Australian Innovation System Report 2012 Compendium of Program Updates

Human Resources Capability Framework for the WA Public Sector

The Public Sector Commission (Commission) is committed to building the capacity of the Western Australian Public Sector and to maintaining a capable, adaptable and flexible workforce. The development of innovative, skilled and responsive government human resource professionals is a critical component in assisting agencies to respond to workforce challenges.

To build a professional and contemporary public sector human resource profession the Commission released the Human Resources Capability Framework for the WA Public Sector (Framework) in 2011. The Framework provides a whole of sector perspective on the capabilities for the HR function and supports the objectives of Strategic Directions for the Public Sector Workforce 2009-2014. The Framework identifies seven core capabilities, based on the AHRI Model of Excellence for HR practitioners and also complements the WA Public Sector Leadership Capability Profiles. Program assessment is based against these capabilities.

Foundations in Government Human Resources

Application of the Framework within agencies is achieved through the Foundations of Government Human Resources program (Program). The Program is contextualised for Western Australian Public Sector, provides contemporary theory and practice and is mapped to the PSP40104 Certificate IV in Government (with a HR focus).

A unique element of the Program and one in line with contemporary knowledge management is that the Program has been designed and delivered by practitioners from the sector. The Program comprises of six modules, workplace assessments and mentoring from senior practitioners. Completion of the program will assist practitioners to identify a career path and provides sign posts for further development. This program is the first in government across Australia and will be leveraged to building work for key occupational groups in WA.

Website for further information:

http://www.publicsector.wa.gov.au/workforce/development/human-resource-practitioners/foundations-government-human-resources-program

Remote Areas Licensing Program

There are a range of issues and barriers facing people living in remote areas in their endeavours to obtain and retain a driver’s licence, including sustainability of licensing materials and accessibility of services. However, driving in these areas is an essential part of life as there are few alternatives available for travelling the often large distances required. Department of Transport (DoT) has also determined that there is an inequitable distribution of licensed driving instructors throughout the remote areas of the State. Furthermore, access to a suitably licensed driver to supervise learner drivers in remote areas also proves problematic.

In 2009, the DoT introduced Remote Areas Licensing Program (RALP). Through the experience and success of RALP, DoT has seen the benefits of taking licensing services ‘to the people’ through an outreach service. Although still in its infancy, this model has seen a renewed focus on licensing in remote areas with many previously uninterested or ineligible applicants progressing to obtaining a learner’s permit or provisional driver’s license. In 2012, the DoT is seeking to build on the success of RALP by implementing outreach program that will establish regular licensing services to remote Aboriginal communities in the West and East Kimberley, the Pilbara, and the Goldfields, which is a multi-faceted approach to addressing licensing issues within the remote areas of Western Australia.

The WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner recently approved this program for inclusion in the 2012 CEO Substantive Equality Summary, as an example of a best practice Substantive Equality in action.

Funding has now been approved and the program will be formally deployed over the six to twelve months. It is planned to undertake an initial evolution of the program during this time and submit this as a formal case study for the 2012 Innovation Report.

Aboriginal innovation schools

The Western Australian Education Department developed the Aboriginal Innovation Schools strategy in late 2011 to support a small number of select schools to develop and share innovative practice in 2012 to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal students. The strategy aims to provide increased flexibility for the schools, support schools to improve local community engagement and to take ownership for developing innovative ideas and new approaches that suit their context and needs.

At the core of the strategy is the understanding that for significant progress to be made, concerted action needs to be taken at the school, family, community and interagency levels simultaneously. The power of the strategy is in mobilising local initiative rather than requiring schools to implement centrally based programs.

In 2012, schools are being supported by Coordinators of Extended Services. Their role is to broker and coordinate strategic, sustainable partnerships with a range of local, community, regional and state agencies, businesses and associations. These partnerships will provide a range of services to individual school communities in order to improve the learning and life choices of Aboriginal students.

