PGPA Newsletter 51

In response to feedback from entities, Finance has released a model audit committee charter. The model charter lists legislative requirements and highlights additional matters an accountable authority may wish to consider when developing their own charter.

This tool complements the recently released RMG 202: A guide for non-corporate Commonwealth entities on the role of audit committees, and can be used by all Commonwealth entities.

Finance is continuing to assist entities to implement the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs) through whole-of-government guidance. In late June, Finance updated three Resource Management Guides (RMGs):

• RMG 411 Grants, Procurements and Other Financial Arrangements provides guidance on the distinction between a grant and other common types of financial arrangements;
• RMG 412 – Australian Government Grants – Briefing, Reporting, Evaluating and Election Commitments provides guidance on the requirements for briefing delegates and

Finance would like to remind officials of relevant entities that providing your corporate plan, either as a document or as an active link, to PMRA@finance.gov.au is deemed to be providing the corporate plan to the Minister for Finance. Corporate plans are required to be provided to the relevant Minister and the Minister for Finance, and published on your website by 31 August 2018.

If you have questions about corporate plans, please contact us at pmra@finance.gov.au.

Recent additions to the Flipchart of Commonwealth entities and companies:

• Snowy Hydro Limited (SHL) in the Environment and Energy portfolio. The Commonwealth acquired SHL on 29 June 2018;
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDISQSC) in the Social Services portfolio - commenced on 1 July 2018
• National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) in the Treasury portfolio - commenced on 1 July 2018; and
• Australian Signals Directorate in the Defence portfolio - commenced on 1 July 2018.

Finance (Comcover) has provided entities who participated in the 2018 Risk Management Benchmarking Program their executive reports. Entities can use these reports to measure their risk management capability and overall performance against the nine elements of the Commonwealth Risk Management Policy. Entity executive reports are available via the Comcover Launchpad.

If you would like to seek additional information from the 2018 Benchmarking program please contact us on 1800 651 540 or email comcover@comcover.com.au.

Comcover has places available in the following education programs:

• Executive Pathway: A strategic perspective to managing risk
• Specialist Pathway: Embedding risk management into an organisation’s DNA
• Generalist Pathway: Practical risk management: More than just ticking boxes

Executive Pathway: A strategic perspective to managing risk

The SES Program focuses on the leadership skills required to build the required level of risk capability within your entity. The program includes participation in a half-day workshop and continued learning and application through discussion forums and networking opportunities.

Places are available for the SES workshops on 11 July and 19 September.

Specialist Pathway: Embedding risk management into an organisation’s DNA

The Specialist Pathway provides learning and resources to extend your risk management knowledge, understanding capability so that you can provide leadership and support to colleagues and senior executives.

The program incorporates in-and out-of-class opportunities to build your capabilities through scenarios, facilitated discussions, individual and syndicate activities, workplace-based tasks and presentations.

Places are available for the next two-day workshop on 28 August and 10 October 2018.

Generalist Pathway: Practical risk management: More than just ticking boxes

Program Delivery

First step - ELearning: The Risk Management Process

The Risk Management Process eLearning Course will familiarise you with the concepts and steps in the risk management process. You can complete this course independently of the two-day workshop.

Next Step - Two-day workshop

PMRA Community on Govdex is an online community for Commonwealth officials to:

• be informed about ongoing reforms, events and consultations;
• discuss issues and reforms relating to the PGPA Act and internal controls; and
• share ideas for improving the way we operate across government.

If you have questions or want more information on the PMRA or PGPA Act, visit the PMRA Community on Govdex. Access to the PMRA Community on Govdex is open to all officials of Commonwealth entities. If you are not a member, please email pmra@finance.gov.au and we will send you an invite to join.