Audit background

Under the NSW Government Advertising Act 2011, the Auditor-General is required to conduct a performance audit of at least one government advertising campaign each year.

We have selected two Transport for NSW road safety campaigns in 2022-23. The campaigns are ‘Don’t trust your tired self’ and ‘Saving lives on country roads’.

Audit objective

This audit will assess whether the selected campaigns were carried out effectively, economically, and efficiently, and in compliance with the Government Advertising Act 2011, the Regulation, other laws, and the Government Advertising Guidelines.

Estimated tabling period

Estimated late June 2024

Agencies audited

Transport for NSW and Department of Customer Service

Aboriginal children are over-represented in the child protection system. According to Department of Communities and Justice data, approximately 50% of the children in out of home care are Aboriginal. The Aboriginal Case Management Policy (ACMP) and the Aboriginal Child Placement Principles (ACPP) are designed to ensure that when Aboriginal children encounter the child protection system their connections to family, kin, community, culture and country are safeguarded. 

This audit will consider whether the rights of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system are effectively safeguarded and will investigate the following components in detail:

• governance and accountability mechanisms
• practices, systems and resources 
• monitoring and quality assurance systems.

This audit is being conducted concurrently with another audit on the child protection system: Oversight of the child protection system. 

Estimated tabling period 

First half 2024

Agencies audited 

The main auditee is the Department of Communities and Justice.

For both this audit and the Oversight of child protection systems performance audit, we have also included in the scope, as auditees, five non-government organisations who are contracted by the Department of Communities and Justice to deliver child protection services.
 

According to Department of Communities and Justice data, the number of children and young people reported to be at ‘risk of significant harm’ of abuse and neglect in NSW has been increasing in recent years. The Department of Communities and Justice has primary responsibility to provide support and a safe living environment for children and young people who are not able to live safely in the family home. Non-government agencies are also funded by the NSW Government to provide services to children and young people who require out-of-home-care and support services. 
 
This audit will focus on the timeliness and quality of the child protection services and responses provided by the Department of Communities and Justice and the non-government agencies funded to provide child protection services on behalf of the government.
 
This audit is being conducted concurrently with another audit on the child protection system: Safeguarding the rights of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system. 

Estimated tabling period 

First half 2024

Agencies audited 

The main auditee is the Department of Communities and Justice.

For both this audit and the Safeguarding the rights of Aboriginal children in the child protection system performance audit, we have also included in the scope, as auditees, five non-government organisations who are contracted by the Department of Communities and Justice to deliver child protection services.