Our Strategic Plan 2022–2025 continues to help us to collectively review our ways of working and set a clear direction. Our vision is that every child and young person will receive an excellent education, delivered and supported by highly skilled and valued professionals. The Strategic Plan also confirms our mission which is to collaboratively lead and deliver excellent, inclusive and equitable education where all are safe, valued and able to flourish.
The past year has seen a number of important developments and changes which support our goal of an excellent education for all.
2024 started with the opening of Shirley Smith School in Kenny, the ACT’s newest high school which will in time cater for up to 800 students from across east Gungahlin and is named after prominent activist and Wiradjuri woman Shirley Smith.
Guided by Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT, the free 3-year-old preschool program commenced in January 2024 to allow Canberra families of 3-year-old children to access 300 hours of free preschool delivered by a degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. Equitable access to quality, play-based early learning is a powerful way to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and development, and it has life-long benefits.
In December 2023, we released Inclusive Education: A Disability Inclusion Strategy for ACT Public Schools 2024–2034 to strengthen and promote inclusion practices across ACT public schools, so that all students can access a quality education that meets their needs.
The launch of the trial and test of Student-Centred Improvement Framework embeds our commitment to putting students at the centre by enabling the use of system and school-level data and evidence to evaluate the impact of teaching and learning, and to identify areas of need for students. To support the rollout of the framework, we are improving our data capability through the release of tools such as data dashboards that allow schools easier and more effective access to information about student performance and wellbeing.
Strong Foundations is a new program supporting schools to deliver literacy and numeracy education. It implements the recommendations from the Final Report of the Literacy and Numeracy Education Expert Panel’s review of literacy and numeracy education in ACT public schools. Strong Foundations is founded on evidence-based, practical suggestions that will strengthen the education system by working together as one system delivering high quality, consistent teaching practices, reduce workloads for teachers and improve equality across all schools.
As we evaluate phase 2 of the Future of Education Strategy implementation and prepare for phase 3, we continue to collaboratively deliver on our strategic objectives centred on the principles of equity, agency, access, and inclusion.
The Directorate continues our journey to improve and embed cultural integrity across all our work. In June 2024, senior executives signed the Statement of Commitment to Cultural Integrity signalling our dedication to creating a culturally safe and responsible Directorate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our schools, Education Support Office and across the ACT community under a new Cultural Integrity Framework that will guide us to embed Cultural Integrity in all aspects of the Directorate’s mission.
Our vibrant public education system now provides excellent education to over 50,000 students. The children and young people in our education system are creative, resilient, and capable of incredible learning and growth. We know that it is our responsibility as a Directorate and a community to provide them with the best possible education and the life opportunities that flow from it.
Katy Haire
Director-General
| Acronym | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ACARA | Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority |
| ACAT | ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal |
| ACER | Australian Council of Educational Research |
| ACECQA | Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory |
| ACTGOV | ACT Government |
| ACTIA | ACT Insurance Authority |
| ACTPA | ACT Principals’ Association |
| ACTPS | ACT Public Service |
| ACU | Australian Catholic University |
| AESOC | Australian Education Senior Officials Committee |
| AEU | Australian Education Union |
| AIS | Association of Independent Schools |
| ANU | Australian National University |
| ARENA | Australian Renewable Energy Agency |
| ASbA | Australian School-based Apprenticeship |
| ASO | Administrative Services Officer |
| ATAR | Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank |
| ATSIPP | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Policy |
| BMS | Building Management Systems |
| BSSS | ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies |
| CECA | Children’s Education and Care Assurance |
| CEO | Chief Executive Officer |
| CIC | Cultural Integrity Coordinator |
| CIT | Canberra Institute of Technology |
| CMTEDD | Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate |
| CNG | Compressed National Gas |
| CO2-e | Carbon dioxide equivalent |
| CoP | Community of Practice |
| CORPEX | Corporate Executive |
| CPSU | Community and Public Sector Union |
| CRICOS | Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students |
| CSD | Community Services Directorate |
| CSIRO | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| CSP | Children’s Services Program |
| DA | Development Application |
| DCC | Directorate Consultative Committee |
| DDG | Deputy Director-General |
| DG | Director-General |
| DRIS | Decision Regulatory Impact Statement |
| DSI | Director of School improvement |
| DSSC | Digital Strategy Sub-Committee |
| EA | Enterprise Agreement |
| EAL/D | English as an Additional Language or Dialect |
| EAP | Employee Assistance Program |
| ECEC | Early Childhood Education and Care |
| EDU | Education Directorate |
| EGC | Executive Governance Committee |
| EGC WSC | Executive Governance Committee Workforce Sub-Committee |
| EIP | Essential Instructional Practices |
| ELE | External Learning Environments |
| ESD | Ecologically Sustainable Development |
| ESO | Education Support Office |
| EYLF | Early Years Learning Framework |
| FMA | Financial Management Act 1992 |
| FOE | Future of Education Strategy |
| FOI | Freedom of Information |
| FTE | Full Time Equivalent |
| GHG | Greenhouse gas |
| HALT | Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher |
| HR | Human Resources |
| HRIMS | Human Resource Information Management System |
| HRV | Heat Recovery Ventilation |
| HSR | Health and Safety Representative |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning |
| ICSEA | Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage |
| ICT | Information Communications Technology |
| ICW | Infrastructure and Capital Works Branch |
| IEO | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer |
| ILP | Individual Learning Plan |
| IMP | Instrumental Music Program |
| LLO | Legal Liaison Officer |
| LPG | Liquid Petroleum Gas |
| LSA | Learning Support Assistant |
| Maze | School administration system |
| MLA | Member of the Legislative Assembly |
| MSD | Musculoskeletal disorders |
