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Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2010–11 Published by the Communications Division for Strategy and Coordination Division Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Melbourne September 2011 © State of Victoria (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development) 2011 The copyright in this document is owned by the State of Victoria (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development), or in the case of some materials, by third parties (third party materials). No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, the National Education Access Licence for Schools (NEALS) (see below) or with permission. An educational institution situated in Australia which is not conducted for profit, or a body responsible for administering such an institution, may copy and communicate the materials, other than third party materials, for the educational purposes of the institution. Authorised by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002. ISBN No. 978-0-7594-0627-8 Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 1800 809 834 or email [email protected] This document is also available in PDF format on the internet at www.education.vic.gov.au This report is printed on Tudor RP 100% Recycled which is Australian made, carbon neutral and made entirely from recycled waste paper. This sustainable paper is made under world’s best practice ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. September 2011 The Hon. Peter Hall MLC The Minister for Higher Education and Skills Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession The Hon. Martin Dixon MP The Minister for Education The Hon. Wendy Lovell MLC The Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Dear Ministers I am pleased to submit the 2010–11 Annual Report for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 and the Financial Management Act 1994. Yours sincerely Jeff Rosewarne Acting Secretary Contents Acting Secretary’s overview 1 About the Department 3 Organisational chart as at 30 June 2011 12 Office for Children and Portfolio Coordination 13 Office for Government School Education 16 Office for Policy, Research and Innovation 20 Office for Resources and Infrastructure 24 Skills Victoria 27 Summary of financial results 30 Performance 33 Financial Statements – 30 June 2011 54 Appendices 135 1 Budget portfolio outcomes 135 2 Portfolio statistics 141 3 Non-government schools 143 4 Human resources 145 5 Workforce data 153 6 Statutory bodies 157 7 Diversity reporting 168 8 Office-based environmental impacts 176 9 Freedom of Information 185 10 Statement of support to whistleblowers 188 11 Portfolio responsibilities 190 12 Contracts and consultancies 194 13 Other statutory requirements and Department policies 196 14 Risk management attestation 198 15 Disclosure index and additional information 200 Acronyms and abbreviations 203 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2010–11 Acting Secretary’s overview The past year has been one of significant change and development for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (the Department). On election, the Premier, the Hon. Ted Baillieu MP announced that Skills Victoria and Adult, Community and Further Education would rejoin the Department from 1 January 2011. The addition of the higher education and skills portfolio extends the Department’s focus to a lifelong learning agenda for all Victorians, commencing at birth and continuing throughout adulthood. The creation of the new Department provides the opportunity to strengthen the integration of the learning and development system, bringing together a range of early childhood education and care, school and higher education and vocational training (VET) services. The Department is responsible for supporting three Ministers – the Minister for Higher Education and Skills and Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession, the Hon. Peter Hall MLC; the Minister for Education, the Hon. Martin Dixon MP; and the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, the Hon. Wendy Lovell MLC. In supporting its new Ministers, the Department has been focused on implementing the Government’s election commitments. Implementing Government election commitments The Department provided significant support to the incoming Government through the provision of briefing advice, analysis and the establishment of a process to manage the implementation of the Government’s election commitments. The Department has been working collaboratively with the Government and stakeholders to implement the portfolio’s 41 election commitments. Work to date has seen the reinstatement of training fee concessions to eligible 15–24-year-olds; a revised model for student-free days giving government schools flexibility to meet local needs; a new approach to school capital works management that provides greater choice for principals; funding for an extra 150 primary welfare officers; and new programs to combat bullying. Commonwealth–State relations This year the Department has continued to provide strong leadership in Commonwealth–State matters while ensuring that flexibility and autonomy is maintained for the Victorian system. The Department has continued to implement and monitor national partnerships with the Commonwealth and has made a significant contribution to improving outcomes in early childhood, schooling, youth transitions and VET reform. Significantly, in 2011 the Department has supported the Minister for Education in his role of Chair of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs. The Council oversees achievement of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) strategic themes by pursuing and monitoring priority issues of national significance that require sustained, collaborative effort. Acting Secretary’s overview 1 Acting Secretary’s overview Organisational development Organisational development was a key corporate priority for the Department over the past year. An all-staff survey conducted in April 2010 identified organisational alignment, people development and internal communication as priority areas for action. A range of initiatives have been rolled out to address these issues, including: • the Leadership 360 Feedback and Development program, which included the participation of all executive officers and VPSG6 staff • a future capability project that included the establishment of a continuous improvement and innovation group and the trialling of peer learning teams • a professional development survey, and a survey of the Department’s single largest VPS cohort, VPSG 5 employees. Work has also continued to embed the Department’s CORE values (Collaboration, Outcomes, Respect and Diversity, and Empowerment), which were launched in June 2010 to ensure that they are central to the way we work. Looking ahead to 2011–12 During 2011–12 the Department will prioritise: • continuing to implement the Government’s 2010 election commitments • integrating, aligning and strengthening the capability of the Department to support a lifelong learning agenda • strengthening the delivery of core programs and services • leveraging COAG reform and Commonwealth investment to benefit Victoria • managing resources efficiently and effectively • negotiating Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. Over the next year we will be listening to families, students, young people, workers and employers to gain a better understanding of the new approaches required to meet the challenges facing all Victorians. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Professor Peter Dawkins, the former Secretary of the Department. Over a period of nearly five years Professor Dawkins made a significant contribution to education and early childhood development policy reform. Professor Dawkins led the development of the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians and played a key role in the Productivity Agenda Working Group that developed the National Productivity Agenda for COAG. Finally, I would also like to thank my colleagues and staff in the Department and statutory authorities for their dedication, professionalism and commitment demonstrated over this past year. Jeff Rosewarne Acting Secretary 2 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2010–11 About the Department Purpose Ensure a high-quality and coherent birth-through-to-adulthood learning and development system to build the capability of every Victorian. Values The Department is a learning organisation. In our relationships with colleagues, children and young people, parents and families, partners, and local and global communities we commit to the following CORE values: • collaboration and knowledge sharing • outcomes • respect and diversity • empowerment. Objectives Victoria’s early childhood development, education and training systems contribute to the development of Victoria as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable economic development, more jobs, greater social cohesion and systems that can be understood through a life cycle approach. This approach reflects how children, young people, adult learners and their families experience contact with these systems. The systems rely upon and build on one another to deliver the best opportunities
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