A performance audit into the implementation of the Department of Defence’s cultural reform program has found the Department was unable to provide assurance of the effectiveness of its strategy.
In his report, Defence’s Implementation of Cultural Reform, Auditor General Grant Hehir said the Department was three years into Pathway to Change — Evolving Defence Culture 2017–2022, its second five-year strategy of cultural and behavioural reform.
“Defence is unable to provide assurance of the effectiveness of its implementation to date of its Pathway to Change — Evolving Defence Culture 2017–2022 cultural reform Strategy,” Mr Hehir said.
“Defence’s development of the Strategy did not draw fully on the available evidence base, and therefore that element of Strategy development was not fully effective,” he said.
“Implementation planning for the Strategy was partially effective.”
Mr Hehir said the Department was largely effective in circulating its Strategy and the overarching governance arrangements were largely fit for purpose.
“However, there were weaknesses in the centre holding the line functions to account for implementation,” he said.
He said Defence hadn’t established effective monitoring and reporting arrangements for the Strategy, and was not yet able to demonstrate that intended outcomes were being achieved through its implementation.
Mr Hehir made two recommendations, including a process to receive internal assurance from Group Heads and Service Chiefs on Strategy implementation, and establishing measurable outcomes for the Strategy and related cultural reform initiatives.
The Auditor General’s online Report can be accessed at this PS News link and his 85-page printed Report at this link.
The audit team was Tara Rutter, Mellisa Wonson, Leo Simoens, Megan Beven and Sally Ramsey.
