Regional Health Infrastructure Fund

The key objectives of RHIF 2023-24 are to assist regional and rural health services to:

• mitigate infrastructure risk and to maintain patient safety, healthcare worker safety, service availability and business continuity
• enhance service capacity, support contemporary models of care and improve patient and staff amenity
• sustain and improve infrastructure assets that provide essential capacity for delivering responsive and appropriate clinical services across rural and regional public health facilities
• provide a stronger role for outer regional services that will allow care to be safely provided closer to where people live
• further incentivise health services and agencies to implement effective asset management that aligns with existing government frameworks and policies.

1. Regulatory and Compliance
2. Quality and Safety
3. Respond to Growing Demand/Capability

Funding is available to Victorian regional and sub-regional and rural:

• health services
• local and small rural health services
• multipurpose services
•  public residential aged care services
• registered community health services
• bush nursing hospitals and centres
• women’s health services
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
• publicly funded community specialist palliative care services

Applicants may be ineligible for consideration in this funding round where they have received funding under previous RHIF rounds and either:

• failed to substantially commence their project within two years of receipt of funds
• failed to fully comply with conditions of funding (for example, submission of progress reports, acquittals, unapproved change of scope)
• failed to complete their projects within approved timeframes.

Funds are available for projects which include:

• Construction: minor infrastructure including replacement, reconfiguration, remodelling, and refurbishment projects (including minor extensions) to address aged building fabric, compliance, and demand issues
• Non construction: equipment (medical equipment, engineering infrastructure and plant)
• Information and communications technology (ICT)
• New technologies including systems to reduce usage and increase efficiencies of power and / or water
• Compliance related capital and /or upgrade works (e.g., AS4187 including pandemic improvement / readiness, Fire, and life safety works) and
• Motor vehicles – eligibility restricted to bush nursing centres only.

The following are examples of items that may be supported:

• construction works.
• fire safety
• infection prevention and control
• minor medical equipment
• healthcare worker safety

A series of support resources are identified in Appendix 2 of the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund – Guidelines.

Ineligible and excluded items include:

• operational funding (including recurrent costs for items such as subscriptions, licencing, ongoing support etc.)
• funding for direct costs of internal staff (such as project managers, ICT personnel, etc)
• health service internal administration costs in excess of 1.5% of Total Estimated Investment (TEI)
• fixtures, fittings and furniture not associated with a refurbishment project or specialty medical
  equipment. 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
• general building maintenance such as cleaning, painting, general repairs
• Master Planning
• motor vehicles (eligibility restricted to bush nursing centres only).

1. Project risks, mitigation and dependencies (Unweighted)

• Regulatory and Compliance (Green/Red)
• Quality and Safety (Green/Red)
• Respond to Growing Demand and Capability (Green/Red)

2. Governance and project oversight (including past RHIF performance) (Unweighted)

• Regulatory and Compliance
• Quality and Safety
• Respond to Growing Demand and Capability

3. Strategic alignment – aligned to statement of priorities, strategic plan, service plan and master plan (Regulatory and Compliance 10%) (Quality and Safety 20%) (Respond to Growing Demand and Capability 30%)

4. Improved patient experience & quality of care (Regulatory and Compliance 40%) (Quality and Safety 30%) (Respond to Growing Demand and Capability 10%)

5. Increased system efficiency and enhance service capacity (Regulatory and Compliance 30%) (Quality and Safety 20%) (Respond to Growing Demand and Capability 30%)

6. Improved workforce experience and safety (Regulatory and Compliance 20%) (Quality and Safety 30%) (Respond to Growing Demand and Capability 10%)

7. Improved regional communities and economies (Respond to Growing Demand and Capability 10%)

You need to ensure your health service or agency is eligible for the funding.

Applicants should read the guidelines and FAQs in full before starting.

Successful applicants will address the selection criteria and respond to the online questions thoroughly.

All submissions must be:

• from an eligible agency
• endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer
• supported by your CSI representative
• submitted via the online portal SmartyGrants submission form and include relevant supporting
  documentation (for example, project management plan (or business case), design drawings,
  photos, cost plans, quotations, letters of support and other supporting information)
• received no later than the closing date and time on 11 September 2023 at 5:00 pm
• unless exceptional circumstances apply, submissions received after the specified time and date will be deemed ineligible for consideration.

Each submission should address the selection criteria and include a full description of the scope of the project, key deliverables, likely benefits, project readiness, funding sought (including contingency allowances), and how key risks would be mitigated.

The following supporting documentation is required:

• Project management plan (PMP) for construction projects
• Detailed design drawings, master plans, functional plans, elevations ready for Tender or Issued for Construction stage accompanied by appropriate technical specifications
• Detailed cost plan from an independent professional quantity surveyor or cost planner, which includes associated decanting costs, infrastructure connection/upgrade costs, site/infrastructure costs, demolition, fees, which includes acceptable allowances for design, construction contingencies, escalation and cost risk
• Documentation and procurement processes in place to enable invitation of market tenders for
  construction / delivery quotations.
• Quotations from external suppliers for equipment purchases, supply/installation (including provision to ‘make good’ if appropriate)
• Schedule of specialist medical equipment (including cost estimates for individual items)
• Realistic timeframes for completion, accompanied by an appropriately detailed programme and timeline predictions in line with VHBA milestone dates
• Regulatory approvals (planning, building etc) are in place and conditions able to be satisfied within Total End Investment (TEI) estimates
• Evidence of discussions and at minimum, email confirming support or in-principle acceptance by CSI
• Other information that could be submitted may include:
  1. photographs of existing conditions and computer drafted imagery or artists impressions of future state
  2. procurement framework for non-construction projects
  3. independent reports (audits, non-compliance reports or improvement notices) highlighting risk and/or compliance issues including recommendations and proposed solutions
  4. risk registers.

All applications are to be submitted online via the Smarty Grants Portal.

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