The Directorate's asset management strategy is based on the following key principles:
- asset management activities are undertaken within an integrated and coordinated framework;
- asset management practices and decisions are guided by service delivery needs;
- asset planning and management are integrated with corporate and business plans, as well as budgetary and reporting processes; and
- capital expenditure decisions are based on evaluations of alternatives that take into account estimated costs, benefits and risks, in particular workplace, health and safety risks.
In 2013-14, the Directorate undertook the following work in relation to the asset management strategy:
- an updated Strategic Asset Management Plan;
- commenced regional education, training and care studies;
- updated principles that will guide future planning of public schools;
- a process for the development of School Master Plans;
- a process for the post-occupancy evaluation of new and refurbished assets; and
- public communication for the strategic asset planning strategy.
The Directorate is responsible for 86 public schools (including preschool sites), and 33 early childhood and childcare centres. In addition, the Directorate manages four facilities for central office staff. In total, there are 144 sites under direct management by the Directorate.
To ensure Directorate facilities are kept at standards suitable for delivering quality educational and care programs, the Directorate has a maintenance program for urgent and minor repairs, planned maintenance, and repair of vandalised and damaged facilities. For early childhood and childcare centres, the Directorate shares the responsibility for maintenance and repairs with the management organisations who are responsible for ongoing and minor maintenance. The Directorate also has an ongoing capital works program for the upgrade of school, preschool, early childhood and childcare centre facilities.
Issues managed by the Directorate included:
- ageing asset stock (average age of schools is 40 years, with 65 percent between 30 and 50 years);
- demographic change (areas of growth, regeneration and decline);
- refurbishment to support changing curriculum activities and service delivery needs;
- installation of information and communication technology infrastructure;
- special needs education – accessibility and learning environments;
- utilisation of existing facilities;
- car parking and traffic management;
- installation of security related infrastructure;
- hazardous materials management, removal and disposal;
- environmental efficiency and sustainable landscapes; and
- energy efficiency and climate change.
Assets Managed
As at 30 June 2014, the Directorate managed school and childcare infrastructure assets with a total net book value of $1,834.0 million (Table F4.1).
Table F4.1: Assets and their values at 30 June 2014
| Asset class | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Land and building (including improvements) for schools, preschools, early childhood and childcare centres | 1,804.6 |
| Leasehold improvements | 1.3 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 26.3 |
| Community and heritage assets | 1.0 |
| Intangible assets | 0.8 |
| Total | 1,834.0 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
The significant assets added to the Directorate's asset register during 2013-14 are given in Table F4.2.
Table F4.2: Assets added to the asset register during 2013-14
| Assets | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
Capital works (schools):
| 32.6 |
| Capital works (childcare) – Holder Early Childhood Centre (new) | 6.0 |
| Capital works - various schools, preschools and childcare centre sites | 30.3 |
| Capital initiatives – various ICT and other projects | 9.5 |
| Total | 78.4 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
Asset Transfers
During 2013-14, the Directorate transferred the former Higgins and Urambi Primary schools and Village Creek Preschool sites to the Economic Development Directorate. As these sites no longer operated as schools.
Assets Maintenance and Upgrade
The Directorate undertakes maintenance and upgrades in consultation with schools and their communities. The Directorate prepared annual repairs and maintenance plans for each school on the basis of information from building condition assessments, requests from schools and information gained from other sources such as consultant reports and site visits.
Works were subsequently undertaken, at a local level by schools and through the Directorate's Infrastructure and Capital Works Branch, with larger and more significant works included in the Directorate's capital works program in priority order within the available funds.
The maintenance of childcare facilities is undertaken by the Directorate in conjunction with the service providers who are responsible for ongoing and minor maintenance.
Maintenance and major refurbishment are a priority for the Directorate given the increasing average age of school and childcare facilities.
Asset Maintenance
In 2013-14, the Directorate expended $16.25 million on school and childcare centre repairs and maintenance. The repairs and maintenance program included:
- a program of works for all primary and secondary schools, based on the annual rolling program;
- an allocation for unforeseen maintenance such as vandalism, fire and flood damage;
- high priority works arising from school building condition assessment reports;
- a schedule of maintenance for preschools; and
- a program of works for early childhood and care (childcare) centres.
In addition, $2.0 million was spent on painting and new carpet at seven priority schools – Alfred Deakin and Calwell High schools, Turner School, and Arawang, Gordon, Macquarie and Richardson Primary schools.
Building condition assessments of all schools (including preschools) and childcare facilities are conducted on a three-year rolling program and cover buildings, services and grounds. During 2013-14, building condition assessments were conducted at 30 schools and 23 childcare centres. The results of these reports are taken into account in preparing the Directorate's annual repairs and maintenance programs.
In line with the Dangerous Substances Act 2004, the Directorate completed the program of inspections to prepare Hazardous Materials Survey Management Plans (HMSMP) for each school (including preschool) and childcare facility. These plans are comprehensive and include all potentially hazardous materials (asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint, synthetic mineral fibres, polychlorinated biphenyls and ozone depleting substances). The HMSMP is updated every three years, with the asbestos materials component updated annually and issued as a separate report titled Re-inspection of Asbestos Containing Material Report.
Copies of the HMSMP and the Asbestos Register are accessible at each school, preschools and childcare centre for inspection by staff, parents, carers and trades people. Plans showing areas of known asbestos containing materials are mounted in entry areas of all schools and preschools.
Tree assessment audits are conducted at each school on an annual basis. The 2013-14 year was the fourth year of annual audits with 87 audits conducted. The outcomes are included in the Directorate's tree maintenance program.
During the reporting period, the Directorate conducted its annual bushfire prevention audit. These audits were conducted across all ACT public schools and included removing leaf litter from roofs, gutters and downpipes, cutting long grass, clearing grounds of tree litter and removing stockpiles of combustible material such as paper, cardboard and compost.
In addition to the planned school asset maintenance and upgrade programs managed and delivered by central office, schools are also funded to undertake repairs and minor works tasks.
Asset Upgrades
In the 2013-14 Budget, funding of $13.53 million was provided for capital upgrades at schools and preschools and $0.425 million was provided for capital upgrades at childcare centres. Details of specific works are included in Section F3.
Office Accommodation
During the 2013-14 year, central office staff were located at 220 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon, the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning in Stirling, Maribyrnong Primary School in Kaleen and the Lyons Education Centre (Table F4.3).
Staff census of schools conducted in February 2014 recorded 3,283 full-time equivalent staff employed in non-office environments at ACT public school sites. Staff located at these sites included teachers, school leaders, office administrators, general service officers and building service officers.
Table F4.3: Central office sites, staff numbers (head count) and space occupied, as at 30 June 2014
| Building and location | Staff numbers | Approximate area occupied (m2) | Average area occupied per employee (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon | 209 | 3,303a | 15.8 |
| Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stirling | 171 | 3,196 | 18.7 |
| Maribyrnong Primary School, Kaleen | 26 | 727a,b | 27.9 |
| Lyons Education Centre | 16c | 713 | 44.5 |
| Total | 422d | 7,939 | 18.8 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
Notes:
a. Includes meeting rooms.
b. Space occupied by Student Services (Vision Support Team and Hearing Support Team).
c. Space occupied by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies
(Lyons Education Centre) includes 202 m2 for meeting rooms and secure storage.
d. Staff numbers have been calculated based on occupied workstations at 30 June 2014.
For further information contact:
Director
Infrastructure and Capital Works
(02) 6205 3173