| NAIDOC | National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee |
| NAPLAN | National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy |
| NCCD | Nationally Consistent Collection of Data |
| NQF | National Quality Framework |
| NQS | National Quality Standard |
| NSIT | National School Improvement Tool |
| OeSc | Office of the eSafety Commissioner |
| OSHC | Outside School Hours Care |
| OV | Occupational Violence |
| PBL | Positive Behaviour for Learning |
| PCM | Principal Coach Mentor |
| PEA | Priority Enrolment Area |
| PLC | Professional Learning Communities |
| PPG | Placement Pathway Group |
| PSIU | Public Schools Infrastructure Upgrade |
| PSIRP | Public School Infrastructure Renewal Program |
| PSM Act | Public Sector Management Act 1994 |
| PSWHS | Public Sector Work Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2022 |
| P&C | Parents and Citizens |
| RAP | Reconciliation Action Plan |
| RiskMan | ACT Public Sector Work Injury Reporting online reporting system |
| RTO | Recognised Training Organisation |
| SAIS | Safe and Inclusive Schools |
| SAMP | Strategic Asset Management Plan |
| SAS | Staff Assessment Survey |
| SASSCO | Safe and Supportive School Contact Officer |
| SEA | Socio-Educational Advantage |
| SEL | Social and Emotional Learning Programs |
| SERBIR | Senior Executive Responsible for Business Integrity Risk |
| SOA | School Operational Allocation |
| SSSP | Safe and Supportive Schools Policy |
| STEM | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics |
| SuFS | Set up For Success Strategy |
| TFI | Tiered Fidelity Inventory |
| TPV | Territory Plan Variation |
| TQI | ACT Teacher Quality Institute |
| UC | University of Canberra |
| VEP | Vocational Employment Program |
| VET | Vocational Education and Training |
| VLO | Vocational learning options |
| WEX | Work Experience |
| WHS | Work Health and Safety |
| WHSSC | Work Health and Safety Sub-Committee |
| ZEV | Zero Emission Vehicle |
The ACT Education Directorate Annual Report 2023–24 must comply with the Annual Report Directions (the Directions) 2024 made under Section 8 of the Annual Reports (Government Agencies Act 2004. The Directions are found at the ACT Legislation Register at www.legislation.act.gov.au.
The Compliance Statement indicates the subsections, under Parts 1 to 5 of the Directions, that are applicable to the Education Directorate and the location of information that satisfies these requirements:
Part 1 Directions overview
The requirements under Part 1 of the Directions relate to the purpose, timing and distribution and records keeping of annual reports. The Education Directorate complies with all subsections of Part 1 under the Directions.
To meet Section 15 Feedback, Part 1 of the Directions, contact details for the Education Directorate are provided within the Education Directorate Annual Report 2023–24 to provide readers with the opportunity to provide feedback.
Part 2 Reporting entity annual report requirements
The requirements within Part 2 of the Directions are mandatory for all reporting entities and the Education Directorate complies with all subsections. The information that satisfies the requirements of Part 2 is found in the Education Directorate Annual Report 2023–24 as follows:
A. Transmittal Certificate, see page 18
B. Organisational Overview and Performance, inclusive of all subsections, see pages 19 to 238
C. Financial Management Reporting, inclusive of all subsections, see pages 239 to 366.
Part 3 Reporting by exception
The Education Directorate has nil information to report by exception under Part 3 of the Directions for the 2023–24 reporting year.
Education Directorate 15 Annual Report 2023–24
Part 4 Directorate and Public Sector Body specific annual report requirements
The following subsections of Part 4 of the Directions apply to the Education Directorate and can be found within the Education Directorate Annual Report 2023–24:
- Investigation of Complaints, see page 367
- ACT Teacher Quality Institute, see pages 369 to 434
- Ministerial and Director-General Directions, see page 368.
Part 5 Whole of Government annual reporting
All subsections of Part 5 of the Directions apply to the Education Directorate. Consistent with the Directions, the information satisfying these requirements is reported in one place for all ACT Public Service (ACTPS) directorates, as follows
- Bushfire Risk Management, see the annual report of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate
- Human Rights, see the annual report of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate
- Legal Services Directions, see the annual report of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate
- Public Sector Standards and Workforce Profile, see the annual State of the Service Report
- Territory Records, see the annual report of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.
ACTPS directorate annual reports are found at the following web address: http://cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/report/annual_reports.
The Education Directorate acknowledges the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognises any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region.
We also acknowledge and pay respect to the Wreck Bay peoples as traditional owners and custodians of the land on which the Jervis Bay School is located.
We respect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and their continuing culture and contribution they make to the Canberra region and the life of our city.
The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues accessible to as many people as possible.
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, and need the telephone typewriter (TTY) service, please phone 13 36 77 and ask for 13 22 81. For speak and listen users, please phone 1300 555 727. For more information on these services, contact us through the National Relay Service at www.accesshub.gov.au
If English is not your first language and you require a translating and interpreting service, please telephone Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
ISBN: 978-0-642-60834-5
© Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 2024.
Freedom of information requests can be made by emailing EducationFOI@act.gov.au.
General enquiries about this report should be directed to ETDAnnualReport@act.gov.au.
The 2023–24 Education Directorate Annual Report is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the ACT Government as author, indicate if changes were made and comply with the other licence terms.
The licence does not apply to the ACT Coat of Arms, the Education Directorate logo and branding, images, artwork, photographs, and any material protected by trademark.
The form of attribution for any permitted use of any material from this report (and any material sourced from it) must be:
Source: Licensed from the ACT Government under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia Licence. The ACT Government does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication.
First published in October 2024. Information about the directorate and an electronic version of this annual report can be found on the website at www.education.act.gov.au.