The Shadow Minister wrote to the Auditor-General on our proposed performance audit, Implementing the new child safety and youth justice case management system (Unify). This audit is included in our Forward work plan 2025-28. The forward work plan identifies that the report for this audit would be tabled in 2027–28.
The Shadow Minister raised concerns about issues reported in the media regarding the implementation of the Unify system by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety and the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support.
The Shadow Minister requested QAO consider bringing forward our planned audit and expanding the audit scope to include the current situation and the appropriateness of the engagement of a private firm to undertake a technical review of the Unify system.
We responded to the Shadow Minister on 31 October 2025.
We advised the Shadow Minister that each year QAO reassesses the timing of our planned audits after considering emerging risks and any relevant reviews. QAO is monitoring recent developments on the Unify system implementation and has decided to bring forward the scheduled audit.
In bringing the audit forward QAO will continue monitoring work being conducted by the relevant departments to address issues identified and the outcomes of current external reviews. We plan to commence the audit in the first half of 2026 and expect to table a report to parliament later in 2026.
Should we identify any significant issues requiring urgent attention, we will progressively raise them with the respective Directors-General. Depending on the nature and significance of any findings, the Auditor-General may also consider preparing a report to parliament on the interim results of the audit.