Invitation for Expressions of Interest for
Evaluation Partner for Volunteer Community Peer Navigator Pilot Program
(North Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region)
Date Advertised: Friday 18 June 2021
Submission Due Date: Wednesday 28 July 2021
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland are partnering with Moreton Bay Regional Council and other key partners to pilot a Volunteer Community Peer Navigator Program in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region to support the mental health and social inclusion needs of older people impacted by COVID-19. The program is funded by the Brisbane North PHN from April 2020 – March 2021.
Part A: Background
In June 2019, Brisbane North PHN engaged COTA Queensland to work with key stakeholders across the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region with an interest and expertise in mental health, to establish an Older Persons Action Group (OPAG) to prioritise and progress actions in Part B, Chapter 6 of Planning for Wellbeing – A regional plan for North Brisbane and Moreton Bay focusing on mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment services 2018-2023. This aligned to actions in the Five-year health care plan for older people who live in Brisbane North 2017-2022. Consumers and carers with a lived experience of mental health conditions participated in the action group to improve health outcomes for older people in the region.
Key priorities identified by OPAG
- improving community knowledge of available information and resources,
- increasing GP awareness of available community supports and services,
- actively engaging older people in conversations that reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviour,
- supporting carers, particularly ageing carers, to sustain good mental health.
Key recommendations made by OPAG
- Focus on early intervention and prevention,
- Empower older people and carers to gain confidence using technology to access online services and supports to maintain their wellbeing, stay connected and adapt to changing circumstances,
- Pilot a peer navigator program in the Moreton Bay Region,
- Deliver a small community mental health awareness event in the region.
Key outcomes
- October 2020: COTA Queensland partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council and Wellways Australia to deliver a COVID-safe Wellbeing event at the Caboolture Hub with funding from the Queensland Mental Health Week community grants program.
- January 2021: COTA Queensland partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council to co-design and pilot a Volunteer Community Peer Navigator Program at Bribie Island Library (Jan to June 2021) with funding from the Brisbane North PHN.
- April 2021: COTA Queensland partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council to roll out the Volunteer Community Peer Navigator Program to 3 additional sites in the Moreton Bay region. COTA Queensland are currently seeking an additional delivery partner to roll out the program to a further site in North Brisbane. The delivery sites align with the locations of the Brisbane North PHN Mental Health hubs. The roll-out program is funded by the Brisbane North PHN.
Part B – Specification
COTA Queensland is seeking expressions of interest (EOI’s) for the provision of services outlined below. EOI’s must be submitted via email no later than 5.00pm, Wednesday 28 July 2021.
- Project Purpose and Deliverables
The aim of the program is to empower older people and their carers to access relevant services and supports and gain confidence in using digital technologies to maintain their mental and social wellbeing and adapt to changing circumstances.
COTA Queensland is seeking a consultant to undertake the evaluation of the volunteer community peer navigator pilot program. This will involve reviewing the findings from the Bribie Island pilot program (i.e., session delivery data from April – June 2021, with around 20 participants engaged in the program during this time and final funders report), revising key evaluation documentation to inform the development and implementation of the extended (roll-out) program across the region[1]; ongoing data collection, collation and analysis throughout delivery of the roll-out project, including follow-up interviews with participants who have given their consent; and end of project focus groups, surveys and/or interviews with partners, peer navigators and identified participants.
Peer navigator sessions will be delivered concurrently across all 4 sites from October 2021 to February 2022 (excluding school holidays). Peer navigators will be located in three Moreton Bay regional libraries and an additional site in North Brisbane (tbc) one full day or two half days per week at a pop-up table. They will actively engage in one-to-one meaningful conversations[2], in-person with older people and their carers. Provision will be made for peer navigators to access a meeting room for conversations about more sensitive issues. Peer navigators identify the specific needs and priorities of individuals and direct them to the most appropriate services and supports, including health and wellbeing, social, cultural and community services and supports.
