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Education Reforms - Post year-10 - 26 March 2015
Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN
[2.31 p.m.]
With regard to post-year 10 education reforms:
(1) Each school was to be resourced to employ up to five new teachers, and an additional staffing allocation of at least a 0.5 FTE in order to prepare. As first term is coming to an end, was this sufficient for those schools in implementing the transition, and if not, what will be provided to the next schools?
(2) What is the detail of the ‘strategic plan’ mentioned in the question without notice in the House of Assembly by Ms Sarah Courtney MP of the Minister for Education and Training on 3 March 2015 and can a copy be tabled?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.
(1) Yes, at this stage schools are managing within the resources allocated and are being constantly monitored by the Department of Education to ensure they are supported. Other resources outside of the package include support from local colleges. Any new schools to extend as a result of this program will receive the same resourcing and support as those announced initially.
(2) During 3 March sitting of the House of Assembly, in response to a question from Sarah Courtney MP, member for Bass, the Minister for Education and Training said:
We have also begun a strategic plan for reforming education in this state in consultation with the Tasmanian community. The review of the Tasmanian Education Act is generating debate across Tasmania which is good. It extends across all aspects of education from starting and leaving ages to behaviour management in schools. I am extremely proud of that. There have been 230 submissions to the review and these along with further consultations will all be considered in the drafting of the legislation.
Ms Forrest - There is no 'strategic plan' as such?
Dr GOODWIN - No.
Education Reforms - Post year 10 - 24th March 15.
Ms Forrest to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN
[2.31 p.m.]
With regard to post‑year 10 education reforms -
(1) What, if any, criteria formed the basis of the 'analysis and discussion' by the Implementation Taskforce and the Department of Education in selecting schools to be the first transition to offering years 11 and 12 in 2015?
(2) What year 11 and 12 subjects/courses were offered in each school and how were they taught?
(3) What were the enrolments in each school and each course that was offered?
(4) What is the planned time table for each high school to begin offering years 11 and 12?
(5) What, if any, additional staffing, resources and infrastructure is to be provided to each of these schools and when will it be provided?
(6) Are all year 11 and 12 courses to be taught as separate classes or are they combined with others?
(7) How much teaching by distance or other methods will be involved?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.
(1) The Implementation Taskforce considered the 'readiness' of each school against a number of criteria. Readiness criteria included:
· the degree of community support
· the degree of planning already undertaken by the school in relation to delivering years 11 and 12
· the nature of the school and local business and industry links
· the availability of necessary infrastructure
· the availability of sufficient bandwidth
· presence of a potential student cohort
· possibility of delivering vocational education and training options
· initial indications of student interest in undertaking years 11 and 12 locally.
The information about each school's readiness was gathered through a school visit and discussion with school and community personnel. A draft report was then forwarded to the principal for verification. This information was then presented to the Taskforce, which then discussed the relative readiness of each school, leading to recommendations to the minister for his decision.
(2) The information about specific courses offered will be available after verified school census data becomes available in late April. It is possible that some students will change before that time.
(3) Verified enrolment data will be available following term 1 census which is likely to be finalised in late April.
(4) Each high school has its own timetable constructed around the nature and size of the student cohort and range of subjects offered. This initiative will be implemented over a 10-year time frame. The point of entry of each high school into the Extending Year 11/12 program is dependent on local community interest, that is, when the community indicates through an expression of interest it is ready to begin delivery.
(5) Each base school which has begun delivery has received an additional 0.5 AST (Advanced Skills Teacher) for the first 30 students to assist with planning and administration. Schools with combined programs receive 0.6 (with an extra 0.1 for each additional 30 students). Each base school receives an additional 1.0, a start-up grant of $10 000, and extra staffing based on the enrolments into years 11 and 12, allocated on the same basis as colleges. On top of this base schools receive an extra 0.25 FTE to support VET delivery. This resource package will continue for phase 2 schools
They are also funded under the implementation process per student as per all other year 11/12 enrolments. Support is also provided by the local college, and a project manager is providing direct support to all schools in the program.
(6) As this initiative is aimed at those students who ordinarily would not go on to years 11 and 12, the aim is to provide as much flexibility as possible in course options to attract those students to enrol. The subjects taught and the mode of delivery, that is the way the subject is delivered, including whether they are combined or separate classes, will vary from school to school. Decisions about how a course is offered will reflect student numbers, availability of a specialist teacher, either locally or in another school, the quality of technology and available bandwidth.
