2.1 Outcomes and performance information
Government outcomes are the intended results, impacts or consequences of actions by the Government on the Australian community. Commonwealth programs are the primary vehicle by which government agencies achieve the intended results of their outcome statements. Agencies are required to identify the programs which contribute to government outcomes over the Budget and forward years.
Each outcome is described below together with its related programs, specifying the performance indicators and targets used to assess and monitor the Department’s performance.
Outcome 1: Families and Children
Improved child development, safety and family functioning through support services for all Australians, payments for low and medium income families with children and child support policy.
| Outcome 1 strategy
FaHCSIA's programs and payments for families deliver broad assistance to families as well as targeting vulnerable and at-risk families and children, particularly during major transitions in life. Assistance is provided to help families with the costs associated with the arrival of a child; parenting (particularly during early childhood); and family relationship problems and separation.
Through the payment of FTB Part A, FaHCSIA makes a significant contribution to assist parents with the direct costs of raising children. The highest level of assistance goes to low- and medium-income families and reduces financial stress within those families. FTB Part B provides additional assistance to single parents and couple families with one main income earner.
The 2011–12 Budget provides more support for low- and middle-income families raising teenagers by significantly increasing family assistance to support teenagers in school, making advance payments more flexible, and encouraging parents to get
health checks for their children before they start school. In addition, from 1 January 2012, the FTB Part A maximum age of eligibility will be lowered from 24 to 21 years. This brings FTB Part A in line with the Youth Allowance age of independence.
The Budget also extends indexation pauses for two years on the high income threshold for FTB Part A and the income limits for FTB Part B, Baby Bonus and Paid Parental Leave until 30 June 2014. In addition, the annual FTB Part A and FTB Part B end-of-year supplements will remain at their current levels for three additional years. These changes will ensure the family payment system is sustainable into the future.
Australia's first PPL Scheme started on 1 January 2011 and gives babies the best start in life by enabling more parents to spend time with their children during the crucial early months without losing their connection to the labour market. People who are not eligible for paid parental leave or who choose not to participate will continue to be assisted with the costs of newborn children through the Baby Bonus and FTB.
The 2011–12 Budget provides a new start date for the Paid Paternity Leave Scheme. The scheme will provide eligible working fathers or partners caring for a child born or adopted from 1 January 2013 with a dedicated two-week payment at the national minimum wage.
The Family Support Program is a suite of integrated services to support families, to improve children’s wellbeing, development and safety, and to enhance family functioning. From 1 July 2011, the Government will deliver reforms to the Family Support Program that will increase support to vulnerable children and families, promote collaboration, and reduce red tape for service providers. As part of the
2011–12 Budget, the Family Support Program is being enhanced:
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through the streamlining of the program which includes the alignment of a common factor of indexation and the removal of efficiency dividend across the Families and Children Services
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by new peer support groups for grandparent carers
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by additional funding for Communities for Children services nationally in targeted communities to assist teenage and jobless parents and their children, as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package.
Under this outcome, FaHCSIA also provides advice to the Government on policies that affect families, including child support arrangements.
From 1 July 2011, the Government will strengthen its rules to achieve more accurate assessments of separated parents’ incomes in the calculation of their child support liabilities. For parents who do not lodge their taxable income for a particular year, their last known taxable income will be indexed in line with average wage growth for the relevant period. This approach will ensure more accurate income is being used to support parents to meet their child support responsibilities.
The National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020 and the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Their Children, under Outcome 6, also contribute to the safety and wellbeing of families and children
Outcome 1 expense statement
Table 2.1 provides an overview of the total expenses for Outcome 1, by program.
Table 2.1: Budgeted expenses and resources for Outcome 1
Contributions to Outcome 1
Program 1.1: Family Support2
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Program 1.1 objective
The Family Support Program is a suite of integrated services to support families, to improve children’s wellbeing, development and safety and to enhance family functioning. From 1 July 2011, the Government will deliver reforms to the family Support Program that will increase support to vulnerable children and families, promote collaboration, and reduce red tape for service providers. As part of the 2011-12 Budget, the Family Support Program is being enhanced through the streamlining of the program which includes the alignment of a common factor of indexation and the removal of efficiency dividend across the Families and Children Services.