Peer Navigators support older people and their carers to access relevant mental health services and supports via the Brisbane North PHN Mental Health Service Navigation team. They also help demystify the digital world to break down the barriers to use and direct individuals to online learning resources. Peer Navigators have access to an iPad but will link individuals to online services and supports through their own devices (e.g., tablets, smartphones).
Peer Navigators will be allocated a specific geography to maximise time value and help build community relationships. However, there will be opportunities to work across sites, to cover for absences and develop their knowledge of wider services and supports across the region, through peer-to-peer learning.
The consultant will be expected to work with COTA Queensland and partner organisations to review existing data sources to incorporate into the overall evaluation. This may include, but is not limited to, working with COTA Queensland staff and volunteers, Brisbane North PHN staff, Moreton Bay Regional Council staff.
It is anticipated that the final product will act as a key resource in evaluating, improving operations, implementation and building the evidence base of the model for seeking future funding. The final product will demonstrate the peer navigator model approach and enable distribution of its learnings through COTA Queensland, partners, funders and the wider community.
This work should include at minimum:
- Reviewing evaluation of the initial volunteer community peer navigator pilot program (Bribie Island) to inform the program roll-out across the region,
- Reviewing and revising the existing evaluation framework and engagement tools to inform the program roll-out across the region,
- Collection, collation, analysis of data and information for the program roll-out, including but not limited to, surveys, interviews, focus groups and other qualitative data collection,
- Detailed reporting and communication of the evaluation framework outcomes, data and analysis, and
- Recommendations for sustainability of ongoing evaluation activities and the broader framework.
The consultant has scope to recommend an appropriate and innovative manner in which to present the work. However, the format of the final product is subject to approval by COTA Queensland and the Brisbane North PHN.
The consultant will participate in two initial planning meetings (i.e., July and August, approx. 3 hours duration each) and monthly progress meetings from September 2021 to January 2022 (i.e., approx. 1-2 hours duration) comprised of staff and volunteers from COTA Queensland, including a lived experience consultant, as well as representatives from partner organisations.
Overall project deliverable and timelines
Below is a summary of the overall project deliverables and timelines, the majority of which will be the responsibility of COTA Queensland, in partnership with Moreton Bay Regional Council. However, the consultant will be required to work with the partners to complete the evaluation-related work between July 2021 and March 2022. This includes reviewing the findings from the Bribie pilot, reviewing and revising the evaluation framework and engagement tools, as well as data collection, collation and analysis and preparing the final evaluation report.
| Phase | Deliverables | Deadline by |
| Phase 1 | Scoping meetings with key stakeholders; draft EOIs and recruit project team. | 31 May 2021 |
| Phase 2 | Advertise peer navigator roles, establish steering groups; scoping meetings with potential partners; advertise for evaluation partner; and draft comms and marketing plan, including preparing promotional materials. | 31 July 2021 |
| Phase 3 | Key stakeholder workshop (mid-Aug), induct and train peer navigators; engage evaluation partner and review findings, evaluation framework and engagement tools from Bribie pilot; finalise evaluation framework and engagement tools; finalise comms and marketing strategy; procure equipment; identify stallholder/speaking opportunities and ongoing promotions. | 30 Sept 2021 |
| Phase 4 | Program launch and delivery; ongoing data collection, collation and analysis; supervision of peer navigators; attend relevant events to promote program; monthly progress meetings. | 11 Feb 2022 |
| Phase 5 | Delivery of focus groups, interviews and surveys, final data collection, collation and analysis; reporting evaluation outcomes and final reporting to funders. | 31 March 2022
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- Organisational resources
To assist in the completion of this work, the consultant will have access to the following resources:
- Personnel and stakeholders
- COTA Queensland Chief Executive, Project Officer (Wellbeing), Lived Experience Consultant and Volunteer Admin Assistant,
- COTA Queensland Volunteer Community Peer Navigators.
