Partnering with the Community Sector in Human Services and Health
Overview
Community sector organisations (CSO), play a crucial role in the delivery of state funded health and human services. In 2009–10, the Departments of Human Services and Health are providing almost $1.7 billion to about 800 CSOs to provide services in housing, child, youth and family, disability, mental health, drug and alcohol, aged care and other social services.
The audit found that there is a high level of assurance that CSOs are delivering agreed services and are accountable for allocated funding. The departments’ management of service agreements with CSOs is effective in providing clarity about expected service outputs, standards and accountability requirements, and in providing assurance that these are met.
Nevertheless, there are a number of specific lesser-order aspects of the service agreement system which can be improved to strengthen the overall system. There is room to improve the way service agreements are established and monitored to move the relationship with CSOs closer to a partnership. The departments can also improve consistency in managing and monitoring service agreements to further reduce the administrative and related cost burdens placed on CSOs without compromising accountability.