Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the National Program Grants and the Local Government Area (LGA) Grants?
Both the National Program Grants and the LGA Grants are funded under the Healthy Communities Initiative. Only local governments can apply for the LGA Grants; not-for-profit organisations can apply for the National Program Grants. The LGA Grants will provide funding to local governments to initiate activities in their local community aimed at increasing participation in healthy lifestyle programs and activities. The National Program Grants will support the LGA Grants by making established programs available to the LGAs, should the LGAs wish to utilise them.
What are the locations of the local governments that will be funded under the LGA Grants?
At this stage the locations of the funded LGAs are not yet known. There will be three competitive rounds of LGA Grants with a staggered rollout over the next three years, so we cannot predict which LGAs will apply and where they will be. However, the LGAs are expected to be funded across a variety of geographic types (eg rural/remote, regional, metropolitan, etc) in areas with higher than average levels of disadvantage and overweight/obesity. The explanation under Part 5 in the Applicant Guide (p.12) shows the expected distribution of the LGA Grants across each state and territory in the first round.
Do I need to be able to deliver the program nationally?
Yes, you can only apply if you will be able to deliver the program nationally. If your application is successful, you will be required to enter into a funding agreement which will specify the minimum number of LGA Grant recipients to which you need to make the program available. In most cases it will be at least 70% of funded LGAs, although this will be negotiated on a case by case basis.
You can gradually increase the number of locations your program is rolled out to in accordance with the rollout of the LGA grants. The rollout of the LGA grants is shown below:
| LGA Grant rollout | YEAR 1 (2009-10) | YEAR 2 (2010-11) | YEAR 3 (2011-12) | YEAR 4 (2012-13) | ||
| Round 1 (12 grants) † |  | Apr 10 --> Jun 11 | | |||
| Round 2 (33 grants) | | Jan 2011 -------------------> Jun 2013 | ||||
| Round 3 (59 grants) | | Jul 2011 ----------> Jun 2013 | ||||
| TOTAL no of LGA grants (cumulative) | 12 | 45 | 92 | 92 | ||
† The 12 LGAs that receive funding in the pilot phase may reapply for further funding in Round 3. 47 new LGAs will also receive funding in Round 3, making a total of 59 grants available. If only 10 pilot sites are successful in applying for further funding in Round 3, two more new LGAs would also receive funding (ie 49 new LGAs); if only 7 pilot sites are successful, five more new LGAs will receive funding, etc.
The minimum number of LGAs that would need to be able to access the program (according to the minimum 70% requirement) is shown for each timeframe:
Timeframe |
No of LGAs receiving LGA Grants |
Minimum no of LGAs which must have access to the program |
|---|---|---|
April 2010 to Dec 2010 |
12 |
9 |
Jan 2011 to June 2011 |
45 |
32 |
July 2011 to June 2013 |
92 |
64 |
If you apply the minimum 70% rule, you would be expected to make your program available to at least 9 of the 12 pilot LGAs in 2010. This means that in 2010, you do not necessarily have to reach every state/territory – it could be possible to deliver to just five or six states/territories if you wish (eg 2 (NSW) + 2 (QLD) + 2 (VIC) + 2 (WA) + 1 (TAS)). However, applicants that can demonstrate they can realistically reach all states/territories in 2010 will be looked upon more favourably in the assessment process.
The distribution of the second and third rounds of the LGA Grants is yet to be determined. However, you should note that you would be required to deliver the program to funded LGAs across all states and territories in 2011.
What if there are some locations in which we absolutely could not deliver the program?
Whilst the preference is for programs to be made available to every LGA that wishes to receive it, the Department acknowledges that there may be situations in which it is not possible to deliver the program in some locations. For example, the program might rely on certain infrastructure, resources or providers that may not be present in all locations. If your Expression of Interest is successful, you will be asked to declare any limitations to the expansion of your program in the detailed application form.
