Good Practice Guidelines for Funding Non-Government Organisations

GoodPractice Guidelines for Funding

Non-Government Organisations

INTRODUCTION

TheNorthernTerritoryGovernmentiscommittedtobuildingastrongsocietyanda confidentculturethroughFramingtheFuture.TheNTGovernmentandthe non-governmentorganisation(NGO)sector,shareavisionofasocietywhere everyonehasthesameaccesstoopportunitiesandtheresourcestomakea contributionto,andfullyparticipateintheeconomyandsociety.

AlargenumberofNGOsreceiveNTGovernmentfundingtoprovideadiverserange ofservicesandinitiativeswhichsupportindividualsandthedevelopmentofstronger communities. Inthis context, aserviceprovider includesanyNGO whichis fundedby theNTGovernmenttoprovideanyservicetothecommunity,includingpeak organisationsorfor-profit organisations.

Theintegrityoffundingpracticesisessentialtothemaintenanceoftrustbetween governmentagenciesandserviceproviders.ThepurposeoftheNTGovernment GoodPracticeGuidelinesforFundingNon-GovernmentOrganisations(the Guidelines)istosetthecontextfortheprovisionoffundingtoserviceprovidersand establishfundamentalprinciplesandgoodpracticeguidelinesthatcanbeappliedto fundingpracticesacrossallNTGovernmentagencieswhichmeettheneedsofboth theNTGovernment andserviceproviders.

TheGuidelinesaimtoencourageamoreproductiveworkingrelationshipbetween theNTGovernment andNGO sectorby:

•guiding interactionsbetweenthe NT Government andserviceproviders

•providingclearandconsistentfundingpracticeswithinagenciesandacross government

•minimisingunnecessaryadministrativeprocesses.

TheGuidelinesincludethefullcycleofNTGovernmentfundingfromprogram planning,throughfundingagreementstoprogrammonitoringandevaluation. However,theGuidelinesdonotcoverwhatisfundedorwhoshouldbefunded.This is managedbyindividualgovernmentagencies.

1NT GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVEAND POLICYCONTEXT

NTGovernmentGoodPracticeGuidelines forFundingCommunityServicesfitwithin anexisting regulatoryandpolicyframework.

1.1NT Government Funding

Fundingistheprocess ofidentifyingasuitableproviderforaspecific,definedservice andenteringintoanagreementbetweentheNTGovernmentandproviderforthe provisionofthat service.

WhiletheNTGovernmentisfocusedonimprovementinsocialoutcomesand increasedefficiencyoffundedservices,itrecognisesthatthefundingofcommunity servicesisfundamentallydifferenttothegeneralprocurementofgoodsandservices andrequiresadegreeofflexibility.However,theNTGovernmentalsoneedstobe assuredthatpublic fundsachievevalueformoney,represents anaccountableuseof publicmoneyandthatthebestresultsforindividualsandcommunitiesremains theultimate goaloffundingarrangements.

TheNTGovernmentusestwomainprocedurestoensurethatthemostappropriate serviceproviderisselectedtodelivertheservicesrequired.Thedifferencedepends onwhethertheservicesaretobeprovidedtotheNTGovernment astheenduser, in whichcaseaprocurement(tender)procedureisused.Iftheserviceisprovidedto thecommunityandthecommunityaretheendusers,thenafundingagreement (grants procedure) canbeused.Grantfundingandprocurementoperateunder different rulesandtheappropriateprocessesshouldbeappliedinbothcases.

Procurement Process

TheNTGovernment’sProcurementFrameworkisprescriptiveandunderpinsall procurementactivityundertakenbytheNTGovernmentthroughatender(and quotes)process.Itensuresthatallprocurementachievesbestvalueformoneyin supportinggovernmentservices. TheFramework comprises:

•theProcurement Act

•ProcurementRegulations

•ProcurementDirections

•theNorthern Territory ProcurementCode

•ProcurementCirculars.

