Innovation funding for Community Participation Providers 

The Innovation Fund is to support the establishment and development of systems, practices, processes, and reporting that will deliver better experiences and outcomes for those receiving Community Participation services.

The Fund aims to support Community Participation Providers who have an initiative that aligns with the Enabling Good Lives approach and promotes innovation in practices, processes, reporting and/or systems

Who can apply?

Existing Community Participation service providers contracted with MSD have been able to apply for innovation funding since June 2023.

Innovation Funding includes:

• Up-front grant to support plan development
• Full Innovation Plan and Proposal

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the funding, the organisation must:

• be already providing Community Participation services - including Community Participation, Very High Needs, Transition from School, Business Enterprise - for disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand
• be currently funded by MSD
• have an initiative that aligns with the Enabling Good Lives approach and promotes innovation in processes, reporting and/or systems.

Community Participation service providers who apply for a grant will be asked to create an Innovation Plan that is aligned to the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach and developed in collaboration with disabled people who receive Community Participation Services. There is an Enabling Good Lives Organisational Self Review tool available for those who would like to first assess how they are doing in EGL.

Up-front grant to support plan development

Providers can request an initial grant of $7,500 to support them to plan the initiative and develop the Innovation Plan and proposal for Innovation Funding.

To apply for this up-front grant, talk to your Regional Relationship Manager to find out more, or contact us with a written request at vocational_services_disability@msd.govt.nz – please clearly state which of your services/contracts the proposed initiative would apply to. No form or further information is required at this stage.

For providers delivering a single service and intending to submit a full proposal, the initial grant amount will be $7,500.

• For providers delivering multiple services and planning to submit proposals for more than one, you may request an initial grant of $15,000 to cover all services. You have two options for submitting your full proposal:
  • Submit a separate application for each service, or
  • Submit one consolidated application covering all services included in your initial grant request.
  • Please ensure your consolidated proposal clearly defines which service/s the initiative applies to, or which initiative applies to which service.
• This initial grant, and any funding awarded to successful proposals, is not unlimited. Providers can apply once per service, per year.
  • For example, if your organisation delivers CP and VHN services, and has ideas for innovative initiatives, you can receive the initial grant to support the development of the initiative and proposal for each of these services once in a calendar year.
  • The proposal itself can be refined and resubmitted in the same year, if it is not successful in the first round of evaluation, but you will not be eligible for the up-front grant again until a year has passed from the date you received the first up-front grant for that service’s initiative.
  • The same timeframe limitation applies if you are proposing a different initiative for the same service for which the first up-front funding was granted. 

Full Innovation Plan and Proposal

• The full Innovation Plan and Proposal Application Form must be submitted within 3- 6 months of the receipt of the initial grant of $7,500. The application template is available on the right-hand side of the website.
• Following submission of the complete Application Form, it will be evaluated by members of the Disability Service team to consider its suitability for the Innovation fund, alignment with EGL principles and relevant service outcomes, and if determined suitable for Innovation funding, the amount of funding the provider will receive in support of the initiative.

The Application Form (and any relevant attachments) should outline their plans for how they intend to use the funding and requires the following:

1. Description of your alignment to the EGL approach, at a service delivery and/or organisational level.
2. Which service(s) that your planned initiative will apply to (Community Participation, Very High Needs, Business Enterprises, Transition from School), including contract number and location/site of delivery.
3. Description of your proposed initiative; how this initiative will support EGL and/or principles for your clients, staff, or organisation; and how your initiative enables positive outcomes
4. Where relevant to your client base, service delivery, or organisation, how does your initiative respond to the varying needs of people from cultural or ethnic groups?
5. Detailed budget to indicate estimated costs, supported by quotes if available, ensuring alignment with eligibility guidelines for Innovation Funding.

The Application Form is to be submitted to vocational_services_disability@msd.govt.nz.

Application Process and Rounds

• You may request and receive the upfront grant of $7500 to support the development of your proposal at any time.
• We recommend taking at least 3 months from receiving the up-front grant to develop a comprehensive proposal, for your best chance of success. Following receipt of the upfront grant, you will be informed which round you will be included in for evaluation and the associated deadline – indicative summary of dates in the table below.
• From 1 July 2025 onwards, we will be running three rounds of evaluation for Innovation Fund proposals per year, in April, September, and December. The deadlines for submitting your full proposal to be evaluated in these sessions are 31 March, 30 August, and 30 November. Please note that inclusion in each round is subject to available funding.
• We aim to communicate the outcomes of the evaluation rounds by the end of the month they are held in.

