Reports
Actions for Knowing the Collections
Knowing the Collections
The Museum is doing much to improve access to its collections. However, as with other natural history museums, only a small proportion is on public display. Its efforts range from placing information on the internet for use by the public and scientific users, to helping indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander communities reconnect with their respective cultures. Parliamentary reference - Report number #203 - released 1 September 2010
Actions for Severance Payments to Special Temporary Employees
Severance Payments to Special Temporary Employees
In reviewing both the severance pay guidelines and a sample of payments, we found the guidelines to be clear and all except two payments were made in accordance with them. In these two cases the severance payment was stipulated in the employment contract guaranteeing the STE a minimum of six months pay on termination, irrespective of the length of service. Parliamentary reference - Report number #201 - released 16 June 2010
Actions for Volume Two 2010 focus on Universities
Volume Two 2010 focus on Universities
New South Wales’ ten universities recorded a combined operating surplus of $494 million compared to a deficit of $76.9 million last year, reflecting the improvement in global financial markets. This was largely due to investment gains of $38.0 million in 2009 compared to $405 million of losses in 2008. Despite this, financial risks remain for universities. With the recovery in global financial markets remaining fragile, universities with overseas operati
Actions for Injury Management in the NSW Public Sector
Injury Management in the NSW Public Sector
We found that during Working Together, agencies reduced the impact of workplace injuries. Most of the results have been positive in both our sample agencies and the public sector, and savings have been achieved. Between 2005 and 2008, while the number of claims in the sample agencies remained at around 15,000, the average cost of claims reduced by around 22 per cent from $22,349 to $17,360. The incidence rate of claims for the sample agencies also decrea
Actions for Working With Children Check
Working With Children Check
To be effective the WWCC has to be thorough. Gaps in the checking process such as employers not checking everyone they should mean that people who may pose a risk to children are not identified. We found that the WWCC does not reliably identify all those who may pose a risk to children. Audit conclusion and recommendations Working With Children Check 3 In addition, we found the Commission does not monitor the compliance of employers, the self-employed or
Actions for Managing Forensic Analysis: Fingerprints and DNA
Managing Forensic Analysis: Fingerprints and DNA
Fingerprints and DNA play a critical role in solving crime and serving justice, but DNA evidence can result in more arrests, more prosecutions and more convictions. We found that while police effectively prioritise fingerprint evidence, it could better manage the screening and analysis of both fingerprint and DNA evidence to reduce delays. Parliamentary reference - Report number #195 - released 10 February 2010
Actions for Government Advertising 2009
Government Advertising 2009
We found that the two NSW Health campaigns had followed the required approval processes and were appropriate. We had some concerns with the two Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) campaigns. The revised Guidelines, which incorporate recommendations from earlier audit reports, are a positive step towards reducing the risk that publicly funded advertising could be used inappropriately. But there are still parts of the Guidelines that require a sub
Actions for Tackling Cancer with Radiotherapy
Tackling Cancer with Radiotherapy
Overall radiotherapy services are managed in a reasonably efficient and effective manner. Much is being done to further improve efficiency and effectiveness, and more can be done. While New South Wales has a number of well-established radiotherapy treatment centres, the high capital cost limits their availability in all hospitals. Some patients need to travel long distances and be away from their homes for up to seven weeks. The projected growth in deman
Actions for Improving Road Safety: Heavy Vehicles
Improving Road Safety: Heavy Vehicles
The RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) approach to detecting and enforcing heavy vehicle safety has produced mixed results. There have been overall decreases in the number of crashes and people killed and injured in crashes involving heavy vehicles between 2002 and 2007. However, the number of crashes and the number of people injured have increased between 2006 and 2007. We recognise that the RTA is unable to prevent all crashes. However, we conside
Actions for Managing Injured Police
Managing Injured Police
Overall, the NSW Police Force’s approach to managing injured officers since 2006 is appropriate, focusing on notification and early intervention and the development of successful return to work plans. Early intervention and return to work are the key factors in successfully managing injured officers and reducing the cost of workplace injuries. The Force has not done this well in the past. Through the establishment of the safety command, the Force has bui