Refine search Expand filter

Reports

Published

Actions for Prisoner Rehabilitation

Prisoner Rehabilitation

Justice
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

In recent years the department has significantly changed its approach to rehabilitating prisoners. It has introduced programs to address offending behaviour based on evidence of what works. It has also formed partnerships with other agencies to help reintegrate prisoners into the community. We believe the department is on the right path and should continue building on these initiatives. Despite these efforts, almost one in two prisoners return to prison

Published

Actions for Agencies working together to improve services

Agencies working together to improve services

Premier and Cabinet
Treasury
Justice
Transport
Education
Internal controls and governance
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

In the cases we examined, we found that agencies working together can improve services or results. However, the changes were not always as great as anticipated or had not reached maximum potential. Establishing the right governance framework and accountability requirements between partners at the start of the project is critical to success. And joint responsibility requires new funding and reporting arrangements to be developed.   Parliamenta

Published

Actions for The New Schools Privately Financed Project

The New Schools Privately Financed Project

Education
Treasury
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management

In our view the contracts in the New Schools Privately Financed Project were established and let in a way that greatly assists their potential for delivering value for money. The contracts in the New Schools Privately Financed Project are at an early stage of their 30 year lives and the savings and other benefits are not guaranteed. The contracts will need to be carefully managed over the 30 year period to ensure that benefits are realised and that

Published

Actions for Implementing Asset Management Reforms

Implementing Asset Management Reforms

Justice
Planning
Finance
Treasury
Asset valuation
Financial reporting
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management

Hospitals, schools, public housing, roads, bridges, buses and trains are just some of the assets used by government in providing services to citizens. The NSW Government’s asset base is impressive in size - with a value of around $167 billion and with government plans to spend around $8 billion acquiring or replacing assets in the current year. Another $2 billion is spent each year on maintenance. Good asset management is very important to government;

Published

Actions for Coordination of Rescue Services

Coordination of Rescue Services

Justice
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Regulation
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

Nearly 11,000 rescues are carried out each year in New South Wales, the majority involving motor vehicle accidents. In metropolitan areas we have three emergency services providing general land rescue - NSW Police, the Ambulance Service and the NSW Fire Brigades. The two volunteer services, the State Emergency Service and the Volunteer Rescue Association, generally cover the remainder of the State. Rescue arrangements in NSW are different to all other

Published

Actions for Emergency Mental Health Services

Emergency Mental Health Services

Health
Management and administration
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

It is estimated that one in five people will be affected at some stage by a mental health problem or illness. The increasing prevalence of mental illness means that at some point in time most of us will either be affected or we will know of someone who is. Although most people with mental illness can be treated in the community, at times some may require emergency treatment or admission to hospital for shortterm intensive therapy. Not only are more men

Published

Actions for Transporting and Treating Emergency Patients

Transporting and Treating Emergency Patients

Health
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

This audit follows our earlier studies on ambulance response times, on waiting times for elective (i.e. non-urgent) surgery and on the ‘Code Red’ status of hospital emergency departments. Those audits indicated that matching resources to the ever-increasing numbers of people seeking emergency treatment was certainly an issue, but not the only issue. We found that problems were also occurring at the ‘interface’ between different parts of the health system

Published

Actions for Code Red: Hospital Emergency Departments

Code Red: Hospital Emergency Departments

Health
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

All three hospitals followed the Department of Health’s guidelines for judging capacity and had systems in place to notify hospital staff and ambulance crews of changes in status. We found discrepancies in the records kept by all three hospitals when compared to the records maintained by the Department of Health. Our view however, is that these records do not need to be a perfect match for the intended purpose, which is to guide ambulance crews to the sh

Published

Actions for Dealing with Unlicensed and Unregistered Driving

Dealing with Unlicensed and Unregistered Driving

Justice
Transport
Information technology
Regulation
Shared services and collaboration

In our opinion there are inadequacies in the current arrangements for detecting unauthorised driving. For example better information is needed on the extent of unlicensed driving. This may require giving the NSW Police power to conduct random licence and registration checks. In addition, there are technological and legal constraints to the efficient and effective detection of unauthorised driving.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #115&nbs

Published

Actions for Managing Teacher Performance

Managing Teacher Performance

Education
Workforce and capability

Some form of teacher performance assessment has been in place in NSW public schools for the past 40 years and the scheme has been significantly enhanced through its inclusion in the 2000 Award. We welcome these changes. However, we are of the opinion that further changes are required to improve its effectiveness. We have two issues of concern. Firstly, that the scheme may not provide for fair and consistent assessments across all schools. Secondly, that