TAFE SA
120 Currie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 GPO Box 1872 ADELAIDE SA 5001
www.tafesa.edu.au
Contact phone number: +61 8 8207 8200
Contact email: OCE@tafesa.edu.au
ISSN: 2202-817X
Date presented to Minister: 27 September 2019
To:
The Hon John Gardner MP
Minister for Education
This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of the Public Corporations Act 1993 and the Public Sector Act 2009 and meets the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.
This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.
Submitted on behalf of TAFE SA by:
David Coltman
Chief Executive TAFE SA
TAFE SA has gone through several changes over 2018-19, including the appointment of a new Board and Chief Executive, while also welcoming new people into the leadership team.
The year marked a fresh start for TAFE SA, with a renewed focus on providing quality services to our students and industry partners. TAFE SA has delivered upon several activities set out in the Fresh Start for TAFE SA policy, including implementing quality initiatives and improving performance management.
Moving forward, TAFE SA is invested in a fresh leadership approach to drive a positive shift in our culture, service delivery and student outcomes. We are strengthening our partnerships with industry, focusing on being an effective and sustainable VET provider while responding to the evolving landscape and training needs across South Australia.
Chief Executive
Contents. 4
Overview: about the agency. 5
Our strategic focus. 5
Our organisational structure and executive team as at 30 June 2019. 7
Changes to the agency. 8
Changes to the TAFE SA Board of Directors. 8
Our Minister 8
Legislation administered by the agency. 8
Other related agencies (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility) 9
The agency’s performance. 10
Performance at a glance. 10
Agency contribution to whole of Government objectives. 10
Agency achievement of A Fresh Start for TAFE SA objectives in 2018-19. 11
Agency specific non-financial objectives and performance (2018 calendar year) as outlined in the TAFE SA Performance Statement (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019) 12
Employment opportunity programs. 12
Agency performance management and development systems. 13
Work health, safety and return to work programs. 13
Executive employment in the agency. 15
Financial performance. 16
Financial performance at a glance. 16
Contractors disclosure. 18
Risk management 23
Fraud detected in the agency. 23
Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud. 23
Whistle-blowers disclosure. 23
Reporting required under any other act or regulation.. 24
Reporting required under the Carers’ Recognition Act 2005. 24
Public complaints. 25
Number of public complaints reported. 25
Our Purpose
TAFE SA will ensure that quality, student choice and industry needs drive the provision of its services.
Our Vision
A Fresh Start for TAFE SA outlines the following:
1. TAFE SA will improve access and choice to high-quality training.
2. TAFE SA will define the benchmark for quality.
3. TAFE SA will be viable, sustainable and accountable in our services.
Our Values
TAFE SA’s Strategic Plan 2016-2019 highlights our core values:
· Service excellence
We meet the needs of all customers effectively and enthusiastically.
· Work as one team
We display a can-do attitude and work together to deliver solutions.
· Success focused
We always strive to do better.
· Accountability
We take responsibility for our behaviours, actions and outcomes.
· Respect
We demonstrate respect for our customers, our people and our organisation.
Our functions, objectives and deliverables
In reference to the functions set out in the TAFE SA Act 2012 and the TAFE SA Ministerial Charter (2018-19), TAFE SA’s functions are limited to:
· Delivering government-funded VET services that meet the economic and social needs of South Australia as identified by the Purchasing Minister
· Supporting the Purchasing Minister to achieve policy objectives in the development of a competitive market for VET services
· Strengthening VET in schools activity in support of the government’s policy objectives
· Delivering higher education programs
· Delivering educational programs and services to international students residing in South Australia
· Providing a financial return on fee for service activities delivered in Australia; and any other VET commercial ventures as expressly identified in the Minister-approved Business and Strategic Plans.
Our organisational structure and executive team as at 30 June 2019[1]
During 2018-19 the following changes occurred to TAFE SA’s structure and objectives as a result of internal reviews:
· A new Chief Executive was appointed in January 2019 and commenced in April 2019.
· A number of key executive positions were vacant at various points in 2018-19, resulting in directorates having their reporting lines move to executives at a similar level while recruitment was undertaken.
