Commissioning

Every community has different health needs, so services need to reflect the people and places they support.

We use local data, evidence and community feedback to understand these needs and identify where services can make a difference. We work with consumers, communities, Aboriginal organisations, health providers and government partners to plan and fund services that respond to local priorities.

This work continues after a service is established, assisting providers to monitor how services are performing, address challenges and make improvements as needs change.

Commissioning is a continuous cycle that helps us respond to changing community needs and improve services over time.

The commissioning cycle:

1. Analyse data, assess health needs, engage with communities and identify priorities.
2. Set desired outcomes and identify the best ways to address local health needs.
3. Develop service models, assess provider capacity and determine how services will be commissioned.
4. Select providers through fair and transparent processes where required.
5. Establish agreements and work closely with providers to deliver services.
6. Monitor performance, learn from experience and make ongoing improvements.

Funding decisions are made through transparent governance processes in accordance with our Commissioning Policy, procurement requirements and Australian Government funding agreements.

Investment decisions are informed by:

• regional health needs assessments
• community and stakeholder engagement
• evidence and data
• strategic priorities
• value for investment
• provider capability and market capacity
• equity and cultural responsiveness.

Our Board provides strategic oversight of our commissioning approach. Individual funding decisions are made through delegated governance and procurement processes to ensure fairness, accountability and probity.

As part of our funding agreement with the Australian Government, we develop annual Activity Work Plans that outline the services and activities we commission across our funded programs.

These plans demonstrate how national priorities are translated into locally responsive services that meet the needs of Territorians. They also support transparency by outlining our commissioning priorities, intended outcomes and planned investments.

View our current Activity Work Plans