Audit overview
Sexual harassment is harmful, unlawful and, in some instances, a criminal offence. Its impact on individuals and employers can be significant.
Support options
Sexual harassment can take many forms and result in physical and emotional harm. Our report discusses these issues. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or assault, or feels distressed, several support options are available.
Acronyms and abbreviations
Acronyms
| AHRC | Australian Human Rights Commission |
| APS | Australian Public Service |
| DEDJTR | Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources |
| DELWP | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning |
| DET | Department of Education and Training |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
Follow up of Access to Public Dental Services in Victoria
Body
Good oral health is important in its own right, and because of its close link with general health and wellbeing.
Economically and socially disadvantaged Victorians, who are eligible for public dental services, are most likely to experience poor oral health. The Department of Health & Human Services and Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) are primarily responsible for preventive oral health care and oral health promotion activities.
Transmittal letter
Independent assurance report to Parliament
Ordered to be published
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER May 2019
PP No 29, Session 2018–19
The Hon Shaun Leane MLC
President
Legislative Council
Parliament House
Melbourne
President
Legislative Council
Parliament House
Melbourne
The Hon Colin Brooks MP
Speaker
Legislative Assembly
Parliament House
Melbourne
Speaker
Legislative Assembly
Parliament House
Melbourne
Dear Presiding Officers
Appendix A. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments
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:
- DPC
- DTF
- DHHS
- DJCS
RESPONSE provided by the Secretary, DPC
3 Managing physical security
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:
2 Physical security governance
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.
1 Audit context
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.
Audit overview
Security threats are an everyday risk to government agencies.
The risk comes from individuals or groups who, for a variety of reasons—some malicious—will seek to threaten staff, attack systems and processes, or damage or steal property. Unauthorised access to government buildings could put staff health and safety at risk and cause significant disruption to public sector services.