Maintenance cost grants
Maintenance cost grants are paid to service providers to assist them with costs incurred during maintenance audits in the two years following certification.
Maintenance cost grants are calculated in a similar way to certification cost grants and are based on:
- 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 maintenance audit process. The estimated audit cost amount is called a benchmarked maintenance audit cost. The maintenance cost grant is 100% of the estimated benchmarked maintenance audit cost.
The actual costs of a maintenance visit are negotiated between the service provider and the certification body, and may be higher or lower than the estimated benchmarked maintenance audit cost paid by Disability Services Queensland.
Using the maintenance cost grant
Maintenance cost grants are intended to be used for the following activities related to the maintenance visit:
- registration – initial set up of contract and annual administration by a certification body
- actual audit costs (e.g. include audit planning, documentation review, site visits, report writing and follow up)
- travel and accommodation for audit team members where travel is required.
Receiving the maintenance cost grant
Maintenance cost grants are paid twice to service providers. The first payment is made 12 months after achieving certification and the second is made at 24 months.
Example:
Service XYZ achieves certification in September 2007.
Maintenance cost grants will therefore be paid to Service XYZ in September 2008 and September 200.
Last updated May 2008
Resource Kit 1