Effectiveness of selected strategies will be monitored for their impact on improvement in Aboriginal student outcomes. Contracts have been awarded initially for one year, with extension possible for 2013.

Independent publics schools

The Independent Public Schools initiative honours the Western Australian Government’s key election commitment to empower schools by handing over greater control and reducing bureaucracy across the public school system. Schools participating in the initiative are afforded greater autonomy, the flexibility to set their own directions, and greater authority in day-to-day decision making.

Participating schools which remain part of the public school system and operating within relevant legislation and industrial agreements, have the option of adopting a number of flexibilities in areas previously managed by central office. Significant authority and accountability is placed at the local level in the areas of financial management, curriculum, student support, recruitment and selection of all staff, and the management and maintenance of buildings and facilities. The quality and success of the initiative is assured by the selection process, which is based on school choice and readiness.

Schools select a range of flexibilities that best meet the needs of their own communities. School leaders and registrars/business managers attend an extensive Transition and Training Program so that they are well prepared for the responsibilities that go with increased autonomy. Training is offered to members of School Boards so they also understand their roles and responsibilities in an Independent Public School. Independent Public Schools are also supported by the School Innovation and Reform Unit, which works collaboratively with all business units within the Department of Education to facilitate the embedding of the initiative.

Each IPS is signatory to a Delivery and Performance Agreement that defines the nature of its commitment over a three year period. An independent review of the school occurs in the final year of this agreement. The first 34 Independent Public Schools commenced in 2010; 64 commenced in 2011, and a further 73 commenced in 2012; bringing the total to 171. This represents around 40 percent of all public school staff and students.

Website for further information:

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/independentpublicschools/detcms/portal/

AFS Logicwall

The Department of Housing is using the AFS Logicwall proprietary structural walling system as an alternative to traditional masonry construction at a mixed use high rise (49 Residential Apartments and two Commercial Tenancies) inner City development in Fitzgerald St, Northbridge Perth.

The construction system consists of light weight sandwich panels (permanent formwork) created by bonding hard-wearing fibre cement sheets to galvanised steel stud frames. The formwork is then core filled with concrete on site to achieve load bearing walls that meet performance requirements for fire, sound and seismic load capacity set by the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Website for further information:

www.housing.wa.gov.au

Contact: Warren Cowper Manager, Metropolitan Construction on [phone].

Structural Insulated Panel System pilot projects

The Department of Housing have undertaken two pilot housing projects using the Structured Insulated Panels (SIP’s) as an alternative to traditional masonry construction on two group housing projects within the metropolitan area. The two group housing projects comprised of Family and Singles accommodation and included both single and two-storey construction.

The SIP’s system consists of light weight plantation timber panels with insulating foam middle core sandwiched between the timber panels. The SIP’s system has been imported from the United States where it has been widely used for some 40 years but relatively unknown to the Australasian market. The SIP’s system offers a number of benefits in areas of energy efficiency, cost, reduced construction durations, acoustic, fire, termite resistant, and earthquake and cyclonic conditions. The SIP’s system is used to build floors, walls, ceilings and roofs. No timber framing is necessary as a standard panel is engineered to build to three-storey construction.

The Department in collaboration with manufacturers R-Control Australasia and building contractor Julian Waters Housing Group (JWH) built the housing projects, both successfully completed in late 2011, with all dwellings achieving an energy efficiency rating of seven stars exceeding the current requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Website for further information:

www.housing.wa.gov.au

Contact: Lesley Richardson Senior Project Manager on [phone].

2012 Property Council of Australia Awards for Innovation & Excellence

The Department of Housing has entered two residential developments as entries under the “Best Residential Development” as well as the Award for Government Leadership category.

Stella Orion Apartments, Success Perth

The Department utilised an innovative system of construction for one of its award-winning Stimulus developments that was completed in March 2011.

