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Chapter 2 - Departmental
Overview
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The portfolio takes a national leadership role in
education, science and training.
The Education, Science and Training portfolio (see
Figure
2.1) is made up of:
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the Department of Education, Science and Training
(DEST), including Questacon (the National Science and Technology Centre)
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the Anglo–Australian Telescope Board (AATB)
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the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
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the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA)
(ceased operations on 30 June 2005)
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the Australian National University (ANU)
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The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
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the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation (ANSTO)
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the Australian Research Council (ARC)
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the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO).
The department and agencies provide high quality policy
advice and services for the benefit of Australia. They work with a range
of stakeholders to deliver these outcomes, including the Australian
Government and state and territory governments; the education, science and
training sectors; industry; communities; and a range of contracted service
providers. Figure 2.1 Our
Ministers and the portfolio (as at 30 June 2005)
(please click image)
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The department’s vision is a better future for all
Australians through learning, science and innovation.
To support this vision, we work towards achieving three
outcomes:
- Individuals achieve high quality foundation skills
and learning outcomes from schools and other providers.
- Individuals achieve relevant skills and learning
outcomes from post school education and training.
- Australia has a strong science, research and
innovation capacity and is engaged internationally on science, education
and training to advance our social development and economic growth.
We work professionally to achieve these outcomes by:
- advising on and implementing policies to ensure the
continuing relevance of education, science and training to current and
future needs and to meet the growing requirement for lifelong learning
- carrying out timely policy-relevant research,
analysis and evaluation which address the information needs of our
clients
- working in collaboration with the states and
territories, industry, other agencies and the community in support of
the government’s objectives
- working with each other and our stakeholders to
identify and address Australia’s current and future skill needs
- encouraging international cooperation and the
exchange of ideas, students and expertise with other countries
- implementing people and business initiatives to
enhance individual, team and organisational performance
- ensuring high quality, strong accountability and
value for money in delivering government-funded programmes.
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The department’s Groups are responsible for the business
deliverables outlined in the Portfolio Budget Statements. Some Groups
enable the business of others, and other Groups’ work demands a
cross-department perspective. Each Deputy Secretary has responsibility for
areas as set out below and in Figure 2.2. For further information about
the department’s senior management committees, see Chapter 7.
Ms Lisa Paul –
Department Secretary
As Secretary for the Department of Education, Science and Training, Ms
Paul has responsibility and oversight of the administration and corporate
and strategic directions of the department and portfolio.
She provides senior policy counsel on major and sensitive
policy issues to Portfolio Ministers and represents the department at
various Australian Government, industry and business sector forums.
Ms Paul is responsible, as Secretary for the lead agency,
for the Murdi Paaki Council of Australia Governments’ trial site in north
western New South Wales. Ms Paul also sits on the Boards of the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the
Australian Research Council and the Cape York Institute.
Mr Grahame Cook – Deputy
Secretary
Mr Cook has responsibility for issues relating to science and
sustainability, innovation and research and higher education.
Science Group, Innovation and Research Systems Group,
Higher Education Group and Questacon report to him.
Mr Cook chaired the Corporate IT Committee, sits on the ANSTO Board, chaired the DiRECt
Steering Committee and leads the Business Continuity Management Team.
The Chief Scientist works alongside and independently of
the department.
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Dr Wendy Jarvie – Deputy
Secretary
Dr Jarvie has responsibility for the International Education Group,
including the Offshore Network of 15 offices. Two branches of the
Indigenous and Transitions Group (Indigenous Education Policy and
Indigenous Business Management Branch) work to her. Dr Jarvie also
oversees two enabling areas: Strategic Analysis and Evaluation Group and
Procurement, Assurance and Legal Group. The Chief Audit Officer reports
directly to her and she chairs the Audit and Business Assurance Committee.
Dr Jarvie’s responsibility extends to overseeing the
development of a consistent approach to education and training quality assurance across the department.
Mr Jim Davidson – Deputy
Secretary
Mr Davidson has responsibility for policy advice and management of
national vocational and technical education programmes. The National
Training Directions Group and the Industry Skills Development Group report
directly to him. Mr Davidson also oversees the Information Services Group.
Mr Bill Burmester –
Deputy Secretary
Mr Burmester has responsibility for issues relating to the Australian
Government’s policies and programmes for schools and transitions. He
oversees the work of the Schools Resourcing Group and the Schools Outcomes
Group, as well as the Corporate Strategy Group, whose functions include
ministerial support and communication.
The department has offices in each state and territory,
and these fall within his area of responsibility. Mr Burmester chairs the
People and Leadership Committee and the Network Management Committee.
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Changes to DEST’s structure
The department’s structure is reviewed regularly to enable
it to deliver its outcomes in the most efficient and effective way. In
2004–05, the following changes took place:
- A new Group was created in the vocational and
technical education area in response to the additional work associated
with the transfer of functions from the Australian National Training
Authority and in response to government priorities, including skill
shortages and development of the national training system. The new
National Training Directions Group and the Industry Skills Development
Group now incorporate and expand on the functions of the former
Vocational Education and Training Group.
- A new Deputy Secretary position was created with
responsibility for the National Training Directions Group, the Industry
Skills Development Group and the Information Services Group.
- A new Group was created in the schools area in
response to a significant expansion in workload and breadth of
responsibilities. The Schools Resourcing Group and the Schools Outcomes
Group now incorporate the functions of the former Schools Group.
- The Finance Branch is now part of the Corporate
Strategy Group.
- A new Branch, the Income Support for Students
Branch, was established in the Strategic Analysis and Evaluation Group
in response to the October 2004 machinery of government changes. The
Branch is responsible for student income support policy and programmes,
transferred from the Department of Family and Community Services, and
ABSTUDY.
- A new position of General Manager, Questacon was
created to support the work of the Director.
- The Chief Lawyer and Group Manager, Procurement,
Assurance and Legal Group was upgraded to an SES band 2 position and a
new position of Branch Manager, Legal Branch, was created in response to
the growing complexity and demand on legal services in DEST.
The department is structured as shown in Figure 2.2.
Figure 2.2: The department's structure (as at 30
June 2005)
(Please click image) top
The department’s outcome and output structure, and the
departmental Groups that contribute to achieving the outcomes and outputs,
are set out in Figure 2.3. The outcomes are those published in the
Portfolio Budget Statements.
Figure 2.3: Outcomes and outputs framework 2004-2005
(Please click image)
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