ParentsNext Information Session

Overview Policy rationale Policy model ParentsNext in more detail Grant funding application arrangements Questions

ParentsNext Announced in the Budget as part of the Australian Government’s Growing Jobs and Small Business Package. Grant-funded project-based programme. Commences on 4 April 2016 in 10 Local Government Areas.

10 Local Government Areas Bankstown, Wyong and Shellharbour (NSW) Greater Shepparton and Hume (Victoria) Logan and Rockhampton (Queensland) Playford (SA) Kwinana (WA) Burnie (Tasmania)

Policy rationale Jobless families and early school leaver parents. Many are single parent families. Added impetus: Australia’s G20 commitment to reduce the gap between male and female labour force participation.

Policy model ParentsNext will have a strong focus on preparing for employment. ParentsNext will focus on parents at risk of long term unemployment and welfare dependency.

ParentsNext objectives ParentsNext aims to: Target early intervention assistance to parents at risk of long- term welfare dependency. Help parents identify their education and employment related goals and participate in activities that help them achieve their goals. Connect parents to local services that can help them address their barriers to employment.

Eligibility – Compulsory Participants Parent in receipt of Parenting Payment for at least six months, with a youngest child aged from six months to under six years not receiving Pensioner Education Supplement has not been in paid employment in the previous six months; and at least one of the following: – early school leaver; has a youngest child aged five years or disadvantaged in the labour market (ie a high Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI) score).

Eligibility – Voluntary Participants From 4 April 2016 parents can directly register in ParentsNext Projects as Voluntary Participants if they reside in one of the 10 Local Government Areas and: are Parenting Payment recipients who are not Compulsory Participants, or parents on another income support payment, or not on any income support, and have a youngest child aged under six years, and have not been in paid employment in the last six months.

Transition Arrangements Participants in Helping Young Parents on 31 March 2016 will be transitioned to ParentsNext Projects from 4 April 2016 as Compulsory Participants. DHS will assess participants in the Supporting Jobless Families trial for eligibility for ParentsNext and refer as appropriate.

Duration A Compulsory Participant will remain in ParentsNext as long as they remain eligible (not time limited). A Voluntary Participant can request to exit at any time. A Voluntary Participant who misses two consecutive appointments must be exited.

Estimated programme caseload It is expected that ParentsNext Projects will support, in total across the 10 Local Government Areas: approximately 17,500 Compulsory Participants each year approximately 6,400 Voluntary Participants each year in the first two years - exact numbers will depend on the success of Project providers in recruiting and retaining Voluntary Participants in the programme.

Local Government AreaNumber of funded Projects Logan, Queensland7 Bankstown, NSW Hume, Victoria Playford, SA Wyong, NSW Rockhampton, Queensland 3333 Shellharbour, NSW Greater Shepparton, Victoria 2222 Kwinana, WA Burnie, Tasmania 1111 Total31 Number of Projects

MilestoneReport reference period Payment amount (GST incl) Payment date Signed Funding AgreementN/A$77,200March 2016 Project Activity Report 1Apr-Jun 2016$240,200July 2016 Project Activity Report 2Jul-Dec 2016$240,100January 2017 Project Activity Report 3Jan-Jun 2017$366,700July 2017 Project Activity Report 4Jul-Dec 2017$366,700January 2018 Project Final ReportApr 2016-Mar 2018NilN/A Total$1,290,900 Funding per project

What ParentsNext projects will deliver Minimum requirements Hold an initial appointment face-to-face with each Participant. Contact each Participant at least once every six months to check on progress and review the Participation Plan. Arrange activities that help Participants prepare for employment, with a focus on educational attainment for early school leavers. Monitor and manage the compliance of Compulsory Participants. Assess Participants’ work-readiness.

What ParentsNext projects will deliver Minimum requirements Recruit Voluntary Participants into the Project and actively help them prepare for employment. Implement strategies to give Participants a say in how the Project is run, including the types of services and activities offered Build and strengthen connections with services and groups in the local community that will benefit Participants.

