Annual Report - 2.2 Portfolio Outcomes, Departmental Outputs and Performance Reporting

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Part 3: Management Arrangements

Part 4: Accountability Reporting

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Portfolio Outcomes

Outcomes are the Government’s intended results, benefits or consequences on the Australian community. The Government requires all General Government Agencies, such as the Department, to use outcomes as a basis for budgeting, measuring performance and reporting. Annual administered funding is appropriated on an outcomes basis.

In 2008–09, Health and Ageing portfolio agencies worked within a 27 outcome structure. Fifteen outcomes were specific to the Department. The remaining 12 were specific to the portfolio agencies that received direct funding from the Australian Government.

Department-specific Outcomes

Table 2.2.1 details the outcomes relevant to the Department, the programs managed under each, and the divisions responsible.
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Table 2.2.1: Department of Health and Ageing Outcomes

Outcome 1. Population Health The incidence of preventable mortality, illness and injury in Australians is minimised.
Programs 1.1 Chronic Disease – Early Detection and Prevention 1.2 Communicable Disease Control 1.3 Drug Strategy 1.4 Food and Regulatory Policy¹ 1.5 Immunisation 1.6 Public Health	Divisions Responsible Population Health Division Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme Office of Health Protection Office of the Gene Technology Regulator Regulatory Policy and Governance Division Therapeutic Goods Administration
Outcome 2. Access to Pharmaceutical Services Australians have access to cost-effective medicines.
Programs 2.1 Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness 2.2 Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services 2.3 Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals, Aids and Appliances²	Division Responsible Pharmaceutical Benefits Division
Outcome 3. Access to Medical Services Australians have access to cost-effective medical services.
Programs 3.1 Medicare Services 3.2 Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision 3.3 Diagnostic Imaging Services 3.4 Pathology Services 3.5 Chronic Disease – Radiation Oncology 3.6 Targeted Assistance – Medical	Divisions Responsible Medical Benefits Division Acute Care Division
Outcome 4. Aged Care and Population Ageing Older Australians enjoy independence, good health and wellbeing. High quality, cost-effective care is accessible to frail older people, and their carers are supported.
Programs 4.1 Aged Care Assessment 4.2 Aged Care Workforce 4.3 Ageing Information and Support 4.4 Community Care 4.5 Culturally Appropriate Aged Care 4.6 Dementia 4.7 Flexible Aged Care 4.8 Residential Care	Divisions Responsible Ageing and Aged Care Division Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance (The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd also contributed to the achievement of this outcome.)
Outcome 5. Primary Care Australians have access to high quality, well-integrated and cost-effective primary care.
Programs 5.1 Primary Care Education and Training 5.2 Primary Care Financing, Quality and Access 5.3 Primary Care Policy, Innovation and Research 5.4 Primary Care Practice Incentives	Divisions Responsible Primary and Ambulatory Care Division Health Workforce Division Medical Benefits Division Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division (General Practice Education and Training Ltd also contributed to the achievement of this outcome.)
Outcome 6. Rural Health Improved health outcomes for Australians living in regional, rural and remote locations.
Program 6.1 Rural Health Services	Division Responsible Primary and Ambulatory Care Division (Other areas across the Department also contributed to this outcome.)
Outcome 7. Hearing Services Australians have access through the Hearing Services Program to hearing services and devices
Program 7.1 Hearing Services	Division Responsible Regulatory Policy and Governance Division
Outcome 8. Indigenous Health Improved access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to effective primary health care and substance use services and population health programs.
Program 8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health	Divisions Responsible Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Health Workforce Division Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division (Other areas across the Department also contributed to improved Indigenous health outcomes.)
Outcome 9. Private Health A viable private health industry to improve the choice of health services for Australians.
Program 9.1 Private Health Insurance	Division Responsible Acute Care Division
Outcome 10. Health System Capacity and Quality The capacity and quality of the health care system meets the needs of Australians.
Programs 10.1 Chronic Disease – Treatment 10.2 e-Health Implementation 10.3 Health Information 10.4 International Policy Engagement 10.5 Palliative Care and Community Assistance 10.6 Research Capacity 10.7 Health and Medical Investment Fund³	Divisions Responsible Ageing and Aged Care Division Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division Portfolio Strategies Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division
Outcome 11. Mental Health Improved mental health care for all Australians.
Program 11.1 Mental Health	Division Responsible Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division
Outcome 12. Health Workforce Capacity Australians have access to an enhanced health workforce.
Programs 12.1 Rural Workforce 12.2 Workforce	Divisions Responsible Health Workforce Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division
Outcome 13. Acute Care Australians have access to public hospitals and related hospital care underpinned by appropriate medical indemnity arrangements.
Programs 13.1 Blood and Organ Donation Services 13.2 Medical Indemnity 13.3 Public Hospitals and Information	Divisions Responsible Acute Care Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division
Outcome 14. Biosecurity and Emergency Response Australia’s health system has coordinated arrangements to respond effectively to national health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, terrorism and natural disaster.
Programs 14.1 Health Emergency Planning and Response 14.2 Surveillance	Division Responsible Office of Health Protection
Outcome 15. Development of a Stronger and Internationally Competitive Australian Sports Sector and Encouragement of Greater Participation in Sport by All Australians
Program 15.1 Sport and Recreation	Division Responsible Population Health Division

