Quality Pre-accredited Delivery
Networks
Round Two
Expression of Interest Guidelines
March 2010
Adult, Community and Further Education
Board
Department of Planning and
Community Development
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Contents
1
Background .................................................................................................................... 3
2
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Network Description ...................................................... 3
3
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Expression of Interest (EOI) .......................................... 4
3.1
Successful Networks ............................................................................................5
3.2
Network Funding ..................................................................................................5
3.3
What will not be funded? ......................................................................................5
3.4
Network Monitoring & Reporting ...........................................................................5
3.5
EOI Evaluation .....................................................................................................6
3.6
Timelines..............................................................................................................6
4
General Network Information & Useful Resources .......................................................... 7
5
Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................... 8
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1
Background
The Quality Pre-accredited Delivery initiative has been designed to build the capacity of
pre-accredited practitioners and ACE providers to continue delivery of quality preaccredited delivery.
This initiative will provide skills and knowledge that lead to improved pre-accredited design
and delivery and will provide a framework for continuous quality improvement.
Eighty four ACE organisations in every ACFE region of Victoria have registered to
participate in the Networks through the first round Expressions of Interest process.
Strategy 1 – Research
Strategy 1 of the Quality Pre-accredited Delivery initiative entails the research and
development of a continuous improvement framework for quality pre-accredited teaching
and training.
Strategy 2 – Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks
Strategy 2 of this initiative includes the creation of a number of Quality Pre-accredited
Delivery Networks to improve and extend the professional quality pre-accredited delivery
capabilities of ACE practitioners through targeted professional learning and development
activities.
The development of Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks will provide a regionally
based structure to identify, sustain and champion innovative practices with respect to preaccredited program design and delivery for their network members and region.
2
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Network Description
A minimum of two to three Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks will be developed in
each ACFE region. These networks will build the structure for an ongoing state-wide
ACFE network of pre-accredited practitioners. Each network will have a representative
from the regional ACFE office as an ex-officio / observer member.
It is envisaged that a network’s membership would comprise no more than 10 ACE
organisations and no fewer than 4 ACE organisations as a minimum.
The main objectives and activities expected to be executed by the Networks include, but
are not limited to:
1. Sharing experiences, knowledge and ideas between pre-accredited practitioners to
improve quality outcomes for ACFE Board funded learners, especially with respect
to participation in further study and employment focussed pre-accredited programs.
2. Identification and generation of innovative pre-accredited design and delivery
models.
3. Increased collaboration and coordinated approaches to the delivery and promotion
of best practice quality pre-accredited delivery within the network and the region.
4. Exchange of ideas and experiences across within and across networks.
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5. Provision of regionally informed feedback to ACFE on the implementation and
uptake of quality pre-accredited delivery workshops, research and tools.
Professional development opportunities will emerge for network members in the Quality
Pre-accredited Networks, to assist with the development and implementation of the
Networks.
Funding will be allocated to networks to develop, grow and implement network activity
including, but not limited to:
 Resourcing the network (administration, implementation costs, reporting)
 Drawing expertise and resources to the network
 Facilitation of network participation in professional development activities (travel, backfill)
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks will be initially funded until December 2010.
Successful networks will be required to participate in a group start-up workshop to finalise
a Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Network action plan and to also identify professional
development required to implement the networks. Each Quality Pre-accredited Delivery
Network action plan will be agreed between ACFE and the network members before the
network commences.
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks will be regularly reviewed and evaluated.
Successful innovative network models will be communicated to the broader ACE sector to
facilitate ongoing development of Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Networks throughout the
Victoria.
3
Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Expression of Interest (EOI)
An EOI must be submitted by an ACE organisation (RTO or Non-RTO) as the lead
organisation of the proposed Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Network. Please note that all
network member organisations must be registered ACE organisations.
Expressions of Interest should have a clear focus on identifying creative collaborative
models of sustaining and promoting innovative practices with respect to pre-accredited
program design and delivery for network members and the relevant region.
Expressions of Interest must identify all Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Network member
organisations, describing the type of relationship expected and the commonality of purpose
between network participants underpinning the described relationship.
Signed declarations (Part C) from the lead agency and all network participants must be
printed, signed and attached to the EOI.
EOI’s must:

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Clearly identify proposed activities the network will undertake to achieve the specified
objectives
Outline how projected outputs and outcomes will benefit the network and region
Provide activities and timelines (potential draft action plan) for implementation of the
network
Include declarations from the lead ACE organisation and partner ACE organisations
forming the membership of the network.
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Funding will be allocated to the network lead organisation (EOI applicant) for networks
which indicate intent to engage skills and resources across the network and clearly outline
the model to be implemented explaining why that model was deemed appropriate.
Incomplete Expressions of Interest and submissions received after the closing date and
time will not be considered for funding.
3.1
Successful Networks
Each Network member organisation including the Lead Agent organisation will be required
to attend a 1 day network start up workshop designed to provide:
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3.2
additional background information regarding the nature of network development
a range of tools to assist with network management
an opportunity for clarification and confirmation of network scopes
action plan development activities
Network Funding
Initial funding ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 will be available to support Quality Preaccredited Delivery Networks.
Payments will be made to the successful lead ACE organisation (EOI applicant).
Successful networks will receive funding as per the following allocations:


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20% upfront upon notification of success of EO.
70% upon attendance of network members at the action plan workshop and also upon
approval by the ACFE Board of the Network’s Quality Pre-accredited Delivery Action
Plan
10% upon completion and acceptance of the Network Final Report November 2010
Successful network lead organisations will enter into a funding agreement with ACFE.
3.3
What will not be funded?
Funding is not available for:

