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Grants are widely used to achieve Government policy outcomes. This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Education's administration of a selection of grant programs, including those delivered with third parties. The audit would consider the design of the grants programs and whether the administration and management of the grant programs are consistent with the Australian Government Grants Framework.

This audit would examine the effectiveness of arrangements to establish Environment Protection Australia.

Environment Protection Australia (EPA) is an element of the Australian Government’s response to the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (Samuel Review). The EPA will be the national environmental protection agency, responsible for issuing permits and licenses; project assessments, decisions and post-approvals; compliance and enforcement; and assurance of the application of National Environmental Standards under accredited arrangements with the states and territories. The 2023–24 Federal Budget provided $121 million over four years (from 2023–24) to establish the EPA.

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Social Services’ administration of grants awarded under the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program (Safe Places), including compliance with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines, and management of the grants across the Safe Places program life cycle.

Safe Places is a capital works program funding the building, renovation or purchase of emergency accommodation for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence. There have been two rounds of funding. Under successive National Plans to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, the Australian Government has committed over $170 million over seven years to Safe Places ($72.6 million for round 1 from 2020–21 to 2024–25, and $100 million for round 2 from 2022–23 to 2026–2027). The first round of grants, awarded in 2020, was intended to deliver new emergency and crisis accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. The second round of grants, expected to be awarded in mid 2024, was designed to focus on improving access to appropriate emergency accommodation for First Nations women and children, women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and women and children with disability.

This information report would cover Australian Government grants reporting following on from Auditor-General Report No. 7 2021–22 Australian Government Grants Reporting. The report would provide transparency of, and insights on government grants expenses and Commonwealth entities’ self-reporting of grants on GrantConnect.

This information report would provide transparency and insights on SES attrition from and movement within the Australian Public Service (APS). The potential data sources include the APS Employment Database, and information published on Gazette. This information report would be neither an audit nor an assurance review and would not present conclusions or opinions.

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s administration of the Support Plantation Establishment Program.

$73.76 million was allocated to the program over four years in the October 2022–23 Federal Budget. Successful applicants receive funding, to be matched by a co-contribution by the applicant, to establish new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests.

The VET Student Loans (VSL) program commenced on 1 January 2017 and provides income contingent loans to eligible students studying approved courses. In 2022, the program provided $222.7 million towards the cost of tuition (out of total of $235 million in total fees charged) for around 30,000 students. The design and implementation of the VSL was audited in 2018–19. This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relation’s management of the VSL program.

This audit would examine the approach to assisting long-term unemployed job seekers through the Workforce Australia program. The audit would assess the effectiveness of the more intensive supports provided by Workforce Australia with a focus on oversight of performance and compliance by employment services providers, and whether the program is meeting its intended objectives. The audit may also assess the effectiveness of contract management by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Australian Industry Participation Authority.

The Australian Industry Participation Authority administers the Australian Industry Participation requirements under the Australian Jobs Act 2013. A 2018 review investigated the transparency of processes to ensure compliance under the legislation.