We're out to change the way government funding operates. We know we've got some challenges to overcome:
- Digital moves fast, but government funding does not.
- Current funding processes don't allow for teams to learn, pivot, and iterate.
- Sometimes we don't always have the capabilities we need so we rely on vendors and contractors instead of building that capability within government.
- Urgency to replace aging systems can sometimes lead to large and risky capital investments.
- The current model funds agencies, rather than customer-centric processes that cross multiple agencies.
- It also doesn't fund enough projects that build and support digital solutions for whole of government or multi-agency.
Enter: The Digital Restart Fund
We first started this journey a year ago with the aim of transforming the way that we deliver digital government in NSW – modernising delivery and focusing on human centred design. We want to drive better customer experience and accelerate digital projects' speed to market. The fund is leading to:
- Better, faster outcomes – by enabling testing and iteration, projects realise value faster – meeting the needs of our customers.
- Coordination across shared Government assets – we are looking across NSW Government to build partnerships, collaborate and cut down on duplication.
- Uplift capability – by sharing our existing expertise and having the funding to attract the top digital talent, we're better equipped to tackle projects.
- Better use of public funds – by realising value more quickly, we are identifying the most transformative projects and putting funding to the best use.
- Keeping NSW at the forefront– investing in digital is allowing NSW to innovate.
Is my project eligible?
If you are from a NSW Government agency, your digital project is eligible if it fits into one of the following four categories:
- Life Events: Improving the customer experience of those accessing a service due to a life event, such as having a baby. It will identify gaps and opportunitiesand create more efficient service delivery.
- State Digital Assets: Is a product or service that can be used across or between more than one NSW government agency to provide a consistent experience, minimise duplication and save money.
- Legacy Systems: Transforms Legacy Systems to reduce complexity, costs and risks and increase data consistency, collaboration and improve processes.
- Capability building: Builds the skillset of NSW government employees for more innovative practices and customer services.
Read more about eligibility criteria.
How to apply
If the Digital Restart Fund sounds right for your project, it's important to be prepared before you apply. Be clear about the problem you are trying to solve, who your customers are, and what the benefits will be. The application process is not a box ticking exercise. It is designed to help you align your project to government objectives and break it down into clear successive deliverables.
Approving projects
The approvals process is designed to move fast. Your project will be assessed according to whole of Government priorities and then ranked against others to work out which projects will deliver the best outcome and the best value for money.
A steering committee co-chaired by the Department of Customer Service and Treasury, plays a primary role in recommending projects for funding and monitoring delivery.
The Delivery and Performance Committee and the Expenditure Review Committees (sub committees of Cabinet) approve the funding.
Digital isn't the future, it's now
The Digital Restart Fund is here to accelerate funding. We are demonstrating the value of digital projects, achieving better outcomes quicker and proving how digital is already making a change to government services.
The fund still has room to grow, streamline and change with the needs of applicants, which is why we'll be looking at our own processes as applicants progress. We will be blogging about projects that come through the pipeline, so keep an eye out here, or subscribe to stay in the loop.
If you've got a project that you think might be a good fit, we can confirm eligibility and help you work out what to do next. Let us know by emailing digital.restart.fund@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
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