Community health services are an integral part of Victoria’s primary care network. They deliver a diverse range of clinical and non-medical services, including the state-funded Community Health Program (CHP). The CHP is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, and aims to provide disadvantaged Victorians with access to high-quality general counselling, allied health, and nursing services.

The technical and further education (TAFE) sector in Victoria is made up of 12 technical institutes and 16 controlled entities. This report outlines the results of our financial audits of TAFE institutes and our observations for the year ended 31 December 2017.

In Victoria, there are eight public universities, which control a further 50 entities that we are required to audit. This report outlines the results of our financial audits of these entities and our observations for the year ended 31 December 2017.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible for protecting Victoria’s children and young people from abuse and neglect. DHHS’s child protection practitioners (CPP) receive, assess, and investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect—and where necessary, provide protective services to children. This audit examines whether Victoria’s CPPs maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

In this audit, we assess the benefits of the $3.65 billion regional rail link, which opened on 21 June 2015. The project involved construction of additional tracks between Southern Cross Station and West Werribee, two new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit, upgrades to Footscray, West Footscray and Sunshine stations, and signalling upgrades along the whole corridor.

In this audit, we assessed whether Victoria’s private prisons are safe and cost-effective. In Victoria, there are two privately operated full-service prisons in Victoria—Port Phillip Prison and Fulham Correctional Centre—which currently manage approximately 28 per cent of Victoria’s prison population. Corrections Victoria—part of the Department of Justice and Regulation—oversees the private operators and monitors their performance and compliance with the contracts as well as relevant legislation, standards and regulations. We used our follow-the-dollar powers under section 15(2) of the Audit Act 1994.

In this audit we examined the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority (MMRA), Public Transport Victoria (PTV) and the now defunct Major Projects Victoria (MPV), as examples of an administrative office, a statutory authority, and a business unit under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR). We assessed whether their fraud and corruption controls were well designed and operating as intended. We also assessed whether PTV took sufficient, appropriate and timely action to address issues identified by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s Operation Fitzroy October 2014.

Victoria’s natural and built coastal assets provide social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits for all Victorians. This audit determined whether natural and built assets on Victoria’s coastline are being protected against coastal erosion and inundation.

This report examines whether councils’ economic development activities help to improve the economic viability and sustainability of their municipalities.

This audit assesses whether government agencies are achieving best value from surplus land.

This audit determines whether Victoria’s air quality meets standards in respect to ozone and particulate discharges.

This audit examines the Level Crossing Removal Program, which aims to remove 51 crossings by 2022—including 20 by 2018—at an estimated cost of $5–6 billion. We assess the effectiveness, efficiency and economy of the existing program and planning for the future direction of level crossing removals in the state. The audit will also assess whether the program has realised the expected benefits, such as network efficiencies.