The Challenge
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) currently performs a range of regulatory tasks within the complex trade export system. Across these tasks, DAFF must make complex decisions that are based on risk. For example, risk can be dependent on legal, regulatory and importing country requirements. DAFF commissioned ThinkPlaceX to undertake a review of the current regulatory workflow to identify efficiencies and improvements. The project sought to explore the regulatory tasks the regulator undertakes and highlight where process and decision making can be made more efficient and robust for all users within the system. Furthermore, the project served to build a strategic view of current change and future vision for DAFF’s approach to regulating specific export program within Australia.
Our Response
The review and research process taken to explore the regulatory workflow was broad, involving multiple methodologies to ensure a robust understanding of the current state and to develop actionable recommendations. At the highest level, the research and review method sought to understand the current state in detail, looking into both strategic and tactical elements across the process. Throughout the project, background research was undertaken across resources provided by the regulator, including analysis of existing regulatory guidelines and requirements and policy/tool inventory. This included conducting business process mapping of the current regulatory process.
In-depth qualitative research interviews were conducted with stakeholders, including:
- Regulator: Engaging with various teams to gather insights into their experiences, challenges, and perspectives on the current regulatory workflow
- Industry: Speaking with a diverse range of exporters and industry participants to understand their experiences with regulatory compliance, the support provided by the regulator, and to identify improvement areas and benefits of regulation
- Workshops with stakeholders were undertaken to identify challenges in the current state and to define a view of the future state with recommendations for changes to bring this future state to life.
The Impact
ThinkPlaceX partnered with DAFF to transform a complex regulatory workflow into a streamlined, future-ready system. Through deep engagement with regulators and industry, rigorous process mapping, and co-design of the future state, we delivered actionable recommendations that strengthen decision-making, improve efficiency, and build a clear strategic pathway for export regulation in Australia.
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