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Aligning teams. Strengthening programs. Improving impact.
A shared quality system for funders and program providers that helps organisations design, fund, deliver, and continuously improve their programs.
It provides clear, actionable standards, practical tools, and step-by-step guidance to help strengthen the quality and impact of programs aimed at lasting community impact.
It provides clear, actionable standards, practical tools, and step-by-step guidance to help strengthen the quality and impact of programs aimed at lasting community impact.
Q-STEP ensures that programs are evidence-informed, have measurable outcomes, and keep improving over time, which leads to better community outcomes. Flexible, practical, and built for real-world settings, Q-STEP helps organisations shift from reporting what they do to showing the difference they make.
Q-STEP ensures that programs are evidence-informed, have measurable outcomes, and keep improving over time, which leads to better community outcomes. Flexible, practical, and built for real-world settings, Q-STEP helps organisations shift from reporting what they do to showing the difference they make.
By introducing clear standards and processes for planning, implementing, evaluating and improving programs, Q-STEP creates a shared understanding of what good quality programs look like.
Q-STEP ensures that resources are directed toward programs with the best chance of success, leading to increased efficiency and greater community impact. While it has undergone a rigorous development process and pilot testing, we are continually refining it to maximise its impact. We invite you to partner with us in this journey to help shape and advance quality of programs you fund or deliver.
Q-STEP has vastly improved how we design, plan, implement and evaluate all of our programs.
Anita Craike,
Population Health and Inclusion Manager, DPV Health
Are you a program provider?
Are you a program provider?
Whether you're designing a new program or improving an existing one, Q-STEP® provides a practical, evidence-informed approach to building quality into every stage of the program lifecycle. Q-STEP brings together actionable standards, practical tools, and step-by-step guidance to help teams:
design programs that reflect current evidence and recognised best practice.
build staff capability and confidence to apply best practice consistently.
establish a common approach to program planning, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement that survives staff turnover.
strengthen consistency across teams, programs and locations.
demonstrate how programs align with organisational strategy and funding priorities.
improve decision-making through clearer processes and shared expectations.
strengthen accountability and governance through transparent, repeatable processes.
generate stronger evidence to demonstrate program quality and impact.
By implementing Q-STEP, organisations position themselves as leaders in quality programs with impact. While Q-STEP has undergone a rigorous development process and pilot testing, we are continually refining it to maximise its effectiveness.
If you’re looking to maximise the impact of the programs you deliver, contact us to explore how Q-STEP could support your organisation.
Are you a program funder?
Are you a program funder?
Funders want their investments to deliver measurable, lasting impact. Q-STEP can help achieve that. Whether you're supporting a small grants program or managing a large funding portfolio, Q-STEP helps ensure that investments are built on strong quality foundations and have the greatest opportunity to deliver meaningful impact.
Depending on your funding model and objectives, Q-STEP can be used in the following ways:
strengthen the quality of funded programs
maximise the value and impact of funding investments.
establish clear and consistent expectations for program quality
build the capability of funded organisations
improve consistency across funded programs and portfolios
align funded programs with strategic priorities and intended outcomes
support continuous improvement rather than one-off compliance
generate stronger evidence about the quality and contribution of funded programs.
Q-STEP is flexible and can be integrated at any stage of the funding cycle, from application to evaluation, and adapted for different funding models and strategic priorities.
For more information on how Q-STEP can support the best outcomes from funding investments, please contact us.
What does Q-STEP include?
Grounded in the latest evidence and best practices, Q-STEP includes:
Quality Standards set the benchmark for best practice to ensure that programs deliver outcomes for communities.
Tools support the practical application of standards across each phase of the Enhancement cycle.
Enhancement cycle includes three phases and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Tools and Processes are embedded at each phase of:
Planning
Implementation & evaluation
Review
Processes provide step-by-step guidance, outlining clear roles and responsibilities at each phase of the Enhancement cycle to support implementation, decision-making and transparency.
How was Q-STEP developed?
Q-STEP was co-developed and implemented in partnership with the Population Health Team at DPV Health, a not-for-profit community organisation offering exceptional community and allied health services to everybody.
The development included an evidence-informed process that combined comprehensive literature reviews, policy analysis, and extensive consultation and testing with the Population Health Team. Rather than introducing additional layers of documentation, the focus was on creating a practical quality system that would integrate seamlessly into the team's existing planning and reporting systems. Read more in a case study below.
Q-STEP has provided clarity and confidence in approving project commencement for management and project officers, knowing that all components have been well thought through, align with project principles, have measurable objectives to maximise impact, while scaling for future expansion and sustainability.
Rick Jackson, Executive Manager, Client Experience & Community Engagement, DPV Health
Rick Jackson, Executive Manager, Client Experience & Community Engagement, DPV Health
The partnership with QfO not only resulted in improved quality systems and processes, but also delivered professional development outcomes, by building the Population Health Team’s capacity to deliver impactful population health initiatives.Anita CraikePopulation Health and Inclusion Manager, DPV Health
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