Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Table of contents:

A focus on quality data

Brokerage - does your agency broker or subcontract services?

Reporting arrangements for brokerage and subcontracting can be confusing, so we thought we would explain the difference between the two. This article will hopefully assist you in determining whether the service you provide is brokered or subcontracted.

Brokerage is a system whereby an agency is employed to arrange the provision of services to a service user by another agency. The brokering agency reports under service type 2.06 and the service providing direct support reports under the appropriate service type (if they are CSTDA funded). An example of brokerage is where an NGO manages emergency funds on behalf of DSQ.

Subcontracted services are provided by another agency but are considered an extension of the service type outlet that pays the subcontractor. That is, they are considered as part of the activities of the originating agency. An example of subcontracting is where an agency obtains contract staff to cover a shift. The subcontracting agency reports information on all services and the subcontracted agency does not report.

The fundamental difference between brokerage and subcontracting is the element of responsibility and control. A brokering agency transfers responsibility for and control of the service delivery to another agency. A subcontracting agency retains responsibility and control by specifying the terms and conditions of service delivery.

For further explanation of how to report brokered and subcontracted services, please see page 101 of the DS NMDS Data Guide, available from the publications and resources page.

Next newsletter: How to report brokerage.

Diary dates

  • Deadline for third quarter data lodgement: 30 April

Change of DS NMDS website address

Old address:

  • http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/cstda/

New address:

HelpLine call statistics

Requests for Help 2004-05

October 2004 to March 2005

  • Phone: 1104
  • E-mail: 191
  • Total: 1295

Monthly average

  • Phone: 184
  • E-mail: 32
  • Total: 216

Online Data Collection (ODC) - 2004-05

All ODC agencies should have authorised data for the first two quarters and should authorise their third quarter data any time during April 2005. If you do not authorise your data, DSQ cannot extract your information for NMDS reporting purposes. Agencies should also now be entering data for the fourth quarter.

The ODC Authorising Officer Package is available at:

  • http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/ds-nmds/

    • If any of your ODC user details have changed, please update them by going to https://odc.disability.qld.gov.au, then selecting Administration > My details.

    To keep up to date with all current issues with ODC, please visit the ODC News page.

    Individual funding

    DSQ provides funding for individuals under a range of program areas such as Adult Lifestyle Support (ALSP), Post School Services (PSS), Project 300 and Family Support Program (FSP).

    The relationship between funding programs and service types needs to be considered by agencies when configuring their service type outlets within the collection.

    A service user may receive an individualised package that funds one or more service types. For example, ALSP can be used to provide in-home accommodation support (1.06) as well as community access (3.01). The agency providing the services will need to report under two service type outlets.

    Multiple packages may be used to provide only one service type for an individual. For example, community access services received by an individual may be funded from a PSS package as well as block funding. In this scenario, the agency would report under one service type outlet only.

    Where a number of service users in receipt of individualised funding receive a particular service type from a discrete location by an agency, the service users are reported under the one service type outlet. For example, if 10 users receive in-home accommodation from agency X based at 75 Jones Street, all 10 users are reported against the one service type outlet. There is no benefit in reporting against separate service type outlets for different service users receiving the same service type from the same location.

    Building client capacity

    As many of you would be aware DSQ has been implementing the DS NMDS Client Capacity Building and Support (CCB) project since April 2004. The project was designed to assist CSTDA funded agencies with complying with their DS NMDS reporting requirements and to enhance their ability to report quality data.

    The project was due to end on 31 March, however, a number of opportunities have arisen that have enabled DSQ to extend the project until 30 June 2005. Given two of the original four project officers involved in the initiative have taken up alternative lifestyle choices, the field visits and client servicing arrangements have been altered for the remaining three months of the project. The arrangements are as follows:

    CCB Project Officer: Karen Borsody-Nagy

    Contact Number: 0403 209 434

    Service Area: North Queensland and Remote, and Central Queensland/Wide Bay

    CCB Project Officer: Edwardo Flores

    Contact Number: 0403 209 436

    Service Area: Brisbane, Ipswich/South West Queensland and Gold Coast

    CCB Project Officer: Lynda MacKenzie

    Contact Number: 0403 209 437

    Service Area: Sunshine Coast and Brisbane and Systemic Projects

    DSQ DS NMDS help available

    If you have a query and cannot find the answer after checking the DS NMDS Resource Kit, either call the HelpLine or send an e-mail to us.

    Remember, your call is important, so if the HelpLine is busy, leave a message on the voicemail and we will respond at the first opportunity.