The Department monitors the attendance of all students who remain enrolled at government schools, and responds when these students fail to attend. For young people that have been granted an exemption from attending school, the Department monitors apprentices, trainees and those completing the equivalent of Year 10 of secondary education at TAFE. However, the Department does not monitor young people post Year 10 in full-time work or vocational education programs until they turn 17 years of age. In accordance with the law, it is a parent’s responsibility to make sure that a child is attending school or involved in an approved alternate activity until they turn 17 years of age.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #226 - released 1 November 2012

The Division of Local Government (DLG) has helped many NSW councils improve their long-term financial planning and asset management practice. Many councils are serving their communities well. However, because DLG lacks the power, it finds it difficult to respond effectively when things go wrong.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #225 - released 26 September 2012

The Department of Education and Communities needs to do more to improve the literacy of Aboriginal students in NSW Government schools. By Year Three around 40 per cent of Aboriginal students are at or below minimum standard for reading. Unfortunately, this is almost triple the rate of non-Aboriginal students. By Year Five around 50 per cent of Aboriginal students are at or below the minimum standard.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #224 - released 8 June 2012

Overtime is a significant cost for RailCorp and Roads and Maritime Services, adding about ten per cent to the cost of regular salaries. RailCorp’s overtime cost was $133.7 million in 2010–11, and at Roads and Maritime Services it cost $49.3 million.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #223 - released 20 June 2012

The Department of Education and Communities should improve physical activity in NSW government primary schools. Around 30 per cent of government primary schools are not providing the required two hours of physical education and sport per week.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #222 - released 13 June 2012

Support for humanitarian entrants living in New South Wales is poorly coordinated.  Humanitarian entrants in New South Wales are doing less well than in other states on the key indicators of health, housing and employment. Unlike some States, New South Wales does not have a single point of contact that humanitarian entrants can go to assist them with settling in a new country.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #221 - released 23 May 2012

Neither agency (NSW Ministry of Health and NSW Police Force) demonstrated that they continued to get value for money over the life of these long term contracts or that they had effectively managed all critical elements of the three contracts we reviewed post award. This is because both agencies treated contract extensions or renewals as simply continuing previous contractual arrangements, rather than as establishing a new contract and financial commitment. Consequently, there was not a robust analysis of the continuing need for the mix and quantity of services being provided or an assessment of value for money in terms of the prices being paid.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #220 - released 1 February 2012

We found that hospitals are generally able to deploy their VMOs and staff specialists to be at the place and time required. However, a hospital’s ability to manage supply and demand at a local level is limited. This limitation will become more critical with the current national health reforms when public hospital funding will depend on their ability to set and meet activity targets and priorities. NSW Health cannot be sure that all payments made to VMOs are for agreed and delivered services. Across the hospitals visited we found limited checking of VMO claims for payment, limited quality information on staff specialist activities and limited hospital-level analysis of trends or inconsistencies in activities and treatments.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #219 - released 14 December 2011

Organisations generally work together to improve the safety of victims when there is an overt and serious crisis, particularly where children are involved. There are no standard ways for victims and perpetrators to access help that might prevent ongoing violence and address underlying issues. This is particularly problematic where there are repeat victims and perpetrators, many of whom have complex mental health, drug and alcohol problems and are difficult to work with. New South Wales has trialled a number of projects to improve the way that organisations work together to support vulnerable people in particular communities.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #218 - released 8 November 2011

The audit concluded that the RTA’s licence testing and regulation has been generally effective in ensuring the safety of young drivers. There has been a significant reduction in crash and fatality rates involving young drivers over the last decade, more so than for drivers 26 years and older. This has coincided with the introduction by the RTA of an enhanced GLS. International and national research has demonstrated graduated licensing systems to be effective in reducing crashes and saving lives. Despite these improvements, young drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than other drivers.

Parliamentary reference - Report number #217 - released 19 October 2011