The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is proposing to release Health Services Request for Tender (RFT) for the procurement of primary health services for Victorian public prisons from July 2023.

The Victorian Public Prison Healthcare System will be comprised of 12 prisons, two annexures, one transitional centre, and a post-sentence residential treatment facility.

The scope of primary health services may include:

• Assessments, care planning, and release planning
• General health services
• Primary mental health services
• Dental services
• Allied health services (including pharmaceuticals)
• Population health services (including health promotion)
• AOD Health Services
• A focus on priority cohorts, e.g.: Aboriginal people, women, older people (50+), people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, dual diagnosis
• Integration of services to achieve holistic person centred care with improved health outcomes.

It is estimated that the contract period, including options, may extend for up to 10 years commencing from 1 July 2023.

DJCS is looking for respondents to propose efficient and innovative delivery with multidisciplinary teams to provide service excellence and value. It is expected that RFT Respondents will have existing, or capability to develop and maintain, deep relationships with community health providers to meet the RFT requirements, including for meeting the needs of Aboriginal people in prison. RFT Respondents will be asked to address how they will be successful in building multidisciplinary teams across the system, including an Aboriginal health workforce (designated roles).

The proposed RFT is expected to be issued in the first week of January 2022.