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2.3 Portfolio Outcomes

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Portfolio Outcomes

Outcomes are the intended results, benefits or consequences the Australian Government seeks to achieve through its funding to departments. The Government requires Commonwealth 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.

As at 30 June 2011, Health and Ageing portfolio agencies worked within a 33 outcome structure. Fourteen outcomes were specific to the department. The remaining 19 were specific to the portfolio agencies listed at Table 2.3.2.

Administrative Arrangements Orders

On 14 September 2010 revisions to the Administrative Arrangements Order saw the responsibility for Sport (Outcome 15 – Sport Performance and Participation; the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority; the Australian Sports Commission; and the Australian Sports Foundation) transferred from the Health and Ageing Portfolio to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio.

Review of Portfolio Outcomes

In 2010-11, the department amended the portfolio outcome structure to include two new portfolio agencies included in Table 2.3.2:

the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, to facilitate effective health promotion and prevention programs; and
the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, to develop a national strategic framework and associated work program to improve safety and quality across the health care system.

Department-Specific Outcomes

Table 2.3.1 details the outcomes relevant to the department, the programs managed under each, and the divisions responsible as at 30 June 2011.

Table 2.3.1: Department of Health and Ageing Outcomes

Outcome 1. Population Health
A reduction in the incidence of preventable mortality and morbidity in Australia, including through regulation and national initiatives that support healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
Programs	Divisions and Agencies Responsible for Outcome
1.1 Chronic Disease – Early Detection and Prevention 1.2 Communicable Disease Control 1.3 Drug Strategy 1.4 Regulatory Policy 1.5 Immunisation 1.6 Public Health	Acute Care Division Business Group Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme Office of Health Protection Office of the Gene Technology Regulator Population Health Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division Therapeutic Goods Administration

Outcome 1. Population Health

A reduction in the incidence of preventable mortality and morbidity in Australia, including through regulation and national initiatives that support healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.

Programs

Divisions and Agencies Responsible
for Outcome

1.1 Chronic Disease – Early Detection and Prevention

1.2 Communicable Disease Control

1.3 Drug Strategy

1.4 Regulatory Policy

1.5 Immunisation

1.6 Public Health

Acute Care Division

Business Group

Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division

National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme

Office of Health Protection

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Population Health Division

Regulatory Policy and Governance Division

Therapeutic Goods Administration

Outcome 2. Access to Pharmaceutical Services
Access to cost-effective medicines, including through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and related subsidies, and assistance for medication management through industry partnerships.
Programs	Division Responsible for Outcome
2.1 Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness 2.2 Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services 2.3 Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals 2.4 Targeted Assistance – Aids and Appliances	Pharmaceutical Benefits Division

Outcome 2. Access to Pharmaceutical Services

Access to cost-effective medicines, including through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and related subsidies, and assistance for medication management through industry partnerships.

Programs

Division Responsible for Outcome

2.1 Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness

2.2 Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services

2.3 Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals

2.4 Targeted Assistance – Aids and Appliances

Pharmaceutical Benefits Division

Outcome 3. Access to Medical Services
Access to cost-effective medical, practice nursing and allied health services, including through Medicare subsidies for clinically relevant services.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
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	Acute Care Division Medical Benefits Division Population Health Division

Outcome 3. Access to Medical Services

Access to cost-effective medical, practice nursing and allied health services, including through Medicare subsidies for clinically relevant services.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

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

Acute Care Division

Medical Benefits Division

Population Health Division

Outcome 4. Aged Care and Population Ageing
Access to quality and affordable aged care and carer support services for older people, including through subsidies and grants, industry assistance, training and regulation of the aged care sector.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
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	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 4. Aged Care and Population Ageing

Access to quality and affordable aged care and carer support services for older people, including through subsidies and grants, industry assistance, training and regulation of the aged care sector.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

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

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
Access to comprehensive, community-based health care, including through first point of call services for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health, and for ongoing management of chronic disease.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
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	Health Workforce Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division (General Practice Education and Training Ltd also contributed to the achievement of this outcome)

Outcome 5. Primary Care

Access to comprehensive, community-based health care, including through first point of call services for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health, and for ongoing management of chronic disease.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

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

Health Workforce Division

Primary and Ambulatory Care Division

(General Practice Education and Training Ltd also contributed to the achievement of this outcome)

Outcome 6. Rural Health
Access to health services for people living in rural, regional and remote Australia, including through health infrastructure and outreach services.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
6.1 Rural Health Services	Primary and Ambulatory Care Division (Other areas across the department also contributed to this outcome)

Outcome 7. Hearing Services
A reduction in the incidence and consequence of hearing loss, including through research and prevention activities, and access to hearing services and devices for eligible people.
Programs	Division Responsible for Outcome
7.1 Hearing Services	Regulatory Policy and Governance Division

Outcome 8. Indigenous Health
Closing the gap in life expectancy and child mortality rates for Indigenous Australians, including through primary health care, child and maternal health, and substance use services.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health	Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Ageing and Aged Care Division Health Workforce Division Medical Benefits Division Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division Office of Health Protection Primary and Ambulatory Care Division Pharmaceutical Benefits Division Population Health Division (Other areas across the department also contributed to improved Indigenous health outcomes)

Outcome 8. Indigenous Health

Closing the gap in life expectancy and child mortality rates for Indigenous Australians, including through primary health care, child and maternal health, and substance use services.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Ageing and Aged Care Division

