Discussion Paper on Development of Fund Guidelines

Discussion Paper on Development of Fund Guidelines

September 2011

Content

Discussion Paper on Development of Fund Guidelines

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTATIONS

BACKGROUND

BENEFITS OF PROGRAM CONSOLIDATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FLEXIBLE FUNDS

FUND OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES

ACTIVITIES THAT REMAIN IN AND OUT OF SCOPE

EXTENSION TO EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS

ACCESS TO THE FUND

Open Grant Rounds

Targeted Grant Rounds

Entitlement arrangements/ demand driven programs

Procurements

One off/ unsolicited activities

PROGRAM UNDERSPENDS

PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT

How to provide input or comment

Confidentiality of submissions

Address for submissions

Questions relating to submissions

HEALTH WORKFORCE FUND

Comments on the Discussion Paper

1. Stakeholder details

2. Comments

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTATIONS

The intent of this consultation process is to provide information on the Health Workforce Fund (HWF) and to seek stakeholder comments and input to contribute to the development of Fund Guidelines, with a particular focus on the proposed HWF objectives and priorities.

Information on how to provide comments is at Attachment 2a.

BACKGROUND

The Australian Government aims to ensure Australians have a better, more sustainable health system now and in the future. To achieve this outcome, the Government will act to make best use of the skills and capacity of the available health workforce, address health workforce shortages and maintain appropriate standards for health practitioners.

Following a recent review of administrative arrangements in the Health and Ageing Portfolio, the Australian Government has established the HWF. This fund will bring together programs that support the delivery of a high quality, well distributed future health workforce. The fund will also enable emerging priorities within the health workforce to be supported through better targeting of existing investments. The HWF does not include support for the aged care workforce, as this is covered by the Aged Care Workforce Fund.

There are 26 programs that have been consolidated within the HWF (Attachment 1). These programs were implemented over time to address specific and diverse needs of the community. These activities, along with additional activities that are consistent with the objectives and priorities of the HWF, will be considered for future funding under the HWF arrangements. These programs can be further consolidated

There is a continued commitment within the fund to key priorities including programs that increase training opportunities, assist retention and provide support to doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. The total value of funds available under the HWF is $3.7 billion over the period 2011-12 to 2014-15.

BENEFITS OF PROGRAM CONSOLIDATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FLEXIBLE FUNDS

The process of program consolidation and establishment of flexible funds is designed to achieve the following benefits:

• Reduced red tape. Under the new arrangements, funding recipients will benefit from a significantly streamlined set of arrangements. In many cases the number of funding agreements will be reduced over time to just one, meaning fewer contact points within the Department and a resultant reduction of administration and reporting burden.
• Increased flexibility to respond to emerging issues and anticipate change. A key outcome from the establishment or expansion of the funds is the increased flexibility to respond to emerging health and ageing priorities.
• Better value for money, quality and evidence based funding. Grant funding is an important mechanism used by Government to support activities across a large range of priority areas, with the ultimate goal of delivery better health and ageing information and outcomes for the community. Bring together small programs to create a number of larger funding pools will increase the number of applicants seeking funding from the one source, improving the quality of applications and consistency of merit between funded projects.

Under the new arrangements, fund guidelines and the approach to fund management will emphasis the need for high quality evidence based submissions, demonstrating relevance to contemporary health challenges and identified priorities, as well as with a focus on value for money.

FUND OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES

The HWF is designed to ensure that Australians have access to an improved health workforce through education, training, recruitment and distribution programs for the medical workforce, the nursing workforce and for allied health professions.

Broadly, the Fund’s primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of the health workforce to deliver high quality care by targeting the following priority areas:

• Increase the supply of workers in all health professions - and take into account the changing demographics of the Australian population, and to facilitate a more even distribution of workforce in terms of geography and of the types of services provided;
• Ensure a capable and qualified workforce - through registration, accreditation, training and development;

• Support the Indigenous health workforce – throughactivities that promote an increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and increase the capacity of the broader health workforce to address the needs of Indigenous people.
• Address health workforce shortages in regional, rural and remote Australia –through, for example, rural workforce programs and better targeting of workforce incentives.

Fund priorities may be adjusted from time to time to take into account evidence about the effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of fund activities, as well as emerging health workforce challenges.

ACTIVITIES THAT REMAIN IN AND OUT OF SCOPE

The Fund consolidates activities from a number of existing programs, and will provide a flexible funding pool for services that make best use of the skills and capacity of the available health workforce, address health workforce shortages and maintain appropriate standards for health practitioners.

The HWF does not include support for the aged care workforce, as this is covered by the Aged Care Workforce Fund.

EXTENSION TO EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS

Funding arrangements under the HWF will take a number of different forms. A number of programs that have been consolidated into the fund will continue to operate with the same arrangements as they have previously. Some contractual arrangements have been extended to 30 June 2012, while others are already in place and continue beyond 1 July 2012.

ACCESS TO THE FUND

Access to funding from the HWF will be available via a variety of means. Given the nature of the HWF and its priorities, a significant proportion of available funding is expected to be allocated as targeted incentives to individuals (eg: through training places and scholarship programs). However, the Department may, on occasion and as appropriate, undertake the following to achieve the aims, objectives and priorities for the fund:

Open Grant Rounds

Competitive funding rounds which open and close to applications on nominated dates, with eligible applications being assessed against the selection criteria set down for the initiative and then prioritised against competing, eligible applications for the available funding may be undertaken to achieve the Fund Aims Objectives and Priorities.