- Moreton Bay Regional Council Library Programs Officer (Adult and Community) and other relevant staff, including the Bribie Island Library Branch Manager,
- Relevant program documentation; including but not limited to:
- Bribie Island pilot evaluation findings and report,
- Bribie Island pilot evaluation framework and engagement tools,
- Relevant guidelines, policies and procedures,
- Planning documents and guidance.
- Capacity and Development
The outcomes of this project should ensure that relevant knowledge and/or information is shared with COTA Queensland and partner organisations in order to sustain the outcomes beyond the project’s completion.
- Pricing and Payment
The consultant will provide a price quotation as part of their proposal (see Part C). Any and all travel, transfers, accommodation, meals, printing, postage, photocopying and associated expenses must be incorporated in the quote submitted. Invoices are to be submitted to COTA Queensland on a monthly basis. Invoices submitted to COTA Queensland are due within 7 days of receipt.
- Contractual arrangements
The project is being delivered through a partnership between COTA Queensland, Moreton Bay Regional Council and other key partners and supported by funding from the Brisbane North PHN. The consultant will need to comply with Brisbane North PHN funding requirements if successful. Consultants must disclose any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest.
- Proposal Assessment Criteria
In evaluating proposals, regard will be given to the following criteria:
- Demonstrated extensive experience in public health evaluation or other relevant fields,
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in data collection, evaluation and engagement with community-based services and/or people with a lived experience of mental health conditions,
- Knowledge and experience of the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region and the communities and services in this region,
- Value – demonstrated evidence of appropriate costings, added value that your organisation can bring to the project and value for money.
- Key Dates
| Advertisement of EOI process: | Friday 18 June 2021 |
| EOI closing date: | 5.00pm, Wednesday 28 July 2021 |
| Acknowledging receipt of EOI: | Within 5 working days after receipt of proposal via email |
| Consideration by steering group: | 29 July – 8 August 2021 |
| Notification of EOI outcomes: | Monday 9 August 2021 |
| Project commencement: | Thursday 12 August 2021 (i.e. stakeholder workshop taking place on 12 or 13 August (tbc). |
| Project completion: | Thursday 31 March 2022 |
Part C – Proposal Requirements
In submitting a proposal, please ensure the following criteria are sufficiently and adequately addressed.
- Methodology and approach
Describe the methodology and approach that will be used to successfully deliver the project.
- Project schedule
Provide a project schedule including key steps and milestones in line with project requirements.
- Budget
Provide an itemised budget.
- Key personnel
Please provide a professional summary on each of the key personnel to be involved in delivery of the project. Brief CVs may also be attached (no longer than two pages each).
- Contact person
Provide details of the contact person to receive advice of result of the Expression of Interest, including name, position, telephone number, postal address and email.
Part D – Submission details
EOI’s must be submitted electronically in PDF format via email to: Karen Wilson, Project Officer (Wellbeing), karen.wilson@cotaqld.org.au
All EOIs must be submitted to COTA Queensland no later than 5.00pm, Wednesday 7 July 2021
COTA Queensland will acknowledge receipt of EOIs by email within 5 working days after receipt of the application. If applicants have not received acknowledgement of EOI by Wednesday 7 July, they should contact COTA Queensland immediately on (07) 3316 2912.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their proposal has been received by COTA Queensland.
Queries
If you have any questions in relation to these instructions, or seek further information about the volunteer community peer navigator pilot program, please contact:
Karen Wilson
Project Officer (Wellbeing)
Tel: 07 3316 2912 (Monday to Wednesday)
Email: karen.wilson@cotaqld.org.au
[1] Key evaluation documentation includes the evaluation framework (5pp) and engagement tools (print and online) developed by COTA Queensland in consultation with funders and partners, comprising: (1) a participant information sheet, (2) participant talking point map, (3) peer navigator record sheet, (4) consent form and, (5) short survey.
[2] A meaningful conversation is when a peer navigator engages in an active conversation with a participant and feels they have an impact on them, however small. Every conversation is different, one might be long or short, intense or light-hearted. However, for a conversation to have a real impact, it must involve a genuine exchange of information.
