Department of Education Annual Report, 2006-07

Department of Education ANNUAL REPORT 2006_07 DDoEoE AARR ccvr.inddvr.indd 1 223/10/073/10/07 55:19:20:19:20 PPMM October 2007 The Hon. Bronwyn Pike, MP Minister for Education Maxine Morand, MP Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Dear Ministers I have pleasure in submitting the annual report of the Department of Education for the year 2006–07 in accordance with the Education Act 1958 and the Financial Management Act 1994. Yours sincerely Professor Peter Dawkins SECRETARY Contents About this report 4 Secretary’s report 5 Overview 8 About the Department 8 Corporate governance 9 Organisation chart as at 30 June 2007 12 Human resources 13 Summary of fi nancial results 13 Goals and targets 15 Outputs and performance measures 16 Compulsory years 16 Post-compulsory years 19 Services to students 23 Portfolio management services 24 Compulsory years of education 26 Blueprint for Government Schools 26 Student programs 31 Key initiatives 32 School councils 37 Facilities and infrastructure 37 Non-government schools 40 Post-compulsory schooling 43 Expanding pathways in post-compulsory schooling 43 Student support initiatives 44 Cross-sectoral initiatives 45 Services to students 47 Student wellbeing 47 Drug education 47 Students with disabilities 48 Support for families 48 Portfolio management services 50 International education 50 Information and promotion 52 Services to Ministers and policy 53 Financial report 56 Contents 3 Appendices 108 1 Consistency of budget and fi nancial reporting 108 2 Portfolio statistics 115 3 Human resources policies 117 4 Workforce statistics and senior offi cers 123 5 Statutory authorities and other bodies 130 6 Whole-of-government reporting on target groups 136 7 Offi ce-based environmental impacts 139 8 Freedom of Information 143 9 Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 145 10 Portfolio responsibilities 157 11 Contracts and consultancies 159 12 Other statutory requirements and Department policies 160 13 Disclosure index and additional information 162 Acronyms and abbreviations 165 About this report This report sets out the Department’s key Performance measures against these output activities and achievements from 1 July 2006 groups are further detailed on pages 16–25. to 30 June 2007 against the outputs and The fi nancial report (pages 56–107) provides the Departmental objectives detailed in the information on the fi nancial position and 2006–07 Budget Papers. The report of performance of the Department in 2006–07. operations is organised around the major Thirteen appendices (pages 108–164) provide output groups: supplementary fi nancial and non-fi nancial • compulsory years (pages 26–42) information. It is available on the Department’s • post-compulsory years (pages 43–46) website <www.education.vic.gov.au>. • services to students (pages 47–49) • portfolio management services (pages 50–55). 4 DoE Annual Report 2006—07 Secretary’s report The Department has a • leading the collaboration with other prime responsibility to States and Territories to ensure the best fulfi l the vision and meet education outcomes for all students, in the objectives outlined particular through the development of a by the Government for new report, The Future of Schooling education. in Australia • development of the Education and Training In 2006–07, the Reform Act 2006, including a process of Department pursued legislative review, public consultation and the six objectives and fi ve strategies in the implementation leading to its proclamation 2003–06 Corporate Plan to meet our mission on 1 July 2007 – to provide high-quality education and training • implementation of a range of corporate that raises achievement, reduces disparity improvements, including the third Your Job, and leads to opportunities. In doing so, the Your Say organisational health survey. Department made progress towards its vision of an assured future for all Victorians and a prosperous society through learning. Machinery-of-government During the course of 2006–07 signifi cant changes in 2006–07 machinery-of-government changes were As indicated above, the new Government term implemented when the Department of in late 2006 saw the transfer of a number of Education and Training became the responsibilities from the Department to other Department of Education (as discussed departments. The changes are summarised below). Further machinery-of-government below. changes were implemented early in 2007–08 when the Department of Education became Responsibility New responsible department the Department of Education and Early Vocational education and Department of Innovation, Industry Childhood Development. Prior to the latest training and higher education and Regional Development changes work was underway on developing Adult, community and further Department for Victorian education Communities a Department Corporate Plan for 2007–10. Adult, Community and Further Department for Victorian Further work will be undertaken during Education Board Communities 2007–08 to develop a broader Corporate Victorian Learning and Department of Innovation, Industry Plan for 2008–10 that refl ects the Employment Skills Commission and Regional Development Department’s new responsibilities. Key achievements in 2006–07 include: In line with these new arrangements, the Department of Education and Training was • continued progress towards achievement renamed the Department of Education and the of the Government’s goals and targets for operations of the Department were realigned education to ensure its continuing capacity to deliver on • successful implementation of the suite the Government’s education goals, targets of Ministerial Statements that cover the and priorities. education portfolio Secretary’s report 5 In early August 2007, policy responsibility for • Plain English Report Card early childhood development was transferred The new report cards were mandated in to the Department, which was renamed the 2007 and are being used in all government Department for Education and Early Childhood schools. They provide parents with clear, Development. These machinery-of-government consistent and comprehensive information changes will be discussed in more detail in the about their child’s learning as well as advice Department of Education and Early Childhood about how they can best support their child. Education Annual Report 2007–08. • School Compliance Checklist The checklist was introduced in February Blueprint for Government 2007. It streamlines reporting requirements Schools for schools and simplifies compliance with legislative and departmental policy. The Department continued to implement • Developing leadership capacity the reform strategies outlined in the Additional funding led to nine new leadership 2003 Ministerial Statement, Blueprint for development programs being designed, Government Schools. The Blueprint provides bringing the total number of leadership a framework for a highly effective government development opportunities for current and school system and focuses on: aspiring school leaders to 19 in total. • recognising and responding to the diverse needs of students by providing the tools Victoria’s plan to improve literacy which can spread effective practice across and numeracy outcomes the system On 13 April 2007, the Government released • building the skills of the education its plan to improve literacy and numeracy workforce to enhance the teaching–learning skills under the Council of Australian relationship and the capacity of our leaders Governments (COAG) National Reform and teachers Agenda. The plan aligns with a number of the • continuously improving schools by strategies in the Blueprint for Government enhancing school accountability. Schools and sets out a ten-year vision for the Signifi cant progress has been made in the Victorian and Commonwealth governments implementation of Blueprint initiatives during to work together to: 2006–07, including: • value good teaching and make sure we have • Victorian Essential Learning Standards the best teachers possible in all our schools (VELS) • build a culture of improvement in our schools All schools are implementing the domains • direct our resources to where they can most of the new VELS and beginning to report make a difference. on them to parents. Web resources for teachers have been created to support The Future of Schooling in them in their implementation of the new standards. Australia In October 2006, the Council for the Australian • Improving literacy and numeracy standards Federation established a Steering Committee in schools to review the Adelaide Declaration on National Important new initiatives include a Literacy Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Improvement Team initiative, a revised Century, which all Australian jurisdictions Mathematics Online Interview, and the jointly signed in 1999. Literacy Leader Professional Learning Program. 6 DoE Annual Report 2006—07 As chair of the Review Steering Committee, Key features of the new Act include: Victoria led the development of the resulting • raising the minimum school leaving age to report entitled The Future of Schooling in 16 years Australia. The report included a new statement • guaranteeing a place in a TAFE institute or on the future of schooling in Australia, and participating adult education provider to all a 12-point action plan to which all States young people who have not completed and Territories agreed. The statement was a Year 12 or its equivalent up to the age of 20 signifi cant step in asserting the importance • establishing a new statutory authority

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