B3 Legislative Assembly committee inquiries and reports
The Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs (the Standing Committee) and the Select Committee on Estimates (the Select Committee) conduct inquiries and prepare reports on issues relevant to operational and strategic functions of the Directorate.
The Standing Committee of the Seventh Assembly finalised and tabled two reports relating to the 2010-11 financial year. Report 9 Annual and Financial Reports (Education, Training and Youth Affairs) 2010-2011 and Report 10 Inquiry into the Accommodation needs of Tertiary Education Students in the ACT were tabled in the Legislative Assembly in August 2012.
The ACT Government responded to both reports in February 2013.
The Standing Committee of the Eighth Assembly finalised and tabled Report 1 Report on Annual and Financial Reports 2011-2012 in May 2013. The Government response is being prepared and will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly during the next reporting period.
ACT Government responses to the Committee reports are available at http://www.parliament.act.gov.au.
Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs
Report 9: Annual and Financial Reports (Education, Training and Youth Affairs) 2010–2011
The Government response to Report 9 (Seventh Assembly) was tabled on 12 February 2013. The Committee made eight recommendations. The Directorate had responsibility for three. Details of the recommendations and their implementation are provided in Table B3.1. Details of the ACT Government response to the recommendations for which other agencies have responsibility will appear in those agencies' annual reports.
Table B3.1: Recommendations and implementation of Report 9
| Recommendation | Response | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| 4. The Committee recommends that the results of the ACT student satisfaction survey results be published in the Education and Training Directorate Annual Report. | Agreed | The Directorate publishes student satisfaction survey results in Section A8 of its Annual Report each year. Data includes the most recent available survey along with results for the previous two years. |
| 5. The Committee considers the provision of teacher-librarians to schools is one of considerable importance and recommends that information on library support staff be monitored and that a summary of library support, and particularly teacher-librarian numbers and distribution in schools be provided in future annual reports. | Noted | Staffing of libraries is a component of school based decision making by individual principals under existing school based management arrangements. The Directorate does not monitor or collect data on the outcomes of these decisions and it would be difficult to track the specific data. |
| 6. The Committee recommends that a more focussed and public program of professional development be undertaken by the Education and Training Directorate and that details of how the program is being taken up be provided in the next Annual Report. | Agreed in principle | In 2012-13, the Directorate undertook to review existing programs and practices in the context of future priorities in order to create an integrated plan to address the professional learning and training needs for all Directorate staff. As a result of this process the Workforce Capability Group (WCG) was established. The key focus of the WCG is to set strategic directions, improve strategic planning, ensure alignment and provide governance for the Directorates' professional learning and training activities. The WCG is currently implementing a number of approaches to improve access and the visibility of professional learning and training across the Directorate. |
Report 10: Inquiry into the Accommodation needs of Tertiary Education Students in the ACT
The Government response to Report 10 (Seventh Assembly) was tabled on 28 February 2013. The Committee made 10 recommendations. The Directorate had responsibility for seven. Details of the recommendations and their implementation are provided in Table B3.2. Details of the ACT Government response to the recommendations for which other agencies have responsibility will appear in those agencies' annual reports.
In responding to the Committee, the Government noted that several of the actions recommended by the Committee aligned well with the scope of work identified by the Learning Capital Council (LCC). In its response, Government tasked the LCC with actioning recommendations three, four, six, and eight, and reporting on its findings in a single report to the Government and the Legislative Assembly. The LCC was also tasked with actioning recommendation nine.
On 20 May 2013 the LCC was dissolved to allow the Government to pursue alternative methods of consultation with the tertiary education sector.
StudyCanberra, a key initiative developed by the LCC, was funded in the 2013-14 ACT Government Budget and is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate (CMTD). The initiative was established to promote Canberra as Australia's education destination of choice for local, national and international students, and aims to increase capacity of ACT tertiary education for research and innovation and to capitalise on the contribution of education to the ACT economy. With the development of StudyCanberra a large part of the work of the Learning Capital Council was completed. On 20 May 2013 the Learning Capital Council was dissolved and has been replaced by a series of Vice Chancellor's Forums hosted by the Chief Minister. The Directorate is in discussion with the CMTD to ensure an appropriate report to Government is made in response to the recommendations previously referred to the Learning Capital Council.
