The Department of Health and Aged Care (Department) is seeking to procure strategy, policy and governance services to develop an overarching data strategy for its Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division (MHSPD) and, in line with this, a data strategy for a new national digital mental health service currently known as the National Early Intervention Service (NEIS) and a data strategy for Kids Hubs (previously known as ‘Head to Health Kids’).

The MHSPD requires a data strategy to guide future investment in data, analytics and research activities and improve alignment between program objectives, performance measures and underlying data sources. The strategy will support broader strategic planning, acting as both a generator of, and input into, the future direction of the Division. The MHSPD will also use the strategy to plan and develop data assets for new programs and initiatives, promoting the use of consistent standards and IT systems where possible. This will improve MHSPD’s ability to monitor implementation of mental health reforms, evaluate the effectiveness and impacts of activities, measure progress towards objectives, and build an evidence base to support future planning, policy and advice to the Australian Government.

Timely development of the data strategy is important to support:

a) Implementation of the NEIS, which is scheduled to commence on 1 January 2026. The Department requires a data strategy specifically for the NEIS that closely aligns with the overarching MHSPD data strategy and sets out data specifications and requirements for the collection, management and use of data. The strategy will inform the Department’s anticipated approach to market for a service provider in mid-2025.

b) Ongoing implementation of the Kids Hubs (previously known as ‘Head to Health Kids’). The Department requires a data strategy specifically for the Kids Hubs that closely aligns with the overarching MHSPD data strategy and:

• sets out consistent data specifications and requirements for the consistent collection, management and use of data
• articulates the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, jurisdictions, PHNs and the Kids Hubs in the provision, use, access, privacy and security of Kids Hubs data.

Please see the Detailed Request for Quote to view the full requirements.