The NSW corrective system comprises both public and private prison operators, with approximately three quarters of the inmate population in publicly operated prisons, and the remaining quarter in privately managed prisons. In 2018, Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) commenced a project to use consistent measures to monitor and benchmark service delivery outcomes across the NSW prison system.

This audit may examine whether the benchmarking project is achieving its objectives to enhance performance and service delivery outcomes in the prisons operated by CSNSW and three privately managed prisons in NSW (Clarence Correction Centre, Junee Correctional Centre, and Parklea Correctional Centre). The audit could use 'follow the dollar' powers to directly engage with and request information from the private prison operators.

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. 

Long-term, subsidised rental housing is provided to assist people who have extreme difficulty in accessing housing in the private housing market. The collective term for this type of housing is ‘social housing’ which in New South Wales includes:

• ‘public housing’ managed by the Department of Communities and Justice
• ‘community housing’ managed by non-government organisations (social housing providers)
• housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples owned by the Aboriginal Housing Office and managed by the Department of Communities and Justice or Aboriginal social housing providers.

The 2016 Future Directions for Social Housing strategy sets out the NSW Government’s ten-year vision for social housing. The $1 billion Social and Affordable Housing Fund is a key initiative under Future Directions and is expected to provide 3,400 new social and affordable dwellings by the end of 2023. The 2020–21 State Budget allocated a further $812 million for new and upgraded social housing across New South Wales. This is intended to deliver a further 1,280 new social homes and Aboriginal housing, place-based redevelopment projects at some existing housing estates, and upgrades to over 3,500 social housing dwellings.

This audit may consider the effectiveness and efficiency of the strategic planning and administration of public housing, delivery and outcomes of the Future Directions strategy, and related additional funding and transfer of housing to community providers.

Legal Aid NSW and non-government community legal centres (CLCs) provide free legal assistance services across the state, particularly to people experiencing economic hardship, social disadvantage or discrimination. Previous national and state reviews have found unmet demand for legal assistance services and specific service gaps, and made recommendations for adequate and stable funding. In 2019–20 the NSW Government provided $224 million in funding to Legal Aid NSW for legal assistance services, and an additional $88.0 million to enable Legal Aid NSW to increase hourly rates for private lawyers in line with other states and territories. This audit may consider how accessible Legal Aid NSW and CLCs services are, and how effectively they are prioritising their services to meet demand.