Table B3.2: Recommendations and implementation of Report 10
| Recommendation | Response | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| 3. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government explore developing student co-operative models, along the lines of the Sydney University model, with ANU or UC and report to the Legislative Assembly on this matter. | Agreed in part | The Community Services Directorate, through Housing ACT, has partial carriage of this recommendation. The Government response noted during 2012, Housing ACT assisted Canberra Student Housing Cooperative to establish itself in a seven bedroom unit at Havelock which has expanded to four multi-bedroom units occupied by 22 students. The Government response noted that individual tertiary education providers would be best placed to lead the development of student co-operative models. Information on institution-led student cooperative models of accommodation will be provided as part of a report to Government. |
| 4. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government facilitate a student survey in the ACT to inform and assist identification of student experience and expectations of accommodation and other related factors in the ACT. The survey results should be used by the Learning Capital Council to advise the ACT Government on student housing needs and solutions. | Agreed in part | The Government response noted that data on student experience, including of student accommodation, is already collected through surveys conducted by tertiary education providers. Local tertiary education providers will be approached to provide available data on the student accommodation experience to report to Government. |
| 6. The Committee recommends that the Learning Capital Council approach tertiary institutions in the ACT to provide details of their strategies for student accommodation and support to the Learning Capital Council to incorporate into their reports to the ACT Government. | Agreed | The Government response indicated that information will be sought from all ACT tertiary education providers on their planning for student accommodation, to be presented to Government. Following the dissolution of the LCC, this task is subject to discussion across Government to ensure appropriate actions are undertaken. |
| 7. The Committee recommends that in Annual Reports, the ACT Government include updates on the activities and initiatives set out in the Commonwealth-Territory higher education arrangements and agendas on the level of support and planning to respond to the demands from the implementation of those initiatives. | Agreed | The ACT will engage with the Commonwealth on any initiatives for higher education student accommodation under a Commonwealth-Territory partnership. The Commonwealth did not offer any such initiatives during this reporting period. |
| 8. The Committee recommends that the Government provide a report to the Legislative Assembly on how student accommodation will be dealt with as part of the strategic planning required by the Commonwealth initiatives including for low socioeconomic status students. | Agreed in part | The Government response indicated that tertiary education providers would be approached for information related to strategic planning for student accommodation to support Commonwealth initiatives, including for low socio-economic status students. This information will be collated and presented to Government. |
| 9. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government request advice from the Learning Capital Council on the best strategies for planning student accommodation in the ACT as part of its reporting and advice requirements. | Agreed | The Government response indicated the ACT Government would seek advice from tertiary education providers through the LCC on strategies for planning student accommodation. Following the dissolution of the LCC, this task is subject to discussion across Government to ensure appropriate actions are undertaken. |
| 10. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government consult with all tertiary institutions in the ACT, particularly in relation to available funding and support. | Agreed | The Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Education and Training routinely meet with the Vice Chancellors of the Australian National University and University of Canberra and the Chief Executive of Canberra Institute of Technology. The ACT Government also consults with the broader group of tertiary education providers in regard to issues that impact on their operations. These consultations include consideration of funding and support for student accommodation. |
Select Committee on Estimates 2012-13
Inquiry into the Appropriation Bill 2012-13 (Seventh Assembly)
The Government response to the report of the Select Committee on Estimates 2012-2013 on the Inquiry into the Appropriation Bill 2012-2013 was tabled on 22 August 2012.
The Report made 151 recommendations on a range of issues, three of which contained two parts for which separate recommendations have been provided, making a total of 154 recommendations. The ACT Government response agreed to 37 recommendations, agreed in principle to 31 recommendations, noted 63 recommendations and did not agree to 23 recommendations.
The Directorate had responsibility for seven recommendations. Details of the recommendations and their implementation are provided in Table B3.3. Details of the ACT Government's response to the recommendations for which other directorates have responsibility will appear in those directorates' Annual Reports.
Table B3.3: Recommendations and implementation of the Appropriation Bill 2012- 13
| Recommendation | Response | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| 68. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government provides to the Legislative Assembly further information on how the Government is assured that it will be able to meet the budgeted employee expense targets in the forward estimate years of the ACT Budget 2012-2013. | Noted | Funding provided through the 2012-13 Budget is sufficient to meet the employee costs associated with the current enterprise agreements. Future pay increases will be determined based on negotiations with relevant parties and the impact of these negotiations will be considered as part of future budget processes. |
| 69. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government ensures that funding for special needs transport is maintained at current levels, at a minimum, plus increased for growth in the Consumer Price Index, and that the arrangements for the provision of this transport are advised to parents prior to the end of the 2012 school year. | Noted | The 2013-14 Budget includes $1.6m for transport funding. The Special Needs Transport renewal process was undertaken and parents were informed of transport provision at the end of 2012. Renewal for 2014 will commence in October 2013. |
| 70. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government ensures that the savings initiatives required of the Education and Training Directorate are not directed at teaching numbers or school resourcing. | Noted | The Directorate has managed 2012-13 operations within budget constraints without adversely affecting schools. |
| 71. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government consider models of targeted funding and support for students with dyslexia, similar to that provided in NSW. | Agreed | The ACT signed the Heads of Agreement with the Australian Government on 30 May 2013. The agreement incorporates the National Plan for School Improvement. As part of the Plan, both governments will also adopt consistent needs-based funding arrangements. The 2013-14 Budget provided funding in this area. |
| 72. The Committee recommends that greater consultation occurs with the local community and the Duffy Primary School Parents and Citizens Association about the nature of the temporary measures and the longer term strategy for public schooling in the Weston Creek–Molonglo area. | Noted | The Directorate consulted with Duffy Primary School community and the project has now been completed. Current enrolment pressure in Weston Creek public primary schools will be alleviated by the opening of Coombs Primary School. Planning is also underway for a P-10 school in Molonglo Stage 2 and an early childhood school/college development in the Molonglo group centre. Enrolments in primary schools in Weston Creek are being closely monitored and out of area enrolments are limited to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for local children. |
| 73. The Committee recommends that the ACT Government report to the Legislative Assembly on the strategy and reporting regime for carbon neutrality in ACT schools during this Assembly. | Noted | All ACT public schools are included in the whole of government Carbon Neutral Framework led by the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate. Information is provided to the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate upon request. |
| 74. The Committee recommends that non-government schools are provided with ongoing recurrent funding to support students with disabilities. | Noted | The 2013-14 Budget provides ongoing funding from 1 July 2013. The National Education Reform Agreement which the ACT signed in July 2013, incorporates new needs-based funding arrangements to apply to all ACT schools from 2014 to 2019. This arrangement will provide extra funding for students with disability. |
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