Organisational structure
The organisational structure of the Directorate is shown in Figure C5.1 below.
Figure C5.1: The Directorate structure at 30 June 2012
Source: Human Resources Branch
Note: The Board of Senior Secondary Studies is a statutory authority resourced by the Directorate.
Senior executives
Director-General
Ms Diane Joseph
The Director-General is responsible for the efficient administration of the Directorate and establishing its corporate and strategic directions. The Director-General is responsible for implementing Australian and ACT Government commitments relating to education and training in the ACT.
Deputy Director-General
Ms Leanne Cover
The Deputy Director-General, together with the Director-General, is responsible for the implementation of government commitments to education and training. The Deputy Director-General oversees key strategic planning and coordination activities across the Directorate, manages a range of national and whole of government initiatives and responds to issues at ministerial, intergovernmental and key stakeholder levels. The Deputy Director-General has responsibility for the newly established Office for Schools which promotes initiatives for school improvement and autonomy in public schools.
Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement
Mr Stephen Gniel
The Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement has responsibility for the delivery of educational support services in public schools. These services support areas of curriculum, student welfare and transitions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs, early childhood and special education programs.
Executive Director, Corporate Services
Mr Mark Whybrow
The Executive Director, Corporate Services has responsibility for the planning and coordination of the human, financial and physical resources of the Directorate. The Executive Director, Corporate Services is responsible for finance and corporate support, human resources and schools capital works; building new schools and maintaining existing schools infrastructure; and managing budget and finances of the Directorate.
Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance
Ms Jayne Johnston
The Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance has responsibility for implementing the ACT commitments arising from the local and national agenda for tertiary education. The Executive Director is responsible for the coordination of the national assessment programs, performance reporting and the assessment of educational programs through the management of a range of data collections, and the coordination of the Directorate's international education program.
Directorate committees
The Directorate committee structure is designed to improve the effectiveness of decision-making and to ensure that decisions align with delegations and accountability and deliver on the commitments of the Strategic Plan. Individual committee performance and terms of reference are reviewed annually and reported to the Senior Executive Team. The committees and their membership at 30 June 2012 are discussed below.
Senior Executive Team
The Senior Executive Team is the peak decision-making body of the Directorate and is responsible for significant operational, policy and resourcing decisions and approvals. The Senior Executive Team sets and reviews the strategic direction of the Directorate and monitors performance in key areas, including educational and financial performance. The team is also responsible for ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, accounting standards and Directorate policies.
Table C5.1: Senior Executive Team at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Diane Joseph | Director-General (chair) |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services |
| Mr Stephen Gniel | Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
Corporate Executive
Corporate Executive assists the Senior Executive Team in determining priorities through providing advice in relation to strategic policy and management issues. Corporate Executive receives and considers reports from the Directorate's committees and reviews, and advises on any issues referred to it by the Director-General. It may establish working groups to undertake specific tasks. Outcomes from Corporate Executive meetings are communicated to staff and other committees as appropriate.
Table C5.2: Corporate Executive at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Diane Joseph | Director-General (chair) |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General |
| Mr Stephen Gniel | Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services |
| Mr Michael Bateman | Director, Office for Schools |
| Mr Rodney Bray | Director, Schools Capital Works |
| Ms Joanne Garrisson | Director, Information, Communications and Governance |
| Ms Beth Mitchell | Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Student Engagement |
| Ms Linda Baird | School Network Leader, Belconnen |
| Ms Anne Huard | School Network Leader, North/Gungahlin |
| Ms Tanya Nelipa | School Network Leader, Tuggeranong |
| Mr Steve Kyburz | School Network Leader, South/Weston |
| Ms Tracy Stewart | Director, Planning and Performance |
| Ms Leanne Wright | Director, Learning and Teaching |
| Ms Coralie McAlister | Director, Human Resources |
| Ms Ann Goleby | Director, Training and Tertiary Education |
| Ms Sushila Sharma | Director, Finance and Corporate Support |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
School Network Reference Group
The School Network Reference Group is a communication and consultation group. The group considers key strategic policy and operational matters and provides advice to the Corporate Executive and Senior Executive Team. The group raises policy and operational issues impacting on effectiveness and improvement from a school perspective. Membership includes two principals nominated by each network and appointed by the Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement for a period of 12 months.
Table C5.3: School Network Reference Group at 30 June 20
| Member | Position |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General (chair) |
| Mr Michael Bateman | Director, Office for Schools |
| Ms Linda Baird | School Network Leader, Belconnen |
| Ms Anne Huard | School Network Leader, North/Gungahlin |
| Ms Tanya Nelipa | School Network Leader, Tuggeranong |
| Ms Steve Kyburz | School Network Leader, South/Weston |
| Ms Robyn McLean | Principal, Narrabundah Early Childhood School |
| Ms Wendy Cave | Principal, Macquarie Primary School |
| Ms Sue Jose | Principal, Gold Creek School |
| Mr Ian Copland | Principal, Woden School |
| Ms Julie Murkins | Principal, Birrigai Outdoor School |
| Ms Francis Dowling | Principal, Charnwood-Dunlop School |
| Mr Murray Bruce | Principal, Gordon Primary School |
| Mr Stephen Gwilliam | Principal, Hawker College |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
Information and Communication Technology Committee
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Committee assists the Director-General through developing and implementing ICT policies, programs and strategies. The committee makes recommendations to Corporate Executive about ICT strategic directions, policies and proposals for system-wide ICT initiatives.