What ParentsNext projects will deliver Value add Funding Recipients will bring to ParentsNext Projects their experience and commitment to working with parents of young children in their local communities. Projects are an opportunity for Funding Recipients to showcase creative, possibly unique, approaches to engaging with parents for the purpose of preparing for future employment..

What is a Participation Plan activity? Examples Family related activity Pre-employment preparation Education or training activity Employment related activity Other programmes and services

Collaboration Community groups Service providers, e.g. jobactive and related programmes, Transition to Work, state and local government services, education providers

Who can apply? Not-for-profit, for-profit, community-based and local government organisations. Sole traders, partnerships or consortia. Disability Employment Services, jobactive, and Transition to Work provider organisations.

Assessing project performance Key Performance Indicators are broad. They include the project activity reports and project reports. Quantitative information be derived from administrative data.

Assessing project performance - quantitative indicators 1.The proportion of Participants who attended their scheduled appointments. 2.The proportion of Participants with a signed Participation Plan. 3.The proportion of Participants with an updated Participation Plan. 4.The proportion of Compulsory Participants referred to at least one compulsory activity. 5.The proportion of Participants referred to activities. 6.Numbers of Compulsory Participants and Voluntary Participants in the Project.

Reporting milestone Report reference periodDue date Project Activity Report 1Apr-Jun 2016July 2016 Project Activity Report 2Jul-Dec 2016January 2017 Project Activity Report 3Jan-Jun 2017July 2017 Project Activity Report 4Jul-Dec 2017January 2018 Project Final ReportApr 2016-Mar 2018April 2018 Total Summary of reporting requirements

IT support ParentsNext Project providers will use the Department’s IT system to: receive referrals from DHS directly register Voluntary Participants book appointments for Participants create and manage Participation Plans manage the compliance of Compulsory Participants refer Participants to activities transfer and exit Participants.

Draft Funding Agreement Draft Funding Agreement published on Department’s website. Potential Applicants should review the draft Funding Agreement when preparing their Application.

ParentsNext Probity and Purchasing Arrangements

Grant Application Process - Overview Grant application process Lodgement of Applications Eligibility Financial Viability

Purchasing Objectives Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines Value for money principles

Probity Principles Fairness and impartiality Consistency and transparency Encouraging competition and participation Identifying and managing conflicts of interest Security and confidentiality Compliance with relevant legislative obligations and the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines Establishing and maintaining a clear audit trail

Application and Selection Process The three selection criteria Other considerations Application lodgement Only one Project per Local Government Area

Selection Criteria Criterion 1 Sound organisational governance and capability Weighting: 10 per cent Character limit: 10,000 Once at the organisation level

Selection Criteria Criterion 2 Project offer and demonstrated capacity to deliver the Project Weighting: 50 per cent Character limit: 20,000 One Project per Local Government Area

Selection Criteria Criterion 3 Knowledge of and achievements in working with parents of young children and the capacity to leverage community partnerships and resources to help parents plan and prepare for employment Weighting: 40 per cent Character limit: 15,000 One Project per Local Government Area

Other Considerations Referees Responsibility of Applicants

Applications close at 5.00 PM on Wednesday 3 February Pro Attachments Addenda Amending a submitted Application Application Lodgement

Responses will be excluded if:  Lodged incorrectly or late  Not written in English  Not on the forms provided in the Grant Guidelines pack downloaded from 360Pro Late and non-conforming responses

Registration and Conformance checks Assessment of selection criteria Financial Viability Quality Assurance Selection Process

Selection Process (cont) Recommendations Decision by the delegate Announcement of outcomes

Timeline 6 January 2016Release of the Grant Guidelines on 360Pro From 11 January 2016ParentsNext information sessions and webinars 5.00 pm (Canberra time), Closing date and time for the Grant Guidelines for ParentsNext 3 February 2016 March 2016Announcements of outcomes 4 April 2016Commencement of ParentsNext

Sources of Information Grant Guidelines accessed via 360Pro Employment Services Procurement Information website ( services-procurement-information) Employment Services Procurement Information  Includes Questions and Answers Employment Services Purchasing Hotline  Phone: 