We strongly support the commitment of the Department of Social Services (DSS) to exploring new approaches to funding and partnering with the community sector, and recognise the significant effort that has been invested in developing the draft Shell Agreement, Governance Framework, Decision Matrix, and supporting implementation materials. This submission focuses on three strategic issues that Anglicare Australia considers fundamental to the long-term success of relational contracting, which are ensuring that:
▪ implementation is supported by a robust process of testing, learning, and refinement
▪ the model can operate effectively across multi-provider delivery arrangements
▪ community voice and lived experience are meaningfully reflected