Communities and Social Inclusion

266 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (27 September 2016). In reference to 2016-17 Budget Paper 5, page 23—who will be engaged to develop and implement the $5.3M IT system for the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion to deliver continuous monitoring for screening and what guarantees and safeguards will be put in place if the IT system does not operate effectively?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

1. The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) is leading this joint project with SA Police (SAPOL) and the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD). Continuous monitoring will comprise various system and business components that together will monitor South Australian criminal history, child protection and care concern information. Various technical and project management expertise has been engaged to lead and design systems and processes. This includes technical expertise to evaluate possible options for matching and notification components of the system. Any engagements and purchases are, or will be, in accordance with South Australian Government Procurement practices.

The Continuous Monitoring Steering Committee meets regularly to provide strategic leadership to the project and ensure milestones are being met. This Committee comprises of senior representatives from DCSI, SAPOL and DECD and includes senior information technology and business systems personnel.

Rigorous and robust design, testing, system proof of concepts, and early piloting of the continuous monitoring framework will ensure that the system will operate effectively. Once live, system auditing of notifications and information matching will provide checks that the system is operating as intended.