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Office of the Statistician and External Engagement

Objectives

The Office of the Statistician and External Engagement (OOTSEE) provides sound independent strategic advice to the Australian Statistician and the ABS Executive, assists with the identification and management of key risks to the ABS, and ensures effective relationships and communication with internal and external strategic stakeholders.

Key objectives of the program are to:

• review and update legislation and policy, and ensure compliance across ABS operations
• promote and protect the ABS brand and reputation, in particular with the media and Parliament
• support the organisational monitoring framework and governance that provides the ABS Executive with the information required to ensure the right plans, initiatives and strategies are in place to meet strategic directions
• support a strategic approach to international engagement with national statistical organisations
• ensure the ABS is managing and mitigating against significant risk to the organisation
• monitor performance and compliance across the ABS by undertaking a comprehensive audit and review program

OOTSEE provides a range of key corporate outputs that support the Australian Statistician’s administrative, statistical and strategic roles. OOTSEE consists of four organisational sections: Planning and Governance; International Relations and Regional Statistical Development; Communications and Ministerial Liaison; Audit, Policy, and Parliamentary Liaison.

The main outputs of the OOTSEE program are:

• leadership and consultancy to the ABS on policy, legislation, legal compliance (such as Freedom of Information requests and reporting), business and financial planning, risk management, and international relations
• a high quality communication service for the ABS and the Australian Statistician
• independent strategic advice to Australian Statistician and the ABS Executive through a range of activities such as the development and reporting of the organisational performance monitoring and risk management frameworks
• coordination of the ABS’s assistance to other countries and the International Engagement program for the ABS
• governance and secretariat services to senior management and external forums such as the Australian Statistical Advisory Council, ABS Management Meetings and the ABS Audit Committee
• a sustainable and strategic ABS forward work program, budget and annual report.

The main medium-term developments are to:

• implement the refreshed Corporate Plan including the review of organisational performance monitoring – due 2012-13
• continue reporting the organisations key performance indicators – ongoing
• update policy and legislation, and provide advice and education to ensure ABS understanding and compliance with legislation – ongoing
• measure and manage media attribution of ABS business – ongoing
• manage communication strategies with key stakeholders using new media platforms – ongoing
• the continued development of an audit universe based on risk identification procedures – ongoing
• review the ABS International Engagement Strategy – due 2013
• implement the AusAID funded Program – Government Partnership Fund II, to provide support to the Indonesian NSO – due 2011–13
• implement the AusAID funded Program – the Pacific Program, to provide support to Pacific Island Countries – due 2011–13