The Queensland Mental Health Commission is seeking ITO submissions for the Evaluation of Local Thriving Communities Social and Emotional Wellbeing Programs.

Background

The Commission and the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts (DTATSIPCA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the purpose to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland, through local First Nations community leadership or local decision-making bodies, to co-design community-led, place-based, social and emotional wellbeing initiatives that improve mental health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes, reduce harms and increase safety associated with alcohol and other drug use, and reduce rates of suicide in First Nations communities.

Social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is the foundation for physical and mental health. It is a holistic model which considers a network of relationships between individuals, family, kin and community to promote wellbeing. It also includes the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality and ancestry, and how these affect the individual's life and community more broadly.

While many communities are impacted by substance use and suicide, the prevalence is statistically higher for First Nations peoples which is compounded by intergenerational trauma, disadvantage, racism and the ongoing impacts of post-colonialism.

The purpose of this evaluation is to:

• identify and measure social and emotional wellbeing outcomes and impact of initiatives funded under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• understand how each initiative is working to alleviate its stated problem and to build community strengths and resilience.
• develop an evidence base to inform what works for First Nations communities, to inform contemporary policy directions, and to support the sustainability of the initiatives beyond the term of the MoU

For detailed information on the specific services sought under this tender, please review the "Specification Documents", particularly the "Invitation to Offer (ITO): Evaluation of Local Thriving Communities Social and Emotional Wellbeing Programs" document.

Online briefing session

The Commission will hold an online briefing session via Microsoft Teams videoconference on Tuesday 28 May 2024 at 10:00am AEST. Attendance is encouraged, but it is not mandatory in order to submit an offer.

To RSVP and register to attend, please email contracts@qmhc.qld.gov.au with the full names and email addresses of all attendees from your organisation by close of business on Friday 24 May 2024. This session will also be recorded and made available on this QTenders page afterwards.

ITO related questions and responses

Please post all ITO related questions to the QTender Online Forum linked to this page, which is public and available for all Suppliers to view. All Commission responses will be posted here (pending any technical issues).

If you are unable to access or post to the Online Forum, please send an email to contracts@qmhc.qld.gov.au. Questions will be accepted up until close of business on Monday 3 June 2024, to allow responses to be drafted and published before the tender closing date.