During 2018-19, the TAFE SA Board of Directors comprised:
Rick Persse (to December 2018, Chair to November 2018)
Jacqueline McGill (from 15 October 2018, Chair from December 2018)
Andrew Marshall (from 12 November 2018)
Craig Fowler (from 15 October 2018)
David Hughes (from 20 May 2019)
Jennifer Cleary (from 12 November 2018)
Joanne Denley (from 12 November 2018)
John Chapman (to December 2018)
Judith Curran (from 12 November 2018)
Lucinda Byers (to October 2018)
Sam Scammell (from 15 October 2018)
Tammie Pribanic (to April 2019)
Tim Goodes (to December 2018)
Clare Feszczak (Minister’s representative) (from 6 September 2018)
Greg Fenn (Treasurer’s representative).
Our Minister
The Hon John Gardner MP is the Minister for Education.
TAFE SA does not administer any legislation; however, the TAFE SA Act 2012 is administered by the Department for Education.
Department for Education
· 61,400 students undertook training with TAFE SA in the 2018 calendar year.
· 6,070 students studied an apprenticeship or traineeship at TAFE SA in the 2018 calendar year.
· 85 per cent of TAFE SA’s graduates were satisfied with the overall quality of their training.
· 84 per cent of TAFE SA’s graduates were employed or in further study after training.
Agency contribution to whole of Government objectives
Key objective
Agency’s contribution
More jobs
· TAFE SA:
- provide relevant and accessible high-quality training linked to employment outcomes
- train 25% of the government’s target of an additional 20,800 apprentices and trainees in South Australia over four years
- deliver contextualised training to support the defence industries
- support South Australia to meet its growth targets
- participate in the Jobs4Youth training initiative.
Lower costs
· TAFE SA continued its transformation as a viable, sustainable and accountable public institution by:
- attracting a range of non-government sources of revenue from fee for service and international students
- continuing to review course offerings and course fee structures
- offering nimble and flexible solutions to the training needs of its business partners
- strengthening its engagement with industry.
Better Services
· TAFE SA underwent fresh leadership in the form of a new Board and Chief Executive, both of which are central to TAFE SA’s commitment to providing better services to the South Australian community.
· TAFE SA renewed its focus on delivering high-quality outcomes for students including:
- introduction of a dedicated complaint management system, enabling continuous service improvement, benchmarking and reporting
- rolling out a comprehensive quality system implementation program, driving improvements in the quality and consistency of learning and assessment materials
- opening the Advanced Welder Training Centre at Regency Campus, with 12 welding simulators enabling detailed and instantaneous feedback to students on their performance and increasing the rate at which students acquire understanding of how they can approve
- agreeing to the terms of a partnership agreement with the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) to support improved access and choice to all South Australians intending to undertake vocational education and training
- updating training and education credentials for education staff engaged in the training and assessing of accredited programs.
Agency achievement of A Fresh Start for TAFE SA objectives in 2018-19
Activity
Status
· Implement quality initiatives, including Academic Board
Complete
· Updated performance standards and improved performance management
· Improved reporting and performance monitoring
· Analysis of courses, markets and course fee structures
Ongoing
· Delegations updated
Due for completion 2019-20
· Updated Ministerial Charter and Performance Statement
· Appointment of new Board
· Appointment of chief executive
· Organisational development and redesign
· New funding model in place
· New strategic plan
Due for release 1 October 2019
Indicators
Performance[3]
(Numbers rounded)
· Number of people participating in VET in South Australia through TAFE SA.
· 61,400
· Apprentices and trainees studying at TAFE SA.
· 6,070
· % of TAFE SA VET graduates who improved their employment circumstances after training.
· 57%
· % of TAFE SA VET graduates employed or in further study after training.
· 84%
· % of TAFE SA VET graduates satisfied with the overall quality of training.
· 85%
· TAFE SA load pass rate (a measure of the number of students who pass their assessment).
· Number of qualification completions through TAFE SA.
· 14,400
Program name
Performance
Jobs4Youth Traineeship Program
In 2018-19, five people completed a Jobs4Youth traineeship at TAFE SA, with another person completing the traineeship in August 2019.
Of these six trainees, five have gained further employment with TAFE SA while one opted to resign and undertake further study.
Four of the trainees were female and two were male.
Performance management and development system
TAFE SA’s Workforce Learning Management System.
Approximately 88% of TAFE SA staff had an approved Performance Management and Development Plan uploaded into the system (an increase of 53% from the previous year).