Portfolio Agencies Outcomes

Table 2.2.2 identifies the outcomes belonging to the 11 portfolio agencies that were directly funded by the Government in 2008–09.

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Table 2.2.2: Health and Ageing Portfolio Agencies’ Outcomes

Portfolio Agency	Outcomes
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare	Outcome 1. Better health and wellbeing for Australians through better health and welfare statistics and information.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency	Outcome 1. The Australian people and the environment are protected from the harmful effects of radiation.
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority	Outcome 1. The protection of Australia’s sporting integrity through eliminating doping.
Australian Sports Commission	Outcome 1. An effective national sports system that offers improved participation in quality sports activities by Australians. Outcome 2. Excellence in sports performances by Australians.
Cancer Australia	Outcome 1. National consistency in cancer prevention and care that is scientifically based.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand	Outcome 1. A safe food supply and well-informed consumers.
National Blood Authority	Outcome 1. Australia’s blood supply is secure and well managed.
National Health and Medical Research Council	Outcome 1. Australia’s health system benefits from high quality health and medical research conducted at the highest ethical standard, well-developed research capabilities and sound evidence-based advice that informs health policy and practice.
Private Health Insurance Administration Council	Outcome 1. The prudential safety of registered private health insurance funds, the best interests of members of those funds, and a competitive level of private health insurance premiums, are efficiently regulated to support a viable industry.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman	Outcome 1. Consumers and providers have confidence in the administration of private health insurance.
Professional Services Review	Outcome 1. Australians are protected from meeting the cost and associated risks of inappropriate practices of health service providers.

Agencies’ performance against agency-specific outcomes is reported in their respective annual reports. Contact details for these organisations can be found in Part 6.2 Portfolio Agencies’ Contact Details.

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Review of Portfolio Outcomes

The Department reviewed the portfolio’s outcome structure in 2008–09 for the 2009–10 Budget, as part of the Australian Government’s reform agenda to improve the transparency of public sector budgetary and financial management, and to promote good governance practices (Operation Sunlight). The Department worked with portfolio agencies and the Department of Finance and Deregulation to revise the outcome statements so they more clearly identify: the Government’s intended results; target groups; and activities undertaken by the relevant agency that contribute to the achievement of the intended results.

The Department also amended the outcome structure to include two new portfolio agencies:

the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority (www.donatelife.gov.au), which is responsible for implementing and managing a national approach to organ and tissue donation and transplantation systems; and
the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (www.nbocc.org.au), which works in partnership with health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers, governments and diagnosed people to improve outcomes in breast and ovarian cancer.

Full details of the revised outcome structure can be found in the 2009–10 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements.

Departmental Outputs

The Department described its core activities in 2008–09 in terms of the following two output groups:

Output Group 1 – Policy Advice: this included the provision of policy advice and services to the Ministers, Parliamentary Secretary and Parliament; and
Output Group 2 – Program Management: this included the development and management of contracts and grants for administered funds, and the payment of administered funds. This output group also included the administration of legislation, and the provision of information to stakeholders on programs.

Performance Reporting

The Department measures its success in achieving its outcomes and outputs by setting performance directions and targets in its Portfolio Budget and Additional Estimates Statements.

The following outcome chapters report on the major activities undertaken by the Department during the year, addressing each of the key strategic directions and performance indicators published in the 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.

In delivering its set objectives, the Department responded to the impact of the worldwide economic crisis by working with the Australian Government to identify options for savings and efficiencies. The Department also carefully managed its resources to ensure that high level priorities had the required human resources.

1 The name of this program changed to ‘1.4 Regulatory Policy’ during the 2009–10 Budget process.

2 This program was changed to ‘2.3 Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals’ and ‘2.4 Targeted Assistance – Aids and Appliances’ during the 2009–10 Budget process.

3 The name of this program changed to ‘10.7 Health Infrastructure’ during the 2009–10 Budget process.

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