Department of Education and Training: project review: Australian Apprenticeships Management System

This review was an independent assessment of the Australian Apprenticeships Management System (AAMS) project with specific focus on areas managed by the Department as outlined in the scope. Additionally, the review identified relevant lessons learnt to inform future management of projects in the Department of Education and Training (Education). The review has been undertaken between January-March 2018 in accordance with the scope at Appendix B. The objective of the AAMS project was to replace the outdated Training and Youth Internet Management System (TYIMS) and reduce administrative burden on Network Providers thus enabling these Providers to deliver greater support services to Australian apprentices and their employers.

The objectives of this review were to: (1) conduct an independent assessment of the AAMS project with specific focus on areas including: project and contract management; stakeholder engagement and communication management; and (2) understand, document the extent to which the project had delivered against the areas within scope, reasons for non-delivery (where applicable) and identify relevant lessons learned to inform future management of projects in the department. This review was achieved by undertaking an independent assessment of the following: (a) the department's management of the AAMS project, specifically: the design/effectiveness of governance, assurance arrangements (including roles, responsibilities); the response to the issues arising from delays in delivery of the new AAMS; the appropriateness of practices and business processes to date in managing the project; and contract and vendor management practices in place with respect to managing delivery of agreed obligations and performance management; (b) the project's stakeholder engagement approach to keep stakeholders and users engaged in solution design and appraised of progress; and (c) appropriateness of communications to the Executive on the project's progress against budget, scope and benefits in accordance with the agreed decision of Government. This independent assessment identified weaknesses in practices across project governance, project management, contract and stakeholder management over the delivery of AAMS. This materially contributed to the non-delivery of the project and inability to achieve the benefits outlined in the business case. This report recommends the Department take action to strengthen its project, risk and contract management arrangements, as well as undertake an immediate review of other high priority projects to ensure practices identified by this review over AAMS are not widespread.

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