Targeted Grant Rounds

Funding may also be made available through targeted or restricted competitive funding rounds from time to time to meet the aims, objectives and priorities for the Fund. These grant rounds will be open to a small number of potential funding recipients based on the specialised requirements of the initiative or project under consideration.

Entitlement arrangements/ demand driven programs

Funds appropriated for the purpose of the Health Workforce Fund may also be used for entitlement and demand driven programs, e.g. the Practice Nurse Incentive Program and the HECS Reimbursement Scheme. The application process and detailed selection criteria for each individual entitlement and demand driven program is detailed in program guidelines available on the Department of Human Services website.

Procurements

Funds appropriated for the purpose of the Health Workforce Fund may also be used for the procurement of work directly related to the purpose of the Fund e.g. Program Evaluation. Such procurements will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines and will be for purposes that are consistent with the aims, objectives and priorities of the Fund.

One off/ unsolicited activities

One off/unsolicited activities may be funded outside of grant rounds on the provision that the activity meets the aims, objectives and priorities of the HWF.

PROGRAM UNDERSPENDS

Funding allocations will be monitored throughout the year with potential underspends identified. Applications identified as being able to meet Fund aims and objectives, and not receiving funding through an open or targeted grants round will be prioritised and shortlisted for consideration should such underspends be identified.

Under expenditure may also be used to fund unsolicited proposals or one-off grants where such proposals will meet the Aims, Objectives and Priorities for the Fund.

PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT

Successful applicants funded under the Fund will be required to enter into a funding agreement or alternative contractual arrangement with the Commonwealth (represented by the Department or the Department of Human Services (Medicare) for entitlement type programs).

A copy of the proposed contractual arrangement will form part of any material that forms the basis of a grant or procurement process under the HWF.

Attachment 1

Activities to be supported under the Health Workforce Fund include those currently supported under:
Radiation Oncology Specialist - Strengthening Cancer Care program - Training and development programs
General Practice Training - Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program
HECS Reimbursement Scheme
Telehealth - Training of Health Professionals
COAG Health Workforce GP Training Places - Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program
- Consolidation of Specialist Training Simplifying Australian Government Support for Medical Specialist Education and Training
- Educational Support projects
- Diagnostic Imaging: Enhancing Rural and Remote Workforce Scheme
International Recruitment Strategy (IRS) - Overseas Trained Doctors Additional Assistance Scheme
Health Workforce Innovation and Reform
Supporting Emergency Medicine Workforce
Practice Nurse Incentive Program
Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme and Maternity Services Review - GP Scholarships Program
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Services – Puggy Hunter Scholarship Scheme
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Service:
- supporting Indigenous doctors, nursing and other health professional bodies
- provision of education, training and mentoring of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Services - Dental Health Training
Rural and Remote General Practice Program
National Rural and Remote Health Workforce Program
- Bush Services Support program
Rural Health Workforce Strategy - Scaling Rural Workforce Communications
- Rural Health Champions Program
- development and dissemination of information and publications
- video productions aimed at attracting GPs to practise in rural areas
Rural Locum Education Assistance Program
Supporting Rural Health - Specialist Obstetrician Locum Scheme
Nursing Rural Locum Scheme
Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme
Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) Program
Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship (RAMUS) Scheme
Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship (MRBS) Scheme
Rural Health Continuing Education Sub-Program (RHCE)
Rural Procedural Grants Program

Attachment 2a

How to provide input or comment

You are invited to provide written comment on the HWF discussion paper, particularly on proposed objectives and fund priorities. Comments can be emailed to the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) at by COB31OCTOBER 2011.

Please provide your comments in the template provided at the end of this document (Attachment2b).

Confidentiality of submissions

Submissions will be made available on the departmental website. If you wish your submission (or part of it) to be treated as confidential, please advise us. Note that general disclaimers in covering emails will not be interpreted as specific requests for submissions to be treated confidentially. The Department will, however, use its best endeavours to ensure that any information identified as sensitive is treated in-confidence.

Address for submissions

Submissions should be emailed to: .

Questions relating to submissions

Any questions relating to submissions should be directed to the following email address: .

Attachment 2b

HEALTH WORKFORCE FUND

Comments on the Discussion Paper

1. Stakeholder details

Name of Organisation
Postal Address
Contact details: phone, fax and e-mail
Legal Status (eg. incorporated, non-profit)
Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN)
Key Contact person and contact details

2. Comments

Subject / Your comments (including alternative suggestions and justification)
a) Proposed objective of the Fund
b) Proposed Fund priorities (including your comments about priorities that can be considered in future funding rounds)
c) General comments on the discussion paper for example any perceived omissions or anomalies and suggested alternative approaches
d) Form/design of funding and agreements
What length of funding agreements would best suit your organisation (eg one year, three years etc), noting that the length of agreements would have a necessary impact on the frequency of invitations to apply? For longer-term agreements, what kind of deliverable monitoring mechanisms work well for your organisation (eg long-term deliverables fixed on contract execution; or detailed workplans reviewed and agreed annually within the contract period)?
e) Capacity to participate in competitive funding applications
Has your organisation previously applied for contestable funding from Government? Would your organisation need special assistance or guidance to apply for funding? If so, what kind of assistance?
f) Information channels and representation/advocacy
What is the best way for the Department to contact you about future developments in the Department’s Flexible Funds (eg Health website, email, post)? Are you represented by a peak organisation or other representative body? If so, which? Would you prefer your application to be consolidated as part of a broader package prepared by an advocacy body?
Other relevant information (for example any economic or research based evidence supporting the key points discussed in the paper or in your comments)