C5 Internal accountability
Organisational structure
The Department has continued to review its structure in order to deliver quality educational outcomes for students. Dr Jim Watterston was appointed as Chief Executive on 20 July 2009. The Department underwent a structural reorganisation in January 2010.
Figure C5.1: The Department’s structure (as at 30 June 2010)
Senior Executive responsibilities
Chief Executive Dr Jim Watterston
The Chief Executive is responsible for the efficient administration of the Department and its corporate and strategic directions. The Chief Executive is responsible for implementing Australian and ACT government commitments relating to education and training in the ACT.
Deputy Chief Executive Ms Diane Joseph
The Deputy Chief Executive, together with the Chief Executive, is responsible for the implementation of government commitments to education and training. The Deputy Chief Executive oversees key strategic planning and coordination activities across the Department, manages the Department’s involvement in a range of national and whole of government initiatives, and responds to issues at a ministerial, intergovernmental and key stakeholder level.
Executive Director, School Improvement Ms Jayne Johnston
The Executive Director, School Improvement (previously Executive Director Schools) is responsible for the School Improvement Division, providing strategic educational leadership and management of ACT public schools and colleges and the delivery of educational support services in these schools. These include school improvement initiatives, school policy, student welfare, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education programs, early childhood education and special education programs.
Executive Director, Corporate Services Mr Phillip Tardif
Since February 2010 the Executive Director, Corporate Services, has had responsibility for Finance and Corporate Support, Schools Capital Works, and Human Resources branches. Prior to that he was responsible for: Finance and Corporate Support; Schools Capital Works; Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting; and Governance, Regulation and Risk branches.
Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education Ms Leanne Cover
The Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education has responsibility for implementing the ACT commitments arising from the local and national agenda for tertiary education. This includes line responsibility for the Training and Tertiary Education Branch, International Education Unit and the Board of Senior Secondary Studies. Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education is a newly created position arising from the Department’s reorganisation in January 2010.
Department committees
A review of the Department’s committee structure was conducted during the reporting period to improve the effectiveness of departmental decision-making and to ensure that decision-making aligns with delegations and accountability and delivers on strategic plan commitments.
The review resulted in the establishment of the School Network Reference Group as a key communication and consultation forum for principals. Other committees were refined to reduce duplication and ensure focus on key priorities of the Department.
Senior Executive Team
The Senior Executive Team is the peak decision-making body of the Department and is responsible for significant operational, policy and resourcing decisions and approvals. The executive team sets and reviews the strategic direction of the Department and monitors performance in key areas, including educational and financial performance. It is also responsible for ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, accounting standards and departmental policies.
Chief Executive (Chair), Dr Jim Watterston
Deputy Chief Executive, Ms Diane Joseph
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Phillip Tardif
A/g Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education, Ms Leanne Cover
Corporate Executive
Corporate Executive assists the Chief Executive and the Senior Executive Team to determine priorities and make decisions in relation to strategic, policy and management issues affecting the work of the Department.
