Community services quality governance framework

The framework outlines the principles, domains, roles and responsibilities of quality governance and includes measures of success, and indicators of poor quality governance.

The Community Services Quality Governance Framework sets the objective of safe, effective, connected and person-centred community services for everybody, every time.

The framework is to be used across all community services delivered, funded and regulated by us.

Community services include, but are not limited to:

  • child protection
  • child and family services
  • disability services
  • housing and homelessness services
  • family violence services
  • community based health services.

We provide, fund and regulate community services that have a real and tangible impact on people’s lives. 

Every person in the community services system has a duty to keep the people who use our services safe from preventable harm. This is, and must be, our non-negotiable starting point when delivering positive outcomes for all Victorians.

The department, sector and service providers all have an important role to play in collectively preventing harm and delivering an evidence-informed approach to meet the unique needs of our community. Effective quality governance is fundamental to consistently delivering safe, effective, connected and person-centred community services. 

The framework aligns with Safer Care Victoria's Clinical Governance Framework. This is important given that some organisations, for example mental health, community support services, community health services and community alcohol and other drug services can use both documents. 

The use of data and evidence to drive critical inquiry and promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement is an important focus for implementation of the framework. 

The Community Services Quality and Safety Office will focus on building the capacity of the community services system to embed quality governance. The framework will be implemented across the service system in a supported manner, with all involved organisations ensuring that a quality governance approach is in place.

More information

For more information on the Community Services Quality and Safety Office or the Community Services Quality Governance Framework, email csqso@dhhs.vic.gov.au or call 03 9096 0464.