Aboriginal MCH Initiative Service Model Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE ABORIGINAL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE?
The Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health Initiative (AMCHI) was established to improve outcomes for
Aboriginal families across Victoria. The overall objectives of the initiative are:
•
•
To improve access to, and participation in, MCH Services
To provide a culturally responsive and high quality service.
As part of the Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children, the Victorian Government announced a
funding package of $33.9 million to improve access to universal services. The package includes $1.6 million
over two years to work with Koorie communities to co-design a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service
delivery model to deliver more culturally responsive and high quality services, through both Aboriginal
Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and current MCH service providers.
WHAT IS THE AMCHI SERVICE MODEL?
The AMCHI Service Model is a flexible approach to delivering the Universal MCH Service through existing and
new service providers. It was developed for the purposes of the AMCHI Service Model trial.
The service model aims to deliver more culturally responsive, high quality and tailored Universal MCH services
for Aboriginal families.
The AMCHI Service Model comprises:
•
five service principles
•
three possible delivery settings.
WHAT IS THE UNIVERSAL MCH SERVICE?
The Victorian Universal MCH Service delivers a free, universally accessible statewide service for all families
with children aged from birth to school age. The Service supports children and their families with an emphasis
on parenting, prevention and health promotion, developmental assessment, early detection, and referral and
social support.
The MCH Service provides a schedule of ten Key Ages and Stages (KAS) consultations for all children and
their families commencing with an initial home visit post birth, through to a 3.5 year old consultation. In addition,
the MCH Service provides a universal platform that can:
•
help to identify children and families who require further assessment, intervention, referral and/or
support
•
bring families together, foster social networks, support playgroups and strengthen local community
connections
•
deliver other services and supports, such as family support services and immunisation programs.
HOW WAS THE AMCHI SERVICE MODEL DEVELOPED?
The AMCHI Service Model was developed through a series of co-design workshops attended by nominated
representation from Aboriginal organisations, the MCH sector, and State and local government. The Working
Group contributed their knowledge and expertise on the needs and experiences of Aboriginal families
accessing MCH services through a range of delivery settings.
The co-design workshops developed strategies and approaches to improve access, awareness and
engagement of Aboriginal families with the MCH Service. The Working Group assessed the feasibility and
practical application of different strategies based on five service principles, which were deemed essential for
the delivery of a culturally safe, flexible, high quality MCH Service.
WHAT ARE THE FIVE SERVICE PRINCIPLES?
The five service principles recommended by the Working Group support self-determination and the delivery of
high quality, culturally safe MCH services to Aboriginal families:
1.
Families receive information about the MCH Service in the antenatal period.
2.
Families can elect to receive the MCH Service from a local government, an ACCO, or a combination of
both at any point in the family’s engagement with the Service.
3.
Families have the choice to engage with Aboriginal staff in the delivery of the MCH Service regardless
of their location.
4.
Families will receive a culturally safe, flexible, high quality and empowering service from their MCH
provider.
5.
Families receive an integrated coordinated approach to service delivery with ‘no wrong door’.
In developing the service principles, it has been recognised that there are differences across local government
areas in terms of available services, organisations, and communities. This will influence how the service
principles are applied on the ground.
WHAT ARE THE DELIVERY SETTINGS?
The three trial service delivery settings in which the AMCHI Service Model will be trialled are:
•
Within Local Government: the MCH Service is delivered in local government settings that are
culturally safe, have strong partnerships with or employ Aboriginal staff, and have outreach services.
•
Within an ACCO: the MCH Service is delivered by an MCH nurse employed within an ACCO as part
of an integrated and coordinated approach to child and family services delivery.
•
Within an Integrated Service Partnership: multidisciplinary teams deliver the MCH Service, providing
continuity of care across hospital networks, local government, community health centres and/or
ACCOs.
Regardless of the service trial setting, all service principles must be applied. The intention is for grant funding
for each trial to be used to suit the local setting, whilst supporting a high standard of service.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANT FUNDING?
Funding is available to incorporated, not-for-profit organisations ACCOs and local councils. Where partner
organisations are included in a project, a lead organisation should be nominated for lodging the grant
application and dispersing grant funding.
Organisations may apply for grant funding to develop projects within one of the three delivery settings to
implement the AMCHI Service Model. There is flexibility in the way the model can be delivered at a local level;
however, all service principles must be taken into account in the planning and delivery of the Universal MCH
Service.
Grant funding will be allocated according to the following categories:
Within Local Government
Within an Integrated Partnership
Within an ACCO
Up to $100,000
Up to $130,000
Up to $130,000
HOW LONG WILL THE TRIALS RUN?
The trials will commence in September 2017 with a planning phase, and run for a period of 12 months until
September 2018.
HOW CAN INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS APPLY?
Grant funding applications open on Wednesday 14 June 2017, and close at midnight on Wednesday 26 July
2017.
Organisations that wish to apply for an Aboriginal MCH Initiative Service Model Grant must email
[email protected] to request an application form. Organisations that wish to submit a joint
application should detail the roles and responsibilities of all partners and identify a lead organisation to broker
funding.
The AMCHI Grant Application Guidelines will be available on the Department of Education and Training
website from 14 June.
HOW WILL THE TRIALS BE EVALUATED?
An impact evaluation will be undertaken to determine if the objectives of the Initiative were achieved in each of
the three delivery settings, and what factors influenced the outcomes. In addition, the evaluation will review the
process followed by each organisation that trials the AMCHI Service Model to ascertain:

