Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination
This Office coordinates the Department's overall strategic and corporate policy agenda. It leads support for the Ministers in relation to external and internal communications, data and evaluation, good governance, risk management and decision making.
The Office consists of five Divisions:
- External Relations and Strategic Coordination
- Corporate Planning, Strategy and Audit
- Data and Evaluation
- Statewide Outcomes for Children
- Communications
External Relations and Strategic Coordination Division
The key functions of the External Relations and Strategic Coordination Division are:
- strategic co-ordination and management of relationships between the Department and external agencies;
- provision of support to the Secretary related to statutory authority board meetings and other high level meetings;
- co-ordination of the provision of policy advice, information services and decision support;
- provision of executive and administrative advice; and
- provision of legal advice and services related to legislation, Cabinet and Parliament, Freedom of Information and Privacy, Whistleblowers, executive coordination and Ministerial support.
Corporate Planning, Strategy and Audit Divisions
The key functions of the Corporate Planning, Strategy and Audit Division are to:
- develop the four year corporate plan, the annual planning cycle, including annual priorities and the EO forums/retreat;
- maintain oversight and advise the Secretary on the Department's governance arrangements;
- manage the Department's audit and risk management approaches, including audit services for the statutory authorities, support for the Portfolio Audit Committee and managing the Department's relationship with the Victorian Auditor-General's Office;
- coordinate the preparation of the Annual Reports for the Department and Statutory Authorities;
- coordinate responses and submissions to the Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee; and
- provide agile strategic think-tank capacity to the Secretary.
Data and Evaluation Division
The Data and Evaluation Division Informs decision making, policy development and program design by delivering high quality data and evaluation products and services. This Division's key functions are to:
- develop and manage data protocols, scope, definition and counting rules;
- develop new methods and measures to monitor performance;
- manage standard data collections across the Department, including statistical collections and performance measures;
- analyse and review the Department’s performance;
- undertake data modelling and forecasting;
- provide data and information to other areas of department, including analysis and reports;
- promote use of data and evaluation through internal consultancy and knowledge sharing;
- build capacity across the Department’s central and regional offices and schools in use of data and evaluation; and
- represent the Department on state and national bodies.
Statewide Outcomes for Children Division
The Statewide Outcomes Division works across Government to consider, measure and report on outcomes for children and young people aged 0-18 years. The Division’s mission is to focus government and the community on improving things that matter to children and families through data, evidence, planning, partnerships and policy. It focuses attention on improving child outcomes in Victoria by:
- measuring and reporting on how Victorian children and young people are faring, and preparing the Annual Report on Children and Young People;
- planning to better meet the needs of Victorian families and children, particularly Aboriginal families; and
- supporting the work of Victorian Children's Council; the Children's Service Co-ordination Board, and intra-government committees.
Communications Division
This Division develops and leads communication of the Department's values, directions, objectives and achievements. The Divisions key functions are to:
- lead and provide expertise in the delivery of portfolio-wide strategic communications for both internal and external communication;
- effectively communicate the portfolio's priority business activities;
- manage media relations and issues management;
- manage ministerial visits and major events;
- produce web and print publications;
- manage corporate and government branding and design standards; and
- manage portfolio advertising.