Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, , 11:32:36 to 11:37:37
Senator Ruston inquires about the transition to the new Children and Family Support Program, including the $1.8 billion funding allocation, grant application timelines, and the recommissioning process for service providers.
Topics: Social services, Government spending, Grants administration
Speakers: Jacqueline Hrast, Hon Anne Ruston, Ellie Whiteaker, Unknown Speaker, Sue-Anne Hunter
Thank you.
I'm gonna pass the call to Senator Ruston to finish us off.
Okay. Um thank you very much. I just had some quick questions on the children and family support program. Thanks. Um I correct in that this program is replacing the children and parenting support program, the family mental health support services program, communities for children facilities partners, family and relationship services and specialised family violence services. So how much um was previously provided to these programs?
Uh sorry, Senator Say my name, Jacqueline Rast, um group manager family well-being. So previously the appropriation across those five programs was 332.8 million, about about that. Um and the government made a decision at budget to uh increase that amount. So we are now um investing three hundred and seventy-one million dollars per year ongoing from twenty-seven twenty-eight. So that takes us to a value of about one point eight billion over five years.
Okay, so that's where the one point eight comes is. That's right. Yep, I can't.
But that one point eight um also includes so that uplift of general. Um and then we also have additional thirty-nine point two million dollars, um, which is for three years to support transition uh to the new arrangements and also to support transition to abstract or community controlled organizations.
Okay, thanks. Um so when does the funding cease for these programs?
Uh the ones the ones that are currently on foot, the five programs. Yeah, contracts conclude 30 June 2027.
So it's 27 transfer, yep. Okay, no worries. Um so in terms of the the transitioning to this program.
Yes.
Is there a list of organisations under each program? Um for the current arrangements?
Yes.
Um is that available?
Yes, we it would it's on DSS um service directory, but we could also provide that to you, Senator.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah.
Um even if you just sent the I'm I'm sure if it's there we can find it. So um so am I right um that that grants have opened or the grant processes opened?
Yes, it closes tomorrow.
Oh, oh well. Um what's the time frame for making a decision on those applications?
Um well, Senator, we we hope to um have that decision as quickly as we can, but I think the important part to say is this is a recommissioning process, not um an open free for free-for-all competitive tender. So organizations have been invited to um in their application talk about how their new activities uh or existing activities align with the new program. So essentially um we're not looking for huge market disruption here. So uh while we will enter into contracts early in the new year, um people are not uh looking at sh shredding activity and staff because they know that we are in with them in conversation. The other quality of this is the outcomes contracting uh approach, which means where there isn't very tight alignment to the new program, um they're not automatically marked ineligible, they go into a conversation with the department to bring that alignment.
Yeah. I mean, I suppose the only thing is just uh and I'm sure we that every effort will be put into it, just making sure that there is no um you know sort of gaps because we haven't been able to get the programme back in place now.
We we would hope to be in contact with all of the providers by the very latest in March 2027. So there will still be enough time for transition for new programming and money to flow from one July.
Yeah, okay.
Four minutes to go. Thank you very much. Uh that concludes today's hearing for the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee's estimates, supplementary budget estimates 26-27. Thank you to all of the witnesses who have appeared, not just this evening but over the last two days. Thank you to the committee staff and the broadcasting and handsaw teams for their assistance. I remind Senators that the committee has agreed any written questions on notice should be lodged with the Secretariat by Thursday 5 November 2026. And that answers to questions on notice are due by Thursday, 17 December 2026. The committee stands adjourned. Thank you.