Can I choose where to deliver the program?
You will be required to deliver your program to the majority of the communities that receive the LGA Grant funding across every state and territory. The Department will advise these locations when they are approved. However, if you wish, you can also deliver the program in other locations as well. For example, if you already deliver the program in 10 locations, you can continue to run it in those locations as well as expand it to the LGAs (or beyond), providing the target group is similar to the HCI target.
Do I have to be currently delivering the program nationally in order to apply for the National Program Grants?
No, you do not have to already be delivering the program nationally. The purpose of the funding is to assist organisations in expanding an existing program to all states and territories. You just have to be delivering the program in two or more locations at present.
If you are already delivering the program nationally, you are still welcome to apply, providing the National Program Grants funding will be used to expand the delivery of the program further, including into areas receiving LGA Grants that wish to access the program.
What do you mean by two or more ‘locations’?
To be eligible to apply for a National Program Grant, you must already be delivering your program in two or more locations. The purpose of this criterion is to give the Commonwealth confidence that you have experience in fine-tuning your program to suit the idiosyncrasies of different areas and participants.
‘Locations’ is considered to mean two or more different venues in which the program is delivered to different participants.
Locations could be as close together as two different community halls in one suburb, or be as widely spread as parks in multiple towns in every state and territory. Applicants that can demonstrate a greater number, diversity and spread of locations will be looked upon more favourably.
Do you have to be a consortium to apply for a National Program Grant?
No, you do not have to be in a consortium to apply, it is merely an option.
If the Lead Organisation in a consortium meets the eligibility criteria, can the other organisations in the consortium be for-profit or a government agency?
No, all organisations in a consortium must meet the eligibility criteria.
The Program Guidelines list five examples of the types of activities that could be funded. Does my application need to include all of these activities?
The list under What Programs will be funded (p.6 of the Program Guidelines and p.4 of the Applicant Guide) is a list of examples of the types of activities that the Department will consider funding. It is an "and/or" list, so you do not have to cover every point on the list. However, please note that you will be required to evaluate the expansion of your program. If you are successful in the Expression of Interest phase, you will be asked a specific question on how you will evaluate the program in your full application.
Does the evaluation of the program have to be undertaken by a university?
No, there is no requirement that you must use a university to undertake an evaluation of the program, although you can if you wish, providing you can demonstrate it is good value for money.
The Program Guidelines state that the target group for the Healthy Communities Initiative is people at risk of chronic disease. Is risk scored on the AUSDRISK?
Risk does not necessarily have to be scored according to the AUSDRISK. For the purpose of the National Program Grants, at risk individuals are considered to be those with a risk profile for a range of chronic diseases (which may or may not include a risk profile for Diabetes). “At risk” could include one or more factors such as overweight/obesity, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low education status, low health literacy, etc.
Will the LGAs receiving LGA Grants use their funds to subsidise participation in programs? Or would the organisation that receives the National Program Grant have to provide money, out of the grant provided, for LGAs to subsidise participants?
The funded LGAs may choose to put their LGA Grant funding towards subsidising some or all of the costs to individuals of participating in programs. However, you cannot presume that all LGAs will necessarily subsidise the costs of participating in your program. Therefore you must be able to offer the program to participants at a reasonable price (or free), given the Healthy Communities Initiative is targeting disadvantaged communities.
If you use the National Program Grants funding to reduce the overall cost for participants in your program, you can build it directly into your program delivery budget. You cannot give a portion of your funding directly to the LGAs in order for them to subsidise individual participants - if they choose to subsidise all or part of the participation costs, they must use the funding they have already been given through the LGA Grants.
Also, please note that whilst the National Program Grants funding can be used to reduce the cost of the program to participants if necessary, and the LGA Grants funding can be used by LGAs to subsidise individual participation costs, you cannot use the subsidies to make a profit. For example, if the National Program Grant funding reduces the cost of delivering the program from $20 per person / per session to $10 per person / per session, the LGAs could subsidise all or part of the remaining $10 for their community members. However, you could not ask for a $15 fee or subsidy per person / per session (thereby making your organisation a $5 profit per person / per session).
