Service development grants
A service development grant is a non-recurrent grant paid to recurrently funded service providers to assist them with activities related to the development, implementation and maintenance of their quality management system.
Service development grants are based on service-type outlet information contained in the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS). Grants are calculated each financial year using a base grant (e.g. 10 units) for each agency plus an amount (e.g. 1 unit) for each additional recurrently funded service-type outlet that a service operates. Loading (e.g. 1 unit) applies for each recurrently funded service-type outlet in remote and very remote locations, as defined in the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) code.
Example:
Service XYZ has a head office in Townsville and 3 service-type outlets in Mt Isa (very remote ARIA code).
Service development grant = base grant (10 units) + 1 unit per additional outlet + 1 unit per remote/very remote outlet.
Calculation of grant
- Base grant
- = 10 units
- Additional outlets
- = 3 units
- Very remote outlets
- = 3 units
Service XYZ will receive a service development grant of 16 units
Note: units are used as a hypothetical value in this example instead of specific dollar values as grant amounts can change from year to year.
Using the service development grant
Disability Services Queensland recognises that each service provider has a unique organisational structure and quality management system. The department is committed to providing a flexible approach to how service providers use financial assistance.
Service providers can use the service development grant in a variety of ways which may include, but are not limited to:
- establishing an internal review program
- engaging a member of the learning and organisational development panel
- engaging a facilitator to assist with strategies to encourage service user participation in planning activities
- developing induction information for new staff
- backfilling for staff attending training or development workshops
- any other activities related to the development, implementation or maintenance of an internal quality system.
Receiving the service development grant
Service development grants have been paid to recurrently funded service providers for each financial year since 2003-04. They are linked to an activity related to a service provider’s implementation of their own quality management system.
Previous activities have included:
- 2007-08 Management committee questionnaire
- 2006-07 Service user participation snapshot
- 2005-06 Implementation plan
- 2004-05 Readiness reckoner
- 2003-04 Attendance at an awareness raising workshop
Service providers are only eligible to receive one service development grant per financial year. Service providers will not receive a payment if they complete an activity which is related to a service development grant from a past financial year.
For further information on service development grants, service providers should refer to the service development and audit cost grants information sheet or contact the community resource officer at their local Disability Services Queensland office.
Last updated March 2009
Service development and audit cost grants information sheet