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Eastern Melbourne Partners in Recovery
Innovation Fund Grants
Guidelines for Application
Eastern Melbourne Partners in Recovery (EMPIR) invites applications to undertake work that will
primarily and positively contribute to service system improvement for people experiencing severe
and persistent mental illness.
The EMPIR Innovation Fund will be used to expand the capacity of the system, allowing for
easier access and navigation, to create a better experience and improved health for the PIR
consumer.
The program focus is on supporting service integration and system reform for the benefit of PIR
consumers. To achieve this, EMPIR works with a wide cross-section of services, including
primary care, acute care hospitals, health, community and social supports to achieve more
collaborative and coordinated approaches.
EMPIR encourages these organisations to submit an application to develop/deliver projects that
contribute to positive and lasting systems change for the PIR cohort, their families and networks.
Submissions must address the selection criteria set out on the following pages.
Applications close at 4pm on Thursday 30 April 2015.
www.emml.com.au
21 – 23 Maroondah Highway
Croydon VIC 3136
t 03 9871 1000 f 03 9879 5407
ABN 45 828 538 184 ACN 158 800 652
Medicare Locals gratefully acknowledge the financial and other support from the Australian Government Department of Health
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Partners in Recovery - background information
The 2011/12 Federal Budget announced $549.8 million (over five years from 2011/12 to 2015/16)
for the PIR initiative. PIR aims to better support people with severe and persistent mental illness
with complex needs, and their carers and families, by getting services and supports from multiple
sectors they may come into contact with (and could benefit from) to work in a more collaborative,
coordinated, and integrated way. PIR facilitates better coordination of, and more streamlined
access to, the clinical and other service and support needs of consumers experiencing severe
and persistent mental illness with complex needs requiring a multi‐agency response.
PIR supports the multi‐service integration and coordination needed to ensure services and
supports are matched to the PIR consumer’s needs. The ultimate objective of the initiative is to
improve the system response to, and outcomes for, consumers with severe and persistent mental
illness who have complex needs by:
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facilitating better coordination of clinical and other supports and services to deliver ‘wrap
around’ care individually tailored to the person’s needs;
strengthening partnerships and building better links between various clinical and
community support organisations responsible for delivering services to the PIR target
group;
improving referral pathways that facilitate access to the range of services and supports
needed by the PIR target group; and
promoting a community based recovery model to underpin all clinical and community
support services delivered to consumers experiencing severe and persistent mental
illness with complex needs.
Through system collaboration, PIR promotes collective ownership, and encourages innovative
solutions, to ensure effective and timely access to the services and supports required by people
with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs to sustain optimal health and
wellbeing.
PIR works with people who:
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experience severe and persistent mental health issues
have a range of other complex needs that require a range of service involvement
require substantial support and assistance to engage with the required services to meet
their needs.
PIR is a federal government initiative, funded through the Australian Government Department of
Health. Further information about the initiative is available at
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pir
Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML), as the lead organisation of EMPIR, is one of a
number of independent organisations established to coordinate and improve the delivery of
primary health care services in their local areas. EMML operates across the local government
areas of Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges.
As part of the 2014 Federal Budget, the Australian Government has signalled its intention to
discontinue funding for Medicare Locals and replace them with a smaller number of Primary
Health Networks (PHNs). The contractual relationship for the EMPIR lead organisation will
transfer from EMML to the replacement PHN should this occur during the life of the funding
agreement.
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2.
Scope of EMPIR Innovation Fund Grants
2.1
Priority areas
The Eastern Melbourne PIR Innovation Fund will provide grants to organisations to develop and
deliver innovative solutions to ensure effective and timely access to the services and supports
required for people who have severe and persistent mental illness and complex service needs to
sustain optimal health and wellbeing.
The Eastern Melbourne PIR consortium has identified a range of priority areas for the grant funds
to address systematic barriers that negatively impact on PIR consumers. The priority areas have
been developed based on analysis of PIR service data along with consultation with consumers,
carers, support facilitators, the PIR Recovery Focused Advisory Committee, service delivery
partners and other stakeholders. The priority areas are listed in Table 1 on the following page.
Examples of a range of projects that would fit within the priority areas have also been scoped and
these are also listed in Table 1. These project ideas provide a guide to prospective applicants
about areas of need identified by the consortium. Applicants may wish to submit proposals in
response to these, however the program will also welcome other innovative proposals that fit
within the priority areas.
The EMPIR program recognises the critical importance of consumer and carer engagement in all
aspects of service development, implementation and evaluation.
Consumer and carer participation was a key priority identified throughout the development of the
innovation priority areas. It is therefore expected that in responding to this EOI, organisations will
demonstrate ways in which consumers and carers will be actively engaged in co-production of
projects.
