Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

A service development grant is a non-recurrent grant paid to recurrently funded specialist disability service providers to assist them with activities related to the development, implementation and maintenance of their quality management system.

Service development grants are based on service-type outlet information contained in the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS). Grants are calculated each financial year using a base grant (e.g. 10 units) for each agency plus an amount (e.g. 1 unit) for each additional recurrently funded service-type outlet that a specialist disability service operates. Loading (e.g. 1 unit) applies for each recurrently funded service-type outlet in remote and very remote locations.

Using the service development grant

The Department of Communities (Disability and Community Care Services) recognises that each specialist disability service provider has a unique organisational structure and quality management system. The department is committed to providing a flexible approach to how specialist disability service providers use financial assistance.

Specialist disability service providers can use the service development grant in a variety of ways which may include, but are not limited to:

  • establishing an internal review program
  • engaging a facilitator to assist with strategies to encourage service user participation in planning activities
  • developing induction information for new staff
  • backfilling for staff attending training or development workshops
  • any other activities related to the development, implementation or maintenance of an internal quality system.

Receiving the service development grant

Service development grants have been paid to recurrently funded specialist disability service providers for each financial year since 2003-04.

Previous activities have included:

Certified specialist disability service providers are only eligible to receive one service development grant per financial year.

For further information on service development grants, specialist disability service providers should refer to the service development and audit cost grants information sheet (PDF, 59 KB) or contact the community resource officer at their local Disability Services office.