Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST)

 

BEST Grant Round 14 (2012-13): Future Steps

On Friday, 9 December 2011, members of the ESO Round Table met with representatives of the Minister Snowdon’s Office and DVA to discuss how to manage the BEST grants program in the future. This was the first occasion that such a meeting had occurred and is a milestone event that will lay the foundations for a more collaborative approach to BEST grants funding rounds.

The meeting discussed a range of issues and complexities that surround the current approach to the lodgement and assessment of BEST grant applications.

It was agreed, in the context of the forecast BEST budget, that a new process would be introduced. To this end:

  • DVA will arrange two special meetings of the ESORT to discuss and advise the Department before it made recommendations to the Minister about the allocation of Round 14 BEST grants;
  • DVA will provide ESORT members with details of both previous and future BEST rounds (ie Rounds 13 and 14 respectively) to assist this process. This will include workload information.

This will mean that applications for BEST Round 14 will not open in January as has occurred in past years. A revised timeline for the submission of BEST Round 14 applications will be notified following the January ESO Round Table meeting.

DVA is pleased with the outcomes of this initial meeting and is looking forward to continued closer liaison with the ESO Round Table on this matter. Members also expressed their appreciation to DVA for the opportunity to be so closely involved in advising the Minister on the allocation of BEST grants.

Service Delivery Integration Grant

Applications for the Service Delivery Integration (SDI) Grant closed on 30 November 2011.

The documents below are for information only.

SDI Application Kit documents

The SDI grant was a one-off grant to assist organisations to conduct feasibility studies to identify more collaborative and efficient arrangements for the provision of pensions, advocacy and welfare services to veterans into the future.

Organisations that applied for Phase 1 funding are now eligible for consideration for Phase 2 funding provided they submit a completed Service Delivery Integration Plan.

The final date for submission of a Service Delivery Integration Plan is 30 March 2012.

For further information about the SDI Grant please call 1800 026 185 and ask to speak to a member of the SDI Grants Team or email advocacywelfare@dva.gov.au.

What is the BEST program?

The Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Grants program forms part of the Government’s commitment to support the role of ex-service organisation (ESO) pensions and welfare practitioners and advocates, who provide advice and assistance to the veteran and defence communities. BEST assists by providing a contribution to the work of ESO practitioners. BEST links closely to the Training and Information Program (TIP). TIP provides the essential skills for claims, advocacy and welfare work in organisations that receive BEST funding.

BEST also provides funding for National ESOs to encourage co-operation and communication between the ex-service community, ESOs and the Australian Government.   Funding for National ESOs aims to encourage the advancement of the objectives of ESOs.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the BEST program are to:

  • improve the quality of claims received at the primary determining level, and assist ESOs in achieving this objective; 
  • reduce the rate of appeals to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); 
  • promote the provision of welfare services and assist with access to the veteran and defence community.  BEST-funded organisations will provide information on a wide range of available welfare services and benefits; and/or
  • provide support to National ESOs that are directly assisting their state and local branches in the provision of pension, welfare and advocacy services.

Review of DVA-funded Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) Advocacy and Welfare Services

The full Review Report (PDF 625 KB) (RTF 11 MB), Charts and Graphs (PDF 221 KB) (RTF 49 MB) are available at this link.  The recommendations in the Report endeavoured to build increased consistency in approach within and across the three grant programs, and give a greater degree of transparency and accountability, while endeavouring to establish program structures that will see their contribution well into the future.   In doing so, the review accounted for the valuable contribution of the volunteer workforce which always has the welfare and interests of the veteran community as its priority.  The Government has accepted all 45 recommendations which are being implemented progressively.

More information

If you need more information the BEST program please contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

For further information on BEST Guidelines and Application Form and on the TIP training program, go to the links below: