Contents
- Part 1 Executive Summary
- Part 2 Performance reporting
- Part 3 Corporate governance and accountability
- Part 4 Appendices
- Part 5 Financial Management
Annual Report 2007–2008
Skip to content | FaHCSIA Home
Annual Report 2007–2008
Annual Report 2007–2008 » Chapter 9: Our governance arrangements
FaHCSIA’s Strategic Framework 2008–10 is the foundation of our business and the reference point for our day-to‑day work. It is our road map for the sound and robust business processes we need to assist Australian communities, families and individuals. Our framework was updated and launched just after the reporting year.
FaHCSIA’s governance structure comprises the Secretary and the Executive Management Group, supported by boards and committees that provide advice relating to the administration and overall operation of the Department.
The first part of our Strategic Framework for 2008–10 consists of our Purpose and Key Objectives and is outlined in the Secretary’s review. How we aim to achieve our objectives is outlined in the second part of our framework outlined below.
As public servants we uphold APS Values which include impartiality, accountability and responsiveness to Government.
As a department we choose to complement these with a small set of guiding principles that are meaningful to our staff:
The following leadership capabilities and behaviours emphasise what leaders in FaHCSIA must focus on. They are assessed in our Individual Performance Management System.
FaHCSIA leaders at all levels will:
These describe the key enabling activities that FaHCSIA staff should contribute to and support in their day-to‑day work. They are all equally important and address areas which we must focus on if the Key Objectives are to be realised.
Business plans across the Department reflect these Corporate and Governance Priorities.
These are the critical elements of work that we must do well to achieve our Purpose and Key Objectives. They provide the tools for all FaHCSIA staff to ensure that we approach common activities and tasks in a consistent way.
Within FaHCSIA, there are a number of internal committees that have been established to provide advice and support to the Secretary and the Executive Management Group on the administration and overall operation of the Department. Generally, internal committees are made up of FaHCSIA employees, although some internal committees may also have one or more independent members who are not FaHCSIA employees.
The following section provides further information on FaHCSIA’s internal committees, comprising membership details, roles and responsibilities, and reporting requirements.
Figure 3.1 FaHCSIA governance structure
The Executive Management Group (EMG) is the senior committee in FaHCSIA and provides advice to the Secretary on the overall direction, priorities, management and performance of the Department. In addition, the EMG manages the Department’s financial wellbeing by allocating resources, monitoring performance and risk and ensuring the Department meets its regulatory requirements.
The EMG also provides a forum for cross‑group issues to be managed and guides, coordinates and champions key organisational reform processes.
The EMG is chaired by the Secretary, Dr Jeff Harmer. Membership consists of Deputy Secretaries and the Group Manager, Corporate Support.
Figure 3.2 FaHCSIA Executive Management Group—as at 30 June 2008
* As at 30 June 2008, these Executive Management Group members were acting in these roles.
The Senior Management Group (SMG) meets weekly to undertake strategic discussions on policy themes and issues, key organisational risks, performance and evaluation and other high‑level matters. The SMG is FaHCSIA’s primary forum for senior executive consultation with Group Managers from across the Department.
The SMG is chaired by the Secretary. Membership consists of FaHCSIA Deputy Secretaries, Group Managers, and the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
Figure 3.3 FaHCSIA Senior Management Group—as at 30 June 2008
* As at 30 June 2008, these Senior Management Group members were acting in these roles.
The Risk Assessment and Audit Committee (RAAC) plays a key role in the Department’s corporate governance. It was instituted to comply with the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and its activities are directed through a charter approved by the Secretary. The RAAC assists the Secretary in ensuring effective and efficient use of resources. It does this by reviewing the Department’s performance and operation of internal controls and performance management processes.
The committee approves FaHCSIA’s annual audit work program and advises the Secretary on risk, fraud and performance issues. Furthermore, the RAAC provides assurance to the Secretary that the Department of Finance and Deregulation’s Certificate of Compliance requirements are being met.
The RAAC has a Financial Statements Sub‑Committee which supervises the preparation of FaHCSIA’s financial statements. The Financial Statements Sub‑Committee reports and provides assurance to the RAAC on all matters regarding the preparation of the Department’s annual financial statements. The chair of the Financial Statements Sub‑Committee provides a report at each RAAC meeting. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer also regularly reports and provides assurance to both the RAAC and the EMG on the Department’s financial policy and financial control framework. The RAAC also consists of two independent external members.
