The department does not have systems or processes in place to monitor and accurately report on EMCH performance and outcome measures. Councils are required to meet the measures, but the department does not ask them to report on progress.
EMCH program data is not accurate, timely or fit for purpose. The department is replacing the system and design work is ongoing.
The department has routinely reported inaccurately against its one public performance measure.
The department's EMCH funding model is based on the number of children aged 3 or under in each council, as well as each council’s socioeconomic status and rurality. But the model does not use past EMCH service delivery data. The department does not have a complete understanding of EMCH demand.
Despite being part of the funding model’s basis, we found that the challenges faced by families that are eligible for EMCH are not confined to socioeconomic disadvantage. It is also unclear whether all rural councils need additional funding for travel.
Covered in this section:
EMCH funding is based on supporting 15 per cent of children aged 3 or under enrolled in the Universal MCH program and providing 20 service hours per family on average. The department does not know whether EMCH service delivery aligns to this.
No council could show that they only provided EMCH support to eligible families. This is mainly because the system limits MCH professionals' ability to effectively record data and monitor eligibility.
We made 3 recommendations to address our findings. The relevant agency has accepted the recommendations in full or in principle.
| Agency responses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finding: The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health program may not be reaching everyone who needs it | ||||
Department of Health
| ||||
Our audit followed 2 lines of inquiry:
1. Is the Enhanced Maternal and Child Health program (EMCH) being accessed by families experiencing challenges?
2. Is EMCH meeting its performance and outcome measures?
To answer these questions, we examined:
Download a PDF copy of Appendix E: Policy performance data.
Download a PDF copy of Appendix D: Agencies under the Policy.
Download a PDF copy of Appendix C: Review scope and method.
Download a PDF copy of Appendix B: Abbreviations, acronyms and glossary.
Download a PDF copy of Appendix A: Submissions and comments.