TheProcurementActandRegulationsestablishthelegislativepowersand responsibilitiesoftheMinisterresponsibleforProcurement,NorthernTerritory Governmentagencies,ChiefExecutiveOfficersandemployees.TheProcurement Directionsaretheguidancetoagenciesonprocurementingovernment;theyare subordinatetotheProcurement Act andProcurement Regulations.

TheProcurementCodeestablishesasetofminimumstandardsfortheconductof businesswiththegovernment;compliancewiththiscodeisaconditionoftendering foranyofgovernment’scontracts.Therearealsofiveprinciplesunderpinningthe Government’s Procurement Framework. Theseare:

•best valueformoney

•openandeffectivecompetition

•enhancingthecapabilities oflocal business andindustry

•environmental protection

•ethicalbehaviourandfairdealing.

Grant FundingArrangement

TheprovisionofgrantsmustbeinaccordancewiththeNTGovernmentfinancial managementframeworkwhichincludestheFinancialManagementAct,Financial ManagementPrincipalsandTreasurer’sDirections,inthatappropriatemanagement, accountabilityandcontrolarrangementsareinplaceovertheassessmentof applications,approval,payment,ongoingmonitoringandacquittalofgrants. Generally, the NT Governmentprovides twotypes ofgrants:

•grantsforexternalserviceprovision.Agrantfundingagreementmakesexplicit links betweenthefundingandtheoutcomes oroutputs required.

•communitygrantswhichareusuallyprovidedannuallyunderspecificprograms andfordiscretetargetgroups.Thesegrantsareone-offandusuallyprovided forequipment,anactivityorevent.Theprocessesandeligibilityforthese grants areclearlystatedaspart of theprogram.

TheGuidelinescoverthefundingarrangementsforgrantsforexternalservice provision.However,someofthegoodpracticeprinciples,suchasmonitoringand reportingarealsoequallyapplicabletocommunity grant programs.

1.2Northern TerritoryGovernmentand NGO Sector Statement ofPrinciples

TheNTGovernmentandNGOSectorStatementofPrincipleswasdevelopedbythe NTGovernment/NGOPartnershipGroupwhichwasformedtoprovideleadership andfacilitatetherelationshipbetweentheNTGovernmentandtheNGOCommunity ServicesSector.TheStatementofPrinciplessetsouthowtheNTGovernmentand theNGOCommunityServicesSectorwillworktogetherinordertoprovidequality andappropriateservicesforTerritorians(AppendixA).

1.3NT Government Departmental PolicyandGuidelines

AnumberofNTGovernmentagencieshavetheirownspecificgrantsmanagement policiesandprogramguidelines, whichshouldbeinformedby theseguidelines. They include:theGrantsManagementPolicy(DepartmentofHealth),theGrants ManagementFramework(DepartmentofCorrectionalServices),theGrants ManagementPolicy(DepartmentofHousing)and the PeakSportingBody Investment ProgramGuidelines (Department ofSport andRecreation).

2PROGRAMPLANNING

Priortofundinganyservices,theNTGovernmentmustidentifytheissueandthe desiredoutcome.Relevantstakeholdersshouldbeconsultedontheneedsforthe relevantservicewithinthecommunity,aswellasthetypeandmixofpossible responses.Itisimportanttorecognisethevalueofsharingknowledge,information andexpertiseinplanninganddevelopingservices.

Agoodservicedesignisclearlydefined,realistic,canbedelivered,isinformedby goodpracticeandwherepossibledrawsonevidencefromexistingorpast programs. Servicedesignshouldalsoconsiderhowtheoutcomesoftheprogramcanbestbe sustained.

Duringtheplanninganddesignphase,considerationshouldbegiventohowthe NGOsectorcanpartnermosteffectivelywiththeNTGovernmentandhowthe programcancontributetothe long-termcapabilityorcapacity oftheNGO sector.

