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 linked to 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 2017-18, the Directorate progressed the following activities in relation to the asset management strategy:
- Implemented the first set of the Sustainable Development of Public School Facilities specifications for preschool to year 6 schools with the construction of the new Margaret Hendry School in the suburb of Taylor. The specifications define the infrastructure requirements which will meet modern pedagogy and sustainability requirements; and
- Continued the development of the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) asset database.
The Directorate is responsible for 91 school sites and 28 offsite preschools. In addition, the Directorate manages two major facilities for Education Support Office staff. In total, there are 122 sites under direct management by the Directorate.
The Directorate has ongoing infrastructure programs which provide sustainable, high quality learning and teaching environments for students. These programs provide facility upgrades, expansions, repairs and maintenance. The capital works program focuses on renewal and upgrade of schools and preschools and the maintenance program handles urgent and minor repairs, planned maintenance and the repair of damaged facilities.
Asset management issues which were a priority for the Directorate in 2017-18 included:
- renewal of ageing infrastructure;
- provision of new schools and educational facilities to meet growth-related demand;
- refurbishment to support changing curriculum activities, including improvements to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths learning environments;
- modification of facilities to support students with complex needs and challenging behaviours;
- installation of information and communication technology infrastructure;
- building compliance upgrades to improve accessibility and learning environments for students with special needs;
- school safety improvements including car parking and traffic management;
- installation of security related infrastructure;
- hazardous materials management, removal and disposal; and
- infrastructure works to achieve energy efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions.
Table C4.1: Assets and their values at 30 June 2018
Source: Education Directorate
Assets to the value of $77.6 million were added to the register in 2017-18 (Table C4.2).
| Asset Class | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Land and Buildings (including improvements) for schools and preschools | |
| Leasehold Improvements | - |
| Property, Plant and Equipment | 36.0 |
| Intangible Assets | 5.7 |
| Total | 1,909.6 |
Assets Managed
As at 30 June 2018, the Directorate managed school infrastructure assets with a total net book value of $1,909.6 million (Table C4.1).
Table C4.2: Assets added to the Asset Register in 2017-18
| Assets | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Capital Works (Schools): | 58.6 |
| Capital Initiatives - ICT and other projects | 19.0 |
| Total | 77.6 |
Source: Education Directorate
Surplus Assets
As at 30 June 2018, the Directorate did not have any properties which were not being utilised by the agency or that had been identified as potentially surplus.
Assets Maintenance and Upgrade
The Directorate undertakes maintenance and upgrades in consultation with schools and their communities. The Directorate supports schools to develop their repairs and maintenance plans 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.
Maintenance and major refurbishment are a priority for the Directorate given the increasing average age of school facilities.
Asset Maintenance
In 2017-18, the Directorate spent $19.084 million on school 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; and
- a schedule of maintenance for preschools.
In 2017-18 new contracts were established for the provision of cleaning services in schools. These contracts sought to improve the quality of services, reduce management complexity and to ensure fair and equitable conditions for the cleaning workforce.
To assist in the management of asbestos and other hazardous materials, Hazardous Materials Survey Management Plans (HMSMP) are developed for each school. Plans showing areas of known asbestos containing materials are mounted in entry areas of all schools and preschools. The Directorate updates the asbestos register and asbestos management plans at a minimum every five years and as required based on the results of hazardous materials inspections.
In addition to the planned school asset maintenance and upgrade programs managed and delivered by the Education Support Office, schools are also funded to undertake repairs and minor works tasks independently.
Assets Maintenance
In the 2017-18 Budget, funding of $20.7 million was provided for capital upgrades at schools and preschools. Details of specific works are included in Section C3.
Office Accommodation
There were 475 staff occupying office-based workstations as at 30 June 2018 (excluding the Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies), occupying a total of 6,080m2. Details about the list of sites, staff numbers (head count) and space occupied are provided in Table C4.3. Remaining staff were employed in school environments undertaking school-based activities, including teaching, student support, school leadership and school administration. Full staffing profiles are reported in Section B8.
Table C4.3: Education Support Office sites, staff numbers (headcount) and space occupied as at 30 June 2018
| Building and location | Staff numbers | Approximate area occupied (m2) | Average area occupied per employee (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon | 153 | 1,991 | 13.0 |
| Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stirling1 | 243 | 3,447 | 14.2 |
| Gilmore Primary School, Majura Primary School, Melrose High School, Wanniassa (P-10) School Senior Campus & University of Canberra High School Kaleen2 | 79 | 642 | 8.1 |
| Callam Offices, Phillip3 (The Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies) | 14 | 466 | 33.3 |
| Total | 4894,5 | 6,546 | 13.4 |
Source: Education Directorate
Notes:
- Approximate area occupied at Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning does not include meeting rooms and training facilities (1,955m2) available for booking by other Directorates of ACT Government and members of the public.
- School areas that are occupied by Education Support Office staff are from the Network Student Engagement and Hearing & Vision Support Teams.
- The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership is co-located within the same office space and leases 138m2 of the office area from the Education Directorate.
- Staff numbers do not include 25 SSICT staff embedded in Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning.
- Staff numbers have been calculated based on occupied work stations at 30 June 2018.
For further information contact:
Director, Infrastructure and Capital Works
(02) 6205 1289