Annual Report 2002–03 Volume I
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- Navigate this page:
- FaCS—Significant financial events
- Financial relationship between FaCS and Centrelink
- Managing finances and assets
- Competitive tendering and contracting
- Information strategies and technology management
- FaCS Online Funding Management System
- Electronic document management system
- Edge Expert System Project
- Child Support Agency—IT performance solutions
- Disaster recovery program
- FaCS—Library and research services
Financial performanceFaCS ensures that the portfolio’s financial resources—particularly operational resources—are obtained, allocated and monitored in a fair, effective, accountable and efficient manner, facilitating the delivery of quality services to clients. See also Part four—Financial statements. This section covers the financial management processes of FaCS including CSA. FaCS—Significant financial eventsPortfolio transfersOn 1 July 2002, administrative control of CRS Australia transferred to the Department of Health and Ageing. This gives effect to the agreement between the secretaries of FaCS and the Department of Health and Ageing flowing from the revised administrative arrangements announced in November 2001. For comparative reporting purposes, the results of CRS Australia are included in FaCS’ financial statements. Asset managementIn June 2003, FaCS conducted a review of its assets; in particular, costs that had been capitalised for internally developed software. This evaluation resulted in write-off of some of these costs amounting to $7.3 million. FaCS also carried out a stocktake of both IT and non-IT assets. Financial relationship between FaCS and CentrelinkCentrelink delivers most of FaCS’ administered payments under a purchaser-provider relationship, governed by the Business Partnership Agreement (BPA). Funds for the purchase of services from Centrelink are appropriated to FaCS and then paid to Centrelink by FaCS in accordance with an agreed payment schedule. Funds for the payment of benefit entitlements administered by FaCS are drawn down by Centrelink under a delegation given to Centrelink by the Secretary of FaCS. The current BPA has been in place since 1 July 2001 and will conclude on 30 June 2004. The content of the BPA has been reviewed and updated each year to ensure it continues to reflect current priorities. As the end of the current agreement approaches, a new one must be negotiated with Centrelink. This new BPA is expected to be ready for signing by the Secretary of FaCS and the CEO of Centrelink by 1 July 2004. Child Support AgencyManaging finances and assetsCSA achieved: an unqualified set of financial statements consolidation of the internally developed client software, ‘Cuba’, that produces an automated double entry, real-time set of administered financial accounts, which improves transparency and accountability integration of the financial management framework into the overall corporate governance system further refinement of the role of the CSA’s Finance Steering Committee to oversee strategic financial issues continued implementation of CSA’s market testing plan. FundingThe year 2002–03 is the third of a four-year funding agreement between CSA and the Department of Finance and Administration. The agreement funds CSA based on the number of clients and provides a strong basis for financial planning. It is based on CSA’s Output Pricing Model and results in a pricing efficiency of 3 per cent per year, cumulative. This means that CSA services are delivered to a larger client group at a lower price, indicating significant productivity improvements. The primary driver of productivity improvements is the proportion of private collect cases compared to agency collect cases. The agreed target rate is 50 per cent by 30 June 2003. CSA exceeded this target by achieving a private collect rate of 50.6 per cent. This reflects the success of CSA’s role in encouraging parents, where feasible, to manage their child support payments with minimal intervention. Negotiations have already begun for a new agreement for the period from June 2004.
Mobile telephone services and senior case officer services were contracted on a competitive basis during 2002–03. AccommodationCSA continued to rationalise its accommodation, planning relocations of the Hobart and Newcastle offices in the first half of the 2003-04 financial year. These moves will realise ongoing annual savings of approximately $0.8 million in property operating expenses. Any further accommodation moves will be as a result of CSA or the Australian Taxation Office identifying opportunities as need and circumstances arise. Information strategies and technology managementFaCS—Information strategies and technology managementFaCS undertook a number of key information communication and technology initiatives during the year. These are summarised below. IT outsourcingFaCS has issued a Request For Tender (RFT) for the provision of IT operations management services, which include helpdesk, floorwalking and infrastructure support services. The responses from this tender are being evaluated. It is anticipated that the announcement of a preferred supplier and final handover of the services to the successful tenderer will occur in the fourth quarter of 2003. The IT Operations Management RFT is the first of several tenders FaCS plans to release as part of its IT Selective Sourcing Strategy.
The proposed IT system—FaCS Online Funding Management System (FOFMS)—will facilitate the implementation of a common approach for managing FaCS’ arrangements with service providers across all funding programs. It will support the lifecycle of funding arrangements—from applications to establishing the service, managing the agreement, making payments, through to reporting and evaluation. The system is being designed to deliver online claims-driven payments and case based funding functionality. It will also meet the department’s obligations under the Government Online initiative—specifically, guidelines on information provision, electronic publishing, metadata electronic record keeping and archiving, accessibility, security, privacy and authentication. A request for proposal process, undertaken in October 2002, was followed by a restricted request for tender process that closed on 2 May 2003.
A pilot involving up to 300 departmental staff will be undertaken in the first half of the 2003-04 financial year, with full implementation of the system expected to begin in January 2004 and finish by October 2004. Edge Expert System ProjectFaCS and Centrelink have worked jointly to develop the Edge expert system for the Family Assistance Office. Its primary aim is to improve accuracy, consistency and transparency in decision-making. The system applies the legislative and policy rules to assess a client’s entitlement to family assistance payments. It provides a record of the decision, and the reasons for eligibility or ineligibility. It determines which questions to ask based on answers to previous questions. An online commentary explains why questions are asked and gives help in answering them. The system will have the ability to produce a provisional assessment notice advising clients of their eligibility and estimated rate, and a personalised claim form. Edge can also be used to assess the results of potential and actual changes to client circumstances. Edge has been tested extensively and piloted in several Family Assistance Offices as well as with members of the social policy community. The staged rollout of Edge began in July 2002.
Cuba—Consolidation of a new IT systemIn March 2002 the CSA implemented a new core business computer system. This system, called ‘Cuba’, was the biggest technological change undertaken by CSA since its inception and the rollout period created some problems for both clients and staff. These problems involved data integrity difficulties in transferring information from the old system into the new system, as well as providing new skilling for staff who had uncertainties about using ‘Cuba’. This year CSA substantially resolved all these issues through an ongoing enhancement program to identify areas needing attention and solutions to improve them. ‘Cuba’ is now widely accepted by CSA staff as helping them provide better outcomes for clients. Business improvements attributed to ‘Cuba’ include: a more complete focus on clients, with staff spending less time processing and more time resolving client concerns an integrated communication and information technology platform to allow faster responses to client calls clearer client letters and statements more frequent disbursements of child support payments improved accountability due to better quality data and reporting on CSA performance.
e-BusinessCSA is exploring new e-Business initiatives that will update the business to take advantage of technology trends and prepare for emerging technologies. Some of the developments being considered are to broaden the existing range of payment options, offer more services through the CSA web site and expand the capability of the interactive telephone system. Initiatives in each of these areas will be implemented over the coming year to complement the existing range of tools available to help parents manage their separation and child support issues. FaCS—Library and research servicesThe library and information research service continued to expand its information delivery, research provision, research training and tailored information services to all four client agencies—FaCS, Centrelink, CSA and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. A digital archive of the Guide to the Social Security Act has been completed, and a pilot study of information needs within FaCS was completed across three sample branches. The service also conducted the Knowledge Management—Guided Self Assessment Program (part of the Business Excellence Framework from Standards Australia) across FaCS. 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:
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