Corporate Executive receives and considers reports from the Department’s standing committees, and reviews and advises on any issues referred to it by the Chief Executive. It may establish working groups to undertake specific tasks. Outcomes from Corporate Executive are communicated to the Senior Executive, standing committees or to all staff as appropriate.Chief Executive (Chair), Dr Jim Watterston
Deputy Chief Executive, Ms Diane Joseph
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Phillip Tardif
A/g Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education, Ms Leanne Cover
Director, Learning and Teaching, Ms Trish Wilks
Director, Finance and Corporate Support, Mr Mark Whybrow
Director, Governance, Dr Bruce Carroll
Director, Human Resources, Mr Michael Bateman
Director, Measurement Monitoring and Reporting, Ms Tracy Stewart
Director, Schools Capital Works, Mr Rodney Bray
Director, Information Services, Ms Carol Harris
Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Student Support, Dr Mark Collis
Director, Training and Tertiary Education, Vacant
School Network Leader North/Gungahlin, Ms Joanne Garrisson
A/g School Network Leader Belconnen, Ms Linda Baird
A/g School Network Leader South/Weston, Mr Steve Kyburz
A/g School Network Leader Tuggeranong, Ms Tanya Nelipa
School Network Reference Group
The School Network Reference Group is a communication and consultation group representing all principals. It considers key strategic, policy and operational matters and provides advice to Corporate Executive and the Senior Executive Team. It raises policy and operational issues from school perspectives impacting on aspects of effectiveness and improvement. Membership includes two principals nominated by each network and appointed by the Executive Director, School Improvement for a period of 12 months.Executive Director, School Improvement (Chair), Ms Jayne Johnston
A/g School Network Leader (Belconnen), Ms Linda Baird
School Network Leader (North/Gungahlin), Ms Joanne Garrisson
A/g School Network Leader (Tuggeranong), Ms Tanya Nelipa
A/g School Network Leader (Woden/ Weston), Ms Steve Kyburz
Principal, Narrabundah Early Childhood School, Ms Robyn McLean
Principal, Florey Primary School, Ms Lindy Beeley
Principal, Weetangera Primary School, Mr Phil Gray
Principal, Lyneham High School, Ms Colleen Matheson
Principal, Stromlo High School, Ms Cecily Blake
Principal, Amaroo School, Ms Anne Huard
Principal, Erindale College, Mr Michael Hall
Principal, Birrigai Outdoor School, Ms Julie Murkins
Principal, Cranleigh School, Ms Karin Wetselaar
Principal, Macgregor Primary School, Mr Steve Gneil
Information and Communication Technology Committee
The Information and Communication (ICT ) Committee assists the Chief Executive in relation to ICT policies, programs and strategies. It provides advice and makes decisions about the implementation of ICT policies, programs, strategies and initiatives and standards regarding equipment, software and technical performance. The committee makes recommendations to Corporate Executive about ICT strategic directions, policies and proposals for system-wide ICT initiatives, and updates Corporate Executive and staff on significant matters, programs and initiatives.Deputy Chief Executive (Chair), Ms Diane Joseph
Director, Information Services, Ms Carol Harris
Director, Education, ICT, Ms Lorraine Nicol
Director, Finance and Corporate Support, Mr Mark Whybrow
School Improvement nominee, Ms Trish Wilks
Tertiary and International Education nominee, Dr Kaaren Blom
Corporate Services nominee, Ms Anne Ellis
Manager, Learning Technologies, Mr Mark Huxley
School Planning Committee
The School Planning Committee provides advice and makes decisions about priority enrolment areas and makes recommendations to Corporate Executive about strategic directions, policies and proposals for system- wide planning initiatives. The committee briefs Corporate Executive and staff on significant matters, programs and initiatives, follows up on trends and issues that arise out of school audits, external validation, reviews and reports, and investigates, reviews and advises on any issues referred to it by the Chief Executive or Corporate Executive.Deputy Chief Executive (Chair), Ms Diane Joseph
Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Phillip Tardif
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Director, Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting, Ms Tracy Stewart
Director, Schools Capital Works, Mr Rodney Bray
Director, Finance and Corporate Support, Mr Mark Whybrow
A/g School Network Leader, Belconnen, Ms Linda Baird
School Network Leader, North/Gungahlin, Ms Joanne Garrisson
A/g School Network Leader, South/Weston, Mr Steve Kyburz
A/g School Network Leader, Tuggeranong, Ms Tanya Nelipa
Senior Manager, Schools Planning, Ms Janet Hughes
Security and Emergency Management Committee
The Department’s Security and Emergency Management Committee makes decisions and provides advice to the Chief Executive about significant security proposals, directions, policies and training and acts as the Department’s decision-making and coordinating body in the event of a Territory- wide emergency.Executive Director, Corporate Services (Chair), Mr Phillip Tardif
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Director, Human Resources, Mr Michael Bateman
Director, Schools Capital Works, Mr Rodney Bray
Director, Finance and Corporate Support, Mr Mark Whybrow
School Network Leader, North/Gungahlin, Ms Joanne Garrisson
Director, Governance, Dr Bruce Carroll
Manager, Corporate Support, Ms Wendy English
Manager, Risk Management and Audit, Ms Megan Young
Establishment Committee
The Department’s Establishment Committee assists the Chief Executive in relation to staffing policies, programs and strategies. It follows up on staffing trends and issues arising out of school audits, external validation, reviews and reports, considers all proposals to fill existing positions in Central Office or create new positions, and investigates, reviews and advises on any issues referred to it by the Chief Executive or Corporate Executive.Deputy Chief Executive, Ms Diane Joseph
Executive Director, Corporate Services (Chair), Mr Phillip Tardif
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
A/g Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education, Ms Leanne Cover
Director, Human Resources, Mr Michael Bateman
Director, Finance and Corporate Support, Mr Mark Whybrow
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee monitors and reviews Departmental adherence to relevant legislative requirements and the Department’s approach to business ethics and corporate conduct. The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of the risk management and audit functions and for ensuring effectiveness. It also reviews the annual financial statements. The Committee provides advice direct to the Chief Executive about significant risks, audit outcomes and implementation of mitigation strategies.
