❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details about the appointment, selection process, activities, and costs associated with the Department of Education's 'Never Stop Reading!' Ambassador. The response clarifies the role was unadvertised and pro-bono.
AnsweredQoN 4872Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the appointment of the Department’s Never Stop Reading! Ambassador, and ask: (a) Was the position of Ambassador advertised; (b) If yes: (i) how was it advertised; (ii) where was it advertised; (iii) when was it advertised; (iv) what was the cost of the advertising; and (v) how many applicants were there for the position; (c) How was the Ambassador selected; (d) Who selected the Ambassador; (e) On what date was the Ambassador appointed; (f) Since the appointment, how many schools and libraries has the Ambassador visited and which schools were visited; (g) For each school visited, what was the duration of the visit; (h) How was each school and library that has been visited chosen and who made the decision; and (i) Are there any costs associated with the position of Never Stop Reading! Ambassador, and if so, please provide a breakdown of the costs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 May 2019
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training
Response time
12 days
(a) No.
(b) (i)-(v) Not applicable.
(c)–(d) The Department of Education continues to work on various programs and initiatives that boost and encourage learning and literacy. The Department was aware of Mrs Sarah McGowan’s strong skill set as an educator, and her interest in championing literacy and supporting parents in the development of early literacy skills in their children. Mrs McGowan was able to lend her time as Ambassador to support two programs that were proposed to her, which she accepted. The two programs are Never Stop Reading! and Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
(e) Discussions between the Department and Mrs McGowan began in September 2017, ahead of the launch of Never Stop Reading! on Monday 9 April 2018 and Triple P Positive Parenting Program launch on Monday 30 July 2018.
(f)–(g) Mrs Sarah McGowan has undertaken 12 school visits, seven public library visits and three Child and Parent Centre visits in an Ambassadorship role.
I understand Mrs McGowan, as part of her Ambassador roles, has also visited Broome Library, South Hedland Library, Kununurra Child and Parent Centre, Mount Lockyer Child and Parent Centre, East Waikiki Child and Parent Centre, State Library of Western Australia (two visits), Exmouth Library, Claremont Community Hub and Library, Rockingham Central Library, Tranby College and Our Lady of Fatima School.
(h) Venues are chosen based on their geographical locations, opportunities for promotion of the program through local media, schools with WA Education Award winners or finalists and advice from the Department’s Statewide Services’ literacy area. Mrs McGowan has visited a range of areas across the State including north, south, east and western suburbs in metropolitan Perth and regional WA to promote the programs.
(i) No. The Ambassador position is pro-bono.
(b) (i)-(v) Not applicable.
(c)–(d) The Department of Education continues to work on various programs and initiatives that boost and encourage learning and literacy. The Department was aware of Mrs Sarah McGowan’s strong skill set as an educator, and her interest in championing literacy and supporting parents in the development of early literacy skills in their children. Mrs McGowan was able to lend her time as Ambassador to support two programs that were proposed to her, which she accepted. The two programs are Never Stop Reading! and Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
(e) Discussions between the Department and Mrs McGowan began in September 2017, ahead of the launch of Never Stop Reading! on Monday 9 April 2018 and Triple P Positive Parenting Program launch on Monday 30 July 2018.
(f)–(g) Mrs Sarah McGowan has undertaken 12 school visits, seven public library visits and three Child and Parent Centre visits in an Ambassadorship role.
I understand Mrs McGowan, as part of her Ambassador roles, has also visited Broome Library, South Hedland Library, Kununurra Child and Parent Centre, Mount Lockyer Child and Parent Centre, East Waikiki Child and Parent Centre, State Library of Western Australia (two visits), Exmouth Library, Claremont Community Hub and Library, Rockingham Central Library, Tranby College and Our Lady of Fatima School.
(h) Venues are chosen based on their geographical locations, opportunities for promotion of the program through local media, schools with WA Education Award winners or finalists and advice from the Department’s Statewide Services’ literacy area. Mrs McGowan has visited a range of areas across the State including north, south, east and western suburbs in metropolitan Perth and regional WA to promote the programs.
(i) No. The Ambassador position is pro-bono.
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