2. Our recommendations
We made 3 recommendations to address our findings. The relevant agencies have accepted them in principle or in full.
1. Our key findings
What we examined
Our audit followed 2 lines of inquiry:
1. Do departments' processes to procure, manage and report on contractor and consultant engagements comply with relevant guidelines?
2. Can departments demonstrate that their use of contractors and consultants achieves value for money?
To answer these questions, we examined:
Out-of-home care services
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We plan to examine if the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is meeting demand for out of-home care services for Victorian children.
Investing in early intervention programs
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We plan to examine if the initiatives funded under the early intervention initiative are evidence-based and are being delivered in a way that enables benefits to be assessed.
Fair payments for small business
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We plan to examine if Victorian Government departments are making fair and timely payments to small businesses.
Appendix C: Review scope and method
Download a PDF copy of Appendix C: Review scope and method.
Appendix B: Abbreviations, acronyms and glossary
Download a PDF copy of Appendix B: Abbreviations, acronyms and glossary.
Appendix A: Submissions and comments
Download a PDF copy of Appendix A: Submissions and comments.
6. Managing the system
The department has improved its data quality and availability as well as its monitoring and reporting on service timeliness and outcomes. It communicated the process for risk management in line with its action plan. It also developed a foundational performance monitoring framework.
But the department did not update its demand management strategy or develop a statewide demand management framework as intended. It did not report against its performance monitoring framework in full or update it to include outcome measures or newly available data.
5. Providing safe services for clients
The department funds the delivery of local site assessments, action plans and training to improve Aboriginal cultural safety at The Orange Door.
This means the department has completed action 4 but did this more than 3 years later than planned due to COVID-19 and staff recruitment and retention issues.