Output Funding and Reporting
Guide for organisations funded under
the Community Services Act 2007
February 2012
What is an Output?
An output is a product or a service generated from
using resources
Service providers transform resources (inputs) into
services (outputs) and the impact of these outputs
on individuals, groups and the community are the
outcomes of the service
Why is it being introduced?
• Qld Audit Office Report 2007
• Service Delivery Commission Report 2007
• Qld Compact 2009
• Red Tape Reduction Initiative 2009
• Machinery of Government changes 2009
• Productivity Commission
• Sector feedback
Why is it being introduced?
Part of a suite of reforms currently underway to better
support the relationship between government and
NGOs
– Common Service Agreement
– Harmonising quality standards
– Output funding and reporting
– Common Funding Legislation
– Review of performance measures
What is Output Funding?
Clarifies:
• What is being purchased
• How much is being paid for it, and
• What will be delivered
What Outputs does the Department
fund?
• The Outputs Catalogue contains the outputs the
department funds
• Maps to National Classification for Community
Services
(NCCS) - enables national comparisons
• Contains the specific measures for each output
On Internet:
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/fundingand-grants/output-funding-and-reporting
Output Measures
• Each output has an associated output measure
• Allows service providers to clearly indicate the
quantity of outputs they deliver
• Types of output measures
 Hours
 Places
 Milestones achieved on agreed plan
 Meals
 Kilos of food delivered
Collecting data on hours of
direct service delivery
Count this time as part of hours of service/output
Time spent with
clients/service
users/community, for
example, in person or
on the phone:
 Counselling
 Case management
 Personal assistance
 Time on the phone
with clients
Time spent on behalf of a client or
which can be attributed to a client:
 Arranging a referral
 Writing file notes
 Participating in case conferences
 Recording data at time of
assessment
 Mobile service delivery
 Preparing training materials
 Time on behalf of or available for
clients (output specification)
Not counted in hours of
service
Indirect time:
 Team meetings
 Travel
 Training
 Networking meetings
 Getting supervision
 Compiling or entering data
for reporting purposes
 Collating data
 Administrative tasks
 Supervising staff
All included in establishing cost
Items to take into consideration in
estimating the hours of direct service
delivery
Estimating the hours that are available for direct
service delivery for each position may include:
• How many staff are providing direct service delivery
(expressed as equivalents of full time positions)
• How many hours of the week are involved in activities
that are direct service delivery
• How many weeks per annum are available for direct
service delivery for each position
Output Measure –
Clients
• Services will need to report on the number of
clients (distinct individuals) who received a
service under each funded output during the
reporting period
• Some services will also be provided with an
annual target number of clients for each funded
output
Output Measure - Places
• A Place is defined as the number of occupied or
potentially occupied spaces for clients who can be
provided with a service
• A unit of accommodation may be a bed, a bedroom,
a flat or a house
Output Measure - Places
• Annual total number of places available is the
number of accommodation units multiplied by the
number of nights per annum
• Units of accommodation may be temporarily
unavailable (due to repairs and maintenance,
critical incident etc.) however, the annual total
quantity of places is NOT adjusted in these
circumstances
Output Measure –
Milestones achieved on agreed plan
Milestone categories –
• Plan / schedule
• Projects
• Forums / conferences
• Workshops
• Reports / papers
• Resources / tools
• Community events
• Training / learning and development
• Sector development and collaboration
NGO reporting requirements
Through OASIS (as per reporting frequency in service
agreement)
• Financial Acquittals
• Performance reports (will change and may decrease in
number depending upon output applied)
• Annual audited statements
• Any other reports required in the service agreement
• Reporting against the agreed number of outputs
• For each output, reporting on the number of clients
(distinct individuals) who received a service
NGO reporting requirements
Number of outputs delivered using the appropriate measure
Number of clients (distinct individuals) provided with the service
Funded Output
Output Description
Output
Measure
Quantity to be
delivered per
annum
A01.2.02 Needs
assessment and
management of
case/service plans
Activities of assessment of service
needs, development and monitoring of
service plans, ongoing case
management and coordination of
voluntary, individualised service
packages, and professional support in
accessing and using general community
services.
Hours
<Insert negotiated
Output Quantity>
Number of
clients
<Insert target
number of clients>
OR Insert text
<Report on number
of clients (distinct
individuals) who
received a service
against this
output>
Reporting
Frequency
Due Date
Reporting in OASIS
Reporting in OASIS
Support available
Department of Communities internet site:
• http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/f
unding-and-grants/output-funding-andreporting
Includes frequently asked questions