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Annual report 2004/05
Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2005
ISSN 0311-449X
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Agency overview
- National research priorities
- External governance
- Internal governance
- Performance, outcomes and outputs
- Address
The AIC is Australia's national research centre for the analysis and dissemination of criminological data and information. Its research is mostly funded by the Australian Government, while individual projects may also be funded by state and territory governments or nongovernment agencies. Most of the Institute's work falls under the Australian Government's national research priority area of safeguarding Australia, and in particular the third priority goal of protecting Australia from terrorism and crime (see below).
The AIC seeks to promote a cooperative and harmonious work environment through: integrity: ethical and honest behaviour; professionalism: serving clients and stakeholders in a practical, diligent, thorough and objective fashion; openness: being accessible and responsive to staff, clients and stakeholders so as to build trust and confidence; fairness: treating all equitably and justly; respecting the diversity of ideas, backgrounds and cultures of staff, clients and stakeholders. The corporate direction has been effectively communicated to Institute staff through staff meetings to inform and update staff on research projects and corporate issues and directions, and the intranet.
National research priorities
The AIC's revised implementation plan to address the national research priorities was provided to the Chief Scientist in 2004-05, along with a progress report on implementing the plan.
AIC research mainly falls under priority area 4, safeguarding Australia, and in particular the third goal of protecting Australia from terrorism and crime. It also contributes to the goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric under priority area 2, promoting and maintaining good health. As part of its implementation plan, the AIC has continued to pursue the following key strategies:
- consultations and collaboration with key stakeholder groups;
- building internal capacity; and
- adding value to existing datasets.
AIC research outputs and information services during the year have made a significant contribution to the key result areas, including community safety, border and economic security, under priority area 4. They have improved the evidence base for policy and practice, and public awareness of major types of offending, victimisation risk factors, and effective measures to reduce and prevent crime. AIC work in relation to transnational, organised, economic and high tech crime has informed efforts to tackle emerging and complex crimes, that often lie outside traditional boundaries and make use of increased globalisation and technological developments.
External governance
Enabling legislation
The AIC was established under section 5 of the Criminology Research Act 1971 (the Act) as a body corporate. The functions of the AIC, as stated in section 6 of the Act, are:
- to conduct, or arrange for the conduct of, such criminological research as is approved by the Board [of Management] or is requested by the Attorney-General;
- to communicate to the Commonwealth, the states, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory the results of research conducted by the Institute;
- to conduct, or arrange for the conduct of, such seminars and courses of training or instruction for persons engaged, or to be engaged, in criminological research or in work related to the prevention or correction of criminal behaviour as are approved by the Board or are requested by the Attorney-General;
- to advise the [Criminology Research] Council in relation to needs for, and programmes of, criminological research;
- to provide secretarial and administrative services for the Council;
- to give advice and assistance in relation to any research performed wholly or partly with moneys provided out of the Fund;
- to give advice in relation to the compilation of statistics relating to crime;
- to publish such material resulting from or connected with the performance of its functions as is approved by the Board;
- to collect information and statistics (without detracting from, and in the context of, the overall collecting and coordinating role of the Australian Bureau of Statistics);
- to provide information and advice to Departments, agencies and authorities of the Commonwealth, of the states, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory dealing with the administration of criminal justice;
- to collaborate, in and outside Australia, with governments, institutions and authorities, and with bodies and persons, in relation to research, or the training of persons, in or in connection with the administration of criminal justice; and
- to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the foregoing functions.
Minister and portfolio
The Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator the Hon. Chris Ellison is responsible for the Institute. The AIC falls under the Attorney-General's portfolio, and it is the Attorney-General who has the primary responsibility for the portfolio.
The Hon Chris Ellison, the Minister for Justice and Customs has issued a statement of expectations to the AIC, which becomes effective from the start of the 2005-06 financial year. Included in this statement are the expectations that the AIC will:
- undertake impartial and policy relevant research;
- work co-operatively with the Attorney-General's department and portfolio agencies; and
- maintain and produce research information of value to key stakeholders.
The AIC formally committed to meet these expectations through the implementation of key performance indicators. These are available on the website at http://www.aic.gov.au/institute/statementOfIntent.html
Board of Management
Section 9 of the Criminology Research Act 1971 provides that the Board shall consist of the Director, three members appointed by the Attorney-General and four members appointed by the Criminology Research Council (CRC).
CRC members are appointed for one calendar year and take up their appointments at the first meeting of the calendar year. Table 1 shows the AIC Board of Management appointment at 30 June 2005.
The Board primarily:
- provides general policy and strategic direction;
- sets strategic research priorities;
- ensures that strategic and corporate plans are in place and objectives met;
- ensures that effective financial management structures and systems are in place;
- ensures that effective systems of internal accountability, planning and control are in place;
- ensures the Institute operates within its charter and legislation and adheres to a high standard of financial and ethical conduct;
- endorses the Institute's annual report and transmits it to the Minister together with an audited financial statement;
- oversees the Institute's general performance; and
- provides advice to the Director on Institute matters.
