Department of Human Services Standards
The Department of Human Services and community organisations aim to deliver quality services for Victorians in need.
On 22 June 2011, the Minister for Community Services, the Hon Mary Wooldridge MP, released the new Department of Human Services Standards (the standards) at the Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee Partnering Dialogue.
The new standards have been developed in response to an assessment by community organisations that the department's current approach could be improved. The new standards help to meet the Government’s commitment to reduce the regulatory burden faced by funded organisations by streamlining the accreditation, monitoring and evaluation processes.
The standards replace the Industry Standards for Disability Services, the Outcome Standards for Disability Services, the Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations and the Homelessness Assistance Service Standards.
The following publication provides background on the development of the standards, the standards and the related performance criteria.
Transition to the Department of Human Services Standards
Until 30 June 2012, the current Standards for Disability Services in Victoria, the Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations and the Homelessness Assistance Services Standards and their related quality review processes remain in place and applicable to service providers within their scope.
From July 2012, funded organisations in scope will:
- be required to be accredited by a department endorsed independent review body once every three years, regardless of the number of departmental programs they are funded to provide
- need to demonstrate compliance with the Department of Human Services Standards and the governance and management standards of an approved independent review body.
The factsheet below provides information to funded organisations on the transition from the current program standards to the Department of Human Services Standards.
Funded organisations that receive ongoing funding to deliver direct client services, such as counselling or accommodation services, are normally in scope for independent review.
The following factsheets provides information on the scope of independent review for funded organisations under the Department of Human Services.
Department of Human Services evidence guide
The Department of Human Services Standards evidence guide aims to assist service providers to prepare for and participate in internal and external reviews in relation to the Department of Human Services Standards. The guide has been designed to be user friendly, concise and practical for services providers and independent review bodies.
The evidence guide publication can be found below.
- DHS standards and independent reviews (doc 181.5 KB)
- Department of Human Services Standards
- Department of Human Services Standards evidence guide
- Department of Human Services Standards Scope of Independent Reviews fact sheet
- Transition to the Department of Human Services Standards fact sheet
Contact information
Business Relationship Management Branch
Telephone: (03) 9096 2709
Email: dhsstandards@dhs.vic.gov.au
