Department of Health and AgeingInvitation to Apply for Funding

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SUICIDE

(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component)

2012-13 – 2014-15

Instructions for submitting Applications for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component of the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative

  • Applicationsclose at 2pmCanberra Time on 21 December2012.(Closing Time)
  • Please submit your Applicationby courier or hand delivery to:

Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component, Funding Round

Department of Health and Ageing

Tender Box

SiriusBuilding,

Foyer, Ground Floor,

23 Furzer Street

WODEN ACT 2606

NOTE: The Tender Box is accessible for deliveries between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted). Do not hand deliver to the security guard, Applications MUST be lodged in the tender box by the Applicant or authorised representative.

  • You must provide two(2) unbound (i.e. unstapled) copies (Word format, single sided) of your ApplicationAND an electronic copy (on a CDROM that is Microsoft Word 2003 compatible).

Late Applications

The Department will only accept your Application if it is late as a direct result of mishandling by the Department. In all other circumstances, in the interests of fairness, the Department reserves the right not to accept late Applications. In considering whether it would be fair to accept a late Application, the Department will take into account the degree of lateness, whether the cause of the lateness was beyond the Applicant's control and such other facts as it considers relevant. The Department may also ask the Applicant to provide evidence to support its claims regarding the reasons for late submittal. If the Applicant considers that their Application will be late they should notify the Contact officer prior to the Closing Time advising of the circumstances for the lateness. The chair of the assessment committee will take the reasons into consideration when deciding whether or not to accept the late Application.

Contact Officer

  • All enquiries relating to this Invitation to Apply for Fundingunder the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component of the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative should be directed in writing to the Contact Officer: Stan Piperoglou, .

STRUCTURE OF THISINVITATION TO APPLY

PART AgENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

PARTBASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

PARTCHOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

PARTDAPPLICATION FORM

SECTION 1: MANDATORY AND THRESHOLD CRITERIA

SECTION 2: APPLICANT DETAILS

SECTION 3: FUNDING REQUEST

SECTION 4: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SECTION 5: DECLARATION

PARTEFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ATTACHMENT A – SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SUICIDE (ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT iSLANDER COMPONENT)GUIDELINES

ATTACHMENT B - FUNDING AGREEMENT (tEMPLATE)

PARTA - GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

1Background

1.1The MentalHealth: Taking Action to Tackle Suicide(TATS) package forms part of the Australian Government’s commitment to mental health reform. The package comprises four streams of activity to provide more services on the ground to those at risk of suicide:

  1. Boosting frontline services to those at risk;
  2. Taking action to prevent suicide and boost crisis intervention services;
  3. Providing more services and support for men; and
  4. Promoting good mental health for young people.

1.2Under the TATS package the Australian Government has committed $30.2 million funding over four years commencing 2011-12 for the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative to support community-led suicide prevention activities – targeted at groups and communities which are at high risk of suicide, including Indigenous people, men, gay, lesbian and bisexual people, and families and colleagues recently bereaved by suicide.

1.3Under the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative, $6 million has been quarantined for activity that is specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities who are at risk of suicide.

1.4On 10 September 2011, Ministers Butler, Macklin and Snowdon announced the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (Advisory Group). The Advisory Group has developed and endorsed a set of principles which will provide strategic guidance on priorities for the investment of funding under this initiative to ensure an appropriate and targeted response for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities. A copy of the Key Principles can be found on the LIFE website at

1.5The first tranche of funding of $1.5 million for the 2011-12 financial year under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component of this initiative has been committed.

1.6$4.5 million is available for 2012-13 to 2014-15 ($1.5 million per year) for this Invitation to Apply through an open, competitive process.

2Policy Context

2.1The purpose of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component of the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative is to reduce the risk of suicide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities.

3Funding Objectives

3.1Consistent with the principles developed and endorsed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, funding is being provided to support activities which aim to:

3.1.1Reduce the risk of suicide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities;

3.1.2Empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities through community-led suicide prevention activities; and

3.1.3Provide a sustainable approach to suicide prevention activity capable of being implemented across a variety of situations and geographical settings.

4What Will Be Funded?

4.1Applications that demonstrate the following will be considered as being eligible for funding under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander component of the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide initiative:

4.1.1Applications within the funding cap for individual projects of $300,000 per year.

4.1.2Applications for projects must operate for the full term of the initiative from 2012-13 and be completed by 30 June 2015.

4.1.3Projects must demonstrate an approach capable of being implemented across a variety of situations and geographical settings.

4.1.4Consistent with the principles developed by the Advisory Group projects should:

-be grounded in community, owned by the community, based on community needs and accountable to the community;

-be based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander definitions of health incorporating spirituality, culture and healing;

-be sustainable both in terms of building community capacity and in terms of not being “one-off’; they must endure until the community is empowered;

-work in genuine partnerships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and other providers to support and enhance existing local measures not duplicate or compete with them. Funding applications need to demonstrate a record of genuine community and stakeholder/provider consultations and a track record of community empowerment;

-be delivered in a safe manner;

-be built on learning’s, try new and innovative approaches, share learning’s, and improve the evidence base; and

-share learning’s and these should be promoted in other communities.

