In October 2018, the way in which the Department of Health and Human Services provides funding for children, youth and families changed.
These changes are a part of broader reforms underway to redesign child, youth and family services to:
- enable a more seamless and continuous service system
- enable wrap-around support for clients
- set up the system to use evidence-based practices and programs and outcomes-focused performance management.
The department, in consultation with the sector, designed a new funding model to support integration across services. The new funding model allows providers to more flexibly use funding to wrap services around children and families.
In October 2018, family services programs were moved to the new funding model. From November 2019, Better Futures and Homestretch funding has also been translated into the new funding model.
The department is working with providers to support transition to the new funding model.
Further information
A range of tools have been developed to assist organisations in relation to funding reform. For more information, see the following resources:
Better Futures
- Providers guide for Better Futures funding reform (Word)
- Better Futures - activities and sub activities (Word)
Family Services
- Child and family services funding reform summary, October 2018
- Child and family services new funding model - Guide for service providers, October 2018
- Child and family services new funding model - Mapping from old to new activities, October 2018.