The Risk Profile Assessment and Strategic Assessment for an investment are completed at the same time and are required to be submitted to the Treasury if high or medium risk. We will assess and moderate these, and provide these to Cabinet to decide whether the investment should proceed to business case.
Risk Profile Assessment
A Risk Profile Assessment (RPA) is designed to identify the inherent risk of an investment.
The RPA is not an exhaustive risk analysis model. It does not replace the need for agencies to perform detailed risk analysis and management over an investment’s life cycle.
Strategic Assessment
The Strategic Assessment sets out how the proposed investment:
- aligns with the Government and your agency’s strategic priorities
- responds to a true investment need
- links to required outcomes and benefits.
The purpose of the Strategic Assessment is for agencies to scope the rationale for a proposed investment at an early stage, to determine if the proposal should proceed to further planning (through business case development).
Complete an RPA and Strategic Assessment for all investments
You need to complete an RPA and Strategic Assessment for all investments. It is one of the first documents to produce as part of the investment planning phase.
How to complete an RPA and Strategic Assessment
Download the RPA and Strategic Assessment Excel workbook and answer the questions. There is guidance provided as you answer the questions.
The investment risk rating is generated after all questions are answered. The risk rating determines whether quarterly investment reporting (QIR) and Gateway are required:
| Risk rating | QIR submissions | Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Not required | Not required |
| Medium | Required | Optional |
| High | Required | Required |
We will notify you of the assessment of the strategic assessment once we have completed this.
Send the RPA and Strategic Assessment to the Treasury if the rating is medium or high
If the investment risk rating is medium or high, you are required to send both the completed RPA and Strategic Assessment to [email protected].
We will assess and moderate your responses with your Vote Analysts and/or Relationship Lead, as well as system leads.
We will notify you of the results of this assessment and moderation. This will then be provided to Ministers and Cabinet to determine whether the investment should proceed to business case.
RPA quarter deadlines
| FY | Quarter | RPA Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | Oct - Dec 2024 | Tuesday, 17 December 2024 |
| Jan - Mar 2025 | Monday, 24 March 2025 | |
| Apr - Jun 2025 | Monday, 23 June 2025 | |
| 2025/26 | Jul - Sep 2025 | Tuesday, 23 September 2025 |
| Oct - Dec 2025 | Wednesday, 17 December 2025 | |
| Jan - Mar 2026 | Tuesday, 24 March 2026 | |
| Apr - Jun 2026 | Tuesday, 23 June 2026 | |
| 2026/27 | Jul - Sep 2026 | Wednesday, 23 September 2026 |
| Oct - Dec 2026 | Thursday, 17 December 2026 | |
| Jan - Mar 2027 | Wednesday, 24 March 2027 | |
| Apr - Jun 2027 | Wednesday, 23 June 2027 | |
| 2027/28 | Jul - Sep 2027 | Thursday, 23 September 2027 |
| Oct - Dec 2027 | Friday, 17 December 2027 | |
| Jan - Mar 2028 | Friday, 24 March 2028 | |
| Apr - Jun 2028 | Friday, 23 June 2028 | |
| 2028/29 | Jul - Sep 2028 | Friday, 22 September 2028 |
| Oct - Dec 2028 | Friday, 15 December 2028 | |
| Jan - Mar 2029 | Friday, 23 March 2029 | |
| Apr - Jun 2029 | Friday, 22 June 2029 | |
| 2029/30 | Jul - Sep 2029 | Friday, 21 September 2029 |
| Oct - Dec 2029 | Monday, 17 December 2029 | |
| Jan - Mar 2030 | Friday, 22 March 2030 | |
| Apr - Jun 2030 | Friday, 21 June 2030 |
Changes to your scope, cost or timeframe
If there is a significant change to the investment’s scope, cost, timeframe or context, you are required to complete another RPA as soon as possible and send it to us. The risk rating and level of assurance required may change.