Program component objectives
Family and Children Services
To provide services to families, particularly those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or live in disadvantaged communities to improve family functioning and safety, and child wellbeing and development.
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Linked to: The policy responsibility for Family Law Services resides with the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD). For more information about this program refer to AGD’s 2011–12 PB Statements.
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Program 1.1 expenses
The change in program expenses across the forward years reflects the introduction of a single Family Support program which amalgamates the Family Relationship Services, Children and Parenting Services, part of the Community Investment program (Output 3.2) and separates Find and Connect Service.
The program expenses also reflect the impact of policy initiatives including the 2011–12 Budget measures for Family Support under the Building Australia’s Future Workforce and the 2009-10 Budget measure Closing the Gap - Northern Territory Family Support Package.
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Table 2.1.1: Budgeted expenses for Family Support
Program 1.1 deliverables3
Family and Children Services
• Number of clients assisted
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Family and Children Services deliverables targets
Program 1.1 key performance indicators
• Percentage of clients reporting improved child wellbeing and development, safety and family functioning4
• Percentage of clients with increased knowledge and skills related to child wellbeing and development, safety or family functioning4
• Percentage of clients satisfied with the assistance received
• Percentage of clients assisted from priority groups
• Percentage of service sites in the most disadvantaged or targeted communities
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Family and Children Services key performance indicators targets
Program 1.2 objective
To make payments to assist low- and medium-income families with the direct and indirect costs of raising dependent children.
Program component objectives
Family Tax Benefit Part A
To make payments to assist low- and medium-income families with the costs of raising dependent children. This supports better family functioning by improving the financial wellbeing of low- and medium-income families with children.
Family Tax Benefit Part B
To make payments to assist low- and medium-income single parents, and partnered parents where one income is low, to enable families to exercise choices to balance labour force participation and child care responsibilities.
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Linked to: As of 1 July Personal benefits payments under this program will be delivered by the Department of Human Services (DHS). For more information refer to DHS’s 2011–12 PB Statements.
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Program 1.2 expenses
The increase in program expenses across the forward years reflects projected changes in the economy, customer trends, indexation parameters and the impact of policy initiatives.
The major policy initiatives affecting program estimates relate to:
• a 2010 election commitment to support families with teenagers increases the maximum rate of FTB Part A from January 2012 for 16 to 19 year olds in full-time secondary study
• the 2009-10 Budget reforms to family payments pause indexation of the higher-income-free area of FTB Part A and the $150,000 primary earner income limits of FTB Part B from July 2009 to June 2012
• the 2011-12 Budget extends indexation pauses for two years on the higher income-free area of FTB Part A and the income limits of FTB Part B until 30 June 2014. In addition, the annual FTB Part A and FTB Part B end-of-year supplements will remain at their current levels until June 2014. These changes will ensure the family payment system is sustainable into the future.
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Table 2.1.2: Budgeted expenses for Family Tax Benefit
Program 1.2 deliverables
• Payments are made through Centrelink and Medicare Australia to eligible claimants under the provisions of family assistance law.
