The Department works with a wide range of stakeholders to inform and guide its planning and policies, and to deliver flexible and innovative services for Queenslanders.
Our stakeholders include: parents and carers, members of school councils, parents and citizens' associations, students, artists, arts and cultural workers, volunteers, unions, employees, business and industry, universities, private training providers, statutory bodies, related government organisations, interested groups and the Queensland community. We actively engage with, and give full consideration to, the diverse views and perspectives of our stakeholders - individuals, communities, special interest groups, industry and government. Our stakeholders' opinions matter, whether they receive our services or are just interested in the future of Queensland.
This approach not only supports best practice outcomes for the Department, it also helps to advance the Community Engagement Improvement Strategy - Engaging Queenslanders: Get Involved 
and the whole-of-government priority of healthy, active individuals and communities.
The following are specific examples of some of the larger stakeholder groups regularly engaging and partnering with the agency:
P&Cs play an important role in education services, with approximately 1269 individual P&Cs working closely with their state schools. In most schools, the P&Cs also contribute significant financial and physical resources. P&Cs are an integral part of school planning, budgeting and reporting. Their role in the total school community is to ensure that the synthesis between the immediate school environment and the P&Cs operations maximises the educational outcomes of their school students. Shared information between the school and the P&C is vital to ensure that the school operates in accordance with common goals and objectives. The roles and responsibilities of P&Cs are outlined in the Parents and Citizens' Operational Manual . Advice regarding financial practice is outlined in the Accounting for Parents and Citizens' Associations manual .
The Department's partnerships with P&Cs and volunteers are vital in building successful school communities.
The QIECC provides independent advice to State and Commonwealth Education Ministers on:
The Committee consults with Indigenous peoples on Indigenous Queenslanders' concerns and views on the effectiveness of Queensland and Australian Government education programs.
The Queensland Skills Plan established the following industry engagement strategies to build the capacity of Queensland's vocational education and training sector:
After extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, these multiple industry engagement models were implemented in recognition of the fact that a 'one-size-fits all' approach to addressing skilling and labour needs is not appropriate. The models are driving industry ownership of the attraction, development and retention of the State's workforce. The strategies are also effectively informing the Queensland Government's policy development and investment in the skills agenda. This is proving instrumental in securing a shared approach between industry and government to resolve the State's critical skills shortages.
To ensure Queensland maintains a comprehensive response to current and future labour market challenges, the Department has, through consultation, realigned the directions of the Queensland Skills Plan. The Queensland Skills Plan 2008 outlines both short and long-term measures to alleviate skills shortages at all occupational levels, including the professions and skilled occupations critical to the State's growth.
Institute Councils, which include a broad range of independent stakeholders, support TAFE institute management by developing and approving broad directions within the framework of government policies and strategic programs for vocational education and training, and report to the Minister on institute activities.
Regular information and consultation sessions are held to inform non-university providers of the latest developments in the higher education sector and regulatory requirements, and to seek feedback on proposed changes to policy and regulation. Stakeholders are also given the opportunity to comment on the Department's higher education regulatory services as part of a continuous review and improvement process.
This partnership with the Department provides a process for regular consultation on stakeholders' needs, and participation in the development of Queensland Government policy and strategic directions. All Queensland universities' Vice Chancellors are members of the Forum as key stakeholders in the sector, and the Minister is chair. The group meets three times a year.
High level communication and consultation between the state and non-state sectors occurs at regular meetings attended by the CEOs of Education Queensland, Independent Schools Queensland and the Queensland Catholic Education Commission. In addition, the Non-State Schools Authorities Council is an avenue for formal engagement more broadly across the non-state schooling sector. These meetings provide forums for the Department to share information in relation to the needs of the sectors, seek feedback, and discuss developments on a range of educational matters at a departmental, state and national level.
Following extensive research and stakeholder consultation undertaken in forums and interviews during 2007-08, the Department has developed the five-year 2008-13 Disability Skilling Action Plan. The plan seeks to achieve the right mix of enhancing proven successful approaches and best practice models, and addressing those identified gaps and barriers that require strong, innovative local strategies. It ensures that the voice of people with a disability in the vocational education and training sector, both as clients and students, will continue to be heard in the course of its implementation.
Appointed by the Premier, Queensland Government Champions work with Indigenous communities across the state. Rachel Hunter, Director-General of Education, Training and the Arts, together with Frank Rockett, Director-General of Queensland Corrective Services, jointly represent the Government as Champions for Doomadgee.
In November 2007, the Directors-General visited the Doomadgee community, to represent the Queensland Government in the joint signing of the Local Indigenous Partnership Agreement . This partnership includes a sister school agreement between Doomadgee State School, Spinifex State College and Sunset State School to support students transitioning into secondary education. It builds on the successful, overarching, Indigenous Partnership Agreement , which includes all 19 discrete Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund (IRADF) is a part of the RADF partnership. IRADF is a partnership between the Department and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils, communities and incorporated community organisations. The IRADF funds the development of Indigenous art, artists and cultural workers though arts and cultural activities that keep culture strong, engage community members and support and encourage economic development and independence.
During 2007-08, the Department continued to work with the community-based Torres Strait Islanders' Regional Education Council Inc. and the Australian Government to achieve improved employment outcomes for Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula area students. Two community round table meetings were held to progress the Bound for Success - Education Strategy for Torres Strait.
Consultation occurred with the Aboriginal and Islander Councils to establish and develop Indigenous Knowledge Centres in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands, with the Australia Council for the Arts to develop collaborative approaches to support the Indigenous arts sector and with the Queensland Resources Council and its members companies, to increase Indigenous employment in the Queensland resource sector.
English as a second language (ESL) students come from a variety of backgrounds. During 2007-08, the Department continued its commitment to engage with these students and their communities by providing 184 full time equivalent teachers, 2500 teacher aide hours and an additional $3.58 million in funding to support ESL students. The Department provided an additional $2.38 million to regions to help address the needs of students from refugee backgrounds. The TAFE Adult Migrant English Program and the Literacy, Language and Numeracy Program were delivered to more than 9000 students across Queensland. These programs provided assessment and training to newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian clients from more than 100 countries.
The Queensland Youth Environment Council (QYEC) comprises 30 young people aged between 16 and 25 years from across the state. The council is a joint initiative between the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, and the Minister for Education and Training and the Minister for the Arts. The QYEC provides a youth perspective to the Queensland Government on key environmental sustainability issues. The key issues on which the Ministers have initially sought the Council's advice include: climate change, water use, renewable energy and wildlife conservation. QYEC members also act as youth leaders to enhance awareness and inspire other young people to take action to achieve a more environmentally sustainable future for Queensland.
Some documents on this site are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Download the free Adobe Reader to view them.
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Access keys |
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education and Training) 2009.