The Stella Orion Apartments in Success (16kms south of Perth’s CBD) was built using the Architectural Framing system (AFS) wall and suspended concrete slab system of construction. The project used AFS modular panels made by Trustruct. The reinforced panels are composite which are filled with concrete once they are in place. Custom-made to size, they have the advantage of also being the finished wall internally & externally without needing further plastering. As it is also a modular system, there is close to zero errors in measurement. The system offers huge structural capacity and can be designed to satisfy earthquake and cyclonic conditions.

The AFS system provides a number of advantages during the construction process. For Example:

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  Massive reduction in waste sent to landfill – all materials delivered to site stay on site except for the packaging. During the entire project there were only three 4m3 bins on site.
  
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  Major reductions in cranage – the entire project was constructed using only mobile cranes the largest crane required was 50 tonne – total hours of crane time on the project were 52 hours.
  
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  The use of the AFS Logicwall system resulted in the elimination of “wet trades”, saving all the associated logistics and waste and also reduced the number of workers on the site.
  

Signal Terrace in Cockburn Central, Perth

The Department of Housing’s development at Signal Terrace in Cockburn Central is an example of a number of outstanding achievements in design, energy efficiency, landscaping and the incorporation of universal and adaptable design elements across a significant number of units. The development is also believed to be the second multi storey residential building in Western Australia to be linked to the National Broadband Network.

Funding through the Commonwealth’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, the development spans five buildings and consists of 67 one-bedroom, 56 two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residential units, as well as six commercial units. All 130 residential units of the development have achieved a six-star energy efficiency rating based on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (Nathers). The achievement is believed to be the first of its kind in Western Australia on this scale, making the development one of the largest six-star energy rated buildings in the State. Such a high energy rating is the result of orientation, insulation, glazing, and other features that contribute towards low energy costs in usage.

The development is also being constructed to high universal and adaptable design standards. All 130 residential units feature universal design elements and approximately 70 percent of the units will feature adaptable design elements. Universal and adaptable design elements mean that units have special features that allow improved access to those with restricted mobility (including wheelchair access), as well as being easily adapted in the future when life circumstances change.

Unique landscaping is also a feature of the development. An internal courtyard will showcase a number of trees which are actually planted in the basement below. The unique approach to landscaping was one of the highlights of the landscaping proposal submitted.

Website for further information:

www.housing.wa.gov.au

Contact: Laurie McGill Manager, Complex Projects on [phone].

Approvals reform for the Resources Sector

As a lead agency, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has responsibility for overseeing the application approval process for major mining and petroleum projects, including liaising with other agencies where required. The Department has been making good progress in its approvals system reform to improve the efficiency of the approvals processes.

As a direct response to feedback about the efficiency of the mining and petroleum approvals processes, DMP sought to implement improved processes and IT systems to improve the customer experience. Applications were processed through a number of government agencies, causing the reporting of timelines to be uncertain, which impacts on investment attractiveness for Western Australia.

The approvals automation initiative was built on existing systems, linking systems using messaging, to provide applicants with an integrated, end-to-end view of their applications. Existing systems were enhanced to provide industry with the ability to lodge, pay for and track applications online.

There are common services used by the core business systems for payments, security and integration with document and records management. Lean project management created a strong emphasis on removing waste from the development process and optimising the delivery approach. Consistent with agile software development principles, DMP fixed its budget and timeframes, negotiated priorities and as a result, released new functionality to the industry every few weeks across all systems.

By better equipping DMP and other agencies to adhere to timelines, the program has improved public service delivery. Not only has approvals reform increased DMP staff and industry customers efficiency, it has also increased understanding of the internal and inter-governmental approval processes.

A performance portal was developed to enable management to obtain statistics, identify delays and troubleshoot them to further improve processes. The percentage of applications received via online lodgement has increased consistently since the introduction of online lodgement facilities for key approval types. Average timelines for finalising online lodged applications is consistently lower than those lodged via traditional paper-based methods. These improvements have enhanced the State’s reputation as an attractive place to invest, through transparent and accountable processes.

