Certification cost grants

The certification cost grant contributes substantially, if not completely, towards the costs of undertaking an external certification audit.

Certification cost grants are calculated each financial year and are based on a number of factors including:

• number of service-type outlets
• number of regions
• number of remote and very remote sites to be audited.

This calculation estimates the number of audit days and audit costs that each specialist disability service provider is likely to incur during the audit process. The estimated audit cost amount is called a benchmarked audit cost.

The actual cost of a certification audit is negotiated between the specialist disability service provider and the certification body, and may be higher or lower than the estimated benchmarked audit cost paid by Department of Communities (Disability and Community Care Services).

Using the certification cost grant

Certification cost grants are intended to be used for the following activities related to the external certification audit:

• registration - initial set up of contract and annual administration by a certification body
• actual audit costs - may include audit planning, documentation review, site visits, report writing and follow up
• travel and accommodation for audit team members where travel is required.

Receiving the certification cost grant

Specialist disability service providers receive the certification cost grant in the financial year in which they plan to undertake an external certification audit. Specialist disability service providers should inform the local community resource officer about their intended certification date and notify them of any changes to this date.

For more information on certification cost grants, specialist disability service providers should refer to Resource Kit 1 or contact the community resource officer at their local Disability Services office.