Work Health, Safety and Injury Management (WHS&IM) System Refresh Program
Benchmarking and realignment of all elements of the TAFE SA WHS&IM systems to International Standard ISO45001 was underway and is due for completion by December 2019. The aim is to achieve best practice and enable a safer environment for staff, students and visitors to TAFE SA campuses and delivery sites.
Plant Safety Project
All items of plant, for example machinery and equipment, have been inspected with mitigations implemented so no item of plant is operating with a risk rating higher than moderate (no high or extreme risk plant in operation).
An Executive Strategic Plant Safety Committee has been established and is overseeing the Strategic Plant Safety Strategy 2019-2021. The strategy will result in best practice in plant management for whole of plant life-cycle.
Emergency Response Program
New site-specific emergency manuals were tested, and improvements were made. All sites are now fully prepared for identified emergencies. A new communication system has also been introduced at all campuses and emergency personnel trained.
Substance Management and Noise Mitigation Programs
A detailed audit of all substances (chemicals and dangerous goods) commenced and is due for completion by the end of 2019 with a new substance management system to be introduced by December 2019.
A detailed audit of noisy environments at campuses was undertaken during 2018-19, with a report identifying better noise management and hearing preservation practices. Recommendations from the audit report are being introduced during 2019-20.
Continuous Improvement in Mental Health
Mental Health First Aid Training has been implemented across TAFE SA with future courses to be introduced in late 2019. A Mental Health First Aid Response Group will be established to complement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) processes.
Mature Workforce Enhancement Program
A detailed audit to identify opportunities to create safer environments for mature workforces (defined as 45 and older) was undertaken. Approximately 90% of the audit’s recommendations have been implemented, with full implementation expected by September 2019.
Sustainable Return to Work (RTW) Project
TAFE SA commenced partnering with Return to Work SA to critically and forensically review all injury management activities to identify future opportunities in reducing harm. Opportunities for advancement will be implemented during 2019-20.
Workplace injury claims
2018-19
2017-18
% Change (+ / -)
Total new workplace injury claims
27
33
-19%
Fatalities
0
0%
Seriously injured workers*
Significant injuries (where lost time exceeds a working week, expressed as frequency rate per 1000 FTE)
2.27
6.36
-65%
*number of claimants assessed during the reporting period as having a whole person impairment of 30% or more under the Return to Work Act 2014 (Part 2 Division 5)
Work health and safety regulations
Number of notifiable incidents (Work Health and Safety Act 2012, Part 3)
3
7
-58%
Number of provisional improvement, improvement and prohibition notices (Work Health and Safety Act 2012 Sections 90, 191 and 195)
1
+100%
Return to work costs**
Total gross workers compensation expenditure ($)
1,001,790
1,144,543
-12.5%
Income support payments – gross ($)
167,864
376,955
-55.5%
**before third party recovery
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-whs-historical-trend
Executive classification
Number of executives (FTE employed as at 30 June 2019[4])
SAES1
15
SAES2
4
EXEC
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-executive-employment-historical-trend
The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has a workforce information page that provides further information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.
The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2018-19 are attached to this report.
Statement of Comprehensive Income
2018-19 Budget
$000s
2018-19 Actual
Variation
2017-18 Actual
Expenses
350,293
366,308
(16,015)
359,371
Revenues
105,619
90,769
(14,850)
92,604
Net cost of providing services
(244,674)
(275,539)
(30,865)
(266,767)
Net Revenue from SA Government
245,085
267,301
22,216
250,505
Net result
411
(8,238)
(8,649)
(16,262)
Total Comprehensive Result
Statement of Financial Position
Current assets
96,191
81,026
15,165
75,021
Non-current assets
24,270
24,740
(470)
27,088
Total assets
120,461
105,766
14,695
102,609
Current liabilities
42,292
47,346
(5,054)
41,391
Non-current liabilities
64,091
51,969
12,122
47,599
Total liabilities
106,383
99,315
7,068
88,990
Net assets
14,078
6,451
7,627
13,619
Equity
Consultants disclosure
The following is a summary of external consultants that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for the work undertaken during the financial year.
Consultancies with a contract value below $10,000 each
Consultancies
Purpose
$ Actual payment
All consultancies below $10,000 each - combined
Various
$7,791.80
Consultancies with a contract value above $10,000 each
Bold IT Pty Ltd
Classification and reclassification assessment of role descriptors
$10,862.50
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Development of Business Continuity Support/ Emergency Management Response
$83,198.00
KPMG
Validation support in developing funding model
$20,500.00
Mercer Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd
Consulting on review of executive classifications
$15,262.00
Metric Marketing Pty Ltd
Event management, external communications and marketing expertise
$54,862.50
Total
$184,685.00
Data for previous years is available at: http://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-consultants-historical-trend
See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance for total value of consultancy contracts across the South Australian Public Sector.