Website for further information:

http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/861.aspx

Email: [e-mail]

The Partnership Forum

Improving services and support for disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the Western Australian community is a major priority of the Western Australian Government. The Government has identified that in order to meet the complex and changing needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged Western Australians, innovative ways of delivering human services tailored to individuals’ needs are required.

In order to give effect to this policy direction, the Premier established the Partnership Forum in 2010. The Forum acts as a focal point for building and maintaining the relationship between the public and not-for-profit community sectors, fostering collaboration and innovation in policy, planning and service delivery. It achieves this through bringing together senior representatives from State Government agencies as well as the not-for-profit community sector to address issues of mutual concern. Members are appointed by the Premier. They, in turn, report back to the Premier through their Chair, currently Professor Peter Shergold, on a six monthly basis.

The Forum has adopted a set of Partnership Principles and Behaviours, including:

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  a commitment to improve social, cultural and economic outcomes for the Western Australian community;
  
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  a collaborative approach to decision making and working together recognising the interdependence in the delivery of community services; and
  
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  a commitment to empowering service users in the design, planning and delivery of community services.
  

These principles engender a focus on community consultation on all significant issues and the engagement of citizens in the ongoing design, planning and delivery of human services. The Forum has served as a successful forum for addressing issues of mutual concern to both sectors, championing such projects as the Social Innovation Grants Program, the sustainable funding and contracting reforms with the not-for-profit sector, and Self Directed Services Design.

Website for further information:

www.partnershipforum.dpc.wa.gov.au

Social Innovation Grants Program

This Social Innovation Grants (SIGs) Program is overseen by the Western Australian joint public and not-for-profit sector Partnership Forum and is aimed at supporting and fostering greater innovation in the delivery of human services in WA. It provides grants to community sector organisations for new and innovative ways of delivering services. The Government allocated $2 million in 2010-11 with $4 million per annum thereafter to fund this initiative.

Grant recipients for round two were announced on 15 December 2011. Applications for round three have closed, and applications for round four are now open on the Department for Communities website.

Website for further information:

http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/grantsandfunding/Grants/SocialInnovation/Pages/default.aspx

Funding and contracting reforms

Additional funding of $600 million over four years was provided in the 2011-12 WA State Budget to support a sustainable not-for-profit sector and ensure that government pays a fair and appropriate price for the services it purchases from the not-for-profit sector. This will enable organisations to improve the quality and sustainability of services they provide to the Western Australian community. This funding will assist not-for-profit community sector organisations to improve wages and conditions for employees and attract and retain appropriately skilled staff.

Funding is being distributed in two tranches:

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  Component I – a 15 percent across-the-board price adjustment on all eligible not-for-profit community service contracts from 1 July 2011; and
  
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  Component II – a second funding injection equivalent to an average increase of 10 percent across eligible contracts linked to key contracting reforms in the Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy. This funding will be available from 1 July 2013.
  

The Partnership Forum also oversees the implementation of the Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy. The Policy has been effective since July 2011 and was developed jointly by the public and not-for-profit community sectors. It is intended to ensure that the not-for-profit community sector can be more flexible and responsive in the way it provides care. This includes less onerous and cumbersome reporting requirements and standardising contracting practices across government agencies.

Website for further information:

www.partnershipforum.dpc.wa.gov.au

My Life, My Way’ – Self Directed Services Design

The Western Australian joint public and not-for-profit sector Partnership Forum is progressing the development and dissemination of approaches to self-directed service design. Self-directed service design affords greater choice and opportunities for individuals, families and communities to have a significant say in how services are designed and delivered, which is a break from the historical model of service provision.

Website for further information:

www.partnershipforum.dpc.wa.gov.au

Australian Innovation System Report 2012 - Compendium of Program Updates - -