The committee meets six times each year, with one meeting devoted to the examination of the annual financial statements. Following each meeting, the committee reports the key outcomes to the EMG through the Chair. The FaHCSIA RAAC is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Geoff Leeper. Membership includes: two independent members; the Group Manager, Corporate Support; the Group Manager, Disability and Carers; and the Branch Manager, Social Security Policy.
The Remuneration Committee provides advice and reports to the Secretary on the development and implementation of FaHCSIA’s remuneration policy, including Collective Agreement and individual remuneration policy. The committee also considers and determines individual remuneration proposals for senior executive band one and non‑senior executive FaHCSIA staff who are not within the parameters of the Secretary’s endorsed remuneration policy. The committee consults with the People Committee when required.
The FaHCSIA Remuneration Committee is chaired by the Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Hunter. Membership includes all Deputy Secretaries and the Group Manager, Corporate Support.
The Budget Policy Committee (BPC) manages the Department’s Budget policy agenda and contribution to the Federal Budget process. The BPC identifies key areas of focus and determines departmental priority for Budget initiatives in collaboration with the Minister. The committee ensures that the synergies between the various proposals that form the Budget strategy are identified and optimised. It also assesses risks to the Department’s policy agenda and develops mitigating strategies.
The BPC advises the Secretary and is jointly chaired by Acting Deputy Secretaries, Robyn McKay and Bruce Hunter. Membership includes all Deputy Secretaries, three Group Managers and the Budget Development Branch Manager.
FaHCSIA’s People Committee provides strategic advice to the EMG on integrating the Department’s people planning with our strategic directions and business priorities. It is the committee’s responsibility to supervise, support and monitor the implementation of the Department’s strategic human resources framework.
The committee assists FaHCSIA in meeting objectives to foster an innovative, safe, flexible, responsive, capable, ethical and accountable workforce.
The People Committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Glenys Beauchamp. In 2008–09, the committee will be chaired by Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Hunter. Membership consists of two Group Managers, five Branch Managers and two Managers from the Network Management Group.
The Department established a Project Investment Board (PIB) to provide the Executive with advice and recommendations on capital budgeting and investment across the portfolio.
The key objectives of the PIB are to ensure the Department invests in strategically important opportunities, provide the Executive with options on balancing demands on capital, set the direction for future investment by annually reviewing 5–10 year capital and asset replacement plans, recommend major capital projects to the Executive and advise project committees and groups on the strategic directions for the following financial year.
The PIB is chaired by the Acting Group Manager, Business and Financial Services, Steve Jennaway. Membership comprises the Chief Information Officer and the Group Manager, Corporate Support.
On 16 April 2008, the committee previously known as the Ethics Committee was renamed the Compliance and Integrity Committee. The Compliance and Integrity Committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Bernie Yates, and membership consists of two Deputy Secretaries, two Group Managers and one State Manager.
The Compliance and Integrity Committee provides oversight of the conduct of all investigations and compliance activities within FaHCSIA, ensuring these activities conform to applicable laws, prescribed practices, mandated procedures and the strategic objectives of the Department in an ethical, efficient and timely manner.
The Information and Communications Technology Committee (ICTC) provides leadership and long‑term focus on ICT infrastructure and projects, and deals with ongoing ICT management and strategic advisory roles. The ICTC is FaHCSIA’s major decision‑making body for long‑term ICT infrastructure, project planning, and project funding within the broad directions set by the EMG.
The ICTC is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Geoff Leeper. From 1 July 2008, the committee will be chaired by Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Operating Officer, Bruce Hunter, with membership from the corporate and business areas of the Department, as well as some program areas.
The Indigenous Policy Forum develops and monitors FaHCSIA’s whole‑of‑government approach to Indigenous policy and service delivery. The forum is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Bernie Yates. Membership consists of relevant Group Managers and the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
The Program Management Committee provides strategic advice on the priorities of FaHCSIA’s programs and on the risks and opportunities arising from program management activities.
The committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary, Bernie Yates. Membership consists of Group Managers responsible for program administration, a state office representative and Branch Managers from the Program Performance Group.
The committee also provides direction on program management policies, guidelines and processes, and strengthening program management capability. A Funding Management System sub‑committee provides advice on business development opportunities and directions.
The Research and Evaluation Committee’s role is to ensure that research and evaluation, and related data activities align with FaHCSIA’s strategic priorities. The committee makes decisions on new investments in research and evaluation, and oversees major research and evaluation activities.
The committee is chaired by Acting Deputy Secretary, Robyn McKay, and meets every second month. Membership consists of four Group Managers and four Branch Managers.
Next: Our people
Previous: Output Group 4.4: Community partnerships and delivery