Basic analysis of this data shows a projected increase of 16 per cent in delivery of services to address family violence matters and a projected increase of 13.3 per cent in delivery of services to address fines, infringements and other government administrative legal issues. Explanatory notes for performance outputs Figures are from a database used by 31 of the 37 community legal centres funded through Victoria Legal Aid in 2016–17. The figures do not include client service and community and law reform activities undertaken by the following funded centres: Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria, Consumer Action Law Centre, Federation of Community Legal Centres, Homeless Law (Justice Connect), Job Watch and Refugee and Immigration Legal Clinic. These community legal centres do not use the common database. Figures do not include client advice provided by the Tenants’ Union of Victoria, which records this activity on a separate database. Funding through the Community Legal Centres Funding and Development Program 2016–17 We granted and administered funding to 37 community legal centres across Victoria and the Federation of Community Legal Centres as the sector’s peak body. Funding was provided by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and by Victoria Legal Aid out of its state funding allocation. Community legal centre Commonwealth funding* ($) State core funding ($) Other one-off projects ($) Total payments ($) Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria** 0 324,217 0 324,217 Barwon Community Legal Service 576,148 519,654 0 1,095,802 Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre, Comm Unity Plus 265,200 646,079 0 911,279 Casey Cardinia Legal Service 339,191 381,099 0 720,290 Central Highlands Community Legal Centre 319,726 360,780 0 680,506 Consumer Action Law Centre** 321,388 1,048,656 1,370,044 Darebin Community Legal Centre 202,368 526,250 0 728,618 Disability Discrimination Legal Service** 248,769 48,294 0 297,063 Eastern Community Legal Centre 472,496 882,985 0 1,355,481 Emma House Domestic Violence Service 0 154,596 0 154,596
(Senior employees) PS 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) SMA 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) SRA 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) Executives 6 8 1 1 6.9 8.9 (Senior employees) Other 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) Total 6 8 1 1 6.9 8.9 Total employees 406 423 180 188 528.9 552.7 Fixed term and casual—Demographic data Demographic 2016 Number (headcount) 2017 Number (headcount) 2016 FTE 2017 FTE (Gender) Male 26 31 23.4 26.7 (Gender) Female 125 137 107.2 116.8 (Age) 15–24 14 16 11.6 11.8 (Age) 25–34 67 81 62.3 77.1 (Age) 35–44 38 33 30.8 27.3 (Age) 45–54 19 25 15.4 19.0 (Age) 55–64 11 11 9.1 7.5 (Age) 65+ 2 2 1.4 0.9
Fixed term and casual—Classification data Demographic 2016 Number (headcount) 2017 Number (headcount) 2016 FTE 2017 FTE (VLA grade) VLA1 0 0 0.0 0.0 (VLA grade) VLA2 32 41 26.1 33.8 (VLA grade) VLA3 80 92 70.1 77.2 (VLA grade) VLA4 25 25 20.9 22.7 (VLA grade) VLA5 9 6 8.5 5.9 (VLA grade) VLA6 5 4 5.0 4.0 (VLA grade) Total 151 168 130.6 143.5 (Senior employees) STS 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) PS 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) SMA 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) SRA 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) Executives 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) Other 0 0 0.0 0.0 (Senior employees) Total 0 0 0.0 0.0 Total employees 151 168 130.6 143.5
Consultant Purpose of consultant Total approved project fee ($) (excl. GST) Expenditure ($) (excl. GST) Future expenditure ($) (excl. GST) Catherine Elvins Strategi Consulting Family Law pilot evaluation 14,873 14,873 0 Catriona Lowe Mapping provision of legal aid and services to people who rent report 15,000 15,000 0 CHW Consulting Group Data centre tender documentation preparation 15,000 15,000 0 Code for Australia Development of Online Referral Booking and Information Tool (ORBIT) 142,500 142,500 0 Colmar Bruton Annual client satisfaction survey 83,050 83,050 0 David Caple & Associates Pty Ltd Personal safety risk assessment project 32,750 29,102 0 Finity Consulting Actuarial valuation of legal debtors 36,900 36,900 0 FM Essentials Facilities policies and procedures review 31,140 31,140 0 Galaxy 42 Implementation of Enterprise Budget Module in the financial system 54,250 26,350 27,900 Galaxy 42 Implementation of Asset and Cash Module in the financial system 33,105 33,105 0
Insync Surveys Pty Ltd Employee engagement and satisfaction survey 29,285 29,285 0 Korn Ferry Hay Group Workforce planning 24,500 24,500 0 Law and Justice Foundation of NSW Research and evaluation 200,000 100,000 0 MIP (Aust) Pty Ltd Licences and implementation of data analytics software 38,778 12,079 26,699 Redpanther Rethinking Advocacy in Mental Health 20,000 20,000 0 RMIT Development of the Access to Justice Technology Program 150,000 50,000 0 University of Melbourne Sector planning and data exploration, statistical consulting 15,000 13,363 0 WM360 Pty Ltd Implementation, configuration, and support of Intranet and Yammer project 106,000 98,783 0 Details of consultancies under $10,000 In 2016–17, we engaged 18 consultancies where the total fees payable to the individual consultancies was less than $10,000. The total expenditure incurred during 2016–17 in relation to these consultancies was $113,338 (excluding GST). Information and Communication Technology For the 2016–17 reporting period, Victoria Legal Aid had a total ICT expenditure of $3,532,000 with the details shown below.