NT Governmentwill:

•establishprograms withclearandnon-conflictingobjectiveswhicharebasedon evidenceof need

•developperformancemeasuresattheplanningphasetoprovideabasisfor reviewingandevaluatingtheprogram’s objectives andoutcomes

•usesoundevidenceforpolicyandprogramdevelopmentandservicedelivery.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•obtaintheviewsofserviceprovidersduringthedevelopmentofnewprograms orprojectsortherenewal andreshapingof existingones

•makeinformationavailableonagencyprioritiesandlong-termplansand provideanopportunity for feedback–thiswillusuallybeintheformofstrategic plansandframeworks.

3FUNDING PROCESS

3.1Contestability

Withinthegrantsprocedure,therearefourdifferentapproacheswhichrelatetothe degreeofcontestability–thatis,thedegreetowhichserviceprovidershaveaccess toapply for funding,andtheextenttowhichbarriersareremovedorreducedtotheir participation.Theseapproaches are:

1.Anopenprocess–afullycontestableprocesswhereanopportunityis advertisedandopentoanyprospectiveserviceprovidertorespondtospecified assessmentcriteria.Afullycontestableprocessensuresfairnessand transparencyandprotectsboththeNTGovernmentandtheprovideragainst claimsofpreferment.ItalsoprovidesanopportunityfortheNTGovernmentto ‘test themarket’.

2.Aselectprocess–apartiallycontestableprocesswherealimitednumberof prospectiveserviceprovidersareinvitedtosubmitaproposalinresponseto specifiedcriteria.Aselectprocessmaybeaone-stageprocessorthesecond stageinatwostageprocess(seebelow).Aselectprocesscanbeusedwhen theserviceisspecialisedorregulatedandtherearealimitednumberofknown providersortheNTGovernmentwishestosupplementarangeofexisting providers bysupportingparticularservice models.

3.Amulti-stage/ExpressionofInterest–apartiallycontestableprocesswhere interestedserviceprovidersdeclaretheirinterestinapossibleopportunity. Generally,thefirststageor expression of interest establishes the level of interest inaserviceandtheexperience, capacityand/orexpertiseof theservice providertoundertakespecifiedrequirements,beforeentering into a select process.Thisprocessisusefulifthepotentialmarketofserviceprovidersis unknown,amixofserviceprovidersisrequiredortheservicesrequiredarenot clearlydefinedandareseeking innovationinservicedelivery.

4.Directnegotiation–anapproachismadetoonepotentialserviceprovider.This maybeappropriatewhenrenewinganexistingserviceagreementif,for example,theserviceisinaremotelocationwithonlyoneserviceprovider,the serviceneedisimmediateandthereisnotimefornewstart-upoperations,itis knownandacceptedthatonlyoneproviderhastherelevantexpertise, experience, capacity orcontinuity ofserviceprovisionis required.

Thekeytoselectingthemostappropriatefundingprocessisbasedonthe characteristicsoftheservicetobeprovided,thetypeandleveloffundingavailable, thenatureoftherelevantmarket,andtheexpertiseandcommunity relationships/networks ofanyknownproviders.

Whenrenewingserviceagreementsbydirectnegotiationgovernmentneedsto ensuretheserviceismeetingservicedeliverystandardsandcontinuingtorepresent valueformoney.Thismustbebalancedagainstthepotentialfornewservice providerstoenterthemarket.Thisisparticularlyimportantwhencommunityneeds orgovernmentpriorities change.

Apartnershiparrangementorcollaborationbetweenserviceproviderscanoften maximisetheoutcomesfromaservicebytakingadvantageofcomplementaryskills, expertiseandexperience.Establishinganewpartnershiptakestimeandresources. Thisisparticularlythecasefordevelopmentofappropriatepartnershipsbetween non-IndigenousandIndigenousorganisationswhicharebasedonstrengthening Indigenous organisational capacityandcontrol.

NT Governmentwill:

•usethemostappropriatefundingprocess.

•useappropriateselectioncriteriaandcriteriaweighting.

