Annual Report 2020 - 2021

TAFE SA

2020-21 Annual Report

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:  30 September 2021 

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 the TAFE SA by:

David Coltman
Chief Executive

Date: 30 September 2021               Signature:  

The establishment of a TAFE SA Teaching and Learning Strategy in 2019-20 is now firmly embedded within TAFE SA. This strategy positions the skills required for participation in the 21st century workplace alongside the technical competence demanded by training packages and industry, while also articulating the human skills required for our graduates to be successful.

Our Quality Framework has established the way TAFE SA can move from compliance to quality and, ultimately, innovation in its teaching and learning delivery. This framework is recognised as sector-leading and offers the appropriate lens to review the relevance of courses that TAFE SA can deliver.

With a focus on innovation, TAFE SA is exploring course development in emerging sectors such as hydrogen and nanofabrication, as well as the use of digital credentialing. TAFE SA is ready to deliver nationally leading programs in these areas in 2021.

Keeping students and staff safe is always TAFE SA’s priority and promise and this has resulted in TAFE SA transforming its Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) to very high standards. In July 2020, TAFE SA was externally audited by OCPSE/Deloitte through the Verified Self-Assessment Audit (VSA) process and assessed as performing at the highest maturity level of Safety Leader.

In addition to TAFE SA’s focus on providing a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, the organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2020-21 is focused on reflecting the diverse communities that we serve, building diversity and inclusion capability and knowledge.

Throughout our response to COVID-19 we have remained focused on delivering education and training across industry sectors and maintaining our commitment to successful outcomes for our students, staff and stakeholders.

TAFE SA’s future will continue to be shaped by the change and challenge we have all experienced. This will continue to inform our plans, and result in bolder future for TAFE SA, as the public provider of vocational education and training for the people of South Australia.

David Coltman
Chief Executive
TAFE SA

Contents

• Overview: about the agency.
  • Our strategic focus.
  • Our organisational structure.
    • Changes to the agency.
  • Our Minister
  • Legislation administered by the agency.
  • Other related agencies (within the Minister’s areas of responsibility)
• The agency’s performance.
  • Performance at a glance.
  • Agency contribution to whole of Government objectives.
  • Agency specific objectives and performance.
  • Corporate performance summary.
  • Agency performance management and development systems.
  • Work health, safety and return to work programs.
  • Executive employment in the agency
• Financial performance.
  • Financial performance at a glance.
  • Consultants disclosure.
  • Contractors disclosure.
• Risk management
  • Risk and audit at a glance.
  • Fraud detected in the agency.
  • Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud.
  • Public interest disclosure.
• Reporting required under any other act or regulation.
  • Reporting required under the Carers Recognition Act 2005 (SA).
  • Reporting required under the Public Corporations Act 1993 (SA).
• Public complaints.
  
  • Number of public complaints reported.
  • Additional Metrics
  • Service Improvements
  • Compliance Statement

Overview: about the agency

Our strategic focus

Our organisational structure

Changes to the agency

In 2020-21, the following changes to the organisation’s structure and objectives occurred as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes:

• Consolidation of five educational business units to three:
  • Future Industries and Trade - Combination of the previous Mining, Engineering, Transport, Building, Construction and Primary Industries
  • Health, Community and Foundation Skills - Combination of the previous Community Services, Health, Lifestyle and Foundation Studies
  • Business and Arts - Combination of the previous Tourism, Hospitality, Creative Arts, Business, Justice and IT Studies
• Individual workgroup reviews in the areas of:
  • Le Cordon Bleu
  • Hospitality
  • Le Cordon Bleu
  • Hospitality
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Meat Studies
  • Applied Foods
  • Fashion
  • Business Services Studies
  • Marketing Studies
  • Aquaculture
  • Financial Services Studies
  • Management Studies
  • ICT Services Leadership
  • Children’s Education and Care
  • Individual Client Support and Allied Health
  • Fitness, Sport and Recreation, First Aid and Firearms

Our Minister

The Hon John Gardner MP is the Minister for Education.

TAFE SA 2020-21 Board of Directors

As at 30 June 2021, the TAFE SA Board of Directors comprised:

• Ms Joanne Denley (Appointed Chair from October 2020)
• Dr Jennifer Cleary
• Ms Judith Curran
• Dr Craig Fowler
• Mr David Hughes
• Mr Andrew Marshall AM
• Mr Sam Scammell.

The Ministerial Representatives are:

• Ms Jane Burton, Treasurer Representative
• Ms Hannah Treloar, Minister for Education Representative

Legislation administered by the agency

TAFE SA Act 2012

TAFE SA Regulations 2012

Other related agencies (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)

Australian Children’s Performing Arts Company (Windmill Theatre Co) Carclew Youth Arts

Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee Child Development Council

Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Commissioner for Children and Young People Department for Education

Education and Early Childhood Services Registration and Standards Board of South Australia (Education Standards Board)

History Trust of South Australia SACE Board of South Australia

Teachers Registration Board of South Australia Higher education administrative oversight:

• Flinders University
• Torrens University
• University of Adelaide
• University of South Australia

The agency’s performance

Performance at a glance

TAFE SA is committed to implementing a range of activities, strategies, programs and initiatives to achieve our objectives in line with our purpose, vision and strategic goals.

