Building a commissioning capability (South Australia)
South Australia Health (SA Health)
The client
SA Health & Wellbeing is a health portfolio of services and agencies responsible to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in South Australia. The department supports the delivery of public health service and formulates health policy.
The challenge
SA Health has committed to moving towards commissioning as its new operating model. In early 2019, SA Health brought Rebbeck in to run a coordinated program called “Building a Commissioning Capability at SA Health” alongside our delivery partners Grosvenor.
“Great to see commissioning concepts pulled together under a comprehensive and clear framework.”
The impact of our work
SA Health staff gained a practical and meaningful level of understanding of foundational commissioning tools and techniques and we guided a cadre of leaders in practically applying these skills to practical commissioning challenges.
Commissioning Capability Development Masterclasses
3 x 2-day training masterclasses were held with staff to apply key commissioning techniques in practice.
Commissioning Toolkit
We developed end-to-end commissioning practice guidance (the Commissioning Toolkit) to support staff to apply commissioning techniques consistently.

Commissioning practical application
To further ensure capability in the longer-term a Closing the Gap (CTG) co-design project was ran in tandem with the development of the toolkit. We supported the co-design of the recommissioning of the state-wide CTG program, with an initial focus on Child, Maternal and Family Health.
“I see the opportunity it presents for SA Health to do things differently to achieve better outcomes.”