•ensuretheselectioncriteriadonotcreateunintendedbarriersforparticular organisations,particularlysmallerorganisationswithlimited resources.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•provideadequatetimelinesforserviceproposalstobedeveloped,particularly whenpartnershiparrangements arebeingencouraged

•includeselectioncriteriawhichdemonstrateculturalappropriatenesssuchas that a service provider requires a Reconciliation Plan and/or AboriginalEmploymentStrategyand/oraparticularpercentageofAboriginal staff

•considerselectprocesseswheretherearestrongrelationshipsandnetworks alreadyexistingbetweenserviceproviders,particularlycommunitiesand/or Aboriginal organisations

•makeinformationontheopportunitytoapplyforfundingwidelyavailableand easytounderstand

•subjecteveryfundedservicetoacontestableprocessat least,everysix years.

3.2Assessment of proposals

Fundinganyservicethroughacontestableprocesswillrequireanassessmentofthe individualproposalsreceived.Agoodassessmentprocessistransparentandis likelytoselectthebestproposalthatbestrepresentsvalueformoneyinthecontext andoutcomesoftherequiredservice.Theprocessshouldalsobefreefromtherisk ofclaimsofbiasorconflicts ofinterest.Decisions mustalsobebasedonthe establishedcriteria.Governmentprocurementhaswelldefinedassessment processes;however,whilsttheassessmentprocessforgrantswillvary,the documentationshouldsatisfyaccountabilityrequirementsinrelationtothe distributionof publicfunds.

NT Governmentwill:

•assess proposals inatimelymanner

•providefeedbacktoapplicantsregardingtheprocessandthereasons for decisions.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•inviteNGOstobepartoftheassessmentprocess,whereconflictofinterest doesnotoccur.

3.3Negotiation

Throughthegrantsprocessthereareanumberofopportunitiesfornegotiation betweentheNTGovernmentandserviceproviders.Betteroutcomesareachieved followingcollaborationandnegotiation.Negotiationaddsvaluetofunding arrangementsbymakingthebestuseofaserviceprovider’sexpertiseand experience;allowsforflexibilityandinnovationandmoresuccessfulandsustainable servicedelivery.

NT Governmentwill:

•conduct negotiations ingoodfaithandinatimelymanner

•recognisetheindependenceandautonomyof theserviceprovider

•recognisetheexpertiseoftheserviceprovidertomanageitsaffairsconsistent withits constitutionandother legal obligations

•providekeypersonnel withtheauthorityandabilityto makedecisions inrelation totheagreement

•recogniseserviceprovidersasapotentialsourceofinnovationandideasthat couldbeusedtoenhanceprogrampriorities.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•allowareasonableandflexibletransitionperiodwhenmajorchanges aremade toafundedactivityalreadyunderway.

4FUNDINGAGREEMENTS

FundingagreementsarealegallybindingcontractbetweentheNTGovernment (usually representedby anindividualNTGovernment agency)andaserviceprovider orconsortiumofserviceproviders.

4.1Length of term

Thereareanumberofbenefits inprovidingserviceproviders withlonger term fundingincludingstabilityofserviceprovisionandbetteroutcomesforclientsand communities.Theserviceprovidercanengageinlongertermplanningand investmentleadingtostaffretention,developmentofexpertiseandqualityandoften, forGovernment,bettervalueformoney.Therewillalsobeareductioninredtapefor boththeNTGovernmentandtheserviceproviderandallowsforanimproved relationshipbetweenbothsectors.Incomparison,annualfundingmeansa considerablelevelofuncertaintyforfundingbodies,providersandclientsandcan createundesirablefinancial difficultiesfortheprovider.

Insomecircumstancesotherfundingperiodsmayapplysuchasspecificproject fundingprograms,time-limited,one-offgrantsortiedfundingfromthe CommonwealthGovernment.Fundingperiodsoflessthanthreeyearsshouldbe approvedbytheagencyChiefExecutiveOfficerorappropriatedelegate.

Theappropriatenessofserviceagreementslongerthanthreeyearsneedstobe assessedonacase-by-casebasis.