Health Workforce Division

Medical Benefits Division

Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division

Office of Health Protection

Primary and Ambulatory Care Division

Pharmaceutical Benefits Division

Population Health Division

(Other areas across the department also contributed to improved Indigenous health outcomes)

Outcome 9. Private Health
Improved choice in health services by supporting affordable quality private health care, including through private health insurance rebates and a regulatory framework.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
9.1 Private Health Insurance	Acute Care Division Medical Benefits Division

Outcome 10. Health System Capacity and Quality
Improved long-term capacity, quality and safety of Australia’s health care system to meet future health needs, including through investment in health infrastructure, international engagement, consistent performance reporting and research.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
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 Infrastructure	Acute Care Division 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 10. Health System Capacity and Quality

Improved long-term capacity, quality and safety of Australia’s health care system to meet future health needs, including through investment in health infrastructure, international engagement, consistent performance reporting and research.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

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 Infrastructure

Acute Care Division

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 and suicide prevention, including through targeted prevention, identification, early intervention and health care services.
Programs	Division Responsible for Outcome
11.1 Mental Health	Mental Health and Chronic Disease Division

Outcome 12. Health Workforce Capacity
Improved capacity, quality and mix of the health workforce to meet the requirements of health services, including through training, registration, accreditation and distribution strategies.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
12.1 Rural Workforce 12.2 Workforce	Health Workforce Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division

Outcome 13. Acute Care
Improved access to public hospitals, acute care services and public dental services, including through targeted strategies, and payments to State and Territory Governments.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
13.1 Blood and Organ Donation Services 13.2 Medical Indemnity 13.3 Public Hospitals and Information	Acute Care Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division Transition Office

Outcome 13. Acute Care

Improved access to public hospitals, acute care services and public dental services, including through targeted strategies, and payments to State and Territory Governments.

Programs

Divisions Responsible for Outcome

13.1 Blood and Organ Donation Services

13.2 Medical Indemnity

13.3 Public Hospitals and Information

Acute Care Division

Regulatory Policy and Governance Division

Transition Office

Outcome 14. Biosecurity and Emergency Response
Preparedness to respond to national health emergencies and risks, including through surveillance, regulation, prevention, detection and leadership in national health coordination.
Programs	Divisions Responsible for Outcome
14.1 Health Emergency Planning and Response 14.2 Surveillance	Office of Health Protection Regulatory Policy and Governance Division

Portfolio Agency Outcomes

Table 2.3.2 identifies the outcomes belonging to all Health and Ageing portfolio agencies in 2010-11.

Table 2.3.2: Health and Ageing Portfolio Agencies’ Outcomes

Portfolio Agency	Outcome
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd	High quality residential aged care for older people, including through accrediting Australian Government funded aged care homes, identifying best practice, and providing information and education to the aged care sector.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care¹	Improved safety and quality in health care across the health system, including through the development, support for implementation, and monitoring of national clinical safety and quality guidelines and standards.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare	A robust evidence-base for the health, housing and community sectors, including through developing and disseminating comparable health and welfare information and statistics.
Australian National Preventive Health Agency²	A reduction in the prevalence of preventable disease, including through research and evaluation to build the evidence base for future action, and by managing lifestyle education campaigns and developing partnerships with non-government sectors.
Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority	Improved access to organ and tissue transplants, including through a nationally coordinated and consistent approach and system.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency	Protection of people and the environment through radiation protection and nuclear safety research, policy, advice, codes, standards, services and regulation.
Cancer Australia	Minimised impacts of cancer, including through national leadership in cancer control, with targeted research, cancer service development, education and consumer support.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand	A safe food supply and well-informed consumers in Australia and New Zealand, including through the development of food regulatory measures and the promotion of their consistent implementation, coordination of food recall activities and the monitoring of consumer and industry food practices.
General Practice Education and Training Ltd	Improved quality and access to primary care across Australia, including through general practitioner vocational education and training for medical graduates.
Health Workforce Australia	Improved health workforce capacity, including through a national approach to workforce policy and planning across all health disciplines, which effectively integrates research, education and training.
National Blood Authority	Access to a secure supply of safe and affordable blood products, including through national supply arrangements and coordination of best practice standards within agreed funding policies under the national blood arrangements.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre	Improved knowledge about breast and ovarian cancer control, including through the translation and dissemination of research into evidence-based information, clinical best practice, policy and health service delivery.
National Health and Medical Research Council	Improved health and medical knowledge, including through funding research, translating research findings into evidence-based clinical practice, administering legislation governing research, issuing guidelines and advice for ethics in health and the promotion of public health.
Private Health Insurance Administration Council	Prudential safety and competitiveness of the private health insurance industry in the interests of consumers, including through efficient industry regulation.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman	Public confidence in private health insurance, including through consumer and provider complaint and enquiry investigations, and performance monitoring and reporting.
Professional Services Review	A reduction of the risks to patients and costs to the Australian Government of inappropriate clinical practice, including through investigating health services claimed under the Medicare and Pharmaceutical benefits schemes.

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.

PERFORMANCE REPORTING

The following outcome chapters report on the major activities undertaken by the department during the year, addressing each of the program objectives and performance indicators published in the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.

¹ The National Health and Hospitals Act 2010 established the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care as a permanent statutory body.
² The Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010 established the Australian National Preventive Health Agency as a permanent statutory body and it commenced operation on 1 January 2011.

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