Monitoring and evaluation are critical to embedding a culture of continuous improvement. Agencies can adopt a positive mindset towards accountability, whether this is through initiating internal assessment, responding to external oversight, or bringing in a fresh pair of eyes.
- The Commonwealth Integrity Maturity Framework is a valuable resource for agencies seeking to benchmark and improve their internal integrity maturity.
- The ATO and the Department of Education engaged independent Integrity Advisors to bring a pair of fresh eyes to assess the department’s integrity culture and frameworks.
DISR embraces audit findings
DISR made a concerted effort to improve after the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) identified failings in the department’s administration of an entrepreneurs’ grants program. Following the audit, strong leadership from the top set the tone for embracing oversight and owning the problems. The department established a taskforce to deal with issues it saw as systemic, and invited the ANAO to discuss the audit findings with SES and EL staff. The department also offered to meet with affected businesses to explain what went wrong. The department has now actioned all of the ANAO recommendations to get things right for the future.