Challenge

The Risk Scoring System (RSS) delivers an advanced analytic capability to the various Visa processing areas within the Department of Home Affairs. The goal here was to develop predictive analytic models in R, and deploy them in the RSS, so they could transactionally assign a risk score to a Student Visa application.

Each predictive model targets a risk agreed to by the Visa Process area, through the development and deployment a portion of time is applied to client engagement where the impacts of the predictive analytic are explored on the business area, and the department as a whole. This analysis is done through analytic platforms such as Python and R.

The deployment of these analytic products created high level efficiencies within Visa Caseload management whilst also managing risks within the Visa cohort.

Approach

Understood the requirements of the business area to deliver an analytic product that serviced both their risk and operational requirements. Through further stakeholder engagement from areas of ICT, Policy and the Visa program area, deployed the models in an operational environment. Built stakeholder confidence through monitoring the results of the analytic products through development of analytic reporting tools. Participated in meetings in the capacity of a subject matter expert to build further confidence around the analytic product.

The models were developed on large, complex data sets using open source machine learning approaches within the R statistical software environment. Data was extracted using SQL and other ad-hoc approaches.

Stakeholder confidence was established by building custom reporting dashboards using the shiny R package to demonstrate a cost-benefit analysis for the executive and the business area.

Outcomes and benefits

• Established the team and delivered multiple riks and threat based analytical models

• Established governance board to provide oversight of Analytic Products and handed to BAU

• Deployed into production a number of models that score every student visa application the Department of Home Affairs receives using Advanced Analytics approaches