Can you tell me more about the Quality Assurance Framework and Information Portal?
A Quality Assurance (QA) Framework for the Healthy Communities Initiative is currently being developed. This framework will outline quality standards for programs and the people/organisations who deliver them. It will also outline a process for accreditation against the standards. The QA Framework will be finalised by June 2010, with an accreditation process due to be established by January 2011. Applicants that are successful in obtaining funding from the National Program Grants will be required to submit an application by February 2011 to become accredited. An interim Framework will be developed in early April 2010 for use in the meantime.
It is expected that the QA Framework will not be overly prescriptive but rather will represent the principles of evidence based practice, governance, workforce competence, continuous improvement, cultural respect, collaboration, and risk management. The standards will ensure aspects of appropriateness, access, effectiveness, efficiency, client centeredness and safety are addressed. It will appropriately recognise current professional registration and credentialing programs.
More information on the development of the QA Framework is available at http://hcqa.communiogroup.com.
An information portal will be set up to list all accredited programs/providers available in each funded LGA. The portal will be web-based, allowing members of the community to access it and search for accredited activities and services in their area. It could also assist with health professional referrals to local services. Programs/providers will be added to the portal once they have been accredited.
Would I be disadvantaged if I put in a proposal that targets a specific age range or cultural group?
The target group for the Healthy Communities Initiative is adults experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage who are predominantly not in the workforce and are at risk of chronic disease. If you need to, you can still further define that target group as long as you are careful not to narrow the focus so much that you end up with the program only being available to a very small subset of people. A broader focus (eg people aged over 40) is likely to represent better value for money that a very specific one (eg migrant women aged 40-50) as more people will be able to benefit from the program.
Does the Expression of Interest need to be physically received by 2pm on 12 February 2010 or will it suffice to have it post-marked prior to this time and on this date?
No, it will not suffice to have it post-marked because all Expressions of Interest must be hand delivered to the Tender Box. The Tender Box is a physical box on the premises of the Department of Health and Ageing, not a postal address, so you cannot use normal post. You must either hand-deliver it in person or use a courier.
Your application must be physically received in the Tender Box by 2.00pm AEDST on Friday 12 February 2010. The box is emptied at 2.00pm precisely and any application that is placed in the Tender Box after 2.00pm will be ineligible for assessment. The Department is very strict on this guideline and is unable to accept any submissions after 2.00pm on the day. Please ensure you plan in advance for the time needed to deliver your Expression of Interest to ensure it arrives before the deadline.
What times can I access the Tender Box?
The Tender Box is accessible Monday to Friday between 8am and 5.30pm (Canberra time).
How big is the Tender Box?
The Tender Box has a pull-down opening that is 37.5cm x 29cm. If you have any problems depositing your tender in the box, call the number that is listed on the wall above the Tender Box for assistance.
Do I send the electronic copy of the Expression of Interest with my application or do I email it?
The electronic copy must be included with your application on a CD ROM. You must not email it. You only need to provide one electronic copy.
Does the electronic copy of the application form have to be in Microsoft Word?
The electronic version of your application form must be Microsoft Word 2003 compatible. Any attachments must be either Microsoft Word 2003 compatible or readable using Adobe PDF.
Can I apply for an extension?
No, extensions will not be granted under any circumstance.
Will there be another round of National Program Grants?
No, there is only one round of National Program Grants planned.
When can I expect to hear about the outcome of my Expression of Interest?
If your Expression of Interest is successful, an invitation to submit a detailed application will be issued on 19 March 2010. An application form and applicant guide will be provided at this time. Detailed applications will be due on 16 April 2010.
If your Expression of Interest is unsuccessful, you will be formally notified in early April 2010.