Policy and Funding Guidelines for health services

The Policy and funding guidelines represent the system-wide terms and conditions for government-funded healthcare organisations.

It includes, but is not limited to:

health services and hospitals
community service organisations
other funded organisations such as Ambulance Victoria.

The guidelines:

are relevant to all funded organisations
reflect the Department of Health's role as the system steward
provide operational and service delivery policy changes, and outline contractual, statutory, and other duties and requirements
underpin the department’s individual contracts with funded organisations (including, but not limited to, the Statement of Priorities)
detail the budgetary landscape, including funding and pricing arrangements as well as funded activity and targets
consist of the following two separate, although interconnected, publications.

Policy guide

The Policy guide provides detailed information on various operational and service delivery policy items.

This includes:

the conditions within funded organisations operate
obligations, standards and requirements to which funded organisations are expected to adhere.

Part 1: Operational and service delivery policy

Part 1 is not intended to be a complete, holistic guide to operational and service delivery policy in Victoria. Instead it provides health services with new policy changes for a range of delivered services.

Part 2: Obligations, standards and requirements

Outlines the standards and obligations to which funded organisations must adhere. This ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality services and responsible financial management. Download a copy of the policy below:

Policy guide: Policy and funding guidelines 2025-26

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Funding rules

The Funding rules cover the budgetary and funding parameters which funded organisations are expected to work.

Part 1: Pricing arrangements

Details funding and pricing arrangements.

Part 2: Funding and activity levels

Provides funding and activity tables that detail the modelled budgets, as well as targets for a range of programs across the health system.
Download a copy of the funding rules below:

Funding rules: Policy and funding guidelines 2025-26

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National Health Reform Agreement in-scope funding tables

The National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) outlines how the Australian Government and state and territory governments work together to improve health outcomes and support a sustainable health system. Under the NHRA, Victoria is required to publish information about funding provided to health services. See the NRHRA funding tables for the 2025–26 financial year.