5What Will Not Be Funded?

5.1The types of activities which will not be funded include:

  • activities which duplicate existing resources;
  • activities that only assist an individual without having any impact on the wider community;
  • activities that are only capable of being implemented in one situation or geographical area;
  • capital works or infrastructure projects;
  • retrospective items or activities; or
  • activities undertaken by political organisations.

6Who Can Apply for the Funding?

6.1Applicants are not required to have had a prior funding relationship with the Department, but must be a legal entity to be eligible for funding. Organisations eligible for funding are specified at Section 2.1 of the Guidelines at Attachment A.

6.2The Department encourages organisations to form collaborations, consortia or partnerships to deliver projects. If more than one organisation will be involved in the project, identify one organisation as the lead organisation and an authorised representative of the lead organisation must sign the Application Form.

7When will Funding be made Available?

7.1It is anticipated that funding will be distributed to the successful Applicants commencing March 2013. The Department anticipates that the first payment of funding to the successful Applicants will occur from March2013.

8Timeframes

8.1The Department anticipates that successful funding applicants will be selected by March2013. The Department will contact the successful applicants after they have been selected to discuss the preparation of the Funding Agreement (see clause9 below).

8.2The Department may not notify unsuccessful applicants until it has executed Funding Agreements with the successful applicants.

8.3It is anticipated that the funding period will commence March2013, and will end

30 June 2015. Funds must be expended by the end of the funding period.

9Funding Agreement

9.1The successful Applicants will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement or Deed for Multi Project Funding with the Commonwealth, represented by the Departmentbefore receiving any funding.

9.2The Funding Agreement or Deed for Multi Project Funding will provide a detailed description of the activities to be provided in the project, based on the Application. The funding will be paid in instalments throughout the project. The payment of funding is generally based on the funding recipient’s achievement of outcomes and provision of deliverables (such as progress reports) and the demonstration of need for the instalment.

9.3Applicants should note that, if they are successful, some details of their project (including a project outline, their name and the amount of funding awarded) will be posted on the Department's website as part of Department’s legislative reporting obligations.

9.4The Funding Agreement at Attachment B or a new schedule to an existing Deed for Multi Project Funding will form the basis of the Department’s offer to successful applicants.

9.5Applicants should note that the Department is currently developing a Standard Funding Agreement for use across all programs and this may be the agreement offered to successful applicants. This new Agreement will not contain Terms and Conditions that substantially differ from the agreement at Attachment B and will not impact on the activities, timeframe or level of funding approved.

10Insurance

10.1All Applicants should ensure that they have in place, or if successful are able to obtain, sufficient insurance to comply with the requirements for insurance specified below.

  • Workers Compensation to an amount required by law,
  • $20 million Public Liability, and
  • $1 million Professional Indemnity.
  • A Funding Agreement with a short listed Applicant will not be executeduntil the required insurances have been obtained and copies of Certificates of Currency for the required insurances provided to the Department.

PARTB - ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

1How Will the Applications for Funding Be Assessed?

1.1AnAssessment Committee will be established by the Department to assess Applications against the assessment criteria and select the successful Applicants. The Assessment Committee will consist of officers from the Department and if possible one member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Groupto provide technical input to inform the assessment process.

1.2Part D, Section 1 of the Application Form specifies the Mandatory Criteria each applicant must satisfy in order to be considered for funding. The Assessment Committee will consider whether these mandatory and threshold requirements are all satisfied by the applicant. Only applications that satisfy all Mandatory Criteria will be considered further by the Assessment Committee.

1.3Only those applications which successfully met all Mandatory Criteria will be assessed by the Assessment Committee against the criteria in Part D, Section 3 ‘Funding Request’.

1.4Decision Maker: For the purposes of this funding round,Assistant Secretary Mental Health Early Intervention and Prevention Branch will be the decision maker.

2Assessment Criteria

2.1When assessing the Applications for funding, the Assessment Committee will use the assessment criteria in Part D, Section 3 ‘Funding Request’.

2.2While not in a particular order, each criterion will be weighted equally.

2.3All Applications will be assessed to ensure that they deliver value for money.

2.4The information from the assessment against the criteria will be used to identify those applications that will best meet the policy priorities as detailed in the Guidelines.

2.5In assessing an Application against the assessment criteria, the Assessment Committeemay consider the Applicant's financial viability and the risk of the Application.

2.6In assessing an Application the Assessment Committee may use material included in response to one assessment criterion in the assessment of other criteria.

2.7The Assessment Committee may also seek information about any Applicant from any other source, including from within the Commonwealth, whether or not the individuals or organisations contacted are nominated as referees by the Applicant.

