1996-1997
7.3: Information Services
The 1996-97 Portfolio Budget Statements, informs Senators and Members of Parliament of the proposed allocation of resources to portfolios outcomes and their objectives and targets including the agencies within the Health and Family Services portfolio.
Objective
- To advance corporate objectives through improved access to information and communication services and improved management of information and communication issues.
- To strengthen Australia's bilateral and multilateral relationships in the health sector to advance domestic policy interests.
Goals
- The quality, effectiveness and timeliness of information and communication services provided to meet the business needs of clients.
- Cost efficiencies in the operation and maintenance of the information technology infrastructure.
- Effective management and implementation of changes to information and communication needs arising from Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reforms, the Government's initiatives in the information technology (IT) area and other Government directions.
- The effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral liaison in improving export opportunities and shaping the reform agenda for the World Health Organisation.
Strategies
- Establish more effective collaboration between information service providers, programmes and business units with the aim of achieving improved alignment of business and IT management.
- In accord with Government directions implement revised arrangements for the delivery of information and communication services through:
- maximum use of competitive arrangements; and
- more integrated arrangements with other organisations in the health services sector.
- Develop a corporate communications strategy to improve the consistency, efficiency and effectiveness of the Department's communication with clients and the public.
- Investigate emerging technologies and new business processes and their applicability to achieving productivity gains and more cost-effective services.
- Extend the use of service level agreements to all programmes and business units to better manage client expectations and clarify agreed levels of performance.
- Extend the attribution of information services costs in order to better manage IT demand and costs.
- Develop export opportunities for the Department's services and for the Australian health sector generally.
- Participate strategically in the governance of WHO.
Performance Indicators
Effectiveness
- Suitability of the information and communication services supplied in meeting the business needs of clients, as measured by client surveys and other data.
Target: Clients rate level of suitability as good. - Service performance levels.
Target: Performance levels for all services equal to or better than the levels negotiated in service level agreements with programmes and business units. - Management and implementation of change flowing from:
- the Government's reform agenda for the health services sector; and
- whole-of-government initiatives for the provision and management of IT.
- Outcome of audit reviews.
Target: No serious failings identified. - The level of departmental earnings from international projects.
Target: Five per cent increase in earnings over 1995-96.
Efficiency
- Average cost per service to the client.
Target: A reduction on last year's average.
Quality
- Quality of information and communication services delivery as measured by client survey and other data.
Target: Clients rate quality as good.
Budget Measures
Savings
Application of Efficiency Dividend to Commonwealth Own Purpose Outlays and Specific Purpose Payments of a Running Costs Nature
1996-97 $m | 1997-98 $m | 1998-99 $m | 1999-00 $m |
-0.01 | -0.01 | -0.02 | -0.02 |
Across-the-Board Reduction of 2% in Running Costs
1996-97 $m | 1997-98 $m | 1998-99 $m | 1999-00 $m |
-0.8 | -0.8 | -0.8 | -0.8 |
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