In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report was provided to the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and the departments of Education and Early Childhood Development, Health, and Human Services.
The submissions and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
Figure C1 sets out progress toward targets and other measures as detailed in the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2013–18.
Figure C1
Progress towards Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework targets
Maternal and early childhood health and development |
|---|
Figure B1 sets out the service responsibilities of audited departments and their recent strategies, plans and related documents that are relevant to accessibility of those services to Aboriginal Victorians.
Figure B1
Audited department services, strategies and programs
Mainstream services |
Strategies/related documents |
Additional programs and services designed to assist access |
|---|---|---|
Department of Human Services | ||
Figure A1 lists the barriers to mainstream services for Aboriginal Victorians and the actions required to address them.
Figure A1
Barriers and required actions
Barriers |
Required actions |
|---|
The Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework (VAAF) states that increased access to services will lead to improved outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. Departments need to undertake robust planning, monitoring and reporting to identify and address barriers to access.
Plans, programs and strategies should be consistent with the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework (VAAF) and demonstrate how each department will improve access and inclusion for Aboriginal people across all service areas.
Plans, programs and strategies do not yet adequately reflect the service access criteria of the VAAF.
Victorian Government departments need a sound understanding of the service needs of Aboriginal Victorians to be able to design and deliver services which are accessible.
Audited agencies have a reasonable understanding of the service needs of Aboriginal Victorians. However, this is constrained by a lack of broad consultation and complete and reliable data.
Victoria's Aboriginal population is relatively small compared to other parts of Australia. The 2011 census reports that there are around 47 000 Aboriginal people in Victoria — 0.9 per cent of the total population — an increase of around 40 per cent between 2006 and 2011. This growth is attributed to higher birth rates, migration to Victoria and higher rates of people identifying as Aboriginal.
 John Doyle Auditor-General |
Audit team Andrew Evans —Sector Director Peter Rorke — Team Leader Sophie Fisher — Analyst Pablo Armellino — Graduate Analyst |