Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2008–09 Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 2 Treasury Place East Melbourne Victoria 3002 GPO Box 4367 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Telephone (03) 9637 2222 or freecall 1800 809 834 Facsimile (03) 9637 2626 Email [email protected] Website www.education.vic.gov.au Printed on recycled paper 2 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2008–09 Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations October 2009 The Hon. Bronwyn Pike, MP Minister for Education The Hon. Maxine Morand, MP Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Dear Ministers I am pleased to submit the 2008–09 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 Professor Peter Dawkins Secretary Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations Contents Secretary’s report 1 Highlights from 2008–09 1 Priorities for 2009–10 5 About the Department 7 Vision 7 Mission 7 Key responsibilities 7 Outcomes 7 Blueprint goals 8 Department governance 8 The Department 11 Organisation chart as at 30 June 2009 13 Summary of financial results 30 2008–09 Performance 32 Growing Victoria Together 32 Output performance measures 35 Financial report 52 Appendices 1 Budget portfolio outcomes 126 2 Portfolio statistics 132 3 Non-government schools 134 4 Human resources 136 5 Workforce statistics 144 6 Senior officers as at 30 June 2009 150 7 Statutory bodies 155 8 Diversity reporting 166 9 Office-based environmental impacts 172 10 Freedom of information 180 11 Statement of support to whistleblowers 183 12 Portfolio responsibilities 185 13 Contracts and consultancies 187 14 Other statutory requirements and Department policies 189 15 Risk management attestation 191 16 Disclosure index and additional information 193 Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations Secretary’s report Since the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development was created in 2007, significant work has been undertaken towards our mission to ensure a high-quality and coherent birth-to-adulthood learning and development system that builds the capabilities of every young Victorian. The year 2008–09 has seen a number of major highlights for the Department, including: • the launch of the Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development • the signing of a historic new National Education Agreement and National Partnership by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) • the signing of the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians • the acceleration of Victoria’s school building and modernisation program. The year was also marked by a number of challenges. The tragedy of the Black Saturday bushfires on 7 February 2009 deeply affected our early childhood and school communities. The Department responded quickly and effectively to the needs of communities faced with recovering from this disaster and is closely involved in the cross-Government effort to prepare for the coming year. (See page 6.) The year was also marked by an uncertain economic climate. The Department played a significant role in supporting Victoria’s move towards recovery, in particular through the implementation of the Commonwealth’s Building the Education Revolution economic stimulus package. In this context, the Department continued to work to develop and implement the Government’s reform agenda in our portfolio to improve the learning, development, health and wellbeing of all young Victorians. Highlights from 2008–09 Growing Victoria Together We are pleased to report that the Department is on track towards achieving the Growing Victoria Together goals for 2010. • The kindergarten participation rate remains consistently high with 92.4 per cent of 4-year-olds having attended a funded kindergarten program in 2008. • The 2008 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results showed that the scores achieved by Victorian students were above the Australian average across Years 3, 5 and 7 in all domains (that is, Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, and Numeracy), and in most domains for Year 9. Secretary’s report 1 Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations • In 2008, the proportion of • Transition plans for children 20–24-year-olds who had completed entering primary school were Year 12 or equivalent was 88.7 piloted. The period during which per cent, up from 86.1 per cent in a child makes the transition from 2007 and 81.8 per cent in 2000. attending early childhood services This performance is the highest of to attending school is an important Quotation all Australian states and maintains and often challenging time for Victoria on a trajectory to achieve the parents and children. ‘Within this school Growing Victoria Together target of • Significant work is underway to 90 per cent in 2010. improvement strategy, the increase seamless service delivery Victorian leadership program for children with disabilities or is an outstanding example of The Blueprint for additional learning needs and effective large-scale reform. Education and Early their families. Its rigorous, systematic Childhood Development • The trial of an Early Years Learning process is projected out over and Development Framework and several years in a carefully The Blueprint was launched by the Australian Early Development Index calibrated sequence with Premier, the Minister for Education and was completed. the Minister for Children and ample political support. No • The first phase of 500 additional Early Childhood Development in promise of a quick fix is made; Early Childhood Intervention Service September 2008. but deep belief in the chosen places was rolled out. course and its ultimate success The Blueprint sets out concrete • New Children’s Services Act and characterise the program … actions to ensure a high-quality and Regulations, which came into coherent birth-to-adulthood learning effect in May 2009, introduced In international terms, the and development system to build the quality improvements, including capability of every young Victorian. Victorian model of leadership streamlined licensing arrangements, The Blueprint actions focus on three development is at the increased staff qualifications and reform areas: cutting edge.’ lower staff-to-child ratios. • system improvement Improving School Leadership: Case Study of Victoria, OECD, 2008 • partnerships with parents Partnerships with parents and communities and communities • workforce reform. • Work is underway to implement the Since the launch of the Blueprint, vision of co-locating early childhood the Department has developed and services and schools through implemented a number of policies and the Children’s Capital program projects under the key reform areas. and Infrastructure Action Plan for children’s services. Co-locating System improvement early childhood services such • A new schools network model as kindergartens, child care and was developed, leading to the Maternal and Child Health services appointment of 70 new Regional with schools will improve the Network Leaders who are now experience of children, families and working with schools to improve parents, particularly at the critical performance. stage of transition to school. 2 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Annual Report 2008–09 Secretary’s About the 2008–09 Financial Acronyms and Contents report Department Performance report Appendices abbreviations • The Department continued to agreements reached through the implement the Wannik strategy, COAG process provide the additional Learning Together – Journey to resources critical to working towards Our Future, the Department’s the Victorian Government’s Growing education strategy for Koorie Victoria Together targets and the students in Victoria. We have COAG outcomes. realised a number of achievements, • In November 2008, COAG signed a such as the annual Wannik new National Education agreement. Principals’ conference, four new This agreement ensures that all Koorie Pathway Schools, 15 new Australian governments are now literacy coaches specifically for working towards a common set teachers of Koorie students, and of outcomes and objectives for 23 Wannik education scholarships children and young people. to assist students in their senior secondary years. • COAG agreed to a series of new national partnership agreements • The Victorian Schools Plan focused on teacher quality, literacy continues to be implemented. and numeracy, and outcomes in Workforce reform low socioeconomic status school communities. • The e5 Instructional Model for • A new agreement was signed to give teachers and school leaders was effect to the National Partnership developed and rolled out to schools. for the Digital Education Revolution, • Major workforce reforms were which will provide every Victorian implemented, including the student in Years 9–12 with a establishment of an Executive computer. Class for the teaching services • In March 2009, a national and the launch of