❓ Opposition MP questions the Minister for Education and Training regarding the privatisation of six state-owned camp schools, focusing on Fairbridge's preparedness, booking numbers, staffing, local sourcing, and potential disadvantages for small schools. The Minister refutes the premise and provides limited assurances.
AnsweredQoN 4394Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the McGowan Government's decision to privatise six of the State Government owned Camp schools, and ask: (a) can the Minister confirm Fairbridge has processes in place and is sufficiently organised to ensure any camp bookings for 2019 will progress and be managed to the standards expected of the Government; (b) can the Minister confirm that booking numbers into the camp schools for 2019 are significantly down on the current year; (c) is the Minister aware of what schools have not booked for 2019 and by extension what those schools are doing to meet their extra curricular needs; (d) can the Minister confirm whether the Education Department is monitoring the performance of Fairbridge as it carries out its undertakings to Government, even in these early transition stages; (e) is the Minister aware that one option being actively considered for managing staffing for the camp schools into the new year is bussing staff into the sites from Fairbridge: (i) does the Minister consider this suggested strategy for staffing the sites sufficient to meet the expectations of the Government agreement with Fairbridge; (f) did the Government include any “buy local” responsibilities in the agreement struck with Fairbridge, and if so what are they; (g) is the Minister aware that many small schools that attend the camp schools have small student numbers and therefore would be disadvantaged if minimum numbers were set for camp attendance; and (h) is the Minister aware of minimum numbers being set for any school group attending a camp school from 2019?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 February 2019
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training
Response time
5 days
I don’t accept the premise of the question.
The Department is liaising regularly with Fairbridge during the transition phase to ensure that the changeover to Fairbridge occurs smoothly.
e. Fairbridge was selected to operate the six camp schools. The agreement ensures students will continue to have access at an affordable price. The way the camps are managed and operated is a matter for Fairbridge as the new operators.
(i) N/A.
f. Fairbridge was provided with a list of all local suppliers used by the Department for each campsite.
(g)-(h) Fairbridge has confirmed that minimum numbers have not been set for any campsite. Small schools will not be disadvantaged.
The Department is liaising regularly with Fairbridge during the transition phase to ensure that the changeover to Fairbridge occurs smoothly.
e. Fairbridge was selected to operate the six camp schools. The agreement ensures students will continue to have access at an affordable price. The way the camps are managed and operated is a matter for Fairbridge as the new operators.
(i) N/A.
f. Fairbridge was provided with a list of all local suppliers used by the Department for each campsite.
(g)-(h) Fairbridge has confirmed that minimum numbers have not been set for any campsite. Small schools will not be disadvantaged.
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