The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has made public their 2017-18 Corporate Plan.
The plan, which covers the period 2017-18 to 2020-21 is the principal planning document that outlines the strategies CASA will use to achieve its objectives for the period, and was presented to Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester on 19 July.
"CASA plays a critical role in aviation safety whilst ensuring that aviation safety and the safety of the travelling public is always CASA’s number one priority," says CASA Chairman Jeff Boyd in his foreword. "We must manage this responsibility in a way that still provides a world leading, efficient regulatory environment for Australia’s aviation industry to operate in.
"In order to fulfil these responsibilities, it is vital that we have strategic direction to guide the important work that CASA undertakes. The Corporate Plan 2017–18 provides that direction. It contains strategies for the organisation that are consistent with the Minister’s Statement of Expectations to the CASA Board, and provides the focus and clarity for our organisation moving forward."
CASA has set itself three main goals for the period as laid out in the plan.
- Maintain and enhance a fair, effective and efficient aviation safety regulatory system
- Collaborative engagement with the wider aviation community to promote and support a positive safety culture
- Continuous improvement of organisational performance
"The three goals presented in this Plan define the contours of the strategic direction endorsed by the Board and includes the priorities and specific initiatives we plan to deliver over the life of this Corporate Plan," CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody explained in his Preface.
"For CASA, the ongoing challenge is to strike the appropriate balance in delivering the direction set in the Plan and the achievement of optimal safety outcomes. A lot of work continues within CASA to strike this balance. I trust the initiatives included in this Plan reflect our genuine quest to strike this right balance and improve the aviation safety record we all
enjoy today."
The goals are supported in the plan with 10 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measures that will be used to assess whether or not the KPIs have been met. The 10 KPIs are:
- CASA is an effective aviation safety regulator by international standards
- CASA does not unnecessarily impede the efficient operation of regulated entities
- CASA actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the aviation safety regulatory framework
- Actions undertaken by CASA are proportionate to the risk being managed
- Compliance and monitoring approaches are streamlined and coordinated
- CASA is open and transparent in its dealings with regulated entities and all of its stakeholders
- Communication with regulated entities and all of CASA’s stakeholders is clear, targeted and effective
- Education and promotion deliverables are relevant, timely, effective and appropriately targeted
- CASA’s governance structures, finance and risk management align with Commonwealth better practice
- CASA maintains the capability and capacity to effectively deliver aviation safety regulation
Twenty new initiatives are outlined in the plan, including completing the regulatory reform program not later than 2020-21, further developing the regulatory philosophy, developing stakeholder relationships, providing comprehensive safety promotion programs and driving client service delivery improvements.
CASA has also acknowledged in the plan that ineffective regulation is a strategic risk, as are staff deficiencies and it's ability to engage and influence stakeholders.
The CASA Corporate Plan 2017-2018 is available on the CASA website.