Annual Report 2005 NSW Department of Education and Training

Government Schools and the Aboriginal Education
Review.
Significant emphasis was placed on the completion
of business cases as well as securing initial funding
for the replacement of corporate human resources,
payroll, finance and student administration systems,
together with the establishment of the Project Office,
including supporting infrastructure and required
expertise. Risk management considerations were
applied as an integral part of these processes.
Mr Dixon’s responsibilities extended to the negotiation
with the NSW Treasury of financial resources and the
allocation of those resources across the schools and
TAFE sectors to achieve the most effective delivery of
education and training services. Increased devolution
of funding and financial management responsibility to
regions and units has achieved greater accountability
and enhanced financial skills in operational units.
Under Mr Dixon’s leadership the grants processes
were streamlined through broadbanding, financial
arrangements were established for the Schools
Privately Financed Project, the Global Funding
Review was completed and online financial services
for schools were enhanced. Administrative services
were also reviewed and enhanced. A new statewide
cleaning contract for schools and TAFE colleges
began on 1 January 2006 and new arrangements for
QStores, mail and print services were put in place
during 2005.
Shared Corporate Services teams were further
refined, with finance and administration regional teams
operating effectively and the functions of accounts
payables and receivables relating to TAFE Institutes
being further consolidated at Bathurst.
The Australian Equivalent of the International
Accounting and Reporting Standards was effectively
introduced for all reporting periods commencing on or
after 1 January 2005 and unqualified audit opinions
were received for DET, TAFE and all related agencies
for 2004-05.
Mike Cush
General Manager, Asset Management
SES Level 5, $237,800
Mr Cush is responsible for providing leadership in
managing the Department’s assets and supporting
teaching and learning environments in NSW
government schools and TAFE Institutes. He is also
the Chair of the Teacher Housing Authority.
Key responsibilities include the coordination of the
major and minor capital works program and the school
maintenance program.
Asset management priorities implemented by Mr Cush
over the last twelve months include:
• Continued successful delivery of the Government’s
class size reduction program through the provision
of new classrooms
• Continued implementation of the Government’s
School Improvement Program
• Continued implementation of the Government’s
Revitalisation of Inner Sydney Schools Program
• Delivery of nine new schools through the Public
Private Partnership
• Completion of negotiation and tendering for a
second Public Private Partnership model which will
provide a further nine new schools
• New maintenance contracts
• New cleaning contracts
• Development of the Department’s 10 year asset
strategy.
A key achievement through the year has been
the establishment of Regional Asset Planning
Conferences to guide the statewide asset strategic
planning process.
Peter Riordan
General Manager, Industrial Relations and
Employment Services
SES Level 5, $237,800
Mr Riordan provided advice on a range of industrial
relations and employment services issues that
included revised child protection reporting procedures,
teachers’ salaries, VET funding, the changing
industrial relations environment, key discrimination
issues, options for legislative change and
Occupational Health and Safety policies.
His priority objectives were to revise child protection
reporting procedures, implement initiatives to improve
accountability of school principals and improve safety
policies and performance.
Mr Riordan successfully negotiated new awards for
school and TAFE teachers, revised safety policies,
guidelines and support materials and improved OHS
management systems.
He supported the implementation of Shared Corporate
Services and made an effective contribution to the
Department’s risk management and strategic planning
processes.
Stephen N Wilson
Chief Information Officer
SES Level 5, $257,800
Appointed: 8 August 2005
Mr Wilson provided leadership on matters relating
to the provision of access to state-of-the-art
information technology to students and teachers in
NSW Government schools and TAFE colleges. This
included the provision of computers to government
schools, the upgrading of network links to broadband,
and enhancements in line with the NSW Government’s
Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) agenda.
A further priority initiated by Mr Wilson was the
preparation of a draft ICT Strategic Plan. This plan
links the IT vision of an innovative, agile and cost
effective information technology service that enables
and enhances the delivery of quality education
and training to the Department’s corporate goals.
Appendices
NSW Department of Education and Training - Annual Report 2005 82