Government Advertising

In reply to Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (29 July 2021). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised the following:

Department for Education

At 30 June 2021, 29.5 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $2.776 million (excluding on-costs) against an original budget of 28.3 FTEs and an original expenditure budget of $2.808 million.

The table below outlines the budgeted FTEs and estimated employment costs (excluding oncosts):

The Department for Education Communications Directorate produces internal and external communications for the department's schools, preschools and children's centres including media management, creative services (including graphic design, videography and photography), social media, webinar production, website and intranet management. Internal audiences for our communications include a workforce of more than 30,000 staff across schools, preschools and corporate offices. External audiences include parents, students, stakeholders and the general public.

The total cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, local school advertising, recruitment advertising and general notices across all media in 2020-21 was $197,899.63.

There is no central budgeted cost for advertising campaign activity in 2021-22, noting that any need for funding will be subject to specific approval.

TAFE SA

The table below shows TAFE SA's total FTE, actual and budgeted, to provide communication and promotion activities for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25:

The TAFE SA Marketing and Communications units undertake a range of functions including, but not limited to, promotional and functional marketing and advertising, TAFE SA website and social media management, media management and internal and external communications.

SACE Board of South Australia

The table below shows the SACE Board of SA's total FTE, actual and budgeted, to provide communication and promotion activities for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25:

The activities performed by staff are diverse across the function of both marketing and communications and incorporate marketing, internal and external communications, stakeholder liaison and communication, graphic design, event coordination, website and intranet management. Staff involved in communications also deal with media enquiries and proactively promote student success through the SACE.

Communications are integral to the SACE Board services, for example to provide information and support to educators about changes to curriculum and assessment requirements. Similarly, the professional learning offered by the SACE Board is promoted through our communication channels. Regular communications are provided to school Principals and those responsible for coordinating the SACE within schools.

Education Standards Board

The table below shows the Education Standards Board's total FTE, actual and budgeted, to provide communication and promotion activities for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25:

The Education Standards Board's Communications Officer is employed at 0.6FTE to:

produce fact sheets and newsletters for the early childhood and schools sector

prepare communications for the chief executive and various other stakeholders

manage the board's website and social media site; and

coordinate the board's annual report.

There was no government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums for 2021-22.

Commissioner for Children and Young People

In 2020-21, 1.4 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $154,000.

The table below outlines the budgeted FTEs and estimated employment expense:

The total cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums for 2020-21 and budgeted costs for 2021-22.

Child Development Council

In 2020-21, 0.2 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $24,000.

The table below outlines the budgeted FTEs and estimated employment expense:

The total cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums for 2020-21 and budgeted costs for 2021-22.

Guardian for Children and Young People

In 2020-21, 0.7 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $78,000.

The table below outlines the budgeted FTEs and estimated employment expense:

There was no government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums for 2021-22.

History Trust of SA

In 2020-21, 1.85 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $181,000.

The table below outlines budgeted FTEs and estimated employment expense:

*Please note Actuals FTE and Employee cost for 2020-21 included staff member on Maternity leave

The total cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns across all media in 2020-21 was $272,000, budget for 2021-22 is $287,000.

Windmill Theatre

In 2020-21, 2.0 FTEs were allocated to communication and promotion functions, costing $157,000.

The table below outlines budgeted FTEs and estimated employment expense:

The total cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns across all media in 2020-21 was $17,000, budget for 2021-22 is $20,000.

As an open and transparent government, marketing communications activity reports and annual media expenditure details are proactively disclosed. The reports list all marketing campaigns over the cost of $50,000 and are disclosed on the DPC website at

https://www.dpc.sa.gov.au/about-the-department/accountability/government-marketing-advertising-expenditure.