Mental Health Capital Renewal Fund

The following services and agencies are eligible to apply to the MHCRF.

Metropolitan health services:

• Alfred Health
• Austin Health
• Eastern Health
• Melbourne Health
• Mercy Health
• Monash Health
• Northern Hospital
• Peninsula Health
• The Royal Children’s Hospital
• St Vincent’s Health
• Western Health
• Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare)

Regional services:

• Albury Wodonga Health
• Barwon Health
• Bendigo Health
• Goulburn Valley Health
• Grampians Health Services
• Latrobe Regional Hospital
• Mildura Base Hospital
• South West Healthcare

Metropolitan Community:

• ERMHA
• Mentis Assist
• Star Health BHN
• Uniting Vic Tas

Regional community:

• Mallee Family Care

Adult residential:

• McAuley Community Services for Women
• Sacred Heart Mission

Youth and adult residential rehabilitation:

• ACSO (Australian Community Support Organisation)
• Cohealth
• EACH
• Neami National
• Wellways Australia
• Uniting Care
• MIND Australia

See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for MHCRF support.

The following are considered ineligible and excluded items:

• operational funding
• fixtures, fittings, and furniture not associated with a refurbishment project. Routine replacement of furniture and fittings that are worn is the responsibility of agencies to manage as part of their existing maintenance and replacement program
• motor vehicles
• planning funding for future redevelopment/growth projects
• projects that are additional stages of previously funded projects will be de-prioritised

See the guidelines for full details of expenditure eligible for MHCRF support.

1. Project readiness (Projects will be assessed as ready, partially ready, or not ready)

• Organisational readiness to implement the project, including key milestones and the expected timeframe for completion. Relevant supporting documentation as outlined in the submission requirements section of this document must be provided.
• All project dependencies must be listed including their potential impact on the project cost, schedule, scope, and benefits.

2. Governance (Project governance will be assessed as strong, good, or inadequate)

• The degree to which health service/agency governance structures and processes are in place to oversee the proposed project development, implementation, monitoring & reporting.
• This relates to the governance framework supporting transparency, probity, and accountability relating to the delivery of this proposal.

3. Strategic alignment (20%)

• Alignment with government commitments and policies including the Interim and Final Reports of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
• Alignment with strategic plan, statement of priorities and/or service agreements, service plan and master plan (where relevant).

4. Healthcare quality and safety improvement (40%)

• Addresses one or more of the following (regulatory compliance, standards compliance, patient and staff amenities, safety, quality, and risk)

5. Service efficiency and demand pressure (40%)

• service capacity (for example, improved service options, reduced service fragmentation)
• demand pressure
• models of care (for example, contemporary models of care/improved services closer to home)
• service efficiency of targeted services
• efficiency (for example, new infrastructure, equipment and technology)
• health care improvement to your health service.

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria and process.

Applications should demonstrate:

1. how the proposed changes will improve mental health treatment services for Victorian people
2. alignment with and supporting government legislation, commitments, policies, recommendations, and findings will also be viewed favourably, including (but not limited to):
   • Interim and Final Reports of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
   • Victoria’s 10-Year Mental Health Plan
   • The Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic)
   • The Framework for Recovery-oriented Practice
   • Promoting Sexual Safety, Responding to Sexual Activity, and Managing Allegations of Sexual Assault in Adult Acute Inpatient Units
   • Victoria’s Ice Action Plan
   • Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic)
   • Community Visitors Annual Report 2016-17
   • Health 2040. A discussion paper on the future of healthcare in Victoria.
   • Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016-25
   • Analysis and evidence for the request e.g. building reports, incident data trends, master and service plans supporting the issue.

3. how projects address one or more of the following:
   • service capacity (for example, improved service options, reduced service fragmentation)
   • demand pressure
   • models of care (for example, contemporary models of care/improved services closer to home)
   • service efficiency of targeted services
   • efficiency (for example, new infrastructure, equipment, and technology)
   • health care improvement to your health service.

4. anticipated key milestones data in accordance with the payment schedule milestones
5. how any risks have been identified and mitigation strategies to address these
6. evidence to support the problem/issue / risk or opportunity:
7. incident data
8. reports from the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
9. independent reports from specialists detailing current risks and or issues and how the project will address these
10. evidence of how the proposed changes will improve the asset’s environmental sustainability and indoor environmental quality, including completion of the checklist in Environmental sustainability requirements and checklist. Describe the benefits your project is expected to achieve supported by metrics/data to measure current performance and targeted outcomes, with timelines based on the successful delivery of the project
11. shovel-ready status and their ability to be completed within 18 months of notification of success.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Deliver the project as outlined in the application and agreed project plan.
• Provide complete information requirements.

The following supporting documentation is required:

• quotes for supply/installation including provision to ‘make good’
• a Cost Plan (including associated decanting costs, enabling infrastructure works, site/infrastructure costs, demolition, fees, contingency allocation)
• Information on scope, governance, timelines, deliverables, and benefits including lifecycle costings and payback periods (if applicable – where additional revenue and or cost savings are anticipated from the solution proposed, you must complete the Asset Lifecycle costing spreadsheet. Cost savings or additional revenue generated will be considered favourably)
• independent reports highlighting risk and / or compliance issues including proposed solutions
• online portal for applications
• the online portal, SmartyGrants, will be the means of submission.

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

Applicants can submit their applications online via the SmartyGrants portal. You will be required to create a password-protected log-in to access the application form.

Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.