Overview - Secretary's Review

In this section:

Introduction

In 2006–07 the Department continued to support the Government in improving the lives of Australians including families and communities. The synergies between the Department’s Indigenous and broad social policy responsibilities drove much of our work. We welcomed a new Community Services Minister, Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion. Minister Scullion replaced the Hon. John Cobb MP and I would like to acknowledge Minister Cobb’s contribution to community services.

In 2006–07, the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) had responsibility for eight key policy and program areas: Indigenous Australians; Seniors; Disability and Carers; Women and Youth; Families; Children; Housing and Homelessness; and Communities and Financial Management.

In these key areas, we have provided policy advice to the Government, and implemented key government initiatives through the administration of 48 grant programs, 12 specific purpose payments to the States and Territories, as well as 24 different payment types to individuals.

Building FaCSIA’s Capacity

FaCSIA’s Strategic Framework enables all staff to have a shared understanding of our purpose, our priorities and how we work together to deliver results. I launched the Framework in June 2006 to help set the direction for the Department. Pursuit of results within the Strategic Framework has been a major focus for my executive team this year.

FaCSIA’s Leadership Program was launched in 2007. It is a comprehensive program which aims to enhance FaCSIA’s leadership capabilities, build its capacity to lead change, improve business performance and develop our current and future leaders.

I established the Program Operations Group to assist us with the task of running our large and diverse community-based programs. The Group supports and guides FaCSIA managers in reforming and improving the way FaCSIA ‘does its business’ in the provision of funding to community service organisations.

A major corporate achievement was the completion of the move to Centraplaza to accommodate 500 staff. Centraplaza is Canberra’s first building designed to achieve a five star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating, including rainwater harvesting, digital lighting systems, adjustable temperature zones and highly efficient building services.

Policy and Implementation

To improve the way in which we do our business, FaCSIA has undertaken a significant exercise in program simplification. Program simplification has reduced red tape, improving the management and reporting practices of our program administration and enabling increased flexibility and responsiveness.

We have supported the Minister’s continuing emphasis on improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians. The Minister’s Indigenous Blueprint announcement in December 2006 is a significant initiative aimed at ensuring Indigenous Australians enjoy the same opportunities as other Australians.

FaCSIA’s commitment to improve Indigenous outcomes is embodied in its Reconciliation Action Plan, which was released in May 2007 and places on record our strong commitment and actions to progress reconciliation for the nation’s first peoples.

The Government’s June 2007 announcement of an emergency response to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory will continue to focus our attention in the coming year. I am pleased that the Department’s flexibility enabled us to promptly and ably respond to this emergency.

The Department provided support for the review of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program, which is to be replaced in 2008–09 by the Australian Remote Indigenous Accommodation Program as part of a strategy to help improve Indigenous housing and accommodation.

On 1 July 2007, the new statutory Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations (ORATSIC) commenced, following the passage of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. This marks the end of an era for the Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations (ORAC). I would like to thank Laura Beacroft for five years of outstanding service as Registrar of ORAC.

The Department implemented major changes to the pension assets test under the Better Superannuation reforms, while changes to the Pension Bonus Scheme will provide greater incentives for older Australians to invest in their future. A one-off bonus of $500 was paid to two million senior Australians who qualify for Utilities Allowance or the Seniors Concession Allowance.

Commonwealth-state relations is an important part of community services delivery and significant progress has been made on developing new disability and housing agreements.

The Government’s Disability Assistance Package was announced in June 2007 and delivers an additional $1.8 billion over five years. This includes additional supported accommodation, respite and in-home care, as well as access to Transition Support Workers for eligible older carers. Recipients of Carer Allowance (child) will receive an annual payment of $1000 and there will be an independent inquiry into the future options for support accommodation services.

FaCSIA made significant progress in implementing three new measures under the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health, which delivers $1.9 billion of funding over five years.

As part of the new family law system, FaCSIA worked with the Attorney-General’s Department to open 15 Family Relationship Centres, 33 Early Intervention Services and 17 Post Separation Services, which play a key role in improving family relationships. The new Child Support Scheme is currently being implemented and aims to better balance the interests of both parents and be more focused on the needs and costs of children.

FaCSIA has improved program compliance and efficiency by developing a response to the Australian National Audit Office audit on management of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) debt, including options to reduce the level of non-lodger debt.

In child care, we have been implementing changes to quality accreditation to ensure families can be confident about their children’s quality of care. In addition, we have been developing a new integrated and simplified child care accreditation system in consultation with the sector and key academics. We have also successfully implemented the $43.1 million child care compliance and fraud program to protect the integrity of payments and ensure that taxpayer funding is directed toward the provision of quality child care places.

Enhancements were announced by the Government to further assist parents with the costs of child care, including increases to Child Care Benefit and a reduction in the waiting time for payment of the Child Care Tax Rebate.

In November 2006, the fourth round of Local Answers—Strengthening Drought Affected Communities was conducted, resulting in funding of $10 million specifically targeted to areas experiencing significant hardship as a result of drought.

Bushfires in Tasmania and Victoria triggered the first use of the Australian Government’s Disaster Recovery Payment. It is a streamlined and coordinated payment that can be activated in the event of a one-off disaster to enable affected Australians to receive assistance in a timely manner.

The Department has contributed to Australia’s hosting of APEC 2007, including through hosting the Women Leaders’ Network and the Gender Focal Point Network in June 2007, as well as the Social Safety Nets Capacity Building Network. APEC 2007 provides an opportunity to promote social security and social policy as an important part of economic growth and ensuring economic and social stability within APEC.

I am also pleased to advise that, after almost 25 years of negotiation, Australia and Greece signed a social security agreement on 23 May 2007. The Agreement improves access to the Age Pension and retirement benefits and represents a $165 million commitment over four years.

I would like to thank all FaCSIA people for their tremendous support and commitment over the year. I look forward to another year of achievement and continued improvement.

Dr Jeff Harmer

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Contents

Overview - Secretary's Review

In this section:

Introduction

Building FaCSIA’s Capacity

Policy and Implementation