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Table 1
Priority area
Intended Outcome
Potential project focus
Social
inclusion
The needs of the PIR cohort are
integrated within core planning
and service delivery at the local
community level.
Build capacity at local community level:
– Work with local government to increase mental health
focus.
– Develop a framework and tools that can be used by
local government to build the capacity of local
communities and to embed mental health needs in
public health plans.
– Increase capacity of groups, such as community
centres, gyms and social meetings, to engage with
and include PIR consumers.
PIR consumers have increased
engagement in meaningful
activities that increase physical
health and social
connectedness.
Sustainable
housing
Housing providers in the
community and private sectors
are better able to support PIR
tenants and proactively address
common issues that lead to
vulnerable tenancies.
PIR consumers have access to
more sustainable
accommodation options.
Role of GP in
mental health
shared care
GPs have more flexible options
for supporting the PIR cohort
and are better supported with
access to psychiatric
consultation and medical
reviews.
GP support for PIR consumers
is more streamlined.
Employment
PIR consumers have increased
opportunities and outcomes in
meaningful, long-term
employment.
Dual disability
The broader service system is
better equipped to engage with
and support PIR consumers with
dual disability.
PIR consumers with dual
disability are not disadvantaged
in accessing mental health and
other community supports.
Transport
The PIR cohort has improved
access to suitable and
affordable transport to engage in
the community and attend
appointments.
Sustain tenancies:
– Build on existing projects across the catchment to
identify and respond to issues that impact on access
to private rental.
Improve support for singles who need to live alone:
– Identify and implement strategies to sustain
tenancies of the PIR cohort living in rooming houses.
– Establish a network of services providers to build
capacity and supports around rooming house and
SRS’s.
Develop a model for GP outreach within the MBS:
– Research needs/gap with GPs, consumers and
carers.
– Develop a model of service to increase consumer
access and support.
– Trial implementation.
Improve long-term employment outcomes:
– Identify and document strategies that have been
successful in supporting long-term employment for
consumers particularly in the local area.
– Establish a specialist employment/training role to
promote and support best practice.
Scope local social enterprises:
– Develop a business case for a local social enterprise
that is financially sustainable and includes
appropriate levels of support to employed
consumers.
Improve access and support for people with intellectual
disability and/or ABI and mental health issues:
– Scope effectiveness of mental health service
responses for individuals with dual disability living in
community residential units and existing barriers to
best practice mental health support.
– Identify and document referral pathways for mental
health services to access assistance in development
of behavior management plans for consumers with
dual disability.
Improve access to transport:
– Work with consumers, carers and existing volunteer
transport services to identify barriers and potential
service enhancements.
– Research innovative practices in other areas (eg.
business agreements with taxi companies) and their
applicability to local communities/services.
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2.2
Who can apply for funding?
In seeking to effect systems change for clients with complex and multi-program needs, the grants
program expects that projects will be undertaken collaboratively across a number of
organisations and/or service types. EMML will contract with a lead organisation that represents
project partners. Lead organisations applying for grant funds should have an existing presence in
the catchment and be able to enter into a legal contract with EMML.
Organisations must:
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be an incorporated legal entity
have experience and knowledge of PIR target group
have infrastructure to carry out the project
Organisations entering into a contract with EMML require the following level of insurance cover:
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professional indemnity –$10,000,000
public liability - $20,000,000
WorkCover
Level of funding available
The fund will provide for small grants up to a value of $25,000 and larger grants up to a value of
$100,000.
Project applicants can choose to supplement grant funding. Any cash and/or in-kind contributions
to the project, for example through provision of office space, administrative or project
management support, should be clearly identified as such in the project budget.
2.4
Use of funds
Funds must be used for projects in the geographic area covered by the Eastern Melbourne PIR
program.
Grants are one-off and time limited. The timeline for funding and project completion is detailed
below.
All successful projects will be subject to a payment schedule dependent upon agreed
deliverables, project plan and timeframes.
Types of projects the innovation fund may support include:
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activities that build the capacity of groups, organisations and/or networks
projects that improve the access for people to health and community services
partnerships that work to improve the coordination and integration of the service system
pilot projects
seed funding for projects with demonstrated sustainability and/or exit strategies
training
feasibility or scoping studies
applied research leading to practical application.
extensions or development to existing projects, where there is a clear additional
systems reform benefit to the PIR target group in the catchment.
Funding is not available for:
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infrastructure, building improvements or capital works
ongoing service delivery or an applicant’s ongoing operational costs
salaries and wages unless directly related to the project
retrospective funding of any kind
existing projects or services
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3.
