Notice of RFT - Refresh and Expansion of the Professions of the Panel of Outreach Program Counsellors for the

Overview This is a pre-release notice from the Department of Veterans' Affairs providing advance notification of a proposed Request for Tender (RFT) for the Refresh and Expansion of the Professions of the Panel of Outreach Program Counsellors. Eligibility, application requirements, assessment processes, and contractual arrangements will be set out in the forthcoming RFT. No evaluation criteria, scoring methodology, or commercial terms are being released at this stage. The Department reserves the right to modify or cancel the proposed RFT at its discretion. About Background on Open Arms Open Arms is Australia's national accredited provider of mental health and wellbeing services for veterans and the families of veterans. Open Arms provides mental health counselling, relationship counselling, peer support services, and group programs for people with Australian Defence Force (ADF) service (current and former serving members) and their immediate families. Open Arms provides free and confidential counselling through a national network of multidisciplinary mental health professionals, delivered in dedicated Open Arms centres by the DVA's staff, or through the Panel, being a network of accredited mental health clinicians engaged to support the delivery of services on behalf of Open Arms across Australia through the Outreach Program. Open Arms can provide counselling, care coordination and peer support services to veterans and the families of veterans within an episode of care model, where clients engage with services for goal directed interventions for a defined period. Open Arms aims to provide timely access to appropriate services and care, based on a comprehensive holistic assessment and integrated care pathways to meet client needs and support recovery, including working in partnership with health systems and community agencies. Background on the Panel and Outreach Program Open Arms' Model of Care provides the organisational framework underpinning the delivery of all Outreach Program services, guiding trauma-informed, military-aware, recovery-oriented care, and ensuring consistent clinical governance, quality service delivery and positive client outcomes. In 2024 the Panel was established through which Outreach Providers deliver Open Arms services to clients. The Panel is the mechanism for Open Arms to engage with Outreach Providers to ensure the highest level of support can be delivered to clients. Only organisations or individuals appointed to the Panel can provide Open Arms Outreach Program Counselling Services. The categories of services delivered through the Panel include: Outreach Program Counsellors (OPCs), who provide individual, couples, or family counselling Group Program Facilitators (GPFs), who facilitate evidence-informed, military-aware group programs that strengthen resilience, build practical skills, and promote wellbeing Clinical Supervisors, who provide professional supervision to Open Arms' staff Outreach Providers on the Panel can provide one, two or all three service streams, depending on their qualifications, experience and the services they are approved to deliver. Further information is available on the Open Arms website: https://www.openarms.gov.au/about/open-arms-outreach-program Purpose In 2025 the Veterans' Entitlements (Treatment Principles) Amendment (Outreach Program Counsellor) Determination 2025 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Treatment Principles) Amendment (Outreach Program Counsellor) Determination 2025 were enacted, amending the MRCA Treatment Principles (No. MRCC 53/2013) and the Treatment Principles (Instrument 2013 No. R52) (collectively the Treatment Principles) to expand the types of professions who can provide Outreach Program Counselling as an Outreach Program Counsellor (OPC). As occupational therapists, registered nurses, social workers (general) and counsellors are now recognised as additional profession types eligible to apply to become a provider, the Department wishes to update the Panel accordingly through the proposed RFT. Eligibility The Department is looking to procure Outreach Providers from the following eligible professions: A person who is registered with AHPRA as a psychologist A person who is registered with AHPRA as an occupational therapist A person who is registered with AHPRA as a registered nurse A person who is eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers A person who is registered as a registered clinical counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia A person who is registered as a counsellor at registration category Level 3 or Level 4 with the Australian Counselling Association Limited Information Requested The RFT, where undertaken, will require tenderers to obtain and submit with their submission: The required Statement of Tax Record in compliance with the Shadow Economy Procurement Connected Policy. Potential tenderers should consider obtaining the relevant Statement(s) of Tax Record from the Australian Taxation Office in advance: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Bus/Statement-of-tax-record/ Evidence of their current Working with Children or Vulnerable People registration as per State/Territory requirements Copies of their current AASW membership certificate (or equivalent state registration board) for nominating Social Workers Copies of their current Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia registration certificate for nominating Clinical Counsellors Copies of their current Australian Counselling Association Limited registration certificate for nominating Level 3 or Level 4 Counsellors Contract Terms and Conditions The initial term of the Panel commenced 15 May 2024 and expires 30 June 2027 Up to two (2) one-year extension options are available, extending to 30 June 2029 Instructions to Tenderers This is a Notice only and is not an Approach to Market. It does not commit the Department to proceed. The Close Date and Time stated in this notice relates to this pre-release notice only and does not reflect the proposed RFT commencement and closing dates for potential tenderers to lodge their submissions. The Department is currently planning to release the RFT to market through publication on AusTender in September 2026, however this timeframe may be subject to change. The RFT, where undertaken, will be published on AusTender and will include the Closing Date and Time for lodgement of submissions. Enquiries Contact: Procurement Manager Email: OPCREFRESH.CONTACTOFFICER@dva.gov.au