Ms Lisa Paul, Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training
The 2006–07 year saw education, science and training take centre stage in Australia’s economic reform agenda. A wide range of initiatives announced in the 2007–08 Budget build on what was already a strong investment in learning, skills acquisition and knowledge building, and will make a significant contribution to Australia’s long-term productivity and prosperity. This is a major step towards achieving the department’s vision, Education, Science and Training—Creating Australia’s Future.
The 2007–08 Budget announcements were the culmination of strong policy development and engagement throughout the year. The budget specifically recognised that education is the fundamental and essential building block for Australia’s ongoing prosperity.
The Budget delivered $5 billion for a perpetual Higher Education Endowment Fund to fund capital works, research infrastructure in universities, as well as $4 billion over four years for new initiatives in higher education, schools, science, indigenous education, vocational and further education and research.
In 2006–07, the department also continued to play an important role supporting the agenda of the Council of Australian Governments. Of particular note was our contribution to the Understanding Skills Shortages Better initiative, and specific reform proposals for early childhood under the National Reform Agenda.
During the year every area of the department delivered major new policy initiatives and programmes. In all instances DEST staff have risen to the challenge in a professional and dedicated manner and the results reflect that.
Our ongoing commitment to people—the people we serve, the people we collaborate with and the people within our department—is critical to achieving those good results and maintaining a positive culture within the department. As an organisation we are constantly challenging ourselves to find ways to take DEST to the next level. In 2006–07 this approach meant being more proactive in developing new policy ideas. The next level for caring for our people meant getting better at recruitment and empowerment as well as building on our reputation as an employer of choice. In responding to the large number of new initiatives announced during the year we also took our programme implementation to the next level.
Some examples of the good results DEST’s approach has produced are described in the rest of my overview. These by no means cover all our work!
During the year we farewelled the Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, and welcomed a new Minister for Vocational and Further Education, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP. We continued to support the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and our Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Pat Farmer MP.