In Summary:

Review and evaluation process

Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the evaluation panel using the criteria in the application form, taking into account:

• the degree to which the proposal aligns with the Enabling Good Lives approach of
  • Promoting choice and control
  • Building community connections
  • Supporting informed decision-making
  • Building strong relationships
  • Providing high-quality services
  • Embracing innovation
• how well the link between the need(s) being addressed and better outcomes for disabled people is demonstrated. (How will we know the grant has been effective?)
• the feasibility of the plan, including budget and timeline
• location of services
• cultural responsiveness and accessibility for diverse communities

Outcome of Evaluation (Award of Grant)

• If successful, you will receive a grant letter and the funding for your proposal in one instalment, to support the set-up and implementation of the initiative.
  • The amount of funding will be informed by the indicative costs provided in your application, but it is not guaranteed you will receive the exact amount you have requested in your proposal.
• If unsuccessful, we will provide your organisation with feedback and recommendations from the panel to improve or refine the initiative and proposal. You are encouraged to submit your proposal again in the next round of evaluations.

Any questions should be sent to vocational_services_disability@msd.govt.nz

Examples of Eligible Innovation Funding Proposals/Initiatives

Some examples of innovation grants and proposals that align the innovation of an organisation to the EGL approach are:

Collaborative initiatives

Providers may propose collaborative initiatives with other organisations or community groups to develop innovative solutions. For example:

• Partnering with local marae or community group to support disabled people’s access to culturally relevant activities and supports.
• Collaborating with libraries, sports clubs, or arts organisations to create inclusive, community-based programmed that increase participation and build strong relationships.

Development of new service models

Providers may propose the development of new service models or practices that align with the Enabling Good Lives approach. Examples could be:

• An initiative designed to improve the depth of service for clients enrolled in a service programme, to fulfil a need or interest that your organisation has identified as not being met – this could include workshops, specialised hui, courses, etc.
• A culturally responsive model that improves outcomes for disabled people through engagement with local marae, hapū, and iwi, promoting wellbeing
• Development of a self-managing organisational structure that distributes decision-making power, enabling staff to work collaboratively with disabled people in real-time to respond to changing aspirations.
• A new service delivery model that advocates for and allows participants to choose which services they want to attend that is not currently available under the Disability Services our team administers.

Use of technology

Providers may propose the use of technology to enhance service delivery and support the people they serve. These could be:

• The development of a mobile app to help people manage their own supports, schedule services, and connect with others in their community.
• Implementation of a real-time data and reporting dashboard that helps participants and staff track goals and outcomes aligned with EGL principles
• Introducing tools to support hybrid or remote hui and planning hui meetings, improving participation of disabled people and whanau in rural or hard-to-reach areas.

Improved processes and practices

Providers may propose improved processes and practices where disabled people are leading, governing, overseeing, and monitoring the change to design systems, policies, practices, and processes. This demonstrates that participants are at the centre of designing services for themselves and their community.

Communications or financial practices can be addressed by this grant by suggesting improvement in how the organisation communicates with participants and their whānau or how the organisations do their annual financial planning to the benefit of participants.

Performance reporting practices are encouraged to be improved and aligned to EGL, so that feedback from participants and their whānau is gathered and actioned regularly

Professional development

Providers may propose professional opportunities for their staff to enhance their knowledge on Enabling Good Lives approach, innovations in the disability sector, training programmes that focus on promoting choice and control for disabled people. Professional development can also be focused on improving reporting and/or self-evaluation that aligns with the EGL approach. For example:

• Organising programme to build courage-based leadership skills and create a safe, trusting and responsive work environment
• Internal coaching and mentoring programmes that build capacity to navigate change, co-design services with disabled people, and develop inclusive leadership
• Partnership with sector specialists to deliver workshops on conscious organisational transitions, supporting providers to re-centre service delivery around disabled people’s aspirations.

What we will not fund:

Innovation Funding is not available for:

• On-going costs of service delivery: This fund is designed as one-off payment to support the planning, design, and establishment of innovative initiatives. The ongoing costs of delivery are the responsibility of the provider, once the initiative is implemented.
• Capital costs not directly relevant to the initiative being proposed, i.e. for general service delivery (such as facilities, equipment, vehicles, etc.).
• Salaries or wages for existing positions in the organisation.
• Research projects, unless directly tied to developing or implementing an innovative service model aligned with EGL.
• Initiatives bearing strong similarity to other service programmes funded by MSD, e.g. a proposed initiative to support Community Participation clients as they leave regular schooling is too similar to Transition from School services.