Name: Carol Richardson-Dale PFIIA and Yulia Wood PMIIA

Professional role: Principal Audit Consultant and Manager Risk and Audit/CAE

Award won: Internal Audit Team of the Year 2023 – WA Department of Health

How did you feel when you won the Award?

Recognised, proud and elated.

The Award was significant in recognising our efforts and providing the validation that we are on the right track. We came a long way in rebuilding the internal audit function from the ground up with the support from our Risk and Audit Committee.

What have you done since receiving the Award?

We continued delivery of our Risk and Audit Strategy, including promotion of the internal audit services to our stakeholders.

We also have taken on the role of chairing the WA Public Sector Leadership Network and facilitating peer-led topical forums, including discussions on the new Global Internal Auditing Standards.

Yulia has recently been appointed on the IIA-Australia’s WA Chapter Council.

Has the Award provided any new opportunities or recognition with your peers, organisation?

The Award has assisted in expanding our professional networks, particularly on LinkedIn, following SOPAC® 2024 and provided speaking opportunities at IIA-Australia’s Public Sector Assurance Forum and the WA Conference.

Our visibility has significantly increased within the Department and WA Health. Our award was acknowledged and celebrated via staff newsletters, verbal recognitions and the Annual Report. 

What do you love most about your job?

Our team and the wide variety of the projects in our scope. Internal Audit allows you to continuously learn new things, not just professionally but also the subject matters that we audit. We feel like the level of trust in our function has increased exponentially since the award which makes our work that much more enjoyable.

What do you like to do in your spare time? (non-work related)?

Yulia: I have no spare time between raising four kids, my work and all the extra undertakings such as school board and the IIA 😊 I do love to travel though, very much.

Carol: being outside, camping, reading and watching English sport.

What has been your biggest challenge in the past 12 months 

• Building of trust in our function – our capabilities and the services we deliver
• Growing our analytics capability within the limitations of old systems and data sources

What are your goals for the coming 12 months? 

• Find a meaningful way to measure and report on risk culture
• Develop a practical and useful Integrated Assurance Strategy
• Continue building on our analytical capability, particularly in the space of integrity, people and culture
• Establish a WA Health Community of Practice for audit analytics