Certification cost grants
The certification cost grant contributes substantially, if not completely, towards the costs of undertaking an external certification audit.
Certification cost grants are calculated at the beginning of each financial year and are based on a number of factors including:
- number of service-type outlets
- number of regions
- number of remote and very remote sites to be audited.
This calculation estimates the number of audit days and audit costs that each service provider is likely to incur during the audit process. The estimated audit cost amount is called a benchmarked audit cost. The certification cost grant is 100% of the estimated benchmarked audit cost.
The actual cost of a certification audit are negotiated between the service provider and the certification body, and may be higher or lower than the estimated benchmarked audit cost paid by Disability Services Queensland.
Using the certification cost grant
Certification cost grants are intended to be used for the following activities related to the external certification audit:
- registration – initial set up of contract and annual administration by a certification body
- actual audit costs – may include audit planning, documentation review, site visits, report writing and follow up
- travel and accommodation or audit team members where travel is required.
Receiving the certification cost grant
Service providers receive the certification cost grant in the financial year in which they plan to undertake an external certification audit. Service providers should inform the local community resource officer about their intended certification date and notify them of any changes to this date.
For more information on certification cost grants, service providers should refer to Resource Kit 1 or contact the community resource officer at their local Disability Services Queensland office.
Last updated May 2008
Resource Kit 1