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Program 1.2 key performance indicators
Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Total number of eligible customers5
• Proportion of all customers paid by instalment6
• Proportion of all customers paid by lump sum5
• Proportion and amount of administered outlays paid by instalment and
by lump sum
• Percentage of all customers who had a qualification debt raised7
• Percentage of all customers who had a debt raised following reconciliation6
• Percentage of all customers who had a non-lodger debt raised6
• Agreements are in place with all service delivery agencies
• Strategies are in place to ensure that requirements are fulfilled under
agreements with service delivery agencies
• Payment accuracy
• Percentage and number of families with children under 16 years of age
receiving FTB A
• Percentage and number of families in receipt of FTB Part A within income
test categories
Family Tax Benefit Part B
• Total number of eligible customers4
• Proportion of all customers paid by instalment5
• Proportion of all customers paid by lump sum5
Family Tax Benefit Part B (continued)
• Proportion and amount of administered outlays paid by instalment and
by lump sum
• Percentage of all customers who had a qualification debt raised8
• Percentage of all customers who had a debt raised following reconciliation7
• Percentage of all customers who had a non-lodger debt raised7
• Agreements are in place with all service delivery agencies
• Strategies are in place to ensure that requirements are fulfilled under
agreements with service delivery agencies
• Payment accuracy
• Percentage and number of families with children under 16 years of age
receiving FTB B
• Percentage and number of families in receipt of FTB Part B within
income test categories
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Program 1.3: Parental Payments and Care Incentives
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Program 1.3 objective
To make payments to families to assist with the costs of a newborn or adopted child, extend the period that parents can be away from work to spend time with their child and encourage all families to fully immunise their children.
Program component objectives
Paid Parental Leave
To provide financial support for working parents of newborn or adopted children
to facilitate time off work to care for their child, enhance maternal and child wellbeing, encourage women’s workforce participation and promote gender equity and work–life balance.
Baby Bonus
To make payments to families to assist with the costs arising from the birth or adoption of a child.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance
To make payments to encourage families to fully immunise their natural and adopted children in accordance with Australian standards. (This supports improved child development and safety in all families by impeding the spread of infectious diseases within the Australian community.)
Double Orphan Pension
To make non–means-tested payments to guardians or approved care organisations to assist in meeting the costs of dependent children who are double orphans.
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Linked to: As of 1 July Personal benefits payments under this program are to be delivered by DHS. For more information refer to DHS’s 2011–12 PB Statements.
Immunisation is delivered by the Department of Health and Ageing (DHA). For information about the delivery of this program, refer to DHA’s 2011–12 PB Statements.
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Program 1.3 expenses
The increase in program expenses across the forward years reflects projected changes in the economy, customer trends, indexation parameters and the impact of policy initiatives.
The larger increase in the expenses from 2010–11 to 2011–12 reflects a full year impact of the PPL scheme, which commenced on 1 January 2011. The further increase from 2012–13 reflects the implementation of Paid Paternity Leave from 1 July 2013.
The expense for PPL Communications and Evaluation was initially for a publicity campaign in 2009–10 and 2010–11 with evaluation to be taken between 2010 and 2014. Additional funding was provided for publicity campaign in 2012-13 and 2013–14 for the new Paid Paternity Leave scheme and to extend the scope of the evaluation to include paternity leave.
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Table 2.1.3: Budgeted expenses for Parental Payments and Care Incentives
Program 1.3 deliverables
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Payments are made through Centrelink and Medicare Australia (the Family Assistance Office) to eligible claimants under the provisions of family assistance law.
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Double Orphan Pension is paid through Centrelink to eligible claimants under the provisions of social security law.
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Centrelink funds employers to provide Parental Leave Pay to eligible employees, or the Family Assistance Office provides Parental Leave Pay directly to eligible parents, according to the provisions of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.9
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Program 1.3 key performance indicators
Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
• Percentage and number of mothers for whom PPL has been paid as a proportion of all mothers in the same year
• Percentage and number of parents paid government-funded PPL by employers
• Percentage and number of families who have taken the full 18 weeks of PPL10
Baby Bonus
• Percentage and number of children for whom Baby Bonus is paid as a proportion of all children born in the same year11
Maternity Immunisation Allowance
• Percentage and number of children vaccinated to the highest level appropriate for their age in the Australian Community
• Number of recipients
• Administered outlays
• Payment accuracy
• Agreements are in place with all service delivery agencies
• Strategies are in place to ensure that requirements are fulfilled under agreements with service delivery agencies
Baby Bonus
• Number of recipients
• Administered outlays
• Payment accuracy
• Agreements are in place with all service delivery agencies
• Strategies are in place to ensure that requirements are fulfilled under agreements with service delivery agencies
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Outcome 2: Housing
Access to affordable, safe housing through: payments and support services; and rental subsidies to low and moderate income households.
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