❓ WA Parliamentary Question regarding a $192,010 consultancy by Gaines Advisory for an Agency Capability Review of the Department of Education, including details of the engagement process, consultation, and outcomes.
AnsweredQoN 1628Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
The Report on Consultants Engaged by Government for the six months to 31 December 2024 noted a payment of $192,010 by the Public Sector Commission to Gaines Advisory Pty Ltd for an Agency Capability Review. Can the Minister advise: (a) The process used to engage Gaines Advisory; (b) The date the request for the consultancy was advertised and where; (c) The date Gaines Advisory was appointed; (d) The date a report was submitted to Government; (e) Was the capability review of a specific agency or multiple agencies; (f) Which agency or agencies were the subject of the review; (g) What consultation process occurred; (h) How many times and on what dates did Gaines Advisory meet with the agency or agencies the subject of the review; (i) Whether the Public Sector Commission had considered undertaking the review in house: (i) If so, why did it not; (j) What were the findings of the review: (i) If he will table the review; (k) Whether Gaines Advisory provided a draft copy of the review to the agency or agencies prior to finalisation; (l) Whether any changes were made to the content and or recommendations based on agency or agencies feedback: (i) If so, what were these changes; (m) Whether Gaines Advisory provided a draft copy of the review to the Public Sector Commission prior to finalisation; (n) Whether any changes were made to the content and or recommendations based on the Public Sector Commission’s feedback: (i) If so, what were these changes; (o) What has been the outcome from this review; (p) Are there costs associated with implementing the recommendations from the review; and (q) Have the findings from the review been applied more broadly: (i) If so, how?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
1 days
a) Open Tender Panel arrangement.
b) 30 May 2023, Tenders WA.
c) Gaines Advisory Pty Ltd was appointed to the panel on 18 August 2023. On 1 February 2024 Gaines Advisory was awarded as the supplier to lead the capability review of the Department of Education.
d) 2 December 2024
e) A specific agency.
f) The Department of Education.
g) Consultation included 60 external stakeholder meetings, 24 public school site visits, and focus groups with 35 school leaders across 8 education regions.
h) Gaines Advisory Pty Ltd met with the agency 79 times between 7 February and 10 October 2024.
Month
Dates
February
7 th , 16 th
March
1 st , 11 th , 12 th , 13 th , 14 th , 19 th , 26 th
April
16 th
May
2 nd , 3 rd , 7 th
June
10 th , 12 th
July
1 st , 15 th , 22 nd , 23 rd , 30 th , 31 st
August
1 st , 2 nd , 6 th , 7 th , 13 th , 14 th , 15 th , 16 th , 17 th , 27 th , 30 th
September
2 nd , 9 th , 10 th , 11 th , 12 th , 17 th , 18 th , 19 th , 24 th , 26 th
October
10 th
(i - o) Agency capability reviews are all led by an independent lead reviewer with support from a dedicated agency capability review team within the Public Sector Commission. An executive summary outlining the key observations of each review is publicly available. As part of the process a draft copy of the review report is provided to the agency prior to finalisation, with any relevant feedback incorporated. Improvement activities associated with the agency capability review of the Department of Education are reported in its annual report.
p) Each agency is responsible for their improvement activities and any associated costs.
q) Highlighting and sharing findings is an important element of the Agency Capability Review program. Executive summaries are widely shared and publicly available.
b) 30 May 2023, Tenders WA.
c) Gaines Advisory Pty Ltd was appointed to the panel on 18 August 2023. On 1 February 2024 Gaines Advisory was awarded as the supplier to lead the capability review of the Department of Education.
d) 2 December 2024
e) A specific agency.
f) The Department of Education.
g) Consultation included 60 external stakeholder meetings, 24 public school site visits, and focus groups with 35 school leaders across 8 education regions.
h) Gaines Advisory Pty Ltd met with the agency 79 times between 7 February and 10 October 2024.
Month
Dates
February
7 th , 16 th
March
1 st , 11 th , 12 th , 13 th , 14 th , 19 th , 26 th
April
16 th
May
2 nd , 3 rd , 7 th
June
10 th , 12 th
July
1 st , 15 th , 22 nd , 23 rd , 30 th , 31 st
August
1 st , 2 nd , 6 th , 7 th , 13 th , 14 th , 15 th , 16 th , 17 th , 27 th , 30 th
September
2 nd , 9 th , 10 th , 11 th , 12 th , 17 th , 18 th , 19 th , 24 th , 26 th
October
10 th
(i - o) Agency capability reviews are all led by an independent lead reviewer with support from a dedicated agency capability review team within the Public Sector Commission. An executive summary outlining the key observations of each review is publicly available. As part of the process a draft copy of the review report is provided to the agency prior to finalisation, with any relevant feedback incorporated. Improvement activities associated with the agency capability review of the Department of Education are reported in its annual report.
p) Each agency is responsible for their improvement activities and any associated costs.
q) Highlighting and sharing findings is an important element of the Agency Capability Review program. Executive summaries are widely shared and publicly available.
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