Question:
Hi, Could you please clarify the following questions (i have also sent these to the procurementsolutions email address as per Tender requirements)

1. Will the carers continue to be considered a’ volunteer’ of the department or be considered an employee of the provider, or both?

2. Will the carer enter into a contract with the NGO or the Department to become a ‘professional carer’? Or will this remain as same ‘carer agreement’.

3. Has Department considered/developed a contract or alike for carers considering becoming a professional carer outlining roles, responsibilities, guidelines and general expectations?

4. Does the professional carer commence receiving allowance at the time of approval and awaiting placement of child?

5. Can a current carer (general or kin) transition to be a professional carer, if they have extensive experience and/or qualifications and currently caring for children with complex needs? We understand the department are seeking new carers but wanted to confirm if existing carers are eligible to apply.

6. Is the Department seeking multiple providers in each region? Or one provider for each region?

7. How will respite be paid; and at what level will this be paid? By Department as the current process or is it expected the NGO to pay from funding?

8. Can a professional foster carer have multiple young people as a part of this pilot? If so, is it correct to assume they would only be entitled to be paid ‘one professional carer allowance’ however would be entitled to all the carers allowances?

9. If the placement is ended by the Department, maybe due to reunification or harm concerns, what is the notice period for the carer? Does the carer continue to get all payments when no child is in placement or do they only get the ‘professional carer allowance’ component when no child is in placement? What happens if a harm report occurs and the child is removed pending investigation - does the carer continue to get all payments until outcome received and child either returned to placement or not?

10. Once pilot is completed and if Department make the decision not to continue to fund this program, will these carers go back into main stream services and only be eligible for carer allowance?

Answered on 10/Mar/2026 08:28 AM:


Please see the attached Addendum_Clarification _01

Question:
What happens to existing foster carers who may already be caring for children with a disability and complex needs who are at risk of entering a residential care system? Is the scope to assess their ability to transition to a Professional Foster Carer?

Answered on 10/Mar/2026 08:28 AM:


Please see the attached Addendum_Clarification _02

Question:
What happens if a match breaks down? Will the YP return to residential care if there are no other PFCs available ?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:17 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
How are the costs associated with pre-approval, home and psychological assessments, and training going to be covered if a potential candidate does not get approval or circumstances change?

Is there are funding package for this initial body of work?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:20 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
What is in place to prevent existing foster carers with the required skills from switching from the current foster care model to professional foster care model where there are still young people in their care? What happens to those YP?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:20 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
What is in place to prevent existing foster carers with the required skills from switching from the current foster care model to professional foster care model where there are still young people in their care? What happens to those YP? Would those Young people be at risk of going to residential care or to another foster care placement?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:21 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
Who owns the intellectual rights associated with the development of the program?

Answered on 18/Mar/2026 12:10 PM:


Please see Addendum 8 for your response

Question:
Is there a guaranteed amount of funding for the various phases ?

Phase 1 – Recruitment / Targeting

Phase 2 – Approvals and Training

Phase 3 – Ongoing support and service delivery

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:22 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
How are the costs of the YPs day to day care needs paid for?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:21 PM:


Please see addendum 04

Question:
Can you confirm the evaluation criteria weighting (e.g., percentages for each of the 7 criteria) and any sub-criteria that will be considered during assessment?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:24 PM:


Please see addendum 06

Question:
How many suppliers do you anticipate selecting for Phase 1, and will contracts be awarded per geographic catchment (e.g., separately for Townsville) or as a single statewide provider?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:23 PM:


Please see addendum 06

Question:
Can alternative or innovative quotes (as encouraged in the RFQ Conditions) include variations to the service model, and how will these be evaluated against standard responses?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 03:23 PM:


Please see addendum 06

Question:
How will the department identify and refer eligible children and young people (CYP) for the pilot

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:41 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
What is the role of the department's Professional Carer Coordinator in detail (e.g., how will they interact with suppliers for support, partnerships with NDIS/Health/Education, and issue resolution)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:41 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
The personas (e.g., Dan, Jane, Morgan) and PFC personas (e.g., Sarah, Lillian & Bill, Kerry) are provided—how should these inform our response, and are there additional CYP profiles or data for the Townsville region?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:40 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
The personas (e.g., Dan, Jane, Morgan) and PFC personas (e.g., Sarah, Lillian & Bill, Kerry) are provided—how should these inform our response, and are there additional CYP profiles or data for the Townsville region?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:40 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
For enhanced carer support, what specific therapeutic services or multidisciplinary teams are expected to be coordinated, and is there guidance on integrating with NDIS plans (e.g., for CYP like Morgan who have partial NDIS coverage)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:41 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
The RFQ references compliance with the Placement of Children in Care Policy (578) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle—what additional resources or templates will be provided for matching and cultural support plans?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:41 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
What are the key differences or expectations between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the pilot, and how will learnings from Phase 1 influence Phase 2 procurement?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:42 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
If someone is identified as a PFC but lives in a home that is not suitable (e.g. living in a one bedroom apartment) will the department support the PFC in securing a suitable home so they can be a PFC?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:42 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
How many partners is the department looking to appoint to this program?

