Communities is procuring the following Earlier Intervention and Family Support (EIFS) programs and services in 2024–25:
- The Regional Service Model (to be renamed the Regional Family Support Hub) in the South West region.
- The Family Support Network in the Perth metropolitan corridors:
- Joondalup/Mirrabooka, Perth/Midland, Armadale/Cannington and Fremantle/Rockingham.
- Intensive Family Support Service – in metropolitan and regional locations:
- Armadale, Cannington, Fremantle, Joondalup, Midland, Mirrabooka, Perth, Peel and Rockingham
- Goldfields, Great Southern, Murchison, Wheatbelt and West Kimberley
Communities undertook a different procurement approach for EIFS programs in the metropolitan area and regional locations to increase opportunities for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver services for their communities. The approach also aligns with key objectives of Communities’ Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Strategy 2022-2032, and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Contract awarded for South West Regional Family Support Hub – January 2025
The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) has been awarded a five-year service contract to deliver the Regional Family Support Hub (the Hub) in the South West. The Hub provides intensive support to families facing complex challenges and those at risk of involvement with the child protection system.
The Hub is an integrated service system model comprised of three service streams, providing increasing levels of support according to the needs of families. The Hub has been delivered in the South West by Centrecare in partnership with Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and Lamp Inc. since the inception of the service in March 2023. The Hub also operates in the East Kimberley and the Pilbara.
SWAMS is a well-regarded, Bunbury-based ACCO which has delivered crucial services to Noongar people across the South West since 1997.
The Department of Communities will work closely with SWAMS to support the transition for families currently engaged with this service.
Update on Commissioning of the Family Support Network and Intensive Family Support Service – January 2025
The formal procurement process for the Family Support Network (FSN) is still ongoing. Communities anticipates that the successful Respondents will be announced in the second quarter of 2025. FSN service delivery for families is expected to commence in mid-2025.
The formal procurement process for the Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) in Metropolitan and Regional locations, including the Mid-West Gascoyne, is still ongoing. Communities anticipates that the successful Respondents will be announced in the second quarter of 2025, with service delivery for families expected to commence by mid-2025.
Additional information
In 2024, information on the EIFS commissioning was shared with stakeholders at the beginning of the Tender process, outlining details on the procurement approach, proposed timelines, activities, and information on how to prepare for the upcoming Tenders.
- A transcript of the presentation is available here.
- A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is available here.
FAQs
Further Information about the EIFS Commissioning can also be found on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
If you have any additional questions that have not been addressed in the FAQs, please contact the EIFS Project Team at EarlierInterventionandFamilySupport@communities.wa.gov.au.
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