Reference Recommendation Department’s initial response Number In line with the above, the Refugee Support Branch more Agreed. The Department will work actively develop key policies with a particular initial focus with HSS Providers to implement on the key areas of: this recommendation. Implementation is expected to be Accommodation management and policy  completed in the long term. Models and/or forms of STA  Changes in client cohort and impact on program  38. Regional settlement policy  Enhancing HSS referral process  Secondary movement and transfer arrangements  Transits and reception arrangements, and  Effective client exit processes.  That a section be established within Refugee Support Agreed. Complete a Taskforce – Branch to implement the recommendations of this Review, has been established within and consider and coordinate responses to the Refugee Support Branch to recommendations in the various audits resulting from the implement the recommendations 39. of this Review. & Young Report. The Director of this team should report to the Assistant Secretary (Refugee Support Branch). That the PLG chaired by the Assistant Secretary Agreed. The Department will work (CSM) has a greater focus on HSS to actively address towards implementing this policy and operations, QA, issues management, exception recommendation. reporting and escalation and ensure its agenda and Implementation is expected to be deliberations are visible to the network (minutes, with completed in the short term. 40. action items and supporting papers, as appropriate, circulated within five working days, etc). Also regular monitoring of the implementation of the Review’s recommendations and related initiatives. That an improved data analysis, and business strategy Agreed. The Department will work development capability, in and around the HSS, consistent towards implementing this with settlement-wide data, be established to support recommendation. overall program management capacity and in particular Implementation is expected to be 41. the functions of the PLG and key executives such as the completed in the long term. First Assistant Secretary (CSM), Global Manager (CSM) and the Assistant Secretary (Refugee Support Branch). That business planning remains robust in regard to Agreed. The Department will work initiatives that are aligned to the HSS program such as towards implementing this – initiatives with Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors recommendation. (UHM) in particular given the structural changes in the Implementation is expected to be – 42. organisation that resulted in these program areas being completed in the short term. located in another area of DIAC. With the structural changes, conscious effort will need to be made to ensure necessary ongoing dialogue.
Reference Number Recommendation Department’s initial response 38. In line with the above, the Refugee Support Branch more actively develop key policies with a particular initial focus on the key areas of:  Accommodation management and policy  Models and/or forms of STA  Changes in client cohort and impact on program  Regional settlement policy  Enhancing HSS referral process  Secondary movement and transfer arrangements  Transits and reception arrangements, and  Effective client exit processes. Agreed. The Department will work with HSS Providers to implement this recommendation. Implementation is expected to be completed in the long term. 39. That a section be established within Refugee Support Branch to implement the recommendations of this Review, and consider and coordinate responses to the recommendations in the various audits resulting from the & Young Report. The Director of this team should report to the Assistant Secretary (Refugee Support Branch). Agreed. Complete – a Taskforce has been established within Refugee Support Branch to implement the recommendations of this Review. 40. That the PLG chaired by the Assistant Secretary (CSM) has a greater focus on HSS to actively address policy and operations, QA, issues management, exception reporting and escalation and ensure its agenda and deliberations are visible to the network (minutes, with action items and supporting papers, as appropriate, circulated within five working days, etc). Also regular monitoring of the implementation of the Review’s recommendations and related initiatives. Agreed. The Department will work towards implementing this recommendation. Implementation is expected to be completed in the short term. 41. That an improved data analysis, and business strategy development capability, in and around the HSS, consistent with settlement-wide data, be established to support overall program management capacity and in particular the functions of the PLG and key executives such as the First Assistant Secretary (CSM), Global Manager (CSM) and the Assistant Secretary (Refugee Support Branch). Agreed. The Department will work towards implementing this recommendation. Implementation is expected to be completed in the long term. 42. That business planning remains robust in regard to initiatives that are aligned to the HSS program – such as initiatives with Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHM) – in particular given the structural changes in the organisation that resulted in these program areas being located in another area of DIAC. With the structural changes, conscious effort will need to be made to ensure necessary ongoing dialogue. Agreed. The Department will work towards implementing this recommendation. Implementation is expected to be completed in the short term.
departments-initial-response-to-richmond-review_accses.docx