Appendix B. 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, or part of this report, was provided to:
Appendix A. Overview of DET Financial Assistance Model
The Financial Assistance Model
The Financial Assistance Model (FAM) is the Department of Education & Training's (DET) model for distributing state recurrent grants. The FAM replaced the former Education Resource Index funding model in 2006. Funding for each school is calculated under two components (core funding and equity funding), however, the total funding provided to a school under the model is untied recurrent funding. This allows schools the flexibility to determine how the funds will be spent in order to best meet the needs of the students.
3 Use of grants by non-government schools
At a glance
Background
The Department of Education & Training (DET) provides grants to non-government schools directly or through system bodies. The funding agreements set out the types or purpose of expenditure for which the funds may be used.
2 Grants governance and oversight
At a glance
Background
The Department of Education & Training's (DET) responsibility for administering grants to non-government schools is laid out in a series of memorandums of understanding, guidelines and funding agreements. These agreements set out the government's objectives for the grants, conditions on their use and the related reporting requirements.
1 Background
1.1 Introduction
Non-government schools are diverse in nature, serving a range of different communities. They may provide religious or values-based education, or be based on educational philosophies or different interpretations of mainstream education.
They provide education to around 334 000 Victorian children, which represents around 37 per cent of all Victorian students. Non-government schools operate in two ways—through system authorities that manage multiple schools, and as independent, non-systemic schools.
Audit Summary
VAGO undertakes performance audits into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public sector agencies and their operations to provide assurance to Parliament and drive public sector improvement. We aim to achieve this by identifying issues and making recommendations to agencies about how to address them. However, our recommendations cannot result in improvements unless they are accepted and enacted by public sector agencies.
Audit Summary
Audit committees play a key accountability role in the governance framework of Victorian public sector agencies. While management retains ultimate accountability for operations, audit committees independently review and assess the effectiveness of key aspects of an agency's operations.
Audit Summary
Background
The effective planning and delivery of major capital projects is critical to governments achieving their policy objectives. If delivered well, infrastructure enhances services to the public and improves productivity. Poor management diminishes the benefits of these projects, potentially delays delivery and creates additional costs for taxpayers.
Audit Summary
A 2010 industry report estimated the Victorian Government's information and communications technology (ICT) expenditure at $1–$1.5 billion per year. This audit revealed that the actual overall spend is significantly greater.
Despite this significant expenditure, information on the status and outcomes of public sector ICT initiatives is currently difficult to obtain. Most agencies and entities provide little, if any, public information specifying these details.
Audit Summary
Information and communications technology (ICT) is a significant enabler in the delivery of government programs and services.