By Jacquie Cheetham
Welcome to this month’s update on developments in the Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) space.
TEI & FCS Recommissioning Update
The final service specifications for the Family Connect and Support (FCS) program have been released and are available on the DCJ TEI website: Community and Family Support (CAFS) Program Specifications.
The NSW Government has approved the recommissioning approach for TEI and FCS programs under the new Community and Family Support (CAFS) program, with 5.5-year contracts.
- 96% of existing TEI and 100% of FCS contracts will be invited to negotiate new CAFS contracts from mid-September.
- •Negotiations will be finalised by end-November; as all information will need to be entered into PACS by December to ensure CAFS grant payments from January 2026.
District Update (TEI Network meeting – 4 September)
Cecily Currie (Manager, Commissioning & Planning – Sydney, SE Sydney & Northern Sydney District) advised:
- No major shifts are anticipated in Central Sydney District; providers are largely delivering the programs needed.
- Letters from DCJ will go to nominated contacts in mid-September (including Boards where listed).
- Contract Negotiation meetings will be attended by two District Commissioning & Planning staff; services may include as many staff as they wish to the meetings.
- All CPOs in the District are aware that the direction from the Central Office has been that services should discuss outputs, and where needed renegotiate outputs to ensure they are realistic and the service / workload is sustainable.
- To prepare for the contract negotiations service providers should review program specifications and share local knowledge of community needs to inform negotiations about program types and outputs.
- Parenting programs must be delivered as designed in the listed evidence based models; if services with to modify a program – they are required to submit a parenting program template.
Note:
DCJ has a new conflicts of interest policy for contracted providers of human services. The policy requires funded organisations to have their own conflicts of interest policy and register. DCJ requires these to be in place as soon as practicable and by 26 December 2025. See the DCJ website for more information – resources on the website to assist your organisation include links to policy and register templates
The Common Assessment Tool (CAT) templates are available in 12 languages: Early Intervention CAT | Communities and Justice.
Full meeting minutes will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, contact jacquie@innersydneyvoice.org.au.
Changes to NDIS: Foundational Supports / Thriving Kids:
The Australian Government has committed $2 billion to Thriving Kids — a national system of foundational supports for parents and children outside the NDIS. This program has also been referred to as Foundational Supports.
Thriving Kids will focus on identifying developmental concerns earlier and establishing a national system of supports for children aged 8 and under with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, and their families. Children with permanent and significant disability will continue to be supported through the NDIS.
The Design will be finalised with states/territories this year; first services expected from 1 July 2026.
More information: Thriving Kids – Fact Sheet
Sector & Community Consultations: Foundational Supports / Thriving Kids
DCJ invites sector workers and community members to help shape the design of foundational supports.
If you are interested but the sessions are booked-out please let us know and we can liaise with DCJ regarding other dates. jacquie@innersydneyvoice.org.au
Keep an eye out for new consultation dates: Foundational Supports for Children | Communities and Justice. As some of the local sessions are already full – including Randwick, Redfern and Bankstown in September and October.
More information: Thriving Kids – Fact Sheet
Got news for next month’s edition? Get in touch.