2011-14 FaHCSIA Strategic Framework

Why we are here

Government priorities

Our vision

A strong and fair society for all Australians

Our mission

Supporting our Minister by collaboratively developing and implementing excellent social policy

Why we are here

Government priorities

The Department’s activities are set in a wider context shaped by the highest level directions set by Government and our Ministers. Our system of government operates under a separation of powers between the Parliament, the executive and the judiciary. The Australian public service serves the Executive arm by providing impartial, professional advice to the government of the day.

The Department’s vision statement articulates what we aspire to achieve and our mission statement describes what we are here to do.

Our vision

Our vision supports the Government’s view that for Australia to stay strong socially and economically, we need everyone to contribute. Governments are responsible for creating opportunities for everyone to participate. This involves individuals taking personal responsibility to work, if they can, to care for their children and families and to take control of their lives.

Our mission

For our Minister, we provide the best possible advice, develop policies and programs and deliver services aimed at improving the lives of all Australians.

FaHCSIA does its work with and through others to achieve these goals. The Government has high expectations that its agencies will work together to achieve the best possible solutions for complex social and economic policy challenges. FaHCSIA does this both as the lead agency for many initiatives but also by contributing to other agencies’ efforts to achieve their objectives.

We work in partnership with state, territory and local governments to develop solutions and deliver programs. FaHCSIA also has long-standing relationships with the not-for-profit sector, which delivers to Australians many of the programs the Department administers.

We also work with our portfolio bodies, such as Indigenous Business Australia, Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal, in achieving shared whole of government outcomes.

What we aim to do

Increase social and economic participation
Improve social cohesion
Close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage
Support basic living standards
Support individuals, families and communities to build their capacity

What we aim to do

The Department’s key aims over 2011-14 are to:

increase social and economic participation – create opportunities to enjoy personal and financial independence, social belonging and general wellbeing including through employment
improve social cohesion – promote inclusion and increase equality
close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage – improve the lives of Indigenous Australians and in particular provide a better future for Indigenous children
support basic living standards – maintain a safety net for Australians in need
support individuals, families and communities to build their capacity – enhance personal responsibility and resilience to participate in society

Focused on

Families and children
People who need housing support
Communities and people who are vulnerable
Senior Australians
People with disability and carers
Women
Indigenous Australians

Focused on

FaHCSIA focuses on our priority groups as identified by government and articulated in our Portfolio Budget Statements. These are:

Families and children – improved child development, safety and family functioning through support services for all Australians, payments for low and medium income families with children and child support policy
People who need housing support – access to affordable, safe housing through payments and support services, and rental subsidies to low and moderate income households
Communities and people who are vulnerable – improved capacity for vulnerable people and communities to participate economically and socially and to manage life transitions through payments, targeted support services and community capability building initiatives
Senior Australians – an adequate standard of living and improved capacity to productively manage resources and life transitions for senior Australians through the delivery of payments, concessions and information services
People with disability and carers in our community – an adequate standard of living, improved capacity to participate economically and socially and manage life transitions for people with disability and/or mental illness and carers through payments, concessions, support and care services
Women – improved gender equality through coordinated whole of government advice and support for women’s economic security, safety and status
Indigenous Australians – closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage with improved wellbeing, capacity to participate economically and socially and to manage life transitions for Indigenous Australians through engagement, coordinated whole-of-government policy advice and targetted support services.

How we do it

Providing robust, evidence-based, innovative advice to Government
Effective, considered and timely implementation of Government decisions
Building and sustaining productive relationships with our partners to achieve outcomes
Effectively leading and working across governments

Supported by

A capable, informed and adaptive workforce
Efficiently managed resources to address priorities
Strong governance and risk management

How we do it

The effectiveness of the Department depends not only on our ability to deliver the Government’s priorities but to have in place a set of strategies and services which support the whole Department. We also need to ensure the organisation is well positioned to take up reforms for the Australian Public Service.

The characteristics which will guide ‘how we do business’ are:

providing robust, evidence-based, innovative advice to Government – providing frank and fearless advice to Government that allows it to make decisions in support of its objectives
effective, considered and timely implementation of Government decisions - focus on achieving desired outcomes in practical ways
building and sustaining productive relationships with our partners to achieve outcomes – our relationships influence how we develop and how we deliver social policy
effectively leading and working across governments – working collaboratively to achieve excellence in social policy.

Supported by:

A capable, informed and adaptive workforce – we value our people and recognise that they deliver our outcomes
Efficiently managed resources to address priorities – we direct our resources to the things that matter most to government and to the achievement of our outcomes
Strong governance and risk management – we align operational planning and decision making with our strategic direction.

Our people

We achieve results by

Teamwork
Establishing a clear direction
Understanding the context
Leading by example
Effective engagement
Rapid closure

We value

Respect
Innovation
Professionalism
Learning
Taking responsibility

Our People

Delivering on outcomes requires commitment to achieving results.

We do this through:

teamwork – working with each other towards our vision
understanding the context – being knowledgeable about our business and the operating environment to enable sound policy advice to government
effective engagement – creating productive relationships
establishing a clear direction – focusing on our outcomes and planning to achieve
leading by example – we see everyone in the organisation has a leadership role and demonstrating it through their actions
rapid closure – getting to the heart of the issues, determining actions that can be taken forward to implementing solutions.

Our values encompass:

respect – we treat people with courtesy and sensitivity and show regard for their interests, rights and wellbeing
professionalism – we behave ethically and honestly and uphold confidentiality. We focus on results, work productively and constantly build our expertise
taking responsibility – we are committed to delivering high quality products and services. As part of this, we quickly respond to opportunities, risks or mistakes when they occur
innovation – we value what works, are receptive to fresh ideas and constantly look to improve efficiency and effectiveness
learning – we see every task as an opportunity to learn and improve performance. We ask for and act on feedback and constantly evaluate our performance to build knowledge and skills.