The State Government has launched WA’s first State Commissioning Strategy for community services in a bid to deliver more efficient and effective services. 

Commissioning is the cyclical process of planning, purchasing, managing, monitoring and evaluating services.

The Government said the strategy “will drive greater cohesion and transparency between State Government agencies, service providers, peak bodies, consumer advocates and service users when commissioning services”.

It also reflects a shift away from the current purchasing model to a more holistic, proactive and sustainable commissioning approach. This will result in people having better access to services when they need them.

It will also build greater capability, capacity and flexibility for community services to allow agile responses to changing community needs.

The Government said the strategy and implementation plan will drive a fundamental shift in the delivery of community services that:

• meet the needs of users, at the right time and in the right location;
• are sustainable and delivered by organisations that meet the diverse needs of service users;
• are evidence based with robust quality standards; and
• are culturally safe and tailored to local community needs.

It takes into consideration commitments made under the Closing the Gap report and the Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy. It also recognises existing services and policies developed for social housing, homelessness, domestic violence, out-of-home care, youth and age-based programs, and mental health services.

Finance Minister Tony Buti said the goal of commissioning services with a longer-term vision will ensure better planning and transparency with a focus on sustainable services.

“The strategy maps out how the Government can deliver these important services by working together to design integrated and place-based services, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.”

Justine Colyer, CEO of CCIWA Member Rise Network, said: “This is a big step forward when it comes to taking a coordinated approach to understanding what services are required and how to procure them.

“Implementation is key, and the industry looks forward to seeing how that plays out — along with how current challenges facing the sector, like staff shortages, will be addressed.”

 

To be part of CCIWA, get in touch via 1300 422 492 or [email protected].