❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the funding and employment of Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEOs). The Minister responds that funding is now allocated through a student-centred model, giving schools flexibility in resource allocation, including AIEO employment.
AnsweredQoN 3235Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How much funding is allocated to Aboriginal and
Islander Education Officers (AIEO) in the 2015-16 Budget? (2) Is this an increase or decrease from the 2013-14
and 2014-15 Budgets? (3) How many officers are employed by this program,
full-time and part-time? (4) What is the officer to student ratio under this
program, full-time and part-time? (5) Please provide a breakdown of how many AIEO are
allocated by area, indicating if there is an increase or decrease in staff
allocation and funding? (6) Has funding been reinstated for the 110 AIEO
removed in the 2013-14 Budget, which is critical in ensuring Aboriginal children
received access to the individual attention they require? (7) If yes to (6), in which Budget line item is the
funding allocated? (8) If no to (6), why not?
Islander Education Officers (AIEO) in the 2015-16 Budget? (2) Is this an increase or decrease from the 2013-14
and 2014-15 Budgets? (3) How many officers are employed by this program,
full-time and part-time? (4) What is the officer to student ratio under this
program, full-time and part-time? (5) Please provide a breakdown of how many AIEO are
allocated by area, indicating if there is an increase or decrease in staff
allocation and funding? (6) Has funding been reinstated for the 110 AIEO
removed in the 2013-14 Budget, which is critical in ensuring Aboriginal children
received access to the individual attention they require? (7) If yes to (6), in which Budget line item is the
funding allocated? (8) If no to (6), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2015
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
85 days
(1) There is no funding specifically allocated to Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEO) or any other type of employee in the 2015-16 Budget. Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, schools receive per-student allocations for all students and an additional Aboriginal allocation is provided to further help address the learning needs of Aboriginal students. Further to this, a social disadvantage allocation is provided for students in the lowest three deciles of social disadvantage. Schools may also receive targeted initiatives funding related to assisting Aboriginal students. These allocations form a component of the overall one-line budget for schools.
Through the one-line budget, Principals have the flexibility to determine the best use of funds and this may include the employment of an AIEO. FTE is no longer allocated to schools for any employee type.
(2) As outlined in question one, FTE is no longer allocated to schools, therefore this cannot be determined.
(3) An AIEO is a type of employee schools may choose to employ, not a program. As at the pay of 18 June 2015, there were 600 (363 FTE) AIEOs employed in schools. 140 AIEOs were employed full-time and 460 AIEOs were employed part-time.
(4) The officer-to-student ratio varies from school to school. As at the pay of 18 June 2015, there were 66.4 Aboriginal students per AIEO FTE, across all schools.
(5) As indicated above, there is no allocation of FTE to schools, so AIEO FTE
allocation
by area or region cannot be determined. It is possible to provide the number of AIEOs
employed
in each region in 2014 and 2015, as at the pays of 19 June 2014 and 18 June 2015 respectively.
It should be noted that the number of AIEOs remunerated each pay period varies, as some employees may be on unpaid leave, and others may have ceased their employment and the recruitment process for their replacement is not yet finalised.
Through the one-line budget, Principals have the flexibility to determine the best use of funds and this may include the employment of an AIEO.
EDUCATION REGION
AIEO FTE PAID ON 19 JUNE 2014
AIEO FTE PAID ON 18 JUNE 2015
VARIANCE FROM 2014 TO 2015
Goldfields
33
27
-6
Kimberley
75
74
-1
Midwest
52
52
0
North Metropolitan
52
49
-3
Pilbara
40
42
2
South Metropolitan
77
66
-11
Southwest
32
32
0
Wheatbelt
22
23
1
383
365
-18
(6) The funding equivalent to 105 AIEO FTE was not redistributed in the student-centred funding model (SCFM).
There is no funding specifically allocated to AIEOs. Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, schools receive per student allocations for all Aboriginal students and an additional Aboriginal allocation is provided to further help address the learning needs of Aboriginal students. The total additional funding allocated for Aboriginal students increased from $33 million in 2014 to $43 million in 2015. While decisions regarding employment are made at the school level, it is noted this increase in funding of $10 million is notionally equivalent to 170 AIEO FTE.
(7) It is not explicit in the budget papers, but in the 2015 Student-Centred Funding Model allocations, the Aboriginal allocation was $43 million for the 2015 school year.
(8) Not applicable.
Through the one-line budget, Principals have the flexibility to determine the best use of funds and this may include the employment of an AIEO. FTE is no longer allocated to schools for any employee type.
(2) As outlined in question one, FTE is no longer allocated to schools, therefore this cannot be determined.
(3) An AIEO is a type of employee schools may choose to employ, not a program. As at the pay of 18 June 2015, there were 600 (363 FTE) AIEOs employed in schools. 140 AIEOs were employed full-time and 460 AIEOs were employed part-time.
(4) The officer-to-student ratio varies from school to school. As at the pay of 18 June 2015, there were 66.4 Aboriginal students per AIEO FTE, across all schools.
(5) As indicated above, there is no allocation of FTE to schools, so AIEO FTE
allocation
by area or region cannot be determined. It is possible to provide the number of AIEOs
employed
in each region in 2014 and 2015, as at the pays of 19 June 2014 and 18 June 2015 respectively.
It should be noted that the number of AIEOs remunerated each pay period varies, as some employees may be on unpaid leave, and others may have ceased their employment and the recruitment process for their replacement is not yet finalised.
Through the one-line budget, Principals have the flexibility to determine the best use of funds and this may include the employment of an AIEO.
EDUCATION REGION
AIEO FTE PAID ON 19 JUNE 2014
AIEO FTE PAID ON 18 JUNE 2015
VARIANCE FROM 2014 TO 2015
Goldfields
33
27
-6
Kimberley
75
74
-1
Midwest
52
52
0
North Metropolitan
52
49
-3
Pilbara
40
42
2
South Metropolitan
77
66
-11
Southwest
32
32
0
Wheatbelt
22
23
1
383
365
-18
(6) The funding equivalent to 105 AIEO FTE was not redistributed in the student-centred funding model (SCFM).
There is no funding specifically allocated to AIEOs. Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, schools receive per student allocations for all Aboriginal students and an additional Aboriginal allocation is provided to further help address the learning needs of Aboriginal students. The total additional funding allocated for Aboriginal students increased from $33 million in 2014 to $43 million in 2015. While decisions regarding employment are made at the school level, it is noted this increase in funding of $10 million is notionally equivalent to 170 AIEO FTE.
(7) It is not explicit in the budget papers, but in the 2015 Student-Centred Funding Model allocations, the Aboriginal allocation was $43 million for the 2015 school year.
(8) Not applicable.
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