Page 1158 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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The approach has been successful in the USA, Canada, Germany and the UK. In Australia, 30 assessors were trained in Queensland in April 1987. That was a pioneer or pilot project. Since then assessors have been trained in the ACT, Victoria and New South Wales, and a national project is now emerging - the Australian leadership assessment and development project, led by the deputy secretary for education of my own ministry.
The assessment centre method utilises activities and materials developed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in the USA. These have been altered substantially to make it more attuned to Australian culture. As with all other assessment centre projects, a fee is charged by the American principals association. In our case this is done under an agreement whereby we pay royalties at the rate of half the published USA price. This translates into $US150 per trained assessor and $US30 per assessee. Collaboration between education systems and local universities is encouraged, and in the ACT links are being forged with the University of Canberra to promote more appropriate educational training.
I am aware of some rumours or suggestions that, in particular, some officers of my ministry, or members of their families, might have benefited financially from the assessment centre project. I must advise the Assembly that I have carefully and thoroughly examined these rumours. I am satisfied that they are scurrilous and without foundation. By way of incidental comment, financial transactions in respect of the project are made through official ministry accounts and are subject to government audit.
Mr Moore also asked, I think, whether this was the mandatory or the strongly encouraged system for assessment in the ACT. It is not mandatory or required. It is recommended as a basis on which people might be encouraged to model their selection procedures. It is being developed and it, I believe, constitutes one of a range of resources available to people making those selections in the ACT education system.
Swimming Pool Fees
MRS NOLAN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Duby in his capacity as Minister for Urban Services. Mr Duby, what is the Government's view of concerns raised by many parents - and I must admit that I share their concerns - that they have to pay swimming pool fees when accompanying their children to approved learn-to-swim lessons at government pools?
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