The following is a summary of external contractors that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for work undertaken during the financial year.
Contractors with a contract value below $10,000
Contractors
All contractors below $10,000 each - combined
$571,876.29
Contractors with a contract value above $10,000 each
ABFA Pty Ltd
Validation services
$10,500.00
Artis Group Pty Ltd
Enterprise Customer Relationship Management software platform configuration
$35,671.82
Auslan Services
Interpreting services
$104,018.02
Bee Squared Consultants
Review of program management and development of report
$12,000.00
Blackbocks Pty Ltd
Production and development of artwork
$164,308.55
Castro Luis Paulo
Theatre director services
$16,000.00
Choreographers Organization
Teaching and staging production
Cloud Industry Group Pty Ltd
Development and support - Digital Platforms
$19,575.00
Corey McMahon
Guest director and contract teaching - Adelaide College of the Arts
$10,800.00
D2V Entertainment Pty Ltd
Video production and editing services
$22,585.92
Daylight Breaks Pty ltd
Video production - defence industry
$10,600.00
Deakin University
Interagency training course
$20,681.81
Deloitte Risk Advisory Pty Ltd
Information Security Manual Readiness Assessment Services
$33,083.53
Department of Home Affairs
Translating and interpreting services
11,930.99
Empired Ltd
CRM assessments and recommendations
$12,175.00
E-oz Energy Skills Australia
e-Profiling Registration Database Management
$47,756.33
Ernst & Young
Process optimisation advisory services relating to project management and business analyst support
$286,418.70
Reconfiguration of student registration for Commonwealth funding and support.
$184,000.00
Request for proposal preparation for Electronic Training Plan
$155,014.14
High-level report summary of Framework Assessment
$29,000.00
Escient Pty Ltd
Quality system implementation and delivery
$48,859.38
Finesses Model Agency
Fashion modelling services
$17,383.25
Gartner Australasia Pty Ltd
Research and advisory services
$197,623.00
GH Planning Pty Ltd
Community engagement planning
$16,800.00
Glen J Films
Film production
$38,292.00
Governance Matters
Professional recruitment services
$36,160.00
Green Triangle Electronics
Installation of data points at Mount Gambier campus
$17,491.70
Hays Specialist Recruitment
$15,377.18
Integrated Global Partners Pty Ltd
Executive Capability Feedback and Support
$18,250.00
JFE Global Pty Ltd
$88,227.45
Joanne Stone
Teaching - dance workshops
$13,000.00
Julia Farr Association
Facilitate peer leaders and aspirations project
$23,581.81
Klevar Group Pty Ltd
Design and implement course components
$19,665.00
Lateral Vision Pty Ltd
Development of virtual learning training resources
$29,725.00
Learning Information Systems
Digital platform for international students
$48,400.00
Magic Child Limited
Course facilitator services.
$24,338.30
Manpower Services Aust Pty Ltd
$25,637.60
Manufacturing Learning
Audit and review of compliance - national code of practice
$11,730.07
Mark Hunwicks Education
Review of assessments
$14,238.29
Mash Design
ACR - Creative Art Design
$19,896.00
M.J. Johnson and Associates
Educational staff professional development
$51,491.35
Motiv Brand Design
Marketing - Logo/branding services
$40,033.50
NEC Australia Pty Ltd
Skype for Business Project
$24,218.47
Noetic Solutions Pty Ltd
Organisational structure design project
$27,272.73
Nucleus Media Australia Pty Ltd
Corporate video production
$27,650.00
Outcomex Pty Ltd
ACR - ICT Incident Management
$14,994.00
Paradigm Management Consulting
External training provider for Certificate IV
$20,683.23
Procurement Partners
Procurement profile project and procurement services
$53,175.00
PwC
Review and advise on educational program consultancy
$107,750.09
Quantum Information
Installation of student placement system
$84,447.74
QS Enrolment Solutions (Aust)
Enquiry and offer management fees
$189,406.29
Regional Development Australia (Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula)
Multi Trades Project
$30,548.00
Rowdy Group
Recruitment campaign marketing
$46,938.00
SA Power Networks
Provision of courses
$58,000.00
Saudi Telecom Company
Brokerage on sale of IP address
$35,508.65
Servicing SA Pty Ltd
Periodical cleaning of six learning centres – APY Lands.