4.1.3 Reconciliation of movements in carrying amount of property, plant and equipment Information technology $’000 Furniture, fixtures and fittings $’000 Leasehold improvements $’000 Motor vehicles $’000 Office machines and equipment $’000 Cultural assets $’000 Total $’000 2017 Carrying amount at start of year 1,700 134 5,128 421 47 140 7,570 Additions 306 20 715 206 2 - 1,249 Revaluations - - - - - - - Disposals - (11) (25) (83) - - (119) Depreciation (687) (47) (1,522) (115) (16) - (2,387) Carrying amount at end of year 1,319 96 4,296 429 33 140 6,313 2016 Carrying amount at start of year 327 189 5,118 405 71 107 6,217 Additions 1,758 6 2,230 248 - - 4,242 Revaluations - - - - - 33 33 Disposals (78) - (57) (119) (3) - (258) Depreciation (307) (60) (2,163) (113) (21) - (2,664) Carrying amount at end of year 1,700 134 5,128 421 47 140 7,570 Property, plant and equipment is classified as ‘Public safety and environment by ‘purpose’ for which the assets are used, according to one of five ‘purpose groups’ based upon Government Purpose Classifications 4.2 Intangible assets 2017 $’000 2016 $’000 Software at cost 8,874 8,308 Less: accumulated amortisation (5,223) (4,391) 3,651 3,917
Change in operating assets and liabilities (Increase) decrease in accrued income (182) 449 Decrease (increase) in receivables (2,743) (1,242) Decrease (increase) in prepayments 286 (282) Increase (decrease) in trade creditors 2,388 1,960 Increase (decrease) in case-related professional creditors 1,912 1,628 Increase (decrease) in employee provisions 323 619 Increase (decrease) in other provisions 3,514 - Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities (2,129) 9,676 6.2 Trust account Victoria Legal Aid as a corporate entity under the Legal Practice Act 1996 (Vic) maintains a trust account in accordance with that Act. Victoria Legal Aid Trust account statement of receipts and payments For the year ended 30 June 2017 2017 $’000 2016 $’000 Receipts Balance at beginning of year 346 225 Amounts received from Legal Practice Board - 11 Amounts received on behalf of clients 278 294 624 530 Less Payments Amounts paid on behalf of clients 246 184 Balance at end of year 378 346 This amount is represented by: Cash at bank 207 175 Deposits with the Legal Practice Board 171 171 378 346 The trust fund does not form part of the organisation’s financial statements. It is included for information purposes only and is audited by a private accounting firm. 6.3 Commitments Commitments include those operating, capital and other outsourcing commitments arising from contractual or statutory sources and are disclosed at their nominal value and inclusive of GST payable.
Topic Key Requirements Effective date Impact on public sector entity financial statements AASB 9 Financial Instruments The key changes include the simplified requirements for the classification and measurement of financial assets, new hedging accounting model and a revised impairment loss model to recognise impairment losses earlier, as opposed to the current approach that recognises impairment only when incurred. 1 January 2018 The assessment has identified that the amendments are likely to result in earlier recognition of impairment losses and at more regular intervals. While there will be no significant impact arising from AASB 9, there will be a change in the way financial instruments are disclosed. AASB 2010-7| Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9 (December 2010) The requirements for classifying and measuring financial liabilities were added to AASB 9. The existing requirements for the classification of financial liabilities and the ability to use the fair value option have been retained. However, where the fair value option is used for financial liabilities the change in fair value is accounted as follows: the change in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk is presented in other comprehensive income (OCI); other fair value changes are presented in and loss. If this approach creates or enlarges and accounting mismatch in the profit or loss, the effect of the changes in credit risk are also presented in profit or loss. 1 January 2018 The assessment has identified that the financial impact of available for sale (AFS) assets will now be reported through other comprehensive income (OCI) and no longer recycled to the profit and loss. Changes in own credit risk in respect of liabilities designated at fair value through profit and loss will now be presented within (OCI). AASB 2014-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards[Part E Financial Instruments] Amends various AASs to reflect the AASB’s decision to defer the mandatory application date of AASB 9 to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 as a consequence of Chapter 6 Hedge Accounting, and to amend reduced disclosure requirements. 1 January 2018 This amending standard will defer the application period of AASB 9 to the 2018–19 reporting period in accordance with the transition requirements.
