Capital Health Network

Capital Health Network (CHN) has received Flexible Mental Health and Suicide Prevention funding since 2016, from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA), across six key objectives and priority areas across the mental health care stepped care continuum. The aim of this funding is to commission services to best meet the needs of the community and address local needs informed by the Needs Assessments and planning processes undertaken by CHN.

Since the introduction of this funding there have been significant changes within Australia’s mental health system including policy reform, increasing complexity across service delivery systems, funding changes and heightened pressure to prioritise investment and maximise value from commissioned services.

These changes have led to impacts in the mental health service needs since the original mental health flexible funding allocation was granted. The recent Primary Health Network Program Final Report also highlighted the need for PHNs to strengthen their commissioning approaches, improve alignment with national priorities and ensure services are evidence-based, outcomes focused and responsive to local community needs.

To achieve the objectives of this review, the successful applicant will be required to review the current Mental Health flexible funding requirements and respective guidance documents relating to the Primary Mental Health Care Flexible Funding Pool and address the requirements listed below:-

• leverage existing work already undertaken within the sector to avoid duplication and maximise prior engagements. This includes previous needs assessments, stakeholder consultations and data analysis the 2025-2030 ACT Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Regional Plan: The Framework and the associated Action, Implementation and Monitoring plan (in progress) and the 2025-2030 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework 
• conduct interviews/surveys to gather evidence, summarise and present results to support your recommendations
• identify low, medium, high intensity mental health service needs in the ACT, excluding acute services not funded by the Commonwealth
• conduct an environmental scan of the current mental health and suicide prevention landscape in the ACT to identify service gaps for respective population cohorts and present analysis of the priority service types and respective supports addressed through mental health and suicide prevention flexible funding
• review the evidence, current service models and alignment with population needs
• identify areas of current service model improvement and/or innovation
• provide CHN with a clear understanding of the changing needs and value for money and evidence-based recommendations identifying priority need to guide future investment
• streamline outcome measures from commissioned services with clear measurable outcomes that align and feed into national primary mental health care monitoring and reporting systems.

Translate findings into clear service model considerations, including:

• Target populations
• Service scope and delivery approaches
• Integration and care pathways
• Outcome measures and performance expectations

Important Dates

The RFQ process commences Monday, 18th May 2026.  

The closing date and time for this RFQ is Wednesday, 5.00 pm, 3^rd June 2026.

Questions and request for information close at 5.00 pm Thursday, 28^th May 2026. Questions and requests for information must be submitted in writing to tenders@chnact.org.au. 

Additional Information

All applications must be submitted on the Response Form as a pdf to tenders@chnact.org.au. Click here to obtain a copy of the tender documentation.

The Q&As will be posted every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon unless otherwise indicated on the tender documentation.

This Approach to Market is funded utilising Primary Health Network program funding from the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.