Annual Report 2002–03 Volume I
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
Download 1.71 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Tribunal structure and membership
- Governance
- Appeal management and client service
- Relationship management
- Financial management
- People management
- Information management
- Service Charter
Social Security Appeals TribunalThe Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) is part of the FaCS portfolio and is responsible to the Minister for Family and Community Services. It is a statutory body created by the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct merit reviews of administrative decisions made under a number of enactments, in particular the social security law and family assistance law. Tribunal structure and membershipThe SSAT consists of an Executive Director, directors, members and staff. The current Executive Director, Les Blacklow, was appointed for a three-year term from 1 April 2002. The Secretary of FaCS delegates financial and employment powers to the Executive Director. The Executive Director of the SSAT is responsible to the Minister for Family and Community Services for the overall operation and administration of the tribunal, including taking reasonable steps to ensure that its decisions are consistent and that it performs its functions efficiently and effectively. The national office of the SSAT is in Melbourne. The National Manager and staff in the national office assist the Executive Director. There is an office of the tribunal in each state and territory, each headed by a Director (the Director of the Victorian office is also responsible for the Tasmanian office, the Director of the Queensland office is also responsible for the Northern Territory office and the Director of the New South Wales office is also responsible for the Australian Capital Territory office). At 30 June 2003, the tribunal had 144 members, working either full-time or part-time. Members are selected for general skills such as an understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of administrative review, a knowledge of the social security system, interpersonal skills and particular expertise in disciplines such as law, welfare or community work, medicine or public administration. The Governor-General in Council appoints the Executive Director, directors and members. This demonstrates a clear demarcation between FaCS personnel and tribunal membership. In line with the tribunal’s reporting obligations under section 25 of Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the Executive Director submits an annual report to the Minister for Family and Community Services, to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
The SSAT is a member of the Council of Australasian Tribunals. Appeal management and client serviceAs provided for in the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the tribunal provides a review mechanism that is ‘fair, just, economical, informal and quick’. To this end, it is independent of Centrelink and FaCS. The SSAT’s Strategic Plan for 2003-05 sets out its core values and service standards, within the framework of its primary objectives. In 2002–03, 9576 appeals were lodged with the tribunal. At the start of the year, 1586 appeals were on hand. During the year, the tribunal finalised 9762 appeals; of these, it finalised 8166 at hearing. The average time between lodging and finalising an appeal was 9.3 weeks. At 30 June 2003, 1400 appeals were on hand. The SSAT provides a quarterly performance report to Minister Vanstone. Relationship managementAlthough the tribunal has the independent power to review appeals, it has a memorandum of understanding with FaCS for administrative services to support the tribunal in functioning effectively. It purchases the use of FaCS’ financial and personnel management information systems to assist in performing its purchasing, accounts payment, budgeting and staff management functions. In June 2003, the tribunal signed an Administration Arrangements Agreement with Centrelink, aimed at establishing a long-term professional relationship between both organisations. The key focus of this agreement is to enhance service delivery outcomes for appellants and to improve liaison across a broad range of administrative matters. Financial managementFunding for the tribunal’s running costs (salary, administration, property and IT) is provided in the FaCS portfolio budget. While the tribunal prepares and submits budget bids to FaCS to incorporate into total portfolio requirements, it does so in aggregate. FaCS provides funds to the tribunal in fortnightly instalments of one twenty-sixth of the budget allocation. The tribunal manages its own financial resources. In 2002–03, the tribunal operated within its budget of $12.9 million. People managementThe tribunal is responsible for managing its human resources. It purchases human resource policy advice and administrative support from FaCS, as required, to perform this function. As mentioned above, FaCS performs some administrative functions on behalf of the tribunal, such as leave processing and payment of salaries and fees for all tribunal staff and members. Information managementThe tribunal has its own electronic appeal management system to manage and administer the lodgement of appeals. The tribunal purchases IT infrastructure services from FaCS. Risk managementThe tribunal has a security and fraud control plan, and has implemented the Government Online Strategy and the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. It is also further developing a comprehensive internal audit program to provide a framework for the measurement (both quantitative and qualitative) of performance and identification of risk across all areas of tribunal activity. Service CharterThe tribunal’s Service Charter expresses its commitment to providing high-quality, timely and courteous services to its applicants and stakeholders. Directory: sites -> default -> files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations files -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program files -> Occupational health and safety files -> The Black Panther Party’s Ten Point Program files -> International programs roel profile files -> Fermi Questions a guide for Teachers, Students, and Event Supervisors Lloyd Abrams, Ph. D. DuPont Company, cr&D/ccas experimental Station Wilmington, de 19880 files -> Personal Information Name: Maha Al-Ammari Nationality: Saudi Relationship Status Download 1.71 Mb. Share with your friends:
|