(7) As per question 6, the degree to which distance learning modes are used will vary from year to year. Decisions about distance learning modes or other delivery options are made after considering student course choices, the student cohort size, availability of teachers, course material, and bandwidth.
Mineral Resources Tasmania - Relocation - 18 March 2015
Ms Forrest question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN
[2.30 p.m.]
With regard to the relocation of Mineral Resources Tasmania from Hobart to Burnie:
(1) What works are currently being carried out in regard to the relocation?
(2) How much of the allocated funding for the relocation has been spent and for what purpose?
(3) Have any staff or resources been relocated already? If so, what and how many staff?
(4) Have staff been provided with an allowance or financial support to assist with the relocation? If so, what funds have been provided and for what purpose?
(5) Have staff raised concerns about the relocation? If so, how have concerns been managed?
(6) Is the relocation on track to be completed within the four-year time frame originally proposed and if not, why not?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.
(1) Mineral Resources Tasmania is currently in the planning phase of the relocation.
(2) No funds allocated have been spent.
(3) Consistent with the planning phase of the process, no staff or resources have yet been relocated.
(4) As MRT is still in the planning phase, no allowances or financial support have been allocated to staff.
(5) There is ongoing consultation with staff regarding the relocation.
(6) As per the Government's 365-day plan, the relocation of MRT to Burnie will commence in the December quarter of 2015.
Permanent Native Forest Estate Policy - Review - 17 March 2015
Ms Forrest question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN
[2.36 p.m.]
With regard to the Permanent Native Forest Estate policy:
(1) When was a review last carried out;
(2) When is the next scheduled review;
(3) Will current and/or future reviews be advertised for public comment and what community consultation will occur?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.
(1) The last substantive review of the Permanent Native Forest Estate Policy was in 2011
(2) The current version of the policy requires it to be reviewed in 2015 which will occur concurrent with the third five-yearly review of the Regional Forest Agreement. In December 2014, the Minister for Resources advised key stakeholders that the policy review was anticipated to be in the first half of 2015.
(3) The 2015 review of the policy will be advertised for public comment. This is expected to be through advertisements in Tasmanian newspapers, via information on the Department of State Growth website and via direct correspondence with key stakeholders.
Forest Practices Code Review - 17 March 2015
Ms Forrest question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN
[2.34 p.m.]
(1) With regard to the review of the Forest Practices Code that was placed on hold during the development of the TFA, has the review been recommenced?
(2) If so, at what stage is the review? Is there, or will there be, opportunity for community input and consultation with community-based stakeholders?
(3) If not, is a review of the Forest Practices Code to be undertaken, and if so, when?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.
(1) The FPA has recently completed a review of the Code, taking into account the change in industry and legislative circumstances that have occurred over the last three years. The review was considered, and outcomes endorsed, by the FPA Board and Forest Practices Advisory Council at the end of last month.
(2) The review has resulted in an intention to amend the Code by adding a policy to guide the application of the Code together with minor updates to references to organisations, documents and terminology. No other changes to the technical provisions of the Code are warranted at this time. However, improvements to the planning and implementation of forest practices will continue to be made through the comprehensive planning tools that support the Code. The proposed amendments are being publicised through the FPA website and were advertised in statewide newspapers on Saturday 14 March, with the public being given an opportunity to make written comments or objections to the FPA by the 15 May 2015.
As required under Section 32 (1) of the Forest Practices Act, the FPA has already consulted with Private Forests Tasmania, the Forest Practices Advisory Council and Forestry Tasmania, who support the amendment.