if all the Service Model principles were met

how the Service Model principles were implemented

the experiences of families engaging with the MCH Service

the extent to which the various processes employed could be replicated and sustained in other
locations across Victoria.
Successful grant funding applicants will work with the evaluation team through a collaborative evaluation
approach. Sites will be supported to participate in process and impact evaluation activities, to help understand
how well the pilot model was implemented and demonstrate if objectives were achieved.
HOW WILL THE APPLICATIONS BE ASSESSED?
Assessment of grant funding applications will be through an independent panel.
The grant applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Compliance of lead organisation with the Department of Health and Human Services Standards (2012)
for community service organisations under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005

Experience in delivering child (0-3.5 years) and/or health services to Aboriginal communities and
accompanying local feasibility data

Demonstrated strategies to ensure Aboriginal families are informed about the Universal MCH Service
antenatally

Details of relevant partnerships the organisation currently has in place, and documented opportunities
for further innovative partnerships

Demonstrated strategies to ensure Aboriginal families are given the opportunity to engage with an
Aboriginal community member when accessing a Universal MCH service, regardless of their location

Detail of strategies proposed to ensure the MCH Service is culturally safe, flexible, high quality and
empowering for Aboriginal families

Strategies documented to ensure the provision of an integrated coordinated service approach

Details of how strategies within the proposed Service Model could be sustainable

Inclusion of a detailed operational budget

The proposed model of care accounts for the delivery of the ten KAS consultations.
HOW WILL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS BE NOTIFIED?
The Minister for Families and Children will announce the successful grant applicants in August 2017.
Implementation planning meetings will occur between DET and the successful applicants prior to the
commencement of the trials.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application in August 2017.
All decisions are final, following approval of the Minister for Families and Children.
[UPDATED: 3 JULY 2017]
WHO CAN BE INVOLVED IN A PARTNERSHIP?
Any organisation can be part of a partnership under the Integrated Partnerships category. Relevant organisations may
include Aboriginal organisations, local councils, community health centres etc. Partnerships may also involve multiple
organisations.
The Integrated Partnership category cannot be between two or more local councils.
One organisation in the partnership must be the lead organisation, and they will be responsible for submitting the
application, and the dispersal and acquittal of funding. The lead organisation must an incorporated and/or not-for-profit
organisation, and have experience in delivering children and/or health services to Aboriginal communities.
CAN LOCAL COUNCILS EMPLOY ABORIGINAL HEALTH WORKERS?
Yes, local councils can employ Aboriginal health workers to assist with building relationships between service providers and
local Aboriginal communities. However, the Universal MCH Service must be delivered by a MCH nurse (Registered Division
1 nurse and registered midwife with postgraduate qualifications in child and family health nursing).
CAN AN ORGANISATION BE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE GRANT APPLICATION?
An organisation cannot be involved in multiple grant applications. In this situation, we would encourage the organisation to
submit an application with all proposed partners, as part of the Integrated Partnership category.
WILL LATE APPLICATIONS BE ACCEPTED?
No, late applications will not be accepted. Due to the short amount of time between the application process concluding and
the trial period starting, there is no scope for extending the period in which applicants can be submitted.