Responsible Body’s Declaration In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994 (Vic) and the Court Services Victoria Act 2014 (Vic), I am pleased to present the Court Services Victoria Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2017. The Honourable Chief Justice Marilyn Warren AC Chair of the Courts Council
opportunities, to develop the right jobs and skills to support Victoria’s courts. In 2016-17 the division created a new platform to inform the development of the workforce framework and its methodology. one of the Business Intelligence Workforce Dashboard was developed to incorporate workforce metrics, including full-time equivalent and headcount, composition, employee movement, leave and workforce demographics. Launched in November 2016, the workforce dashboard allows Court CEOs and HR practitioners across CSV to better monitor and understand their staff to meet current and future needs. Phase two will implement additional workforce metrics, including workforce costs, recruitment, occupational health and safety, learning and development, and talent management and succession planning. Additionally, a new Performance and Learning Management System (PALMS) was implemented in early 2017. The system supports ongoing performance and development discussions between managers and staff. The learning management component of PALMS provides access to a range of internal, external and online programs and resources to support capability development aligned to the CSV Capability Framework. Information from PALMS will also be used to inform the development of the workforce framework. The Financial Analysis, Planning and Reporting division works collaboratively with the jurisdictions to ensure a consistent and coordinated financial services capability. The division is led by the Chief Finance Officer, Lisa Wills. Finance Parliament provides a separate appropriation for the delivery of services and facilities to the courts, tribunals and the College. To meet this requirement, the finance unit builds strong financial management capacity, systems, and processes to manage and report activities to the Courts Council and the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF). The unit also provides appropriation management and reporting, production of financial statements and statutory reporting taxation, banking, general ledger management and accounts receivable. Key achievements for the unit include the below. Maintained productive relationships with the jurisdictions and DTF to support the work of the courts and tribunals. In consultation with the courts and tribunals, developed finance policies and procedures to ensure compliance with new Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance. Strengthened internal financial reporting for the Courts Council, the Finance Portfolio Committee and the Audit and Risk Portfolio Committee. Produced the CSV Annual Financial Statement as required in legislation and in accordance with best practice. Established an independent IT infrastructure for the CSV budget system, enhancing standardised reporting and financial transparency.
VCAT 43.3 Children’s Court 19.3 Coroners Court 15.8 Judicial College of Victoria 2.3 Jurisdiction Services 117.7 Total CSV 486.9 Disclosure of Grants and Transfer Payments than contributions by owners) CSV has provided assistance to certain companies and organisations. Financial assistance provided in 2016-17 is detailed below. Table 4: Grant and other transfer payments Organisation Nature of and Other Transfer Payment Expenditure (exc. GST) $ Australian Bureau of Statistics National Criminal Courts Statistics Unit Agreement 75,699 Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood Community Conversion Grant for the Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Project 5,000 Child Rights International Translation and Pilot Contribution for Community Justice Practices in Cambodia 15,000 Court Network Services Network Agreement 857,252 Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services for Participants of the Court Integrated Service Program 373,743 Department of Health and Human Services Leasing Arrangements for Properties to House the Homeless 1,346,963 Department of Health and Human Services Neighbourhood Justice Centre Program 53,834 Department of Justice and Regulation Coronial Council of Victoria Secretariat Support Funding 2016/17 for Reportable Deaths Project 700,000 Department of Justice and Regulation Correctional Services Funding Contribution 107,025 Forensicare Contribution to Fund Mental Health Court Liaison Officer at Sunshine Magistrates Court 131,300 Jesuit Social Services Adolescent Family Violence Restorative Pilot 20,000 Jesuit Social Services Youth Diversion Pilot Program Funding 363,636 Judicial College of Victoria 2016-17 Output Appropriation Funding 2,459,400 Launch Housing Justice Housing Support Program 957,666 National Judicial College of Australia 2016-17 Victoria Contribution 86,298 Supreme Court Library 2016-17 Publications and Services Contribution 925,381 Swinburne University of Technology Family Drug Treatment Research Project Contribution 22,727 The Wellington Collingwood Gift Fund Funding for Implementing Strategic Plan for Governance Restructure and the Establishment of a Formal Consortium of Agencies 30,000 Other Miscellaneous 4,217 TOTAL 8,535,141
Of the total requests received by CSV, the majority were for documents excluded from the FOI process. One applicant applied to the FOI Commissioner for review of a determination by CSV. The FOI Commissioner affirmed CSV’s decision. One applicant applied to VCAT and that request is still pending. CSV processed 96 per cent of the requests within the statutory requirements. Table 14: Freedom of Information Outcomes FOI Outcome Number of requests documents excluded from the FOI process or documents that are publicly available or available to the public for a fee (sections 14(1)(a) and 14(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act) 42 Valid requests (application fee paid or waived) - total 15 Access granted in full 0 Access granted in part 0 Access denied 4 No document exists/No document located 2 Transferred to agency 1 Refused without identifying documents 2