2.8The Department may also consider information about the Applicant that is made available through the normal course of business of the Department.

2.9If the assessment process identifies unintentional errors of form in an Application, the Applicant may be contacted to correct or clarify the errors, but they will not be permitted to make any material alteration or addition. Unintentional errors of form may apply to mandatory and threshold criteria.

PARTC - HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

1Complete the Application Form

1.1You must submit your Application for funding in the ApplicationForm in PartD.

1.2The Declaration in the Application Form must be signed by a person authorised to act on behalf of the Applicant.

1.3The Application Form must be completed in English.

1.4If you are from a non-government or private sector organisation, you must include in your Application:

1.4.1one (1) copy of the organisation's Certificate of Incorporation; and

1.4.2one (1) copy of the organisation's previous financial year's audited financial statements (preferably audited). The Department may ask for further information about the Applicant's financial viability.

Applications from Consortia

1.5If you submit a joint Application for funding, or a consortia/collaboration, your Application must include a letter of support from each additional organisation (apart from the lead Applicant) which will be involved in the project. Each letter of support must include:

1.5.1an overview of how the organisation will work with the lead organisation and any other organisation(s) to support the successful completion of the project and confirmation of agreement to lead;

1.5.2an outline of the relevant experience and/or expertise the organisation will bring to the project team.

1.5.3the roles/responsibilities the organisation will undertake, and the resources it will contribute (if any);

1.5.4details of a nominated management level contact officer;and

1.5.5details of the lead organisation.

2Complete the Application Checklist

2.1Before you submit your Application, complete the following checklist to ensure that your Application is complete.

Before You Begin

[ ]Read this Invitation to Apply for Funding (including Part E “Frequently Asked Questions”)

[ ]Ensure that you understand the mandatory and threshold criteria set out in Part D, Section 1 and the assessment criteria set out in Part D, Section 3 “Funding Request”.

[ ]When you submit an Application, confirm that, if your Application is successful, you will accept the terms of the Funding Agreement or specify in the application any areas where compliance is not agreed and the reasons why (see Part D Section 4 “Acknowledgements”). The consequences of any inability to comply will be considered as part of the assessment process.

[ ]Where an Applicant does have a Funding Agreement in place with the Commonwealth represented by the Department of Health and Ageing, details must be included in the Application under Section 2.

Completing Your Application

[ ]Use the template Application Form in PartD and complete every Section.

[ ]Complete the Application Form in English.

[ ]Indicate that the Applicant makes the acknowledgements in Part D, Section4 of the Application Form“Acknowledgements” by selecting 'YES'.

[ ]Complete and sign the Declaration in Part D, Section5of the Application Form (Note: The Declaration must be signed by an authorised officer of the Applicant).

Submitting Your Application

[ ]Check that you have completed each Section of the Application Form.

For non-government Applicants:

[ ]Attach to the Application one (1) copy of the Applicant's Certificate of Incorporation.

[ ]Attach to the Application one (1) copy of the Applicant's previous financial year's financial statements (preferably audted).

For Applicants submitting a joint/ConsortiaApplication:

[ ]Ensure that the nominated lead organisation (the Applicant) is a legal entity capable of entering into a Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth.

[ ]Attach to the Application a letter of support from each of the joint/ConsortiaApplicantorganisations. Ensure that each letter of support includes the information required by Clause1.5 of this PartC.

3Submit Your Application

3.1You must submit your Application for funding in accordance with the submission details and methods on the cover page of the Invitation to Apply for Funding.

3.2You are responsible for ensuring that your Application is completed accurately.

3.3You may not alter the substance of your Application following its submission. If you discover an error in your Application you should inform the Department immediately in writing by email to [email address]. The Department may seek information from you to clarify any aspect of your Application, but it is not required to do so.

4Retain a Copy of Your Application

4.1It is recommended that youretain a copy of your Application for your records.

5Taxation Implications

5.1Applicants are responsible for ensuring they comply with the appropriate taxation legislative requirements.

5.2For general guidance on the taxation treatment of grants and funding from the Commonwealth, Applicants may wish to refer to the Australian Tax Office website at However, Applicants are advised to seek independent advice from a taxation professional on how funding paid to you (or to any entity you propose to establish to receive funding) under the Program would be treated for tax purposes.

6Complaints Handling Process

6.1Written complaints should be emailed to . The investigation will be managed by the division responsible for managing the grants process and the investigating officer will be senior to the person responsible for managing the process.

6.2The Investigating officer will:

  • Acknowledge the complaint within 10 working days of receipt, and indicating the expected timeframe for a formal response;
  • Ensure all correspondence on the complaint is recorded and filed appropriately;
  • Investigate the complaint;
  • Prepare a report; and
  • Advise the complainant in writing of the outcome.
  • The response to the complainant will be in writing and will outline the issue that has been raised, what action has been taken to examine the issue and an assessment of the complaint.
  • If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome, they may seek an independent internal review.

7Independent Internal Review