2. Our recommendations
We made 3 recommendations to address our findings. The relevant agencies have accepted all recommendations in full.
1. Our key findings
What we examined
Our audit followed 2 lines of inquiry:
1. Were departments' plans to deliver savings and efficiencies consistent with the COVID Debt Repayment Plan?
2. Are departments on track to deliver savings and efficiencies, while maintaining frontline services?
To answer these questions, we examined:
Women's specialist health care
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We are interested in examining the progress of the Victorian Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Plan 2022–30. This includes if it is improving access to specialist women's health services such as menstrual health, abortion and menopause treatment.
Urgent care services
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We are interested in examining if non-emergency urgent care services are working as intended to reduce demand on hospital emergency departments. Urgent care services consist of Nurse-on-Call, Virtual Emergency Care and Urgent Care Clinics.
State-managed aged care services
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We are interested in examining how the Department of Health manages state-funded aged care services, and if the department is meeting the needs of people living in regional and rural areas who face barriers to accessing appropriate aged care.
Reducing the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs
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We are interested in examining if the Department of Health's alcohol and other drugs services are accessible, meet demand, and are effectively reducing harm. There is opportunity to look at services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with mental illness, 2 cohorts who experience higher rates of harm caused by alcohol and other drugs.
Forensic mental health services
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We are interested in examining if mental health services in mainstream prisons and at the specialist Thomas Embling Hospital are meeting demand. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are overrepresented in Victorian prisons and there is an opportunity to examine if agencies are meeting their needs.
Preventing family violence
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We are interested in examining if primary prevention activities are reducing family violence and violence against women.
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards
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We are interested in examining how regulators are working together to implement the Victorian Child Safe Standards, including if the standards are protecting children and young people from harm and abuse.
Emergency mental health services
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We are interested in examining if the Department of Health's emergency mental health services are timely and accessible for people experiencing poor mental health. This includes how the department and health services plan and allocate resources and evaluate services.