Table C5.4: Information and Communication Technology Committee at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General (chair) |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
| Ms Sushila Sharma | Director, Finance and Corporate Support |
| Ms Leanne Wright | Director, Learning and Teaching |
| Ms Joanne Garrisson | Director, Information, Communications and Governance |
| Mr Mark Huxley | Manager, Information and Knowledge Services |
| Ms Karen Carlton | Manager, Education and Training ICT (Shared Services) |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
School Planning Committee
The School Planning Committee provides advice about priority placement areas and makes recommendations to Corporate Executive about strategic directions, policies and proposals for system-wide planning initiatives. The committee responds to issues arising from school audits, external validation, reviews and reports. The committee also investigates, reviews and advises on any issues referred to it by the Director-General or Corporate Executive.
Table C5.5: School Planning Committee at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General (chair) |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
| Mr Stephen Gniel | Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement |
| Ms Tracy Stewart | Director, Planning and Performance |
| Mr Rodney Bray | Director, Schools Capital Works |
| Ms Sushila Sharma | Director, Finance and Corporate Support |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
Security and Emergency Management Committee
The Security and Emergency Management Committee provides advice to the Director-General on significant security proposals, directions, policies and training. The committee acts as the Directorate's decision-making and coordinating body in the event of a Territory-wide emergency.
Table C5.6: Security and Emergency Management Committee at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services (chair) |
| Mr Stephen Gniel | Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement |
| Ms Coralie McAlister | Director, Human Resources |
| Mr Rodney Bray | Director, Schools Capital Works |
| Ms Sushila Sharma | Director, Finance and Corporate Support |
| Mr Michael Bateman | Director, Office for Schools |
| Ms Joanne Garrisson | Director, Information, Communications and Governance |
| Ms Wendy English | Manager, Corporate Support |
| Mr Dougal Wilson | Manager, Risk Management and Audit |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
Establishment Committee
The Establishment Committee assists the Director-General in relation to staffing policies, programs and strategies. The committee monitors staffing trends and issues arising from school audits, external validation, reviews and reports. The committee considers all proposals to fill existing positions in central office or to create new positions. It investigates, reviews and advises on any issues referred to it by the Director-General or Corporate Executive.
Table C5.7: Establishment Committee at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services (chair) |
| Ms Stephen Gniel | Executive Director, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
| Ms Coralie McAlister | Director, Human Resources |
| Ms Sushila Sharma | Director, Finance and Corporate Support |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee monitors and reviews Directorate adherence to relevant legislative requirements and its approach to business ethics and corporate conduct. The committee is responsible for overseeing the risk management and audit functions. This committee also reviews the annual financial statements and provides advice to the Director-General on significant risks, audit outcomes and implementation of mitigation strategies.
Table C5.8: Audit Committee at 30 June 2012
| Member | Position |
| Ms Jenny Morison | External Member (chair) |
| Ms Diane Fielding | External Member |
| Ms Leanne Cover | Deputy Director-General |
| Ms Jayne Johnston | Executive Director, Tertiary Education and Performance |
| Mr Mark Whybrow | Executive Director, Corporate Services |
Source: Planning and Performance Branch
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 Director-General and executives within the meaning of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
The Tribunal through a determination in June 2010 increased the remuneration for the Director-General and executives by 3.25 percent with effect from 1 July 2010.
Corporate and operational plans
Strategic plan
The Directorate's Strategic Plan provides the organisational context to facilitate the delivery of a sustainable world-class education and training system that is responsive to changing needs of the ACT community.
The Directorate's Strategic Plan 2010-2013: Everyone matters was in its third year of implementation. The 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 Directorate's vision and purpose, the Strategic Plan identified 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 Directorate's legislative objectives to its strategic outcomes and focus resources on achieving operational commitments. An overview of the Directorate's achievements against its strategic objectives is provided in Section A2.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Matters: Strategic Plan 2010-2013 was in its second year of implementation. The plan provides clear direction for closing the learning achievement gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and other students.
The Excellence in Disability Education in ACT Public Schools: Strategic Plan 2010-2013 was also in its second year of implementation. The plan was developed to ensure that schools were safe and inclusive. The plan describes the priorities to improve the learning outcomes of students with a disability.
The School Improvement in ACT Public Schools: Directions 2010-2013 is linked to the Strategic Plan and provides 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 Directorate's annual report. For the last four years, the Directorate's Annual Report has won awards from the ACT Division of the Institute of Public Administration Australia:
- Silver Award for the 2008-2009 Annual Report
- Bronze Award for the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 Annual Reports
- Highly Commended Award for the online versions of the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 Annual Reports.
Operational Plan
The operational plan supports the Strategic Plan and provides detail on how the Directorate plans to achieve the strategic goals and priorities by listing key activities for each year. The Operational Plan 2012 links performance measures from the Strategic Plan. Progress towards the achievement of key activities listed in the operational plan is reported regularly to senior executive.
Business planning
Supporting the Strategic Plan and operational plans are specific school and branch plans. These plans detail the operational activities and outcomes that comprise the Directorate 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 school plan is a blueprint that outlines how the school will achieve improved levels of performance. In addition, an annual internal operating plan sets out how the school plan will be progressed in that year. Individual school plans are available to school communities and published on school websites.
Branch business plans are internal operational plans which document the activities each branch will undertake to achieve the annual operational plan and the strategic plan priorities. Branches report their progress quarterly to senior executive on achievements against priorities in business plans.
For more information, contact:
Director
Planning and Performance
(02) 6205 5511