Request for Proposals
Palliative Care and Aged Care Services Linkage Project
Grants
Issue Date:
1 August 2014
Place for lodgement:
Documents are to be lodged electronically to:
Annie.Parks@QUT.edu.au
Closing date:
Friday 12 September 2014
Please note:
Applicants are advised to contact Annie Parks, QUT Linkages Project Manager, at
annie.parks@qut.edu.au for further information (including amendments, addenda, and
further conditions) that may apply to this Invitation. The application (Part 9) must be
completed in the format specified and submitted electronically to annie.parks@qut.edu.au
Request for Proposals – Palliative Care and Aged Care Linkage Projects Version 3.01
Page 1
Project Overview
To enhance the provision of palliative care and advance care planning services to the aged
nationally, the Australian Government has funded the Specialist Palliative Care and Advance
Care Planning Advisory Services Project, known as Decision Assist.
The project is managed by a consortium of national health and aged care organisations,
including Austin Health (lead agency), Palliative Care Australia, CareSearch, the University of
Queensland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the Australian and New Zealand
Society of Palliative Medicine, Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), and Aged and
Community Services Australia (ACSA).
There are several aspects to the project:
1.
A telephone based advice service will be established to enable delivery of advisory
services to general practitioners and aged care providers in all areas of Australia,
24 hours/day, 7 days/week via a national 1800 or 1300 number. This number will
route calls to the most local available Specialist Palliative Care Service (SPCS)
operator. Callers will be referred to relevant existing resources within their local
area (where these exist), or will be provided with the required advice where a
service gap exists.
2.
The implementation of the Specialist Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning
Advisory Service will include partnering with agencies currently providing advisory
services, and the development of national project branding to establish its own
identity among existing services. To ensure advisory services are of high quality,
standard clinical practice guidance will be developed for both specialist palliative
care and advance care planning
3.
A strong focus on up skilling aged care providers and general practitioners
through specialised education.
4.
The implementation of strategies to increase linkages between Commonwealth
funded home care or residential aged care services, general practitioners and
palliative care services.
5.
New technologies will be employed to ensure GPs have convenient and ready
access to specialist medical advice. This includes using means such as telehealth
to overcome geographic isolation and difficulty accessing specialist palliative care
advice and support. Other innovative technologically based elements will be
examined in the scoping phase of the project.
1. Project Objectives
QUT is leading the component of the project that relates to item 4 above that focuses on
enhancing linkages between service providers involved in the delivery of palliative care
services to older populations. As lead for the linkages component of the project, QUT is
seeking applications from eligible organisations for enabling grants to undertake projects
that promote linkages between Commonwealth funded home care or residential aged care
providers and palliative care services.
Request for Proposals – Palliative Care and Aged Care Linkage Projects Version 3.01
Page 2
2. Project Scope
Following a systematic literature review and a range of consultation activities, the Project
Consortium has identified a range of linkage strategies that have the potential to improve
the quality of end of life care for older people in residential and community settings.
As lead for the linkages component of the project, QUT is seeking applications from eligible
organisations for enabling grants to support projects that involve supporting the
implementation of these promising linkage strategies.
Specifically, grants will be provided to support projects which enable implementation of one
or more of the following linkage strategies that have been identified from the evidence
review and consultation activities to date:






Development of communication pathways and tools that support improved
coordination and quality of end of life care between palliative care services and
services in receipt of Commonwealth home care or residential aged care funding
Establishment of formalised agreements between palliative care services and
services in receipt of Commonwealth home care or residential aged care funding
Development of multidisciplinary care approaches across palliative care services and
services in receipt of Commonwealth home care or residential aged care services
Establishment of new or enhancement of existing designated linkage roles across
palliative care services and services in receipt of Commonwealth home care or
residential aged care funding
Implementation of continuous improvement processes that enable improved
linkages across palliative care services and services in receipt of Commonwealth
home care or residential aged care funding
Implementation of other appropriate strategies that enable improved linkages
across palliative care services and services in receipt of Commonwealth home care or
residential aged care funding.
Grants will be offered to a maximum of $80,000 (GST exc). A proportion of these grants will
be allocated to projects that focus on populations from:





Small and large aged care providers
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex
Rural and remote settings
A detailed Linkages Guidance document with supporting resources will be available to
inform successful applicants.
Request for Proposals – Palliative Care and Aged Care Linkage Projects Version 3.01
Page 3
3. Information Requirements
Applications are to be prepared taking into account the overall objectives of the project and
clearly outline the specific linkage strategies that will be implemented. Applications should
be submitted using the attached template to provide the following information:
1. An outline of the approach that will be taken to implement the linkage strategies,
including detailed milestones and timelines and strategies for sustainability,
2. An outline of the participating services and key personnel involved in the project,
including evidence of capacity to successfully implement the linkage strategies
3. An estimate of the project fees.
One application per consortium/collaboration can be submitted. The application should include a
letter of support from each organisation (apart from the lead applicant) involved in the proposal.
Each letter of support should include an outline of the relevant experience and/or expertise the
organisation will bring to the project team and the roles/responsibilities the organisation will
undertake.
4. Criteria for assessing applications
Applications will only be considered if they:
1. Include at least two organisations, one of which must be funded to provide
Commonwealth home care or residential services and one of which must provide
dedicated palliative care services
2. Include a statement of endorsement by the Executive (CEO or Director) of each
participating organisation
3. Are submitted using the standard application form.
In addition to the above mandatory criteria, applications will be ranked by an expert panel
on the following criteria:
Achieving the requirement (50%)
The extent to which the proposed project
meets the project aim
The extent to which the project will result in
sustainable linkages between services
Capacity and capability (30%)
The strength of proposed project
management processes
The extent of previous experience in the
successful completion of service
development projects
Value for money (20%)
The extent to which the proposed budget
represents value for money
6. Funding
1. The funding available for each project is to a maximum of $80,000 (GST excluded).
Request for Proposals – Palliative Care and Aged Care Linkage Projects Version 3.01
Page 4
2. All funds are to be expended by February 28 2016.
3. The funds are to be used for the sole purpose of undertaking the activities outlined in
the approved proposal. Any funds remaining at the completion of the project will be
returned to QUT.
7. Reporting requirements
All projects must be completed no later 28 February 2016.
A detailed project plan must be submitted within one month after signing the funding
agreement. Progress reports will be required every six months. A final report will be
submitted within one month of project completion, using the reporting templates provided.
Successful applicants must agree to provide information that supports the evaluation
activities for the overall project. Successful applicants will also be expected to participate in
information sharing networks to promote transfer of learning to other settings.
8. Other requirements
The nominated Lead Organisation for the successful applicants will be required to sign a
standard funding agreement on behalf of the consortium/collaboration with QUT (see
Attachment B).
9. Submission Process
1. Applications for the Linkage Grants must be submitted by Friday 12 September 2014
using the standard application template (Attachment A)
2. Grant recipients’ will be required to sign a standard funding agreement within
30 business days of receipt of the offer (Attachment B).
If you require further information about this process, please contact Annie Parks on 07
31386262 or email: annie.parks@qut.edu.au
Project Documents:
Attachment A- Application Template
Attachment B – Standard Funding Agreement
Request for Proposals – Palliative Care and Aged Care Linkage Projects Version 3.01
Page 5