THE FACILITATING PARTNER MODEL IN THE COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM: FEASIBILITY AND EARLY LESSONS.

Governments in Australia have increasingly outsourced human-services provision to the non-government sector. As an innovative outsourcing model, the Facilitating Partner model is used by the Commonwealth Government as part of its Communities for Children program. Unique features of the model include the manner in which non-government organisations are chosen as Facilitating Partners and the quasi-governmental role required of them. This paper explores the implementation of the model and the facilitators and barriers to changes in service-delivery and coordination. It is based on findings from 97 in-depth interviews conducted in ten sites as part of the National Evaluation of Communities for Children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]