Highlights for 2020-21 include:

• TAFE SA continuing to demonstrate its commitment to providing high quality VET training in line with the standards required by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
• The successful continued implementation of the ‘TAFE SA Strategic Plan 2019-22’, with a focus on students, high-quality training and creating a sustainable organisation.
• Increasing student engagement and feedback with the development and implementation of the Student Voice Forum which allows for engagement with a diverse range of students to align TAFE SA service delivery with the needs of students.
• Maintaining the delivery of services to students during the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, utilising learning technology to support blended delivery methods for students across the state.
• Generating awareness and interest in growth sectors including Defence with the launch of the naval shipbuilding traineeship to develop the skilled workforce needed to construct the highly sophisticated Attack-class submarines.
• Alignment of the TAFE SA training profile with the needs of the current, future and emerging workforce requirements.
• The successful launch of the TAFE SA Reconciliation Action Plan in June 2021 with members of the TAFE SA Board and Aboriginal Elders present.
• Successful development of partnerships and collaborative opportunities with a broad range of stakeholders to increase opportunities for students and industry.
• Delivering a more seamless customer experience with the implementation of a new integrated enquiry management system for all customer enquiries.
• Being awarded the highest safety category of Safety Leader, from a Work, Health and Safety perspective.
• Recognition of the quality training provided by TAFE SA, with participation in a number of competitions and exhibits such as Tasting Australia, Roo-Newable Fashion Design and Visual Arts Graduate Exhibit.

Agency contribution to whole of Government objectives

TAFE SA contributed to the overall achievements of the South Australian Government – more jobs, lower costs and better services – as follows:

Agency specific objectives and performance

Corporate performance summary

Agency specific non-financial objectives and performance (2020 calendar year) as outlined in the TAFE SA Performance Statement (1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021)

• TAFE SA has achieved non-financial objectives and performance results within the target threshold of 5% for all indicators. Significantly, the level of graduate satisfaction has improved compared to last year.

Agency specific budget financial performance indicators as outlined in TAFE SA Performance Statement (1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021)

Agency performance management and development systems

*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)

**before third party recovery

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory.

Executive employment in the agency

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory.

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.

Financial performance

Financial performance at a glance

The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2020-2021 are attached to this report.

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.

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory

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.

Risk management

Risk and audit at a glance

The Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) provides advice to the TAFE SA Board on TAFE SA’s risk, control and compliance framework and its external accountability responsibilities.

The ARC comprises four members of the TAFE SA Board, with regular attendees including the Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer, Internal Audit and representatives from the Auditor-General’s Department. The Committee met on five occasions during 2020-21.

During 2020-21, the ARC has focused on the following matters:

• Corporate governance, including the TAFE SA risk management framework and the embedding of risk practices across the organisation
• Legislative compliance and oversight of the internal policy and procedures working group outcomes
• Internal audit coverage including approving the annual internal audit plan and consideration of internal control weaknesses identified in internal audit reports and the management actions to be taken to address the findings
• External audit including consideration of internal control weaknesses identified by the Auditor-General and the management actions to be taken to address the findings.

Fraud detected in the agency

NB: Fraud reported includes actual and reasonably suspected incidents of fraud.

TAFE SA uses a number of internal strategies to control and prevent fraud.

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory

Public interest disclosure

Number of occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018:

Zero.

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory

Note: Disclosure of public interest information was previously reported under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 and repealed by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 on 1/7/2019.

Reporting required under any other act or regulation

Reporting required under the Carers’ Recognition Act 2005 (SA)

TAFE SA supports and encourages staff with carer responsibilities to discuss their circumstances and working arrangement need with their manager or director.

A link to the Carers Recognition Act 2005 is available for staff on TAFE SA’s intranet to understand Carer's responsibilities and obligations.

TAFE SA supports the Carers Recognition Act 2005 by ensuring employees have access to carers leave provisions as per the Enterprise Agreements.

Reporting under the Public Corporations Act 1993 (SA)

As at June 30, 2021, 30 disclosures were made by Board Directors and retained on the standing register of Board Directors’ declaration of interests during the reporting period.

On two (2) occasions, Board Directors made or reiterated declarations of an interest in a matter which was the subject of Board consideration and/or a decision.

TAFE SA received an exemption under Section 4 of the Land Tax Act 1936 as it is a State Government entity. TAFE SA was also exempt from the Dividend and Income Tax Equivalents (ITE) payments.

Data for previous years is available at: South Australian Government Data Directory.

Service Improvements

TAFE SA undertook an annual review of its complaint management system (CMS) to ensure it was operating as intended. The CMS enables managers to access a dashboard to view live data specific to areas of responsibility.

TAFE SA has undertaken routine and ad-hoc reporting and analysis using CMS data during the financial year, which has resulted in informed decision making across a range of operational, strategic and project change initiatives.

Other improvements resulting from complaints or consumer suggestions include:

• Publishing simplified fact sheet versions of policies and procedures to ensure clear, concise, and accessible information.
• Production of a student facing website to assist with ease of navigating information and notices targeted at current students.
• Automated parchment issuance to customers who meet eligibility criteria.
• Improved information to consumers deciding to enter a study path including clarification of course pre-requisites, criteria for entry requirements and assumed knowledge.
• Delivery of workshops for education staff to improve, establish and maintain an appropriate learning and working environment for people with Autism in liaison with Autism SA.

Compliance Statement