Audit Committee membership July 2009 to May 2010Chairperson, Ms Jenny Morison
External member, Ms Diane Fielding
Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Phillip Tardif
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Director, Schools Northern (July 2009 to November 2010), Mr Wayne Chandler1
Notes:
- Mr Wayne Chandler retired in November 2009.
Audit Committee membership, June 20101Chairperson, Ms Jenny Morison
External member, Ms Diane Fielding
Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Phillip Tardif
Executive Director, School Improvement, Ms Jayne Johnston
Deputy Chief Executive Strategy and Coordination, Ms Diane Joseph
A/g Executive Director, Tertiary and International Education, Ms Leanne Cover
Notes:
- The Department underwent a reorganisation and the Audit Committee reviewed its requirements and increased its membership to six.
Remuneration for senior executives
Section 10 of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995 requires its administrative body (the Tribunal) to inquire into and determine the remuneration, allowances and other entitlements of the Chief Executive and those persons who are executives within the meaning of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 .
The Tribunal, in a determination made in June 2009, decided to increase the remuneration for chief executives and executives by 1.5 percent with effect from 1 July 2009.
During the reporting period the vehicle cash out component of executive remuneration was increased effective August 2009.
Corporate and Operational Plans
Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan provides the organisational context to enable the Department to deliver a sustainable world-class education and training system that is responsive to changing needs of the ACT community.
During this reporting period the Strategic Plan 2006-09 was replaced by the Strategic Plan 2010-2013: Everyone matters . The new plan has at its core the aim of ensuring all young people in the ACT learn, thrive and are equipped with the skills to lead fulfilling, productive and responsible lives.
To achieve the Department’s vision and purpose, the Strategic Plan identifies priorities and performance measures in four areas:
- Learning and teaching
- School environment
- Student pathways and transitions
- Leadership and corporate development.
The priority areas link the Department’s legislative objectives to its strategic outcomes and focus resources on achieving operational commitments. An overview of the Department’s achievements against its strategic objectives is provided in section A2.
The School Improvement in ACT Public Schools: Directions 2010-2013 is linked to the Strategic Plan and was developed during the reporting period to provide an integrated and systematic approach to school improvement based on the principle that the core work of all school leaders is to improve student learning outcomes.
Reporting on strategic goals and outcomes is primarily done through the Department’s Annual Report. In 2010, the Institute of Public Administration Australia, ACT Division, presented the Department with a silver award, in recognition of the quality of reporting in the 2008-09 reporting year.
Business planning
Supporting the Strategic Plan is the Operational Plan, which details the operational activities and outcomes that reflect the Department’s priorities for the year and specify performance indicators by which performance is measured. The performance of directors and principals is monitored against performance targets in these plans. The Operational Plan is published on the Department’s website.
During the reporting period, the Department’s business planning processes were reviewed to ensure that branch actions were aligned to strategic priorities and that performance indicators incorporated reporting requirements of partnerships and agreements. Quarterly reporting of achievement against branch business plans will be introduced in the next reporting period.
Individual school plans are made available to school communities and published on school websites. The school plan is a blueprint that outlines how the school will achieve improved levels of performance. In addition, an annual operating plan sets out how the school plan will be progressed in that year. These plans are internal to the school.
For more information contact:
Director
Governance Branch
Telephone: (02) 6205 7661