General disclosures
General disclosures
- Contents
- Ministerial directions
- Agency capability review
- Agency commissioning plan
- Good governance and compliance with public sector standards and ethical codes
- Complaints management process
- Privacy and responsible information sharing
- Freedom of information
- Recordkeeping plans
- Workplace diversity and inclusion
- Disability access and inclusion plan outcomes
- Substantive equality
- Expenditure on advertising and market research
- Unauthorised use of credit cards
- Act of grace payments
- Development contributions for public primary schools
- Pricing policies of services provided
- Annual estimates
- Board and committee remuneration
Ministerial directions
We did not receive any ministerial directives in 2023–24 relevant to:
- the setting or achievement of desired outcomes or operational objectives
- investment activities
- financing activities.
Agency capability review
We are currently undergoing a review as part of the Public Sector Commission’s Agency Capability Review Program. The program is a consistent and structured sector‑wide approach to improvement, ensuring there is a clear understanding of what constitutes a highly capable and high‑performing public sector agency in Western Australia.
With support from a dedicated team at the Public Sector Commission, our review is being led by independent lead reviewer Jo Gaines and senior co‑opted reviewer Mark Burgess. Our review commenced in February 2024 and is expected to be completed by September 2024.
Agency commissioning plan
In December 2023, consistent with the State Commissioning Strategy for Community Services 2022, we published our Agency Commissioning Plan for Community Services 2023, including a commissioning schedule from 2022–25. The plan outlines our first steps towards establishing and embedding an outcome‑based commissioning approach for the delivery of community services to students attending public schools in Western Australia.
Good governance and compliance with public sector standards and ethical codes
Our commitment to meeting community expectations and maintaining public confidence continued by ensuring that we operated within an environment defined by legislative and policy requirements, including the:
- Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA)
- Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management
- Public Sector Commissioner’s Instructions
- Department’s Code of conduct.
In 2023–24, we continued engaging in activities to ensure we meet the needs of our students and that our employees and representatives adhere to minimum standards of conduct and integrity. These included:
- revising the Code of conduct and Integrity Framework to comply with the Public Sector Commissioner’s Instruction: Ethical Foundations
- releasing the updated Complaints and Notifications policy and Conflict of Interest policy
- releasing the revised Accountable and Ethical Decision Making training
- embedding a system for preventing, responding to and investigating allegations of reportable conduct, and notifying the Ombudsman Western Australia in accordance with requirements of the Reportable Conduct Scheme under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 (WA)
- implementing an anonymous staff conduct reporting platform, Safe2Say.
Employee conduct and disciplinary matters are managed in accordance with the Public Sector Management Act, the Public Sector Commissioner’s Instructions and the Department’s policies. In 2023–24, we finalised the investigation of 419 alleged breaches of discipline. Of these, 285 allegations were substantiated.
Alongside disciplinary matters, we manage reportable conduct matters in accordance with the Parliamentary Commissioner Act. We continued to be the highest notifier of reportable conduct allegations to the Ombudsman Western Australia under the Reportable Conduct Scheme. In 2023–24, we submitted 224 notifications and made 74 reportable conduct findings.
We continued to strengthen our education and training programs aimed at:
- preventing, detecting and managing staff misconduct and reportable conduct
- encouraging ethical practice and behaviours that meet the standards and values outlined in our Code of conduct.
Our governance framework ensures accountability and provides clear decision‑making and approval processes for the effective management of the Department’s governance committees. In 2023–24, our Corporate Executive, chaired by the Director General, met 11 times. The Finance and Investment Committee and the People and Services Committee supported our Corporate Executive by monitoring policy changes, major projects and programs. In addition, our independent Audit and Risk Committee, established in accordance with the Financial Management Act 2006 (WA) and part XII of the Treasurer’s Instructions, met 4 times.
We conducted regular reviews of schools and other Department worksites to monitor compliance with the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 (WA). Upon application, we issued $1,312,842 in reimbursements ($931,509 in 2022–23) to staff and volunteers required to renew Working with Children cards as part of their employment.
