSS News
2 June 2008
Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland Fair Level of Funding Project
1. Background to the Project
The Fair Level of Funding Project commenced in October 2006 as an initiative within the SNGOs project to examine the issue of funding for non-profit community services. The project is across both the Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland. The project has been running for two years and is due to be completed in August 2008.
In preparation for the commencement of Fair Level of Funding project, QCOSS and National Disability Services led a sector based project - the Full Cost of Services project, around the issue of funding.
2. Overview of the Fair Level of Funding Project
The Fair Level of Funding project involves the development of a funding framework which will include clear and transparent funding policies and efficient and flexible methods to allocate funding. The project will also involve determining what it costs to deliver services according to the quality standards that are in place, and then clarifying what the department is prepared to contribute for a service.
The work of the project is informed by two reference groups: the Community Services Reference Group and the Disability Services Reference Group. The role of the reference group members is to provide information about the ‘actuals’ of funding and service delivery and represent the views of the sector, as well as to keep the sector informed about the work of the project.
QCOSS has membership on the Community Services Reference Group. Click here to download the Terms of Reference of the Community Services Reference Group.
For more information, contact the Department’s Fair Level of Funding Project Team.
3. Current Status of the Project
The Fair Level of Funding Reference Group meetings are held every 2 months. Click here to see a summary of this and all Reference Group meetings held to date.
The focus of the project is currently on finalising the costing models which are being developed for a range of service types, as well as looking at the details of funding policy – incorporating funding approaches (i.e. input vs. output or outcome) and allocation mechanisms (i.e. service delivery funding vs. contracting/purchasing).
The work around financial modelling is being progressed by a consultancy team - the Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales.The consultants are undertaking research into the real costs of delivering services. The research is currently due to finish in April 2008.
The work being undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre around the cost of delivering services has now been completed and reference group members were able to view a copy of the draft report on their findings. The final report will be made public in the coming months and will be available from this website.
The costing models (cost of delivery services) are based on the service modelling work (development of a range of service models detailing the range of resources and activities required to deliver a service) that was undertaken by Disability Services Queensland. The service models have been developed based around a set of service clusters.
For more information contact Tanya Hall, Sector Development Project Officer on 3004 6916 or tanyah@qcoss.org.au
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