a. If awarded is 10 PFC quota the minimum contract awarded?

b. Are we measured on how many PFC we activated?

c. If we activate more than the 10 (or whatever number awarded) will we be compensated further (increasing/variation in contract)

d. Being that we don’t control the decision around the PFC being appointed are we also being measured by how much candidates we present who meet all the criteria leading up to the final approval?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:42 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Is the $200,000 per place per annum (excluding GST) fixed, or can it vary based on CYP needs? How should we account for escalation (e.g., inflation) over the pilot period?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:42 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
In the Pricing Template (Attachment A), the codes are U6004, T215, A02.2.02S—can you confirm these align with the Family Based Care Services Investment Specification, and provide any additional codes if needed for deliverables like training or allowances?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:42 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
How should brokerage funding be budgeted and reported (e.g., for specialized training or therapeutic supports), and is there a cap per PFC?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:43 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
For carer allowances (up to $100,000/annum total remuneration), what evidence of independent legal/financial advice is required in the response, and are there department-approved templates for Professional Foster Care Agreements?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:43 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Are in-kind contributions (e.g., existing facilities) eligible to offset costs, and how should they be valued in Criterion 6 (Cost Effectiveness)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:43 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Is the $100,000 in funding for the PFC purely compensation?

a. If it is not just for the PFC as compensation what costs are they expected to cover for the YP?

b. If it is just for the PFC as compensation, what other allowances are provided to the PFC for the child e.g. daily food allowance, pocket money, travel allowance etc.

c. If the $100,000 is purely compensation for the PFC and they are paid only for the bed nights they deliver are we expected to use that bed night rate to pay the respite worker? If not how are we expected to pay respite workers?

d. If respite requires the YP to stay at an alternative residence or with a Residential Care provider who covers those organisational costs?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:43 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Will $100,000 per annum awarded to the organisation per PFC be paid in advance quarterly? Please elaborate on the payment timing and amounts.

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:44 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Based on the skills the department requires we estimate that the market rate for a worker with this type of experience will be greater than the $100,000 per annum especially considering the 24x7 nature of the work. Is there room to expand the compensation if candidates are surfaced but who would earn more in a salaried role working 40 hours per week?

a. In the event the YP has to be removed from the placement with the PFC for no fault of the PFC what compensation can the PFC expect to receive whilst they await another placement, taking into account that this is their primary income.

b. Is there additional funding for PFCs who take on YPs with more complex needs? Taking into account that every case will be different is there not potential that PFCs will decline more extreme cases unless compensated more?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:44 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
The $15,000 allocated for Brokerage is to cover what costs?

Answered on 18/Mar/2026 10:19 AM:


Please see Addendum 7 Question 11 for your reference.

Question:
In the event that a YP needs respite (outside of the PFC’s home) who covers the costs of the respite?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:44 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
As we are expecting the PFC to support YPs with complex needs what has been modelled as forecasted levels of respite? E.g. 2 days per fortnight?

a. If the PFC needs respite will the YP go to another placement for the respite period?

b. For many YPs transition to a placement that is not familiar can be unsettling. If a PFC agrees to allow a respite worker to stay over at their home and care for the YP, will the department cover the costs of the PFC to stay somewhere else?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:44 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Regarding the Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF), how does it apply to this pilot (e.g., certification vs. self-assessment), and what are the estimated costs and timelines for third-party audits if certification is required?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:45 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
What specific insurance policies and minimum coverage amounts are required under Section 1, Part B, item 4 (beyond workers' compensation)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:45 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
For Ethical Supplier Threshold compliance, are there any additional checks or documentation required beyond the declarations in the supplier response template?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:45 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
If subcontracting is proposed, what terms or conditions might the department impose (as per Clause 22 of the Standard Terms)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:45 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Can you provide more details on the proposed pilot evaluation framework (e.g., key performance indicators, data collection requirements, and how suppliers will monitor outcomes)?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:46 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
What is the structure and frequency of the Community of Practice, and how will it facilitate collaboration with stakeholders like Placement Services Unit and Child Safety Service Centres?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:46 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
How will de-identified data from PFCs (with consent) be shared for evaluation, and are there privacy protocols or templates for this?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:46 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Are there any reporting templates or systems (e.g., for financial management of allowances) that suppliers should reference in their implementation plan?

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:46 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 7

Question:
Hello

Are attachments permitted (such as model diagram) in addition to the 2 page per criteria response limit.

Answered on 17/Mar/2026 08:49 AM:


Please see attached Addendum 3 Question 06

Question:
Could the department clarify how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (Child Protection Act 1999, ss 5C & 83) and Placement of Children in Care Policy (578) apply in the PFC Pilot when suitable kin express interest but do not initially meet all enhanced skill/qualification criteria for Professional Foster Carers? Would kin still be eligible for approval (or provisional approval), with the service provider to work with them ongoing through training, supervision, and brokerage to build the required capabilities?

Answered on 23/Mar/2026 09:03 AM:


Please see Addendum 15 for your response.