In 2023–24, we responded to 9 interim negative notices and 8 negative notices issued to Department employees and non‑employees, including volunteers and mentors, engaged in child‑related activities by the Department of Communities.
In 2023–24, our Screening Unit completed 27,348 nationally coordinated criminal history checks (22,575 in 2022–23). Criminal history information of prospective employees, volunteers, contractors and tertiary students undertaking practicums was provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and assessed in line with our Criminal convictions suitability criteria. We strengthened our applicant identity verification processes by using the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS). Using the DVS has enabled a completely online application experience, resulting in criminal history checks being processed more quickly.
We conducted selection panel training to ensure all our recruitment processes and employment decisions were made in accordance with the Public Sector Commissioner’s Instructions: Employment Standard and Filling a Public Sector Vacancy. In 2023–24, 394 staff members attended selection panel training. We incorporate our selection process review findings in the selection panel training content.
We managed breach of Standard claims as required by the Public Sector Management (Breaches of Public Sector Standards) Regulations 2005 (WA). We received 41 breach of Standard claims. One claim was upheld by the Public Sector Commission. We supported staff and improved compliance by reviewing processes and communicating opportunities for practice improvements to staff involved in the process.
Complaints management process
We are committed to effectively managing and resolving complaints and notifications, with a focus on providing quality education to all students in a safe, inclusive and caring learning environment, and working with parents and families as partners in student learning outcomes.
The Parent Liaison Office provided specialist student‑centred advice to school staff, parents, carers and members of the school community on the complaint management process and complaint resolution. This included a dedicated email and telephone service providing access to information and support to resolve disputes and complex complaints.
Where complaints and notifications relate to staff conduct, we assessed these in accordance with:
- our Complaints and Notifications policy and Staff Conduct and Discipline policy
- the Public Sector Commissioner’s Instructions
- legislative requirements under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA), the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 (WA), the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 (WA) and the Teacher Registration Act 2012 (WA).
Privacy and responsible information sharing
The introduction of new privacy and responsible information sharing (PRIS) legislation will establish a mandatory requirement for public sector agencies within Western Australia to establish frameworks and policies for information privacy and responsible information sharing.
In readiness for this and the implementation of the Western Australian Government Information Classification policy, in 2023–24 we established the PRIS implementation project team who delivered:
- a comprehensive review of legislation that interacts with PRIS
- an updated privacy statement aligned to PRIS published on our website
- a draft privacy policy and framework and privacy impact assessment
- a draft breach policy, notification form and response plan
- an information asset register for enterprise applications with actions commenced for surveying information asset owners.
Freedom of information
The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) creates a general right of access to documents held by all state and local government agencies. We are required to make available details about the types of documents we hold and assist the public to ensure personal information we hold about them is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.
Details about the freedom of information process are in our Information Statement, available on our website.
Recordkeeping plans
In 2023–24, 15,233 staff, including 14,175 school staff, completed the mandatory online recordkeeping awareness training. The training is compulsory for all new employees of the Department, and outlines the:
- recordkeeping obligations of government employees
- requirements to adhere to our recordkeeping plan.
Our electronic document records management system (TRIM) upgrade was completed in 2023. Supporting the upgrade, and as part of the mandatory training suite, training materials were reviewed and updated, including modules of TRIM online training and help sheets. Online training in the use of TRIM, including advanced TRIM functions, was offered along with face‑to‑face training. Five hundred and seventy‑eight staff were trained, including 18 staff as advanced users.
In 2023–24, webinars and online consultancies continued to provide training, advice and support on recordkeeping practices.
The centralised coordination of school records retrieval and disposal through a school archive service is ongoing and the use of this service by schools continued to grow. We reviewed and updated training resources to support compliant records disposal and archiving, and to improve outreach to schools. Courses cover topics for schools in disposal and archive practice. This training has been completed by 340 staff.
We worked closely with stakeholders to progress the review of our recordkeeping plan’s retention and disposal schedule, as required by the State Records Commission, ensuring that compliance requirements are met for the retention of child‑related records.
