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TEI Recommissioning 2025

The NSW Government is committed to continuing to invest in early intervention programs that improve outcomes for vulnerable children, young people, families and communities.

DCJ is recommissioning the Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) and Family Connect and Support (FCS) programs with new 5-year contracts to commence from 1 July 2025. DCJ intends to merge TEI and FCS into one program from 1 July 2025, therefore the recommissioning process will be referred to as TEI Recommissioning 2025.

TEI recommissioning will be undertaken within the context of several NSW and National priority reforms and initiatives, including:

  • the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
  • Family is Culture, the Independent Review of Aboriginal Children and Young People in Out of Home Care in NSW,
  • Safe and Supported, the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

DCJ is committed to working towards a 30% Aboriginal Community Controlled sector investment target in its early intervention programs. TEI recommissioning presents an opportunity to further work towards this target. 

Recommissioning Principles

The TEI recommissioning is driven by the following principles:

1. Aboriginal self-determination

  • Embed Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance principles.
  • Invest 30% of early intervention program funding with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
  • Share decision-making and authority through service system co-design, and Aboriginal-led commissioning.
  • Embed Aboriginal Case Management Policy principles.

2. Flexible and holistic service system

  • Create a streamlined service system that is family and community focused.
  • Build a culturally safe service system.
  • Target resources to the greatest need.

3. Evidence informed practice approach

  • Use evidence to inform service design including data, practitioner expertise, client and community voice.
  • Drive evidence and data driven practice and decision-making.
  • Provide accessible data and evidence of what works.

4. Continuous improvement approach

  • Enhance sector workforce capabilities.
  • Support consistent and quality data for better planning.
  • Build the evidence of what works.

Download the TEI Recommissioning Principles (PDF, 99.5 KB). 

Draft Aboriginal-led Commissioning Principles

Consultation on Aboriginal-led commissioning principles is underway. This section will be updated with content shortly.

Recommissioning Approach 2025

DCJ is recommissioning the TEI and FCS programs with new 5-year contracts commencing 1 July 2025.

Recommissioning is informed by sector feedback, evaluations, evidence reviews and implementation learnings.

TEI and FCS will be merged into one program from July 2025, to streamline the programs and contracts. The newly combined TEI program will have three program activities:

  1. Community Strengthening
  2. Family Connect and Support
  3. Wellbeing and Safety

Recommissioning will target resources to the greatest need, with funding, where it becomes available, prioritised for investment with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. 

Recommissioning timeline 

  • April-July 2024 Understanding Need and Local Planning - Engage and collaborate with local stakeholders
  • June-September 2024 Local Service System Design - Design a local outcomes-focussed service system with the sector
  • October-December 2024 Recommissioning Plan - Finalise and approve Recommissioning Plan
  • January-March 2025 Negotiate Contracts and Procurement - 5 year contracts commence 1 July 2025

Download the TEI Recommissioning 2025 Timeline (PDF, 38.3 KB) (PDF, 38.3 KB).

TEI Program Specifications

The TEI Program Specifications will be available to the sector for consultation shortly. We’ll let you know when they are available via TEI Inform and they will be published here.

New program name

We are currently consulting with the sector on a new name for the combined TEI and FCS program.

Do you have a name suggestion? - If you have ideas for a name change, please email tei@dcj.nsw.gov.au by 7 June. There will also be opportunities for you to share your ideas at upcoming consultations about the Program Specifications. A shortlist survey will be sent via the TEI Inform for you to vote on your preferences. Please sign up to TEI Inform to receive updates.

Recommissioning Information and Resources 

The following resources may support TEI service providers during this recommissioning process. 

Latest News and Updates

Please click on the link for the TEI News and Updates page to see the latest information on the TEI recommissioning, including the TEI Inform Newsletter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been developed to provide responses to common questions raised by the sector about TEI Recommissioning 2025. These FAQs will be updated as required throughout the recommissioning process.

Please see the latest versions of the FAQs:

Last updated:

18 Apr 2024