❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the impact of the school networks initiative on the Bunbury and Warren-Blackwood district education offices, focusing on potential job cuts and staff relocation. The Minister's response provides some reassurance but lacks specific details.
AnsweredQoN 884Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUNBURY AND WARREN–BLACKWOOD DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICES
I refer to the government’s school networks initiative. (1) How will the Bunbury district education office and the Warren–Blackwood district education office be impacted by this initiative; in particular will the district offices be closed? (2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER
I refer to the government’s school networks initiative. (1) How will the Bunbury district education office and the Warren–Blackwood district education office be impacted by this initiative; in particular will the district offices be closed? (2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(1) How will the Bunbury district education office and the Warren–Blackwood district education office be impacted by this initiative; in particular will the district offices be closed? (2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(b) will the staff be offered redundancies?
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(1) How will the Bunbury district education office and the Warren–Blackwood district education office be impacted by this initiative; in particular will the district offices be closed? (2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(2) Will jobs be cut at either of the district offices; and, if yes, will the minister specify the positions to be cut? (3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(3) When will staff employed at both of these district offices be told whether they have a job next year and where that job will be located? (4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(4) If staff from these district offices do not want to or are unable to relocate due to family reasons — (a) what continued employment opportunities will be offered to the staff in their current location; and (b) will the staff be offered redundancies? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(b) will the staff be offered redundancies?
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(1) Bunbury district education office will become the new south west regional office. The current Warren–Blackwood district education office in Manjimup will be retained as one of the local education offices in the South West region. (2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(2)–(3) All current employees will continue to have a position with the Department of Education, although there will be a reduction in the number of management and administrative staff located in the new south west region office and the local education office located in Manjimup. It is, however, too early in the planning process to specify the positions. The newly appointed regional executive directors will make determinations about future staffing requirements and locations according to the needs of each region leading into and during 2011. (4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
(4) (a) Staff will be deployed into vacant positions. Every effort will be taken to consider individual circumstances. In accordance with department practice, staff will not be required to travel unreasonable distances to new work locations. (b) Where alternative positions are unavailable, staff may be eligible for voluntary severance.
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