NT Governmentwill:

•providethreeyear fundingagreementsforrecurrent funding,wherefundinghas beenconfirmed.However,fundinginthesecondandthirdyearof an agreementwillstillbeconditionalupontheserviceprovidermeetingtheir requirementsforperformancemonitoringandaccountability.

4.2Indexation

Themajorproblemwithrenewablefunding is theerosionofits valueovertime, which has resultedinviability andservicedeliveryissuesfor manyservicesandprograms.

UniformapplicationofindexationwillensurethatallNGOs(withrecurrentfunding) willreceivethesameindexationlevel,regardlessofwhichagencyisfundingthem, reducing inequitiesacross programareas.

NT Governmentwill:

•applyindexationtoNTGovernmentfunding(consistentwiththeparameters appliedtoNTGovernmentagencygrantbudgets)toalleligiblerecurrentgrant fundingfromthesecondyearofcontinuedservicedelivery. NotingCommonwealth GovernmentgrantswhichareadministeredbytheNTGovernmentmaynot includeindexation

•factor indexationintomulti-yearfundingagreements.

4.3Equal RemunerationOrder

In2012FairWorkAustraliamadeanEqualRemunerationOrder(ERO)toincrease thewagesby23-45%(innineequalinstalmentsoveraneightyearperiod)tothose employedundertheModernAwardintheSocial and CommunityServices Sector.

Atthetime,budgetallocationwasprovidedtoNTGovernmentagenciesforaffected grantsthattheNTGovernmentwasfullyorpartiallyfundingatthetimeofthe submission. Thiswastomeettheadditionalcostofwagespaidby theNGOresulting fromthedecision, whichwerenotpart ofanoriginal grant agreement.

Sincethen,ifNGOshaveappliedfornewNTGovernmentgrants,theadditional ERO costs shouldbeincludedaspart ofthetotal wages budget intheapplication.

WhereNTGovernmentagencieshavenotincreasedtheamountoffundingtoan NGO,agenciesshouldnotexpectthesamelevelofserviceprovision,asthiswould ineffectequatetoareductioninfunding.Instead,NTGovernmentagenciesshould beengagingwithNGOstoidentifyactualcostsandalternativesolutionsornegotiate reducedserviceprovisionbytheNGO.

NT Governmentwill:

•passonfundingforaffectedgrantsfortheadditionalcostofwagespaidbyan NGO resultingfromtheERO decision

•ensurethatNGOsareawaretheyneedtofactorEROcostsintonewgrant agreements sotherearenosurprisesforeitherparty.

4.4Funding Cycle

Inviewofthetimethatmayberequiredtonegotiateasatisfactoryformof agreement,governmentdepartmentsneedtoinitiatenegotiationswellinadvanceof theexpirationofcurrentagreementstoavoidoneormoreagreementextensions pendingnegotiationofthenewagreement.However,itmustberecognisedthatthe NT Government does not have jurisdiction over funding decisions by the

CommonwealthGovernmentandpassing-onofCommonwealthgrantswillbeinline withCommonwealtharrangements regardingthefunding.

NT Governmentwill:

•completenegotiationsthree monthsprior tothe expiration ofexisting agreementswhereservicesaresolely fundedby theNTGovernmentorfunding fromothersources,includingtheCommonwealthGovernmenthasbeen confirmed.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•initiatenegotiationssixmonthsinadvanceoftheexpirationofexisting agreements

•alignfundingagreementswiththefinancialyear,unlessanalternative arrangementisnegotiated,particularlyfororganisationswhichoperateona calendaryear.

4.5Payment ofGoodsand ServicesTax (GST)

InlinewiththeAustralianTaxationOfficeRulingGSTR2012/2,GSTisnot automaticallyincludedinpaymentstoorganisationseventhoughtheyhaveanABN andareregisteredforGST

Dependingonthetypeofgrantfunding,GSTmayormaynotbeapplicableandwill beassessedonacasebycasebasis.

