This year, we have focused on working together to get the best outcomes for our students, staff and school communities.
The 2024 school year started with a landmark moment in January when the Western Australian Government together with the Australian Government signed a statement of intent. The statement expressed a joint commitment to our public school system being fully and fairly funded at 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard by 2026.
This will help drive real improvements in outcomes for all students, especially for students:
- from low socio‑economic backgrounds
- living in regional and remote areas
- with disability
- who identify as Aboriginal
- from a language background other than English.
Staffing continues to be a critical area, and while we have succeeded in ensuring a teacher is in front of every classroom, challenges remain.
Our efforts on industrial relations matters, including the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations, have been vital. We have worked towards improved pay and working conditions, which are essential to attracting and retaining the high quality educators our students deserve. We have provided better conditions for teachers, including a new taskforce to support workload management, more staff to assist with complex behaviour management and run small group tuition, and additional allowances for staff in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Goldfields.
The launch of the Aboriginal Advisory Body is important to our commitment to a culturally responsive education system and our focus on driving progress towards Closing the Gap continues.
We have set higher expectations in NAPLAN and senior secondary outcomes, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement. We stopped the decline in Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) participation and more students are achieving a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) than ever before. These achievements reflect our unwavering focus on ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
The launch of our Student wellbeing and care: future directions alongside the ongoing implementation of the Quality Teaching Strategy, has created an environment where students are better supported and can thrive academically and personally. We are already seeing the impact of these strategies, with gains being made, through targeted approaches to address the unique challenges and opportunities of our schools.
As we continue to drive year‑on‑year improvements for every child, it is clear that the work we have done so far will benefit students for years to come. The push for improvement across our schools has been relentless, equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
We have supported the Minister in advancing many key priorities. We made significant headway in post‑school pathways and the review of the School Education Act 1999 (WA) which is underway to identify opportunities to strengthen access and inclusion for students with disability. This is crucial to ensuring that our education system remains responsive and forward‑thinking.
As I step down from this role, I am confident that the work we have done together has put our public education system on a strong path. The dedication of our educators, the strategic initiatives we have implemented and the partnerships we have made will continue to shape the future of education in Western Australia for the better.
When I came to the public school system in 2019, my first priority was to visit school communities across the state, listen to educator experiences and understand the unique challenges faced by our schools. Those education conversations left a lasting impression on me, revealing the dedication and commitment of our staff and highlighting areas where we needed to improve. Significant progress has been made thanks to the efforts of our system leaders, principals, teachers and support staff. I am confident that the strong foundations we have established will continue to support and inspire future generations.
There are many things that I will miss about education in Western Australia. In particular, seeing the difference that can be made to the lives of children and young people when committed educators apply their expertise to benefit every student, in every classroom, every day.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this journey; together, we have set the stage for a brighter future for every student.
Lisa Rodgers PSM
Director General