Specialist Crisis Family and Domestic Violence Services Pilot Project

Question

Senator ASKEW: Could we move to the specialist crisis FDV services pilot project under that first action plan. I understand the project is due to be completed in mid-2026. Was this the original proposed completion date when it was first announced? Ms Lutz: I would need to take on notice what the original date was. The project is due to be completed in December 2026. Senator ASKEW: December? Ms Lutz: Yes, this year. Senator ASKEW: I'd be interested to know if that weren't the original completion date. It was due to be mid- 2026; what has caused that delay? Could you find that out on notice as well? Ms Lutz: The project was due for completion at the end of this year. There are other milestones due between now and then, which are on track. Senator ASKEW: Okay. Could you send us on notice what the milestones are and whether you're on track to deliver those. That would be great. What's the total amount of funding the department has provided to the AIHW to deliver the pilot project? Ms Lutz: I don't think I have that total number with me; I'll need to give you that on notice. Senator ASKEW: Okay. With that, could you also give me how much has been used to date and if additional funding has been required since the commencement of the project? And, if so, why, and how much? Is there funding allocated for the continuation of the project once the pilot has concluded? Has that been allocated at this point? Ms Lutz: No, it hasn't. It's very much about developing a prototype dataset. There are a couple of other projects that AIHW are doing, and I think I've talked about those at previous estimates hearings. I'm happy to provide on notice how those are going. There are three data projects which they're doing, and they are informing each other. We can provide that information. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provide support for reporting to support the national plan, so they do have an enduring role in that for the current action plan. Whilst the prototype data collection is a project, again, it is informing some of the other work they're doing for us. I can provide some more detail on those. Senator ASKEW: That would be good, especially for those three data projects and what the future might look like for those. Obviously, you're still looking to make advice for government; this is just looking at where they're heading in the meantime. What funding has been provided to the third-party consultant engaged to lead the technical stream of the work? Ms Lutz: We would need to seek advice from AIHW on that. They are very much leading that part of the project. They would have appeared yesterday.

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• DSS SQ26-000767.pdf (opens in a new tab)