JUNE 28 2017 - 8:10PM
ACT Health's management of long-standing data issues to face audit scrutiny
The ACT Auditor-General is set to launch a fresh probe into ACT Health's management of long-standing problems with its performance data systems.
Auditor-General Maxine Cooper on Wednesday released her performance audit program for the 2017-18 financial year, including yet another detailed look at ACT Health's data woes.
Auditor-General Maxine Cooper set to examine ACT Health's data management. Photo: Melissa Adams
The Canberra Times first reported Ms Cooper was considering whether to conduct an audit in April this year, and the release of the 2017-18 program confirms an audit will be completed.
It would be the fourth audit of the directorate's data management in seven years, and follows Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris launching a new "system-wide" review of the data problems in February this year.
Despite Ms Fitzharris and her predecessor Simon Corbell being told of the extent of the problems in May last year, including the directorate failing to use standards to guide data collection and analysis, details were not made public until after the 2016 election.
Last year, ACT Health contracted PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to review its quarterly performance report data systems after two errors revealed serious internal problems, prompted the re-release of four reports covering 12 months of operations.
But after health director-general Nicole Feely told the audit office about the problems, Ms Cooper ordered her own independent review of the PwC report, by former NSW Auditor-General Bob Sendt.
Neither ACT Health nor the Audit Office has publicly released either of those reports.
The Auditor-General's program shows the health data audit could include the "effectiveness" of the directorate's response, management controls for performance information, responses to incorrect reporting, the costs associated with responding to incorrect reporting and staffing arrangements.
The program also outlines plans for audits of the ACT Government's educational support for indigenous students; ACT clubs' community contributions; Crown lease variations and affordable housing this coming fiscal year, among other issues.
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