Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 1:51:09 to 1:57:48
Inquiry into funding for the Parliamentary Education Office to expand online and physical outreach programs for civics education in remote regions.
Topics: Education, Government spending
Speakers: Mr Henry Pike, Hon James McGrath, Speaker 3, Unknown Speaker
Okay. Okay. Thank you. Just have one other quick quick block of questions. Um uh in relation to the Parliamentary Education Office, um Clark, the annual report states that the department sought additional funding to expand the Parliamentary Education Office's online online outreach activities. Is that correct?
>> Uh that is correct, Senator. Yes.
>> How much additional funding was requested?
>> Do you have that, John? I think was in the order of um $1.5 million um peranom
>> What specific activities would the additional funding have supported?
there's a couple of couple of aspects for that. Some of it is is online outreach and some of it was physical outreach. These were matters that um were the subject of some recommendations of the joint standing committee on electoral matters in its report on civics civics's education. Um so the um the department in seeking funds was responding to that recommendation and also a recommendation of the PEO advisory board. The advisory board is co-chared by the deputy uh president and the deputy speaker of the house of representatives with membership um drawn from both houses and across different during CO the PEO pivoted pretty quickly to presenting online um roleplay sessions and supplementing its um uh website material with interactive video uh interactive um video link um sessions. Um, postco we pivoted back to having 90,000 students come into the building as the main pathway for delivering our but there remained a demand for the online activities as well. Um, but we were really only funded for one or the other. So we we have managed to continue a process of the online role plays. Um but we were looking to expand that work and expand also the physical outreach programs that we we undertake. Um that involves the PEO sometimes in collaboration with um for instance the electoral commission going out and setting up in a a school somewhere and then schools from the local region coming along to get the equivalent experience that they would be able to get coming to the the Senate and there's a an additional aspect of that which is the the teacher training aspect of that work. So, we were seeking to um expand that work. That's what the the funding bid was to go to. And it it um it aligned with some thinking that the education department had um in I think another um possible budget bid that I don't believe went ahead, but that was
short, the the unsuccessful funding increase has prevented the Parliamentary Education Office from expanding both its online programs and also its in-person programs.
>> Um, it it's in-person outreach. So, the the physical outreach program we I think we do two trips a year. We wanted to to double that to four. Um and uh we wanted to have a a more dedicated online roleplay session as well. Uh the the program that people come to CRA to do, it's a fantastic program. It's really well regarded. Um I attended one uh quite recently. Um and uh the the educators are are brilliant and the kids really get engaged with it. It's a fantastic thing. Um but the truth is that um the kids from low socioeconomic schools are are are unlikely to get to CRA. Much less likely to get get to CRA. People kids from the remote regions much less likely to come to CRA. Um so in line with the recommendations of the electoral matters committee, we were hoping to be able to supplement those programs. um add that teacher training element of it and um and and expand the um education offerings in those ways.
>> Uh President, considering the funding increase came about through effectively recommendation of the joint senate committee on electoral matters. Were you given any reason uh by the government as to why the the bid was not successful?
>> Uh no and they are really questions for government. Senator McGrath supported the bid. Um I've seen the work. I happened to be in Karatha when the um uh when they were presenting an an outside presentation to three schools. It was really good. I was very impressed. I participated. So I think it's
>> But I suppose my question is did they tell you why? Did what? Because was it the did they say come back next year? Did they just say look we just don't have the money? was a reason why it wasn't wasn't approved because I think we all would agree uh that the civics's education is so important and it's
>> Senator McGrath you you've been in government you know how these processes work not usually given a reason the bid went up um those are questions for
>> but I I do think Senator um it's it's an aspect of our work that is is um so so important and I think a budget bid along those lines is well worth revisiting.
>> Good. So, you'd intend to seek the funding again in the next budget?
>> I I won't be seeking anything in the next budget, but I'm sure that um my successor and my senior colleagues will be weighing up the uh the the pros and cons of going ahead.
>> Thank you. Um I'm I'm good. Thank you,