EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (30 June 2011) (Estimates Committee B).

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development): The audited FTE for the then Department of Education and Children's Services as at 30 June 2011 was 20,731, comprising:

Schools and Preschools 18,790

Corporate, Regions and Programs administered corporately 1,941

The FTE cap for the department for 2010-11 Estimated Result, as published in the 2011-12 Budget Paper 4, Agency Statements, volume 1, page 161, is 20,763.8 FTE.

The audited employee related costs (consolidated) is $1.747 billion. The employee related budget (consolidated), including workers compensation related expenditure, is $1.818 billion.

As at 30 June 2011, the department had used the services of seven different consultants to perform nine consultancy projects. The nine consultancies by project reflected in the audited 2010-11 annual financial statements are as follows:

Project: National Pride Teacher Quality

Adelaide Research and Innovation Pty Ltd were engaged during 2009-10 to gather information about the department's current and potential teacher workforce. Their consultancy services continued into 2010-11. Adelaide Research and Innovation were also engaged during 2010-11 to conduct consultancy services for the department's Workforce Modelling Project in 2010-11. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $57,941.

Project: OPTED Infrastructure

Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd (previously called Connell Wagner Pty Ltd.) were engaged in 2006-07 to provide advice and assistance in establishing a services infrastructure Public Private Partnership (PPP). Their consultancy services continued into 2010-11. The total 2010-11expenditure was $53,933 (GST Excl).

PKF Accounting (SA) Pty Ltd were engaged in 2008-09 to provide further consultancy services into the devolution of operational asset management to sites and the development of a best value solution within an acceptable risk management framework. Their consultancy services continued during 2010-11. The total 2010-11expenditure was $1,930 (GST Excl).

Project: Policy and Standards

PKF Accounting (SA) Pty Ltd were engaged during 2010-11 to provide probity advisory services. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $7,298 (GST Excl).

Sean Power was engaged during 2010-11 to provide consultancy services to the department's Health and Safety Services Unit. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $34,090.

Project: Industrial Relations Settlement (Enterprise Bargaining)

Mr Ken Francou was engaged during 2010-11 to review teachers' and leaders' workload. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $16,695.00

Project: Cross agency projects

Mr William (Bill) Cossey was engaged during 2010-11 to provide consultancy services for the review into aspects of policies and practices regarding bullying and violence in schools. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $9,000.

Project: Transport Services

KPMG were engaged during 2010-11 to provide professional advice on financial modelling and costing work on the benchmark and indexation for bus services contracts. The total 2010-11 expenditure was $55,125.00.

As at 30 June 2011, the total expenditure of the nine consultancies paid year-to-date in 2010-11 was $236,012.