Earlier today, the Department of Social Services opened up consultation on key documents within the Relational Contracting model on the DSS Engage website. These include the Shell Agreement, Governance Framework and Decision Matrix and FRSA will be coming out shortly to our members seeking input into our submission to formally respond to this process that has a closing date of 26 July, 2026.
I have just come out of a Community Services Advisory Group meeting convened this afternoon and chaired by the Assistant Minister, the Hon Ged Kearney. As we had previously heard through presentations at the FRSA Conference, providers of the new Children and Family Support (CaFS) program will be the ‘early adopters’ of the new relational contracting model of Government doing business with the sector. As such, this will be a priority activity for FRSA over the next 5 weeks.
Whilst the Department is yet to release the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for the CaFS program, DSS staff in attendance at that meeting did indicate that the Government has clearly articulated their intention for the outcomes of that program for some time. This includes in the ‘A new approach to programs for families and children Consultation Report’, in material released at the time of the Federal Budget in mid-May where the new program was announced and at presentations and sessions at the FRSA Conference.
We have asked the Department for more information about the timeline that will be used to bring into effect the new CaFS program starting 1 July 2027 outlining the key points and milestones between now and then.
As we know, with the range of consultations out in the sector marketplace at the moment, the Government is clearly looking for improved alignment and connection between the work across Departments – most notably across DSS and AGD at the Federal level. It was good to receive confirmation today at the CSAG Meeting that the Government’s National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2036 is another key area they are bringing into the mix.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated yesterday. Earlier this year, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that 1 in 6 people in Australia experienced elder abuse in the past year with psychological abuse the most common form of elder abuse. Sadly, 1 in 2 people who perpetrate elder abuse are family members. Only 1 in 3 people who experienced elder abuse sought help from a third party. With the deep and complicated connections to family relationships, the FRS sector is well placed to work in this space – both working with older people experiencing abuse and helping to support positive relationships between older people and their families. It is no surprise that a number of our members are very active in this field, such as Relationships Australia (across Australia), UnitingCare, Better Place and Pronia, to name a few. The significant challenge is securing the funding to adequately respond to the need in society, which sadly is on the increase.
FRSA’s workforce project is well underway and the organisational survey for current providers of DSS Families and Children Activity programs and AGD-funded Family Law Services has been extended until 23 June. See more below.