Workplace diversity and inclusion
We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace, where individuals are respected, supported, connected and empowered to contribute to organisational goals and achieve individual success.
Valuable insight into views of diversity and inclusion within our workforce was obtained from 20% of our staff who participated in the 2023 WA Public Sector Census conducted by the Public Sector Commission. The demographics of participating staff reflected those of our overall workforce.
Compared to the results across the whole of the sector, we have a stable workforce, with more staff employed permanently and a smaller proportion employed on a fixed‑term contract or casual basis.
While over half of respondents with a disability or long‑term health condition have shared their diversity within our workplace, further work is required to improve confidence to disclose.
We used the results of the census and insights provided by the Public Sector Commission to identify areas for improvement through the development of an action and improvement implementation plan. The plan included initiatives relating to improving diversity disclosure, enhancing workplace flexibility and improving employee experiences at work. In 2023–24, we:
- implemented a suite of modules for staff to increase their knowledge and understanding of working with people with disability
- reviewed diversity disclosure information and developed strategies to enhance disclosure
- implemented home‑based work arrangement guidelines for staff to expand flexible work arrangement options
- introduced an anonymous staff exit survey to better understand staff experiences working with the Department, including aspects of inclusion.
These initiatives align with those in our:
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021–2025
- Staff health and wellbeing strategy 2023–2027
- Principal health and wellbeing strategy 2023–2027.
Disability access and inclusion plan outcomes
We continued to implement our Disability access and inclusion plan 2018–2023, which identifies strategies to enhance equitable inclusion of people with disability in our schools, services and employment. It covers outcomes required under the Disability Services Regulations 2004 (WA) and the additional outcome of improving learning outcomes for students with disability.
In 2023, we provided:
- professional learning to over 2,800 school leaders, teachers and allied professionals to support students with disability and diverse learning needs
- specialised support for students with specific educational and engagement needs through our Schools of Special Educational Needs.
Our new plan, informed by feedback from our students, parents, staff and the community, is being developed.
Substantive equality
In June 2024, we implemented 11 disability confidence online modules to build staff awareness about disability access and inclusion. Other online modules are available for managers and recruiters to enhance their use of inclusive work practices and improve employment outcomes for people with disability.
Expenditure on advertising and market research
In 2023–24, we incurred expenditure centrally of $4.11 million with media advertising organisations, advertising agencies and market research organisations (refer to Table 6). There was no expenditure with polling and direct mail organisations.
Table 6: Central expenditure on advertising and market research 2023–24
| Category and providers | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Media advertising organisations Carat Australia Initiative Media Meta | 3,195,282 3,117,634 27,114 50,534 |
| Advertising agencies(a) Ad Capital Gatecrasher Rare Anthologie Gettin Hectic Likeable Creative Purple | 840,804 14,504 438,371 324,184 14,789 3,500 41,205 4,251 |
| Market research organisations Advantage Communications and Marketing | 73,931 73,931 |
(a) Provided full range of creative services.
Source: Communications and Education Business Services
Unauthorised use of credit cards
During 2023–24, staff reported 784 instances of unauthorised use of corporate credit cards, with 2 cases referred for investigation. Of these, 45 were reported by central and regional services staff and 739 by school staff. Generally, unauthorised transactions were a result of cards being used in error. If repayment was not received within 5 working days, strategies were employed to recover the amount owing, including reminder notices and cancellation of cards.
The number of instances reported in 2023–24 increased by approximately 19% (123 instances) in comparison to the 2022–23 results (661 instances). For further information, refer to Table 7.
Table 7: Unauthorised use of credit cards 2023–24
| Category | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Aggregate amount of personal use expenditure for 2023–24(a) | 52,156.37 |
| Aggregate amount of personal use expenditure settled by the due date (payment due within 5 working days) | 39,671.83 |
| Aggregate amount of personal use expenditure settled after the due date (after 5 working days) | 12,486.60 |
(a) All personal credit card use reported in 2023–24 has been settled. The repayments for personal use included rounding of $2.06.