4.6Administration costs

Itislegitimateforaserviceprovidertoincludereasonableand relevant administrativecostsintheirbudgettoprovideaservice.Insufficientadministrative resourcestomanageserviceprovisionincreasetheriskthattheprogramwillnot meet its outcomes in an effective and timely manner. Conversely, the NTGovernmentisunlikelytoacceptaproposalwithexcessiveadministrativecosts whichreducefundsavailableforserviceprovision.

Thelevelofadministrativecostswillvaryfromservicetoservicethereforeitisnot appropriatefortheNTGovernmenttosetapercentagebenchmark.However,itis reasonablefortheNTGovernmenttoqueryhowtheadministrativecostshavebeen calculatedaspart of anynegotiation.

5MONITORINGAND REPORTING

Monitoringandreportingispartofthewholeprocessofserviceprovisionandis generallystipulatedaspartofanyprocurementprocessorfundingagreement.The NTGovernmentneedstocollectinformationfrom serviceproviderstoestablish fundsarebeingspentcorrectly(financialreporting)andtoassesstheresultsor performanceof theserviceagainst theplannedoutcomes (performancemonitoring).

Significantissuesconcerningreportingrequirementsincludetheinconsistencyof reportingrequirementsbetweendifferentprogramsandagencies,andthat unnecessaryreportingplacesanundueburdenonserviceproviders.

5.1Financial reporting

AllNTGovernmentfundingneedstobeproperlyaccountedforwithadequate safeguards inplacetoprevent misuse.

ItisreasonablefortheNTGovernmenttoexpectauditedfinancialreportsafterthe AnnualGeneralMeeting(AGM)ofaserviceprovider.Auditedreportsorother evidenceshouldaccountforthefundingprovidedataprogramlevel,ratherthana wholeoforganisationlevel, sothatfundingstreamsareidentifiable.

NT Governmentwill:

•alignthereportingrequirementstotheamountoffundingandthelevelofthe risk associatedwiththefundingagreement.Forexample,theneedforan auditedfinancial statement

•expectfundingstreamstobeidentifiableinaserviceprovider’sauditedreport forthefinancial year

•ensurereporting requirementsareexplicitlydefinedinserviceagreements

•acknowledgethereceiptofreportsandprovidetimelyfeedbacktothe organisationaboutthequalityandcontent ofthereporting

•encouragefinancialreportinginaccordancewiththeNationalStandardChartof Account datadefinitions fornotforprofitorganisations

•report all grantpayments annuallyineachagency’s Annual Report.

5.2Performancemonitoring

Informationshouldnotbeusedjusttoassesstheindividualserviceperformancebut wherepossible,designedtobeaggregatedtohelpidentifyneedandfeedbackinto theplanning/fundingcycle.Anapproachistodistinguishbetweenthedifferent purposesofdatacollection(forexampleresearch,planningorperformance monitoring)andconsiderthemosteffectiveandefficientwayofcollectingforeach purpose.

NT Governmentwill:

•explainandclearlyexpressdatacollectionand reporting information requirements

•ensureinformationgatheringandreportingrequirementsarewelltargeted, proportional totheintended useof theinformationandthe levelof funding

•ensuregoals,targets,andmilestonesarereasonableandagreedtobyall parties tothefundingagreement withintheconstraints ofthescopeofservice

•acknowledgethereceiptofreportsandprovidetimelyfeedbacktothe organisationaboutthequalityandcontent ofthereporting.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•focusonoutputsandoutcomes ratherthaninputandprocessmeasures

•analyseallreportedinformationwithina reasonable time and provide the analysisofinformationcollectedbacktothereportingorganisationinatimely manner

•movetostandarddatadefinitions,commonoutputspecificationsand performancemeasures forsimilarservices

•regularlyreviewtheeffectiveness of monitoringactivities

•definethepurposeof eachsubstantivepieceofinformationtobegatheredand reportedtoassist tounderstandprogramperformanceandinformperformance improvement.

