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YourGov.com.au
Federal
Inter-jurisdictional Body
Education and Training

Education Services Australia

Portfolio: Education

http://www.esa.edu.au

Major Digital Projects
4

Tertiary Collection of Student Information (TCSI) Renewal Project

Department of Education

Tier 1
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$32.4M

Digital Budget

$27.8M

July 2023June 2026

The TCSI Renewal Project is an ICT project delivering improved decision-making, service provision, access and security. It will reduce administrative overheads, improve productivity and increase satisfaction of higher education providers and students. The benefits will be delivered through enhancements to analytic capacity, monitoring and service delivery tools, to drive more accurate and timely data collection processes and ensure the security and privacy of data holdings.

Education Funding System (EFS) (Transforming Program Administration for Schools and Higher Education (TPASU)

Department of Education

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$88M

Digital Budget

$71M

July 2023December 2026

The EFS project is a significant initiative by the department to modernise and streamline the management of education funding across Australia, to improve the administration of $46 billion in annual funding allocated to Australian schools and higher education institutions. At the time of preparing this report, this project is subject to the escalation protocols set out in the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments. These protocols are designed to support agencies in the timely resolution of delivery challenges.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) - Automation and Streamlining of Gap Fee Compliance

Department of Education

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$7.5M

Digital Budget

$7.5M

July 2024June 2026

The CCS – Automation and Streamlining of Gap Fee Compliance project aims to enhance CCS program integrity and efficiency by automating and streamlining gap fee compliance activities. This project is part of broader efforts from 2022–23 to 2024–25 to prevent fraud and ensure compliance, delivering significant savings over 6 years. The project enhances the financial support through the CCS, benefiting Australian families and children.

Schools Unique Student Identifier (USI)

Department of Education

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$NFPM

Digital Budget

$NFPM

January 2019December 2027

The Schools USI project is a national enabling initiative in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement 2025–2034 (BFSA). The initiative expands the national USI system operating currently in the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors to the school education sector. Once fully implemented, a unique number will be assigned to all primary and secondary school students in Australia, including students in alternative schooling arrangements such as homeschooling. This unique national number will be able to travel with a student throughout their school years and into VET and higher education. Implementation of the Schools USI national enabling initiative will continue in 2026 consistent with the BFSA schedule, with all school students to receive a USI by the end of 2027.

Ideas relevant to this department

12 tagged

Reform proposals on YourGov that name this department as a delivery partner — drawn from citizen voice, government strategy, research, international examples and gap analysis.

STRATEGY SUMMARY

To provide technology-based products and services for education, focusing on advancing nationally agreed education initiatives, programs and projects.

VISION

A world class education system that encourages and supports every student to be the very best they can be, no matter where they live or what kind of learning challenges they may face.

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.8

PURPOSE

To provide technology-based products and services for education, focusing on advancing nationally agreed education initiatives, programs and projects.

Corporate Plan 2021

Strategic priorities

· 5

1

Deliver high-quality projects and services that meet the needs of stakeholders

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.15
2

Disseminate insights that support decision-making

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.18
3

Provide leadership in education information management

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.19
4

Develop and maintain national education technology platforms that increase access and improve connectivity

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.20
5

Strategically engage stakeholders to establish partnerships that help them achieve their goals

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.21

Outcomes

· 3

Improved student outcomes

Consistently find that effective use of technology in education is associated with learning gains.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Identify and deliver evidence-based projects and services
  • Research, develop and deploy effective and innovative digital products and services
  • Develop products and services that use technology to reduce time and cost

Enhanced teacher impact

Advances in technology, and their potential to enhance student outcomes and support system and school development, are progressing rapidly.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Identify and deliver evidence-based projects and services
  • Research, develop and deploy effective and innovative digital products and services
  • Develop products and services that use technology to reduce time and cost

Stronger school communities

The national reform priorities include initiatives focused on enhancing national education data quality, consistency and collection to improve the national evidence base and inform policy development.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Leverage our experience and knowledge in privacy and information management
  • Provide trusted, secure information and data management services
  • Support systems and sectors in the collection, sharing and protection of data