Source: Education Business Services
Act of grace payments
During 2023–24, no act of grace payments were made.
Development contributions for public primary schools
Under the Western Australian Planning Commission’s Operational policy 2.4 planning for school sites, developer contributions are paid through the commission’s subdivision process and collected by the Department. The funds are held and used to acquire land for future public primary school sites where land is not ceded free of cost or to augment existing public primary school sites.
Development contributions for public primary school sites can apply to any subdivision creating an additional 5 lots or more, except for aged/dependent person developments, where it is located within:
- the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area
- the Peel Region Scheme area
- the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme area
- an approved structure plan area within the state.
We manage the contributions paid into subregional accounts. Details of these contributions are in Table 8.
Table 8: Development contributions for public primary schools 2023–24
| Subregional accounts | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme | 7,195,140.82 |
| Peel Region Scheme | 99,505.00 |
| Greater Bunbury Region Scheme | 8,106.00 |
| Approved structure plan | 24,168.00 |
| Other (funds received under previous provisions) | 130,870.00 |
| Total | 7,457,789.82 |
Source: Education Business Services
Pricing policies of services provided
We charge for goods and services rendered on a full or partial cost‑recovery basis. We determined these fees in accordance with the Department of Treasury’s guidelines for Costing and pricing government services.
The School Education Act 1999 (WA) and School Education Regulations 2000 (WA) govern the setting of fees, charges and contributions for students in public schools.
The Education Service Providers (Full Fee Overseas Students) Registration Regulations 1992 (WA) prescribes fees for registration and re‑registration of international education service providers in Western Australia.
Fees and charges associated with teacher registration were governed by the Teacher Registration (General) Regulations 2012 (WA) and for initial teacher education programs by the Teacher Registration (Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programmes) Regulations 2012 (WA). For its Schedule of Fees refer to the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia website.
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority charged for its regulatory functions relevant to certification, assessment and examinations as prescribed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority Regulations 2005 (WA).
Fees for residential colleges were prescribed in regulation 14(7) of the School Education (Student Residential Colleges) Regulations 2017 (WA).
Annual estimates
In the 2024–25 Budget Statements, the estimates for the Department of Education and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority were consolidated within a single Division of the Consolidated Account Expenditure Estimates. The annual estimates representing the budget for the Department of Education excluding the School Curriculum and Standards Authority are in Appendix 5.
Board and committee remuneration
Members of boards and committees, as defined in Premier’s Circular 2023/02: State Government Boards and Committees, were remunerated as determined by the Minister, on the recommendation of the Public Sector Commissioner. Details of these remunerations are in tables 9 to 13.
Table 9: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia remuneration 2023–24
| Position Member name | Term of appointment | Membership length (2023–24) | Remuneration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Base salary/ sitting fee(a) | Actual (2023–24) | |||
| Chair | |||||
| Margaret Collins | 5 years | 12 months | Annual | $23,433 | $23,433 |
| Deputy Chair | |||||
| David Bean | 5 years | 12 months | Meeting | $578 | $4,983 |
| Member | |||||
| Andrea Lewis | 2 years | 12 months | Meeting | $578 | $5,561 |
| Emily Donders | 2 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Kate Offer | 2 years | 3 months | Meeting | $578 | $1,010 |
| Melanie Sutherland | 3 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Julie Woodhouse | 3 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Kevin Sneddon | 3 years | 6 months | Meeting | $578 | $2,312 |
| Rino Randazzo | 2 years | 5 months | Meeting | $578 | $2,312 |
| Keith Svendsen | 2 years | 5 months | – | – | – |
| Total | $39,611 | ||||
(a) Sitting fees increased from $505 for the deputy chair and members from 19 June 2023 after being approved by Cabinet.
