pARt 6 MAnAGeMent AnD AccountABilitY - Family Court of Australia

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• desktop common operating environment and PC and notebook requirements• implementation of a common ICT chart of accounts• information about custom and bespoke applications development and details of all ICT software andapplications used in the Court• ICT skills survey• internet gateway and major office machine requirements, and• status of green ICT initiatives.The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) is managing a whole-ofgovernmenttransition from IPv4 to IPv6. The Court is following the schedule of milestones.In the second quarter of 2009–10 the Department of Finance and Deregulation requested that theCourt commence an implantation of the Portfolio, Program and Project Management Maturity Model(P3M3). A certified external consultant was engaged to assess the Court maturity level and develop abusiness improvement plan to raise the Court’s maturity level in line with the time frame suggested. By30 June 2010, the assessment had been completed and a draft business improvement plan submitted forevaluation.Senate estimate committee hearingsSenior Executive Service staff of the Court attend Senate estimate committee hearings to answerquestions about the Court’s activities. In 2009–10, more than 25 Senate estimate questions on noticewere received and answered.External evaluationsFamily consultants and registrars review and restructureEarly in 2009–10, Des Semple and Associates completed a review of family consultants and registrars.The review had these terms of reference:• Review the current management structure and processes of family consultant and registrar servicesand advise on the appropriate governance and management structure for the future provision ofthese services to the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court, recognising the separate casemanagement processes and procedures of the two courts.• Recommend the future quantum of family consultant and registrar resources for future allocation tothe Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court on the proportion of the number of cases finalisedby both courts.• Propose management systems that ensure transparent and dedicated allocation of resources to bothcourts according to the number of case matters finalised.• Propose the management templates and executive information management reports that accuratelymonitor case management outcomes according to the predetermined resource allocations.PART 6 MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITYIn August 2009, the Chief Justice, Chief Federal Magistrate and Chief Executive Officer approvedrecommendations on the transfer of resources arising from the Semple review.Family Court of Australia — Annual Report 2009–2010117
Family consultantsIn October 2009, a single management structure was introduced and the first allocation of dedicatedfamily consultant and registrar resources was made for the Federal Magistrates Court. The new structurereplaced the previous positions of Manager Child Dispute Services positions with Regional Coordinatorsin Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Deputy Managers Child Dispute Services were replaced by six newSenior Family Consultant positions at these same registries, with three assigned to each Court to managethe pool of available resources. An additional six Senior Family Consultants will be located in NorthQueensland, Newcastle, Parramatta, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart.Resources continue to be moved between the Courts to meet the needs of the judiciary and clients.RegistrarsThe regional management and appeals structure of registrars was maintained. In October 2009 apredetermined level of registrar resources for each location was decided, to be made available throughthe pool of registrars in each location.The approaches to the use of registrar resources to support both courts was ongoing at 30 June 2010.PART 6MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITYResource allocationAt 30 June 2010, the management information reporting continued its development. It is an essentialtool for accurately determining the distribution of the available family consultant and registrar resources.The transition to the new arrangements for both family consultants and registrars is another key stepin ensuring the success of the single administration. The ongoing management of resources will beachieved at a regional level through a transparent management process that will be monitored andregularly report to the Family Law Courts Advisory Group.Internal evaluationsIntegration of Courts’ administrationAs reported last year, in March 2009, in advance of the government’s decision about the future of theCourts, a plan to further integrate the administration of the Family Court and the Federal MagistratesCourt was made by the Family Law Courts Advisory Group. This was done to maximise the efficiency andresources of the Courts and to help address the challenging financial position facing both Courts.The integration of the administrations proceeded. The integrated administration continued to recognisethat the two jurisdictions remained as independent courts.In addition to the restructuring of registrar and family consultant resources, a number of changes weremade to regional and registry management structures and to client services within registries.Single regional and registry management structureThe Courts now have a single regional management structure, managed through four regions by fourRegional Registry Managers under the leadership of the Executive Director, Client Services (StephenAndrew):118 Family Court of Australia — Annual Report 2009–2010
Page 7 and 8: The Honourable Justice Nahum Mushin
Page 9 and 10: Executive Director Information, Com
Page 11 and 12: • National Case Management Commi
Page 13 and 14: • Improving Responses to Family
Page 15 and 16: • Acting Executive Director, Cli
Page 17 and 18: • Chief Executive Instructions
Page 19 and 20: No instances or allegations of frau
Page 21: Family law services reviewOn 24 May
Page 25 and 26: The review showed that the program
Page 28 and 29: Staffing profileAt 30 June 2010, th
Page 30 and 31: Chief Executive Officer. SES salari
Page 32 and 33: structure through a more integrated
Page 34 and 35: Judges and support: All employee an
Page 36: • four new consultancy contracts

pARt 6 MAnAGeMent AnD AccountABilitY - Family Court of Australia

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