6EVALUATION

Evaluationisareviewprocessofassessing,onthebasisofevidence,the achievementsofaprogramorservice.Italsoprovidesfeedbackandaguidefor futureplanninginrelationtotheprogramobjectivesandintendedoutcomes. Evaluationcanalsobuildknowledgeandorganisationallearning.Thekeydifference betweenmonitoringaprogramorserviceandevaluationisthatevaluationisabout placingavaluejudgementontheinformationgathered,includingthemonitoring data.

NT Governmentwill:

•usethegatheredinformationnotjusttoassessanindividualserviceproviders performancebut alsoto:

• assess theeffectiveness ofprograms and/orservice models

• aggregatetohelpidentifyneedandfeedbackintotheplanning/funding cycle

•reporttheoutcomes of anevaluationtotheappropriatestakeholders.

Where possible, NTGovernmentwill:

•providetheopportunityforpartiestoafundingagreementtosharelessons learnedandtoprovidefeedback afterthecompletionof anagreement

•build an evaluation framework into the planning and funding of services.

AppendixA

Northern TerritoryGovernmentNon-Government CommunityServices Sector

Statement ofPrinciples

TheNTGovernmentandtheNGOCommunityServicesSectorwillworktogether accordingtotheseprinciplesinordertoprovidequalityandculturallyappropriate services forTerritorians.

1.Achievingthebestoutcomes–theoverridinggoalofgovernmentpoliciesand programs,andtheprimeobjectiveofthoseorganisationsthatimplementthem,is toensurethatservicedeliverymaximisespublicvalueandimprovesthequality oflifeof,andempowers thepeopleandthecommunities whousethem.

2.Partnership–acultureofpartnershipisexpected,betweenandwithin,the NTGovernmentandtheNGOSector.Thecollaborativerelationshipsshouldbe foundedonappreciationoftheconstraintsunderwhichallorganisationsoperate andincludethefollowingvalues:

•Mutual respectand reciprocated trust

•Authenticconsultation and genuinecollaboration

•Recognition ofacommon purpose.

3.Accountability–publicaccountabilityshouldfocusonoutcomeperformance ratherthansimply complyingwithprocess,withanemphasisontheeffectiveuse offundingtoachieveagreedoutcomesandonmeasuringthelonger-termsocial impact ofprogramsandservices.Wherepossible,theburdenofreportingshould beminimisedandstreamlined.

4.Providerdiversity–thediversityofcommunityserviceorganisationsis recognisedasastrengthwiththerangeofprovidersdeliveringagreaterchoice ofprogramseitherindividuallyorinpartnershiptorespondtotheneedsofthe communityindifferentways.

5.Programandservicedesign – policy, program development and service deliveryshouldwork progressivelytowards thefollowing:

•Aholisticapproach–theelementsofmultipledisadvantagearecomplex andsothesupportservicesprovidedshouldbe‘joined-up’and ‘wrapped-around’the individual orfamilyinneed.

•Programflexibility–servicesshould be evidence-based, culturally appropriateandresponsivetothedistinctiveneedsoftheindividual, community grouporregion and tailored to the particular circumstances. Whereevidenceisunavailable,servicesshouldbebasedonarisk assessmentbusinesscasethatallows andencourages innovation.

•Citizenresponsibility–individuals,familiesandcommunitieswhorequire supportshouldbeencouragedandempoweredtotakegreatercontroland responsibility oftheservices theyrequiretoliveafull andindependent life.

•Primarypreventionandearlyintervention–theimmediateneedfor expenditureontertiaryservicesmustbeacknowledged;however,there shouldbealsobeafocusoninvestmentinprimarypreventionandearly intervention.

•Sharedgovernanceandservicedesign–allprovidersofpublicly-funded services(whetherpublicserviceagencies,not-for-profitorganisations,social enterprisesorprivatebusinesses)shouldberegardedas‘co-producers’of governmentservices,jointlycontributingtoservicedesignandsharing responsibilityforprogramdelivery.

•Long-term outcomes–services shouldfocus onthelong-termbenefitsfor theindividual, communitygroupor region