Project support and monitoring
Successful projects will be allocated a contact person from Eastern Melbourne PIR for advice,
support and participation in associated steering or advisory groups.
Projects receiving grant funding in excess of $20,000 will be required to submit a progress report
by 15 September 2015.
All projects will be required to provide a final report by 29 January 2016 outlining the work
competed and project outcomes.
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Key date and timelines
4.1
Expression of Interest process
Call for Expressions of Interest opens – 7 April 2015
Requests for further information closes – 24 April 2015
Submission of expression of interest closes – 4pm on 30 April 2015
Applications will be assessed by a panel chaired by EMML and consisting of EMPIR consortia
members, consumer and carer representatives.
4.2
Project dates
Projects commence – 28 May 2015
Interim reports (large projects) required by – 15 September 2015
Projects target completion and all funds expended by – 30 November 2015
Final reports delivered by – 29 January 2016
Extended timeframes for larger projects will be considered.
5. Selection criteria
The following criteria will be used to assess applications for funding. Each criterion will be scored
from one to 10 and weighting will be applied, as listed below.
1. How well does the project address one or more of the priority areas identified for service
system change and improved outcomes for the PIR consumer? (10%)
2. Does the project clearly articulate realistic co-design with consumers and carers? (10%)
3. The project demonstrates an innovative, sustainable and effective approach to addressing
the identified need. (20%)
4. The project has clear definition of systems change and/or improved outcomes and how
this will be achieved? (20%)
5. The project has outlined realistic timeframes. (10%)
6. The proposal demonstrates how outcomes for the consumer group will be sustained after
the completion of the project. (10%)
7. The project budget is realistic and demonstrates value for money in achieving defined
project outcomes. (10%)
8. The proposal demonstrates the effective participation of more than one organisation in
delivery of the project and in delivering system change. (10%)
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6.
Instructions to applicants
Please read these instructions carefully in conjunction with the application form. The information
provided will be used to determine the eligibility of your organisation and the suitability and
sustainability of your proposed project in meeting the aims of the PIR program.
Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their application is complete and that
all relevant information, including any attachments, have been submitted by the closing time/date.
Requests for further information in relation to this Expression of Interest should be submitted by
email to erin.prater@emml.com.au no later than 30 April 2015. All submitted questions, and
responses to such questions, will be made available to all parties who have requested a copy of
the application guidelines.
Applications must be received by 4pm on Thursday 30 April.
Incomplete or late applications will not be assessed.
The application form can be completed electronically and is available online at
www.emml.com.au/news/PIRInnovationGrant
Applications can be submitted in the following ways:
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Email – send the PDF file to erin.prater@emml.com.au
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Post or personal delivery – submit a hardcopy to EMML Knox Office, 2 Capital City
Boulevard, Knox Ozone, Wantirna South.
By submitting a completed application to the EMPIR Innovation Fund you confirm your
understanding that:
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completion and submission of an application will not necessarily result in funding
incomplete or ineligible applications cannot be processed
the EMPIR Innovation Fund is discretionary. Deliberations by the assessment panel will
remain confidential and funding decisions are final. There is no appeals process
successful applicants will be asked to sign an agreement with EMML outlining specific
project deliverables, timelines, agreed budget and reporting requirements before funding
is provided.
Declaration and general conditions for applications and
funded projects
The following conditions apply to the application process.
These guidelines do not create a legal or binding commitment, arrangement or understanding
between EMML and the recipient of these guidelines. Any such commitment will be the subject of
further negotiation and documentation. These guidelines may be reviewed and amended at any
time. You unconditionally agree to bear all expenses and costs associated with preparing your
application.
EMML reserves the right to:
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seek clarification and additional information in relation to applications in writing or verbally
vary the process or any part of the process at any time before or after receipt of an
application
accept or reject any or all applications
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EMML may share the information received through the application process with any member of
the assessment panel and within the Medicare Local.
The following conditions apply to funded projects:
Applicant (lead) organisations must complete their project and fully expend funds by the date
identified at section 4.2 of these guidelines. Final reporting and acquittal of funds must be
completed by the date outlined at section 4.2 of these guidelines. Any funds that remain unspent
at the relevant date will be required to be returned to EMML. Copies of your organisation’s
annual reports and audited financials, which include the funding from this project, should be
supplied to EMML by 30 February 2016.
EMML may attach special conditions to a project. Any such special conditions applied to a project
will be agreed with the applicant and outlined in the Funding Agreement.
Successful applicants are required to submit tax invoices in order for payment to be processed.
EMML reserves the right to undertake quality assurance checks on all lead organisations to
ensure funding is spent in accordance with the Medicare Local Agreement for the Provision of
Funding.
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