There were three Board meetings during the year: 28 July 2004 in Sydney, 25 November 2004 in Canberra and 7 April 2005 in Canberra.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee was established in March 1999 in accordance with the provisions of section 32 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. The Committee's primary role is to receive internal audit reports on the conduct of Institute business, undertake reviews in accordance with the approved audit work plan as approved by the Board of Management, monitor compliance with Committee recommendations and with legislative and other obligations.
The Audit Committee comprised all members of the Board of Management, and meetings were coordinated with Board meetings on 28 July 2004, 25 November 2004 and 7 April 2005. The audits are reported on in the Corporate affairs section of this report.
A risk assessment was undertaken by staff in consultation with Ascent Audit and Governance Services Pty Ltd and forms the basis of the draft audit work plan for 2005-08.
AIC Ethics Committee
The AIC Ethics Committee has been in operation since 1992 and has six members, with backgrounds in law, religion, social work and research, as required by the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines for ethics committees. The current chairperson is Dr Deborah Mitchell, Director, ACSPRI Centre for Social Research, Australian National University. The purpose of this Committee is to advise the Director whether approval should be granted for projects to proceed under AIC auspices. The Committee reviews proposed research projects involving human subjects to ensure that appropriate safeguards exist for conduct of the research to be consistent with ethical standards. During this reporting period the Committee reviewed and approved twelve proposals.
Internal governance
Corporate plan
A new AIC corporate plan for 2005-2009 was developed in 2004-2005 and was subsequently endorsed by the Board of Management and the Minister.
Organisation structure
In 2004-05 the Australian Institute of Criminology had four branches: Research services, Information services, Public affairs and Corporate services. The organisation's structure is shown in Figure 1.
The Research services group is responsible for the exploration, description, analysis and explanation of issues affecting crime and justice. The research conducted is founded on an understanding of the latest theoretical and methodological advances in the area, produces outcomes which will inform criminal justice policies and other policies likely to impact directly on justice and the reduction of crime, and provides opportunities for the Institute to be a national leader in criminological research as well as in collaboration with government agencies, other research organisations and individual researchers.
The Information services group is responsible for library, information and reference services to support policy advice and publications. Information services administers the JV Barry library and AIC website.
The Corporate services group is responsible for the provision of corporate services, information and advice to support all elements of the AIC.
The Public affairs group is responsible for the publishing and dissemination of the Institute's research and the facilitation of conferences, roundtables, seminars and media liaison.
Research framework
The AIC has instituted a comprehensive research framework which details the context and method by which all research should be carried out. It serves to maintain a clear focus and goal for research within the AIC's legislated objectives and functions. The guidelines ensure that research conducted is of sound method and analysis, complies with ethical guidelines, analysis is appropriate and that findings are presented in a clear, concise and jargon-free manner.
Prior to any research project being carried out, a value/risk assessment is undertaken, a scheme implemented in 2003-04. This assessment takes into account all issues that could arise from the research, from the integrity of the methodology, to compliance with relevant legislation and stakeholder obligations. If a project is judged as too risky, the approach is fundamentally reconstructed or the project is abandoned.
Corporate accountability
Corporate governance practices in the AIC are designed to ensure compliance with statutory and other external requirements aimed at achieving best practice in administrative and financial management. These include:
- an audit plan;
- development of Chief Executive Instructions; and
- a comprehensive range of policies and procedures developed and available to staff on the intranet.
Management committees
The Institute has an Executive Management Committee, which oversees the strategic management of the Institute. The Committee is comprised of management, staff and an occupational health and safety representative.
The Budget Review Committee has responsibility for developing the initial budget for the year and then actively monitoring progress on a monthly basis. The Committee provides advice to the Director on key financial issues as they arise.
The Information Technology Review Committee was established to oversee the implementation of the new IT system and to actively monitor the performance of the IT system and the IT service provider. It considers general matters of IT policy and staff IT issues. The Committee meets fortnightly. Major matters considered this year included the upgrading of the IT network, communication channels between staff, management and IT staff, reporting requirements for the IT contract, and security and risk management.
Performance, outcomes and outputs
The AIC has one budget outcome: to inform government of activities which aim to promote justice and reduce crime. There are two outputs for the AIC's outcome:
- output 1.1: policy advice and publications; and
- output 1.2: library, information and reference services to support policy advice and publications.
The following chapters report on activities undertaken by the Institute which contributed to its output objectives during the reporting period. The Institute measures its effectiveness by the following criteria:
- timely production of AIC research findings, primarily through publications;
- extent to which Institute services and data are valued by key stakeholders;
- flexibility of the AIC to respond to changing policy priorities; and
- budget and financial outcomes.
This report focuses on these performance indicators. The research summary table (Table 3) lists outputs and outcome/impact indicators for national monitoring programs and key research projects during the reporting period.
Table 2 shows resources allocated in meeting this outcome.
Address
The AIC operates from offices at
74 Leichhardt Street, Griffith, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
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