Contractors and consultants contribute significantly to the VPS. They provide a broad range of services, both onsite and remotely. Like VPS employees, they can hold positions of trust and, where necessary, should be subject to the same screening as employees.

3.1 Conclusion

The audited agencies do not have processes to make sure that contractors and consultants undergo risk-based screening prior to working in the VPS. This creates a significant risk that agencies are engaging unsuitable contractors and consultants.

Employment screening is a critical part of personnel security because it helps to ensure that candidates are suitable for VPS roles.

In this Part, we examine all audited agencies’ employment screening policies and procedures, and how DHHS, DPC and DTF implement them.

We also examine if audited agencies are managing COI risks during recruitment.

In 2018–19, the VPS employed 47 961 people. Personnel security—including employment screening—is a critical part of managing this workforce.

1.1 Why this audit is important

VPS employees hold positions of trust, with responsibility for administering Victoria’s finances and assets, and providing a wide range of services to the community, including vulnerable Victorians.

The public expects that VPS employees are competent and appropriately qualified, and that they act in the public interest.

The Victorian public service (VPS) relies on employees, contractors and consultants who are appropriately qualified, competent and act in the public interest.

To achieve this, VPS agencies and departments must have effective personnel security measures, including employment screening. If properly implemented, these measures help to control fraud and corruption risks during recruitment and maintain the integrity of the VPS.

Acronyms

Independent assurance report to Parliament

Ordered to be published

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER May 2020

PP No 130, Session 2018–20

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Annual Plan 2019–20 was prepared pursuant to the requirements of section 7A of the Audit Act 1994, and tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 27 June 2019.

Independent assurance report to Parliament

Ordered to be published

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER June 2019

PP No 39, Session 2018–19

We have consulted with DHHS, Latrobe Regional Hospital, SVHM and Western Health, and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report, or relevant extracts, to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments.

Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.

Responses were received as follows:

DHHS's management and oversight of private medical practice in public hospitals is essential to ensure that Victoria optimises its NWAU growth funding from the Commonwealth Government and that health services comply with the NHRA and relevant legislation. DHHS should also ensure that private patients are not prioritised over public patients.

At a system-wide level, DHHS should know whether using private practice in public health services is beneficial to Victoria and delivers the intended outcomes for patients and health services.