Community Involvement
- Patron North West Bird Club
- Former Patron Mount Lyell Apt Railway Society (now disbanded)
- Australian Childhood Foundation 'Childhood Hero'
- Rotary Club of Wynyard Honorary Member
- Lifeline Bronze Sponsor
- Friend of the Tasmanian Association of Community Houses
- Former Honorary Vice President Burnie United Soccer & Sporting Club Inc
- Official Ambassador of Keep Watch (Prevent your child from Drowning)
- Current Honorary Vice President Burnie United Soccer & Sporting Club Inc (2012)
Current and Previous Support
- 2007 International Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference
- Aurora Disability Services Appeal Fund
- Australian Journal of Mineralogy
- 'Bloomin' Tulips Festival
- Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
- Burnie Agricultural and Pastoral Society
- Burnie Amateur Swimming Club
- Burnie City Eisteddfod
- Burnie Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Burnie Division of Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Burnie Probus Club
- Circular Head Agricultural Society
- Diabetes Australia , Tasmania
- King Island Agricultural Show
- Lake Burbury King Picnic Day
- Library Aid International
- LJ Hooker Wynyard Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser
- Menzies Research Institute
- Mount Lyell Abt Railway Society (disbanded November 2011)
- Natone Primary School 50th Anniversary Reunion
- Preolenna Mothers Group
- Queenstown Landcare Group
- Redwater Creek Steam & Heritage Society
- St Joseph School Rosebery Parents & Friends
- Sexual Assault Support Service - Galileo House
- Southern Cross Care (Tas) Inc Yaraandoo Auxiliary
- UNAA - Tasmania
- Wynyard Agricultural Society
- Wynyard Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Wynyard Division of Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Wynyard Garden Club
- Wynyard Historical Society
- Wynyard Ladies Probus Club
- Wynyard Lions Club
- Wynyard Meals on Wheels
- Wynyard Neighbourhood Watch
Murchison Schools
- Boat Harbour Primary
- Burnie High
- Burnie Primary
- Circular Head Christian
- Cooee Primary
- Edith Creek Primary
- Forest Primary
- Hellyer College
- King Island District High
- Marist Regional College
- Montello Primary
- Mountain Heights District High
- Redpa Primary
- Rosebery District
- Seabrook Christian
- Smithton High
- Smithton Primary
- Somerset Primary
- Stanley Primary
- Strahan Primary
- Stella Maris Primary
- St Peter Chanel
- St Brigid's Primary
- St Joseph 's Primary, Rosebery
- St Joseph 's Primary, Queenstown
- Table Cape Primary
- Wynyard High
- Yolla District High
- Zeehan Primary
Ruth was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in the Parliament of Tasmania in 2005 to the seat of Murchison. She is the first woman to hold this seat. She has since been re-elected in 2011 (un-opposed) and in 2017. In 2017 she was elected to the position of Deputy President and Chair of Committees and has sat on and chaired a number of Parliamentary Committees over these years.
Ruth is currently Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Joint Sessional Committee on Gender and Equality, the Government Administration Committee A, Estimates Committee A and Government Business Scrutiny Committee A.
Ruth is a vocal advocate for North West Tasmania and regularly visits all parts of her large electorate. As a former nurse and midwife, she maintains a strong interest in health and access to health care. Ruth is also a strong advocate for women and supporting other women into and in leadership positions.
Ruth was born in Burnie in 1962. The second of four children of Margaret and Keith Emmerton, she was raised on a dairy, beef and potato growing farm at Riana and has lived on the North West Coast all her life. Ruth attended Riana Area School, Ulverstone High School and Hellyer College.
Further details regarding her education history are below.
Ruth has four wonderful children, Jane, Alan, Edward and Alyce and sons-in-law Kiran Forrest and Peter Forrest and daughters-in-law Clare Forrest and Lauren deBomford. She has four very gorgeous grandchildren.
Ruth worked as a nurse and midwife since commencing her General Nurse training in 1979 in Burnie until elected to the Legislative Council in 2005. Ruth lives in Wynyard and spends a lot of time traveling with her supportive husband and partner Rob Woolley within her electorate, including the municipalities of Circular Head, the West Coast, Waratah/Wynyard, and King Island.
Education
- 1968 – 1973 - Riana Area School – Primary School
- 1974 - 1977 - Ulverstone High School – High School Certificate
- 1978 - Hellyer College – Higher School Certificate
- 14 February 1979 - 16 April 1982 - North Western General Hospital, Burnie - General Nurse Training
- 24 October 1982 - 14 January 1983 - North Western General Hospital, Burnie - Intensive Care Course.
- 14 February 1983- 25 February 1984 - North Western General Hospital, Burnie - Midwifery
- November 1989 Family Planning Tasmania - Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Course in Family Planning Certificate - Result - Distinction
- March 1994 - December 1994 - University of New England, University Partnerships - Armidale, New South Wales - Effective Antenatal Education - Certificate (result - High Distinction).
- March 1998 Department of Health, Sexual Health Program. Tasmania - Approved Health Care Workers Course.
- October 1999 National Association of Childbirth Educators Childbirth Educators - 4 Day Training Workshop.
- October 2001 Nursing Board of Tasmania Approved Assessor, BSZ401A Plan Assessment, BSZ402A Conduct Assessment, BSZ403A Review Assessment, (Partial completion of BSZ40198 Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training) DHHS
- 2002 – 2010 - Masters Of Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide.
