Energy Efficiency in the Health Sector
Body
The audit assessed whether the Department of Health and health services have been effective in improving energy efficiency in health services.
Appendix A. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments
Introduction
In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994 a copy of this report was provided to the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services with a request for submissions or comments.
The submission and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
3 Experience of supports
At a glance
Background
As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic disease and disability increases, supporting carers to maintain their role becomes increasingly important. Supports therefore need to effectively achieve their objectives. The Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and service providers also need to recognise carers by involving them in policy and program development, and service planning and provision.
2 Access to carer supports
At a glance
Background
Carers play a vital role in the community and need support to maintain this role. This requires community awareness of the supports that exist and for carers to understand how to access them. Access processes should be transparent and equitable, and supports should be flexible and responsive to carer needs.
1 Background
1.1 Introduction
A carer is someone who cares for a relative, partner or friend on an unpaid, informal basis. They may care for someone who is aged, has a disability or mental illness, is terminally ill, or for a related child who can no longer live with their parents. A carer who supports a person in most of their daily activities, such as dressing, eating or social activities, is called a ‘primary carer’.
Audit summary
A carer is someone who cares for a relative, partner or friend on an unpaid, informal basis. Carers enable many people to remain living in their homes and communities. This also reduces the financial burden on the health and human services systems. In 2010, Carers Australia estimated that informal carers provided $40.9 billion in care services nationally. In Victoria, there are over 700 000 informal carers, including 194 000 ‘primary carers’, providing support to someone for most of their daily living activities.
Carer Support Programs: Message
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER August 2012
PP No 161, Session 2010–12
Carer Support Programs
Body
This audit assessed the extent to which the Department of Health and the Department of Human Service are effective in recognising and supporting people who care for others.
Appendix B. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments
In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994 a copy of this report was provided to the Department of Justice, Victoria Police, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, the Department of Health, the Department of Planning and Community Development, the City of Casey Council, the City of Greater Geelong Council, the City of Melbourne Council and Swan Hill Rural City Council with a request for submissions or comments.
Appendix A. Consumption and harm data
Alcohol consumption and economic conditions
Affordability and availability are two of the most important determining factors of alcohol consumption levels. Figure A1 shows the correlation between changes in gross domestic product and estimates of alcohol consumption since 1960–61 in Australia.
Figure A1
Change in per capita alcohol consumption and gross domestic product in Australia