In this Part of the report, we summarise the results of our financial and performance statement audits and observations for the TAFE sector for the year ended 31 December 2018.
The financial and performance reports of the TAFE sector are reliable. Parliament and the community can use them with confidence.
The technical and further education (TAFE) sector delivers vocational education and training (VET) to equip students with practical and educational skills for a variety of careers, and provides pathways to university courses.
Twelve TAFE institutes and their 15 controlled entities make up the TAFE sector in Victoria.
In Victoria, registered training organisations (RTO) also provide VET courses to students. RTOs are private-sector organisations and are not included in this report.
Figure 1A provides an overview of the TAFE sector in Victoria.
Source: VAGO.
| DET | Department of Education and Training |
| EBA | Enterprise Bargaining Agreement |
| FMA | Financial Management Act 1994 |
| KPI | key performance indicator |
| RTO | registered training organisation |
| TAFE | technical and further education |
| VAGO | Victorian Auditor-General's Office |
The TAFE sector in Victoria is made up of 12 technical institutes and 15 controlled entities.
This report outlines the results of, and observations arising from, our financial audits of the entities within the sector, and our observations, for the year ended 31 December 2018.
We also assess the sector’s financial performance during the 2018 reporting period and assess its sustainability as at 31 December 2018.
Independent assurance report to Parliament
Ordered to be published
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER May 2019
PP No 29, Session 2018–19
Dear Presiding Officers
We have consulted with DTF, DHHS, DJCS, and DPC and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments.
Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
RESPONSE provided by the Secretary, DPC
The government implements security measures to manage physical security risks and threats. All staff contribute to the effectiveness of these measures and play a role in security management. Security measures are most effective when staff promote a strong security culture.
Security measures should be commensurate with the level of risk. Common physical security measures implemented in Victorian Government office accommodation include:
Security culture and governance underpin effective security management. Without a strong security culture, security measures and controls are vulnerable to human error. Even the best access control system will fail if staff are careless with their access cards or lend them to others. A consistent security culture across government requires strong leadership, an enforceable accountability framework and a principle-based policy.
Government agencies face a real and credible threat to their physical security and the safety of their client-facing staff. Unauthorised access to government buildings could cause significant disruption to public sector services while antisocial behaviour from government clients puts staff health and safety at risk.