- 2012 - Present - Graduate Certificate of Business, UTAS Cradle Coast Campus
- GAICD at Australian Institute of Company Directors, Graduate at Tasmanian Leaders Program
On-going Professional Development
- 2011 - Participant of the Tasmanian Leaders Inc Program
Employment
- 7 May 2005 – Current - Independent Member of the Legislative Council, Parliament of Tasmania.
- October 1988 – May 2005 – Registered Nurse/Midwife – North West private Hospital, Burnie. I was employed as a Level 2 midwife and worked predominantly within a caseload model of care as a midwife. I was the antenatal class co-ordinator and established the “Know Your Midwife/KYM” scheme.
- August 2004 – May 2005 – Family Planning Tasmania, Clinical Nurse Educator.
- February 1993 – May 2005 – Centacare Family Services, Family Life Educator providing sexuality education sessions to school students K-12.
- 1988 – National Heart Foundation, Burnie Clinic Supervisor.
- 1986 – 1989 – Childbirth Education Association Burnie, Midwife/Childbirth Educator.
- 1984 – 1988 – North Western General Hospital, Burnie, Registered Nurse/Midwife.
- 1982 – 1984 - North Western General Hospital, Burnie, Registered Nurse.
Professional - Midwifery Related
- Member of inaugural North West Regional Working Group for Alternative Birthing
- (October 1994).
- Appointed to Council of Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, August
- 2001- 2005.
- ACMI Representative on Midwifery Advisory Committee 2004 – 2005.
- ACMI Representative on Statewide Women’s & Childrens Services Committee 2004 – 2005.
- Nominee for the 1998 Tasmanian Awards for Excellence in Professional Nursing Practice.
- Australian College of Midwives Inc. (ACMI) Tasmanian Branch member since 1989. Executive Member in roles of Publicity and Promotions Officer 1996 - 2000 and North West Area Representative 1997 - 2000
- ACMI Tasmania Branch President August 2000 – September 2005.
- ACMI Johnson’s Baby “Midwife of the Year” 2002.
- Awarded with Fellowship of the Australian College of Midwives Incorporated September 2001.
- National Association of Childbirth Educators Inc. (NACE Inc.) Member and Tasmanian Branch Executive Member - President (2002 - 2004), Secretary (1999 - 2002), State Representative/Delegate (2000 - 2003).
- National Association of Childbirth Educators Inc. (NACE Inc.) Tasmania branch 2004 national conference convenor.
- National Association of Childbirth Educators Inc. (NACE Inc.) Member of National Further Education Committee. (2000 - 2004)
- Certified Advanced NACE Childbirth Educator 1999 - 2001.
- Certified NACE Trainer of Childbirth Educators February 2001-2005.
- Organise and coordinate and present at regular monthly to bimonthly Dinner
- Meetings/Seminars in the North West Region for ACMI.
Papers Presented & Workshops Facilitated
- Telling Stories” 9th NACE National Conference 2004, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston, Tasmania
- “Caseload Midwifery: Review Of Current Model And Proposal For Improvement” ARCHI Toolkit Seminar, Improving the Clinical Management of Maternity Services at the Sheraton Southbank, Melbourne VIC.
- “Caseload Midwifery Within a Team Midwifery Model: Proposal” ACMT Dinner meeting, November 12th 2003.
- “Birth - an endurance event” at NACE Inc. National Conference 2002, Coogee, Sydney.
- “Innovative Birth Options in Burnie” at ACMI National Biennial Conference
- “Reflections”, Brisbane, September 2001.
- "Antenatal Awareness of Postnatal Depression for Partners and Families” at Postnatal Disorders NW Tasmania Network forum “Postnatal Depression - Father’s and Family’s Experiences” November 30 2001.
- " Pain Management in Labour. Presenting Pain Management Options Antenatally" on 29th May 2000.
- “Innovative Presentation of Parenting Issues for New & Expectant Parents” on July 1st 2000.
- A Midwife's Perspective" at A Postnatal Depression Community Forum in July 1999.
- Co-facilitated 4 day Childbirth Educators Training Course with Bronny Handfield Grad Dip H & HR'Is, B Ed, M Ed, NACE Professional Development Officer and Past President NACE. October 1999.
- Co-facilitated 2 day childbirth educators training workshops twice yearly with Jill Humann - NACE Inc. Certified trainer of childbirth educators, past president of NACE Inc. Tasmania branch.
- Co-facilitated skill sharing workshops titled " Innovative Presentation of Parenting Issues for New & Expectant Parents" in July 2000 and "Presenting Unexpected Outcomes Antenatally. How & Why" in November 1999, with Jill Humann RN, RM, BA.