Service agreements
The Department of Communities is progressively introducing new service agreements. The new agreements reflect the Community Services Act and Regulations and will be used from the time they commence.
The new service agreements are similar to the previous agreements. Where clauses in the agreement are now in the Regulation, the agreement has the same level of requirement. New elements to the service agreements include:
- disclosure of confidential information clause
- a requirement to implement the Standards for Community Services
- a recordkeeping requirement
- a requirement that employers create no decrease in employee’s conditions than those that applied prior to 27 March 2006.
The new agreements also lead to more streamlined reporting and monitoring requirements through the incorporation of guidelines from the Queensland Government framework for investment in human services. This framework informs whether a long or short form agreement should be used based on an assessment of risks, including:
- the type of service
- the nature of funding
- the clients being supported
- the total of funds the organisation receives from the Department across all programs
- the history of the organisation receiving funding
- the number and diversity of alternative providers in the location.
Service agreement
The service agreement includes the service plan. It is used where funding for a service is under $100,000 and assessed as high risk or over $100,000.
Service plan
Separate service plans are available where more than one service is delivered by an organisation and two or more service plans are attached to the service agreement.
Short form agreement
This agreement is used where funding for a service is less than $100,000 and assessed as low risk.
Service Agreement for Small Grants (One-Off)
This agreement is used where funding is one-off and under $10,000.
Explanatory notes
These provide an explanation of the intention of some clauses in the service agreement.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2009