Request for Tender Refresh and Expansion

The Open Arms Outreach Program includes a network of mental health professionals working in private practice to support the delivery of services on behalf of Open Arms across Australia.

In May 2024, Open Arms established a panel arrangement under which all Outreach Providers deliver Open Arms services. This panel is being refreshed periodically via new Request for Tender (RFT) processes.   

Open Arms is undertaking a range of activities to ensure the Outreach Program continues to meet the needs of veterans and the families of veterans to support equitable access to services across Australia.

Recent changes to the Treatment Principles have expanded the range of professions eligible to provide services through the Outreach Program. Eligible professions now include: 

  • Psychologist: who has unconditional registration as a psychologist with the AHPRA (i.e. no conditions on registration); or ​

  • Occupational Therapist: who has unconditional registration as an occupational therapist with AHPRA (i.e. no conditions on registration); or​

  • Registered Nurse: who has unconditional registration as a registered nurse with AHPRA (i.e. no conditions on registration); or​

  • Social Worker: who holds membership with the AASW; or equivalent state registration board; or​

  • Clinical Counsellor: who has unconditional registration as a clinical counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (i.e. no conditions on registration); or​

  • Level 3 or Level 4 Counsellor: who has unconditional registration as a Level 3 or Level 4 counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association Limited (i.e. no conditions on registration). 

These changes are intended to support a sustainable and responsive provider network, strengthen service capability and improve access to care, particularly in rural, regional and remote communities where workforce availability can be challenging.

A pre‑release notice has been published to advise the market that an RFT may be undertaken. At this stage, no RFT has been released, and no commitments have been made regarding timing, eligibility requirements, application processes, or assessment criteria. For information about the upcoming RFT, please see the pre-release notice on AusTender for Approach to Market ID: PRN9254 https://www.tenders.gov.au/Atm/Show/f93b1389-b8e8-4285-b552-975a1f8c1469.

Additional information regarding the procurement process, timing and industry engagement activities will be released via AusTender in due course.