Source: Teacher Registration
Table 10: Non-Government Schools Planning Advisory Panel remuneration 2023–24
| Position Member name | Term of appointment | Membership length (2023–24) | Remuneration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Base salary/ sitting fee(a) | Actual (2023–24) | |||
| Chair | |||||
| Audrey Jackson | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | Up to/over 4 hours | $680/1,046 | $2,786 |
| Member | |||||
| Gavin Agacy | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Leith Brindle | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Anne Coffey | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Natalie Gulberti | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Lisa Powell | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Morena Stanley | 3 years and 11 months | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Total | $2,786 | ||||
(a) Sitting fees increased from $380/580 (half/full day) for the chair from 19 June 2023 after being approved by Cabinet.
Source: Strategy and Policy
Table 11: School Curriculum and Standards Authority Board remuneration 2023–24
| Position Member name | Term of appointment | Membership length (2023–24) | Remuneration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Base salary/ sitting fee(a) | Actual(b) (2023–24) | |||
| Chair | |||||
| Mrs Pauline White | 5 years | 12 months | Annual | $53,361 | $53,434 |
| Member | |||||
| Emeritus Professor David Andrich | 4 years | 12 months | Annual | $29,348 | $29,343 |
| Ms Pauline Coghlan | 4 years | 12 months | Annual | $29,348 | $29,343 |
| Emeritus Professor Jill Downie | 3 years and 8 months | 12 months | Annual | $29,348 | $29,343 |
| Dr Lynette Henderson-Yates | 4 years | 3 months | Annual | $29,348 | $5,417 |
| Ms Lee Musumeci | 4 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Ms Denise O’Meara | 4 years | 12 months | Annual | $29,348 | $29,343 |
| Dr Lilly Brown | 2 years | 7 months | Annual | $29,348 | $15,640 |
| Total | $191,863 | ||||
(a) Base salary increased for the chair and members from 19 June 2023 after being approved by Cabinet.
(b) The 2023–24 actual may be impacted by back pay and adjustments.
Source: School Curriculum and Standards
Table 12: School Curriculum and Standards Authority: Curriculum and Assessment Committee remuneration 2023–24
| Position Member name | Term of appointment | Membership length (2023–24) | Remuneration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Base salary/ sitting fee(a) | Actual(b) (2023–24) | |||
| Chair | |||||
| Ms Denise O’Meara | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $825 | $5,775 |
| Member | |||||
| Mr Jeffrey Allan | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $1,611 |
| Ms Elizabeth Blackwell | 4 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Mr Martin Clery | 4 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Ms Amanda Connor | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $2,148 |
| Mr Armando Giglia | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,222 |
| Ms Kya-Louise Graves | 4 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Ms Jillian Jamieson | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,759 |
| Dr Steven Males | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,759 |
| Ms Rosemary Simpson | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,222 |
| Ms Kristine Stafford | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,759 |
| Ms Deborah Taylor | 4 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Ms Bronwyn Tester | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,759 |
| Total | $31,014 | ||||
(a) Sitting fees increased from $550 for the chair and $370 for members from 19 June 2023 after being approved by Cabinet.
(b) The 2023–24 actual may be impacted by back pay and adjustments.
Source: School Curriculum and Standards
Table 13: School Curriculum and Standards Authority: Standards Committee remuneration 2023–24
| Position Member name | Term of appointment | Membership length (2023–24) | Remuneration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Base salary/ sitting fee(a) | Actual(b) (2023–24) | |||
| Chair | |||||
| Ms Pauline Coghlan | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $825 | $5,225 |
| Member | |||||
| Ms Jocelyn Cook(c) | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $4,214 |
| Ms Anne Ford | 3 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,556 |
| Ms Melissa Gillett | 2 years | 12 months | – | – | – |
| Ms Valerie Gould | 4 years | 12 months | Meeting | $537 | $3,389 |
| Total | $16,384 | ||||
(a) Sitting fees increased from $550 for the chair and $370 for members from 19 June 2023 after being approved by Cabinet.
(b) The 2023–24 actual may be impacted by back pay and adjustments.
(c) Acted as chair for one meeting.
Source: School Curriculum and Standards