Managing A goal of the advocate or champion (above) How should changes to the Programs be System design: Establishing new arrangements for changes to the system would be to keep driving change in managing changes to the Program managed and implemented? administrative practices as the system requirements and design. This could involve matures and the environment changes. At a staged annual process of changes which the same time, constant and poorly incorporate all the new procedures, so that coordinated change is itself costly. stakeholders can anticipate these changes and make plans accordingly in a scheduled way. System design: Conflicting In the current model, DEEWR plays the Considering the merits of separating Should perform the role of both roles roles of of ESPs as well as DEEWR’s and roles regulator and purchaser in the ‘regulator’ ‘regulator’ ‘purchaser’ of employment services. In with respect to ESPs, possibly by assigning Programs? ‘purchaser’ principle, these roles can clash: for example, the regulator role to a different agency (new the regulator and purchaser may face or existing). different imperatives about the degree of Any major changes to the role ‘regulator’ choice and competition, the level of would sensibly be made in concert with the regulation and the degree of innovation. possible introduction of a provider scheme as outlined above. ‘accreditation’ Data collection There are opportunities to improve data Better data collection, which would What are the key opportunities to collection, particularly with respect to data underpin a stronger focus on Program improve data collection in the about performance and outcomes. outcomes, innovation and administrative Programs? Is there scope to simplify or improvement. consolidate data collection?
System design: Managing changes to the system A goal of the advocate or champion (above) would be to keep driving change in administrative practices as the system matures and the environment changes. At the same time, constant and poorly coordinated change is itself costly. Establishing new arrangements for managing changes to the Program requirements and design. This could involve a staged annual process of changes which incorporate all the new procedures, so that stakeholders can anticipate these changes and make plans accordingly in a scheduled way. How should changes to the Programs be managed and implemented? System design: Conflicting roles In the current model, DEEWR plays the roles of ‘regulator’ of ESPs as well as ‘purchaser’ of employment services. In principle, these roles can clash: for example, the regulator and purchaser may face different imperatives about the degree of choice and competition, the level of regulation and the degree of innovation. Considering the merits of separating DEEWR’s ‘regulator’ and ‘purchaser’ roles with respect to ESPs, possibly by assigning the regulator role to a different agency (new or existing). Any major changes to the ‘regulator’ role would sensibly be made in concert with the possible introduction of a provider ‘accreditation’ scheme as outlined above. Should perform the role of both regulator and purchaser in the Programs? Data collection There are opportunities to improve data collection, particularly with respect to data about performance and outcomes. Better data collection, which would underpin a stronger focus on Program outcomes, innovation and administrative improvement. What are the key opportunities to improve data collection in the Programs? Is there scope to simplify or consolidate data collection?
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