Who ever heard of an independent evaluation? by Stephen Easton | 0 comments There is no elephant in any of the rooms at the convention centre where the Australasian Evaluation Society is staging its annual conference in Canberra this week; it took centre stage in the opening keynote presentation.
Centrelink’s debt recovery system: automation without good public administration by Stephen Easton | 0 comments The Commonwealth Ombudsman reports Centrelink's automated debt recovery drive is an example of digital transformation that failed to maintain good public administration, procedural fairness under administrative law, and risk management.
ASIC probes Centrelink corporate welfare bludger by Julian Bajkowski | 0 comments Financial exploitation of welfare recipients through the Department of Human Services’ Centrepay automatic deductions facility is again under the regulatory spotlight after ASIC confirmed it is again investigating key ‘consumer leasing’ player, Radio Rentals.
Welfare quarantining: positive evaluation for cashless debit card trial by David Donaldson | 3 comments An initial evaluation of the cashless debit card trial in remote communities shows encouraging indicators for alcohol and drug use. But nearly half of participants say it has made their life worse.
Welfare compliance drive not working, says auditor — but DHS sticks to its guns by David Donaldson | 0 comments Are the welfare agencies failing to implement compliance and fraud prevention measures properly, or smashing their targets? It depends who you ask. DHS maintains it's over-performing despite a bad rap from the national auditor.
DSS response: $10m welfare report helping to build actuarial valuations expertise in government by The Mandarin | 0 comments One of the examples in Michael West's story should be corrected, the Department of Social Services argues, as the full scope and originality of the work was not disclosed in the article. Nor did it disclose the expertise building that will enable the department to conduct future work of this kind in-house.
Refugee settlement governance has ‘no centre of gravity’ by David Donaldson | 0 comments The weak link in Australia's refugee settlement program is getting new arrivals into work. Whittling down governance responsibility from three departments to one could help improve employment outcomes and save millions, argues a new CPD report.
Beyond individual merit: reimagining the mandarins of the future by Stephen Easton | 0 comments The individual merit principle has produced public service leaders that look and talk the same, think alike and mix in the same circles. Heads of service are hatching plans to overturn decades of affiliation bias.
Search begins for the most valuable public datasets by David Donaldson | 0 comments ALL THINGS P: The federal government wants to know which open data would be most useful to business, researchers and not-for-profits. It has launched a new online survey and forum for enthusiasts to share their ideas.
Partner Content Social benefit bonds and impact investing: a pathway to outcomes by KPMG | 0 comments Despite a market of keen investors, there are a lack of transactions in the embryonic social impact market. Solid evidence, which is where government has a role, will scale up this opportunity for outcomes.
Welfare investment approach ‘revolutionary’ — or is it? by David Donaldson | 2 comments Social Services Minister Christian Porter hails his new welfare investment approach as "close to revolutionary". But how much is it a shift from the hardline approach?
New disability authority overwhelmed by NDIS MyPlace rollout by Tom Burton | 1 comment The NDIA is to get a major boost of resources and greater ministerial scrutiny, after being overwhelmed by the rollout of its new MyPlace portal for NDIS users.
MyPlace Portal Implementation Review – Final Report by Tom Burton | 0 comments PWC was commissioned to review the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Authority's MyPlace portal. The report calls for an upgrade of the NDIA operating capacity, the appointment of a COO and a full community and stakeholder engagement program
WPIT good: DHS aims to prove public servants can do ‘agile’ by Stephen Easton | 0 comments The Department of Human Services WPIT program aims to completely rebuild the nuts and bolts side of the social safety net. If it goes to plan, it will be a watershed for agile digital transformation in the public service.
‘Computer says no’ not good enough, warns Ombudsman by David Donaldson | 0 comments Policy should dictate automated processes and not the other way around, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has warned Canberra, following a review of Centrelink's income management measure.