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3.4
Purchase of materials and equipment required for the normal operation of the ACE
organisation
Program delivery as student contact hours
Initiatives with ongoing costs where the source of those ongoing costs is not specifically
identified
Network Monitoring & Reporting
Network monitoring and reporting activities will occur through network development
activities. Support, guidance and assistance will be provided by ACFE in partnership with
the CAE as required.
Successful networks will provide a final report in November 2010, including but not limited
to, the following information:

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Background
Aims and objectives
Network implementation
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
Outputs (including examples of innovative design and delivery models / participation
feedback / network collateral)
Outcomes
Financial acquittal report
Conclusion (recommended activities for future network activity, implications, lessons
learned, outstanding risks / issues)
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Potential appendices to be included with the report:

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Any supporting or developed documentation
Any network outputs / collateral
Networks will be encouraged to provide any additional information deemed valuable,
relevant and/or essential.
Reports will be presented to the ACFE Board. Best practice network development will be
communicated to the broader ACE sector for potential implementation.
3.5
EOI Evaluation
Expressions of Interest will be reviewed against criteria including, but not limited to:

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Aims and objectives of the network including identification of particular focuses or areas of
specialisation
Number of partner organisations committed to the network.
Collaborative nature which partners intend to engage to achieve outputs and outcomes at a
network and provider level.
Creative and innovative collaborative models underpinned by an outline of a network action
plan (activities / timeframes).
3.6
Timelines
Date
Activity
March 2010

Guidelines and EOI process released
9 April 2010

EOI enquiries close (5pm AEDT)
16 April 2010

EOI closes (2pm AEDT)
19 April – 30 April
2010

Evaluation of EOI’s
Applicants notified of EOI outcome
Initial payment to successful applicants

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Group start-up workshop held to finalise Quality Pre-accredited
Delivery Network action plans
Successful applicants present detailed action plans for acceptance
by ACFE Board
Second payment on action plan approval by ACFE Board
September 2010

Progress report from networks
November 2010
December 2010

Final report for 2010 and recommendations submitted
Third payment
May 2010
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June 2010

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4
General Network Information & Useful Resources

Networks offer innovation, the opportunity to exchange knowledge and skills, the
flexibility to respond to changes in the environment and more efficient operation. A
salient quality of networks is their capacity to change and diversify.

Network development is principally guided by the choices of the members and their
network management capabilities. Fulfilment of self interest of members is an
important incentive in development and sustaining a network. Networks are essentially
self-regulating.

Networks consist of ‘a grouping of individuals, organisations and agencies organised on
a non-hierarchical basis around common issues or concerns, which are pursued proactively and systematically, based on commitment and trust’ (World Health
Organisations, 1998, cited in Pedler, 2001, p3).

Networks take multiple forms and serve a range of purposes. Different kinds of
networks are best suited for different kinds of tasks and need different strategies. The
key to network effectiveness is determining the best match between network form and
desired function to ensure the strengths associated with different forms are optimised
and weaknesses minimised.

Achieving network purposes relies on creating cohesive relationships and
interconnected partners, through styles of leadership and management appropriate to
the type of network.

Network infrastructures can affect network configurations and can influence the
development of network relationships. If a network is to remain viable it requires
resources to be committed in the form of some network infrastructure organisation.
Networks require resources to support the linking and competency in collaboration.

Evaluation of networks is important as without self-knowledge a network cannot be self
regulating. The effectiveness of a network should be assessed within its own terms of
reference and local context, and should consider multiple domains of activity and
attempt to capture unanticipated consequences.

The main purpose of knowledge networks is to create and disseminate knowledge for
use beyond the membership of the network. An important benefit of a knowledge
network is that it can bring together experts from different fields around a common goal
or issue.
This information was drawn from Focus on Understanding Networks, Issue 1 - 2005, B
Beacham, L Kalucy, E McIntyre, B Veale.
For this resource, which contains additional information, or any of the resources
listed below, please contact Louise Dahlenburg who can provide an electronic copy.
(Tel: 9208 3732 or Email: [email protected])
Additional Resources
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Focus on Understanding Networks, Issue 1 – 2005, B Beacham, L Kalucy, E McIntyre,
B Veale
The Networked Nonprofit, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2008, Jane WeiSkillern & Sonia Marciano
How Leaders Create and Use Networks, Harvard Business Review, January 2007
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5
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do network members have to be from the same ACFE region?
A. Network members can be from different ACFE regions although networks from
the same region are encouraged. Expressions of Interest will need to clearly
outline the reasons why the network should include more that one ACFE region.
Q. Where do I include the anticipated costs of network activity?
A. You can provide an outline of the anticipated costs of your Quality Pre-accredited
Delivery network in the Purpose section of the Expression of Interest.
Q. Can I submit an Expression of Interest if I have more than 10 organisations to
form membership of a network?
A. Yes, however you would need to clearly outline the reasons why your network
would consist of more than 10 organisations.
Q. Do I have to participate in the action planning workshop if my Expression of
Interest is successful?
A. Yes, the action planning workshop will provide an opportunity for all network
members to meet and develop a comprehensive network development action
plan. All Network members must participate in this action plan workshop.
Q. Will more than one network be funded in a region?
A. It is anticipated that up to two to three networks could be funded in
each ACFE region.
Q. Can organisations that are not registered with ACFE participate as members of
the network?
A. Only registered ACE organisations can participate in the ACFE funded Quality
Pre-accredited Delivery Network.
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