A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about staff morale, overseas appointments, recruitment practices, and staff turnover at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). The Minister's response largely deflects, citing standard HR processes and denying unusual staff turnover.

AnsweredQoN 217Legislative Council
Asked
15 October 2002
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Why is the morale amongst the staff at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts so poor?
(2) Why have the last three Academy staff appointments all been from overseas when eminent Australians were overlooked?
(3) Why have staff been recruited from the same British College from which the Dean of the School of Performing Arts came?
(4) Why did those staff replace eminent Western Australian arts practitioners who were employed at the Academy?
(5) Why has the Academy lost so many staff over the past four years?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
12 November 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Education
Response time
28 days
2. The University has advised me that positions are advertised widely and appointment processes are all conducted in line with standard merit based Human Resource Processes 3. Refer to statement (2) above. 4. Refer to statement (2) above. 5. The Academy has advised me that there is no evidence to suggest turnover of staff has changed recently. As in any institution, staff will leave for a variety of reasons and personal circumstances. The Academy encourages staff to move between the profession and the Academy to refresh their skills as part of their ongoing professional engagement.
3. Refer to statement (2) above. 4. Refer to statement (2) above. 5. The Academy has advised me that there is no evidence to suggest turnover of staff has changed recently. As in any institution, staff will leave for a variety of reasons and personal circumstances. The Academy encourages staff to move between the profession and the Academy to refresh their skills as part of their ongoing professional engagement.
4. Refer to statement (2) above. 5. The Academy has advised me that there is no evidence to suggest turnover of staff has changed recently. As in any institution, staff will leave for a variety of reasons and personal circumstances. The Academy encourages staff to move between the profession and the Academy to refresh their skills as part of their ongoing professional engagement.
5. The Academy has advised me that there is no evidence to suggest turnover of staff has changed recently. As in any institution, staff will leave for a variety of reasons and personal circumstances. The Academy encourages staff to move between the profession and the Academy to refresh their skills as part of their ongoing professional engagement.

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