AASB 16 Leases The key changes introduced by AASB 16 includes the recognition of most operating leases (which are currently not recognised) on balance sheet. 1 January 2019 The assessment has indicated that as most operating leases will come on balance sheet, recognition of the assets and lease liabilities will cause net debt to increase. Rather than expensing the lease payments, depreciation of right- of-use assets and interest on lease liabilities will be recognised in the income statement with marginal impact on the operating surplus. AASB 1058 Income for Entities This standard replaces AASB 1004 Contributions and establishes revenue recognition principles for transactions where the consideration to acquire an asset is significantly less than fair value to enable not-for-profit entities to further its objectives. 1 January 2019 The assessment has indicated that revenue from capital grants that are provided under an enforceable agreement that have sufficiently specific obligations, will now be deferred and recognised as performance obligations are satisfied. As a result, the timing recognition of revenue will change. 8.10 Changes to accounting policies Subsequent to the 2015–16 reporting period, the following new and revised Standards have been adopted in the current period with their financial impact detailed as below. Australian Accounting Standard AASAB 124 Related Party Disclosures commenced on 1 July 2016. This standard extends the scope of related party disclosures to not-for-profit public sector entities, which results in additional disclosures in relation the key management personnel and related party transactions (refer to Note 8.5). 8.11 Glossary of technical terms Amortisation is the expense that results from the consumption, extraction or use over time of a non-produced physical or intangible asset. This expense is classified as an ‘other economic flow’. Commitments include those operating, capital and other outsourcing commitments arising from non-cancellable contractual or statutory sources. Comprehensive result is the amount included in the operating statement representing total change in net worth other than transactions with owners as owners.
Submission to Commonwealth Risk Management Inquiry based on Auditor-General’s Report 18 ‘Qualifying for the Disability Support Pension’ Parliament of Australia Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit November 2016 Submission on the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill 2016 Victorian Government November 2016 Submission to inquiry into child protection permanency amendments Victorian Commission for Children and Young People November 2016 Submission to inquiry into the use of isolation, separation and lockdowns in the Victorian youth justice system Victorian Commission for Children and Young People December 2016 Joint submission regarding an internal appeals division for the Residential Tenancies List Victorian Government December 2016 Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance December 2016 Submission on Notices of Hearing in Residential Tenancy matters Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal December 2016 Submission on the introduction of a new report for Electroconvulsive Treatment hearings Mental Health Tribunal December 2016 Submission to the Inquiry into the Migration Legislation Amendment (Code of Procedure Harmonisation) Bill 2016 Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee January 2017 Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences January 2017 Submission on consultation paper on proposed legislative model for child safety and wellbeing information sharing Victorian Government Department of Premier and Cabinet January 2017 Submission to Review of Victoria’s Bail System Review of Victoria’s Bail System February 2017
Submission on management of migration matters in the Federal Circuit Court Federal Circuit Court April 2017 Submission to the Commonwealth parliamentary inquiry into a better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence Parliament of Australia Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs May 2017 Submission about access to justice for people with disabilities under Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights May 2017 National Legal Aid submissions that Victoria Legal Aid endorsed Submission Authority Date Submission to consultation on Australian National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity August 2016 Response to Elder Abuse Inquiry Discussion Paper 47 Australian Law Reform Commission November 2016 Submission to consultation on draft terms of reference for the Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into the incarceration rates of Indigenous Australians Legal Assistance Branch of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department January 2017 Submission to Australian Government Federal Budget 2017–2018 Australian Government Department of Treasury Budget Policy Division February 2017 Submission on proposed amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 to respond to family violence Family Law Branch of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department February 2017 Response to Elder Abuse Inquiry Discussion Paper 83 Australian Law Reform Commission March 2017 Submission to Commonwealth parliamentary inquiry into a better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence Parliament of Australia Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs May 2017