$18,300.00
Shopee Singapore Private Ltd
$18,657.62
Sinai Innovatech Pty Ltd
Brokerage services to source business for TAFE SA study tours
$14,818.18
Square Holes
Online surveys and focus groups/ segmentation analysis/interviews
$115,100.00
Studiosity Pty Ltd
Online learning support program
$94,666.67
Tasman Human Resource
HR services provided in relation to international partnership project
$34,680.00
TMI Management Solutions
Review and advice on curriculum
$11,617.00
Underwood Executive Pty Ltd
$48,342.22
VETASSESS
Teacher portfolio assessment marking
$63,386.90
wwLearn
Delivery of VET courses
$24,500.00
$3,178,981.48
Data for previous years is available at: http://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-contractors-historical-trend
The details of South Australian Government-awarded contracts for goods, services, and works are displayed on the SA Tenders and Contracts website. View the agency list of contracts.
The website also provides details of across government contracts.
Category/nature of fraud
Number of instances
Nil to report
0.
NB: Fraud reported includes actual incidents of fraud.
TAFE SA has implemented the following strategies to control and prevent fraud:
· Establishment of an Audit and Risk Committee, a subcommittee of the TAFE SA Board
· Fraud and Corruption Policy and Procedure
· Fraud control plan
· Fraud awareness training
· Fraud risk assessments
· Internal control framework
· Internal and external audit.
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-fraud-historical-trend
There were no occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993:
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-whistleblowers-historical-trend
TAFE SA supports and encourages staff with carer responsibilities to discuss their circumstances and working arrangements needs with their manager. TAFE SA also promotes the Carers Recognition Act 2005 and the South Australian Carers Charter.
A link to the Carers Recognition Act 2005 is available on TAFE SA’s intranet.
Complaint categories
Sub-categories
Example
Number of Complaints
Professional behaviour
Staff
· Failure to demonstrate values
· Lack of action
· Lack of knowledge
51
Communication
Quality
· Poor communication
108
Service delivery
Systems; services; processes
· System inadequate
· Service difficult to find
· Processing error
96
Policy
Content
· Policy difficult to understand
Service quality
Information; responsiveness
· Lack of punctuality
· Difficult to understand
· Service doesn’t meet customer needs
105
No case to answer
· Customer misunderstanding
· Redirected to another agency
43
404
Additional Metrics
Number of positive feedback comments
19
TAFE SA receives additional positive feedback through the annual learner engagement survey processes conducted October/November and reported to the Australian Quality Skills Authority.
Number of negative feedback comments
623*
Total number of feedback comments
642**
% complaints resolved within policy timeframes
· Less than 14 days (Level 1 complaints) approximately 66%
· Less than 30 days (Level 1-3 complaints) approximately 86%.
*. Introduction of the Complaint Management System has resulted in more robust reporting than in the 2017-18 Annual Report. The 623 count comprises the 404 count from the previous table plus 219 complaints in TAFE SA-specific categories (Compliance, Financial, Training and Assessment, and Other).
** The 642 count comprises the 623 negative feedback comments, less the 19 positive feedback comments.
Data for previous years is available at: https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/tafe-sa-complaints-historical-trend
Service improvements for period
Service improvements that responded to customer complaints or feedback
In July 2018, TAFE SA introduced a dedicated complaint management system (CMS) called Talk, Tell, Transform enabling continuous service improvement, benchmarking and reporting.
The CMS allows customers to lodge complaints online in over 100 languages and provides clear advice on how their complaints will be handled.
Executives and managers can access a dashboard to view live data from the CMS specific to their areas of responsibility.
Service improvements implemented following the introduction of the CMS include establishment of B-Pay arrangements for students and removal of minimum processing fees and charges.
Appendix 1: Audited financial statements 2018-19
Appendix 2: TAFE SA Ministerial Charter (2018-19)
[1] The executive team comprised 23 FTE, including three vacant positions, for a total 20 FTE employed as at 30 June 2019.
[2] All figures are rounded.
[3] All figures are rounded.
[4] The executive team comprised 23 FTE, including three vacant positions, for a total 20 FTE employed as at 30 June 2019.
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