Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government - GovernmentCareer

The latest report by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) has found a large number of child care centres are "failing to meet basic standards of hygiene, safety and education".

The report finds that:

25 per cent failed to ensure that potentially dangerous products, plants and objects are inaccessible to children
29 per cent failed to implement effective and current food, safety and hygiene practices
28 per cent failed to ensure toileting and nappy changing procedures were positive experiences; and
22 per cent failed to document children’s learning and use a planning program
20 per cent did not act to control the spread of infectious diseases and maintain records of immunisations.

The Australian Federal government, in collaboration with State and Territory governments, is aiming to introduce a " National Quality Framework" for childcare which will aim to improve the quality and life standards of childcare nationwide.

Ombudsman finds systemic weaknesses in Centrelink review process

"Systemic weaknesses" in Centrelink's review process have been clearly identified by a Commonwealth Ombudsman report. The report found " lack of transparency and insufficient education about available options to customers, often leading to delays and inaction".

Over 700,000 part-time workers underemployed

Almost three quarters of a million (733,900) part-time workers were underemployed in September 2010, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This represents 22% of all part-time workers. Over half (55%) of all underemployed part-time workers preferred to work full-time hours (at least 35 hours per week).

One in two underemployed part-time workers were looking for more hours of work. The most common steps taken to find more hours of work were to ask their current employer (62%), contact a prospective employer (53%), or search the internet (51%). Over half (59%) of all underemployed part-time workers preferred to work more hours with their current employer.

Older workers tended to experience longer durations of underemployment. One in two (49%) underemployed part-time workers aged 45-54 years, and 52% of those aged 55 years and over, had been underemployed for one year or more. In comparison, 25% of underemployed workers aged 15–19 years had been underemployed for one year or more.

Further information is available in Underemployed Workers, Australia, September 2010 (cat. no. 6265.0)

Australian unemployment rate unchanged

The Australian unemployment rate stood unchanged at 5.0 per cent seasonally adjusted in February, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

FoI guidance material for government agencies released

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) released new guidance material to assist government agencies to implement changes to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

New reforms to drive gender equality in Australian workplaces

The Federal Government has outlined a suite of reforms to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency to improve its effectiveness and relevance, including an additional $11.2 million over 4 years would be provided to give the Agency the powers it needs to drive gender equality in Australian workplaces.

National Partnership for disaster reconstruction signed

Acting Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh have signed the National Partnership for Natural Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery.

Report finds unemployment low across country

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has just released a report 'A different perspective on the "two-speed" economy' which found during the first stages of the resources boom, unemployment was actually very low across the entire country.

Discussion paper to reform the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Scheme released

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has released a discussion paper examining opportunities to reform the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) Scheme.

National security telecommunications amendment bill passed

The Telecommunications Interception and Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 has been passed through Federal Parliament.

Former IBM chief appointed to head communications and media review

Former IBM Australia chief Glenn Boreham has been appointed to as the chairman of the Convergence Review Committee, which will review of Australia’s communications and media regulatory environment.

New head of ANSTO appointed

Esteemed academic Professor Paul Greenfield AO has been appointed to head the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) board.

Auditor General releases Digital Education Revolution Program report

The Auditor General has released its report into the Digital Education Revolution (DER) Program.

Federal Government releases skills shortages summary

New research shows Australia’s skills supply and demand picture remains patchy.

Grants Commission releases GST revenue distribution assessment

The Commonwealth Grants Commission has released its advice to the Australian, State, and Territory Governments on how GST revenue should be distributed among the States and Territories in 2011-12.

Chief Scientist resigns

Professor Penny Sackett, Australia’s Chief Scientist, has resigned after two and a half years in the job, citing personal and professional reasons for her decision.

Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics to be established

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET) has announce the decision to create a new professionally independent unit, to be known as the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).

Department of Defence to revamp health records

The Australian Department of Defence plans to revamp its health records with a $5 million dollar electronic system.

Defence has chosen global service provider CSC for a five-year IT contract to develop and implement an electronic health (eHealth) information system.

After winning the contract through a tender process, CSC will deliver a centralised, web-accessible, military specific, primary care solution known as EMIS into the Defence’s IT environment.

The system will be known as the Joint eHealth Data and Information (JeHDI) system.

Along with selected partners, CSC will also provide application hosting, IT support services, organisational change, communication, training and project management.

Defence commander Joint Health, major general Paul Alexander said the JeHDI system will hep provide high-quality healthcare that supports ADF members within Australia.

“The JeHDI system will not only provide an eHealth record for all personnel, but also give the Department of Defence the ability to map health related trends of the ADF and derive financial reports on its healthcare costs,” he said.

JeHDI represents one of the first comprehensive eHealth record projects across Australia and will support the needs of modernising the Defence organisation.

Climate Commission announced

The Federal Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet has announced an independent Climate Commission, appointing a leading science communicator, Professor Tim Flannery, as Chief Commissioner.