Foreword
The Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Health (Health) and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) are committed to working with funded organisations to deliver high quality services to the Victorian community.
In October 2002, DHS entered into a partnership protocol with the Municipal Association of Victoria and a partnership agreement with the health, housing and community services sectors. At that time, health and early years programs that are now the responsibility of the Department of Health and DEECD were managed by DHS.
The partnership agreement now takes the form of a 'Memorandum of Understanding' between DHS and the sector, and articulates shared vision, values and goals. It supports a shared approach to develop effective working arrangements.
In acknowledgement of the importance of partnership approaches to service provision and working relationships between sectors, DEECD has developed a Partnership Agreement with the Municipal Association of Victoria (August 2009) and a three year (2010-2014) Partnership Agreement between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Victorian Community Sector (June 2010).
The agreements expresses a shared vision to improve the learning and development outcomes for children and young people in Victoria, particularly those who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage. The agreements acknowledge the collaboration involved in the planning, development and provision of education and early childhood services and also commit to increasing collaboration, consultation and engagement between the Department and community sector and local government organisations.
Three year service agreements were introduced in July 2003 to provide greater funding certainty and more timely payment to organisations. The period 2009-12 is the third three year service agreement cycle.
We continue to enhance the service agreement business process, increasing administrative efficiency for organisations and the departments. From July 2009, service agreements are available online to authorised staff via the Funded Agency Channel.
We continue to develop the Funded Agency Channel (FAC), an internet facility that supports the partnership between the department and organisations. FAC provides organisations with access to information, communication tools and business processes and is found at http://fac.dhs.vic.gov.au.
Feedback from organisations and departmental staff is sought to ensure that information in this kit remains relevant and assists organisations to better understand the service agreement process and departmental reporting requirements.
Comments on improving the kit can be sent to the Funding and Monitoring Unit, Business Relationship Manaagement Branch, Department of Human Services, Level 7, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 or emailed to Alex McGillivray Manager Funding and Monitoring Unit, Business Relationship Management Branch. Business Relationship Manaagement Branch provides a shared service to DHS, Health and DEECD.