Values

· 6

User-focused

Collaborative

Innovative

Efficient and sustainable

Responsible

High-quality

Performance measures

· 25

CodeMeasureTarget 2025-26Latest resultStatus

CCE01

Digital Teaching and Learning products and services growth

20% over 2019–20 usage

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Target met

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE02

All commissioned projects incorporated into PMO reporting

100%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

100%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE03

Digital Services revenue

>$7.5 million

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Exceeded budget

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE04

Financial margin on SCIS

>14%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

>14%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE05

Secure Hosting Services revenue

$1.6 million

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

$1.6 million

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE06

ESA Voice of Education Research program project completed/

Published

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Published

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE07

Publish high-quality articles

4

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

4

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE08

Minimum of 75 new product assessments completed

>150

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

>150

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE09

Privacy and governance PMF implementation

Completed in line with IIS review recommendations

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Completed in line with IIS review recommendations

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE10

Online product security assessments

No avoidable performance or availability issues

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

No avoidable performance or availability issues

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE11

Implement agreed actions

Agreed actions implemented

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Agreed actions implemented

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE12

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) status

Innovate

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Innovate

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE13

Staff feedback

Steady or improving across all pulse surveys and ‘Progress’ indicators

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Steady or improving across all pulse surveys and ‘Progress’ indicators

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE14

Internal audit reports

FRAC acceptance

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

FRAC acceptance

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE15

Board performance survey

Average score >4.0 on relevant questions

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Average score >4.0 on relevant questions

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE16

Long-term injury

0

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

0

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE17

OHS Compliance Training

95% completion

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

95% completion

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE18

EAP participation

7–9%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

7–9%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE19

Actual Net Overhead expense ratio

<19%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

<19%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE20

Process improvement plan

Implement agreed actions

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Implement agreed actions

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE21

Environment Report

Reduce emissions per FTE from 2018–19 levels by 10%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Reduce emissions per FTE from 2018–19 levels by 10%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE22

Financial control and early visibility of progress

Revenue $40 million

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Revenue $40 million

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE23

Digital Services revenue

>$7.5 million

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

Exceeded budget

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE24

Corporate overhead costs

<$8.6 million

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

<$8.6 million

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

CCE25

Year-end surplus target

0–2%

Corporate Plan 2021 · p.26

0–2%

Annual Report 2024 · p.26
Achieved

Ideas distilled from this entity's strategy & evidence

· 12

Data & Performance

KPI evidence register with named owners

Create a simple register mapping each KPI to source data, owner, frequency, target, and last result.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Data & Performance

Outcome dashboard linking budget, delivery, and public impact

Build a public-facing outcome dashboard showing spend, outputs, outcomes, and delivery confidence.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Staff Productivity

Reusable briefing and summary assistant for internal documents

Create controlled templates for summarising reports, submissions, minutes, and ministerial briefs.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Staff Productivity

Department-wide knowledge and briefing platform

Build a secure knowledge platform that lets staff search, summarise, and cite approved departmental material.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Citizen Services

Plain-language service pages and proactive status updates

Rewrite high-volume pages and letters into plain language, add status notifications, and measure contact reduction.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-impact-report-2022-23_final.pdf)

Citizen Services

Single front door for life-event based services

Bundle services around life events so citizens can complete related steps across agencies in one journey.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-impact-report-2022-23_final.pdf)

Citizen Participation

Consultation feedback summaries with response tracking

Summarise consultation submissions by theme and publish what changed in response.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Citizen Participation

Always-on policy participation platform

Create a standing participation platform where citizens and stakeholders can propose, vote, and track ideas.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Procurement & Delivery

Procurement lessons library for repeat purchases

Capture reusable procurement clauses, market lessons, supplier performance notes, and common evaluation criteria.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa_innovate_report_final.pdf)

Procurement & Delivery

Portfolio delivery office for major investments

Stand up a portfolio delivery office that tracks benefits, risks, dependencies, procurement, and delivery confidence.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa_innovate_report_final.pdf)

Risk & Assurance

Recommendation tracker for audits, reviews, and inquiries

Publish a single internal tracker for audit/review recommendations, owners, due dates, and implementation evidence.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Risk & Assurance

Integrated assurance and lessons-learned system

Create an assurance system that connects audit findings, risk registers, delivery reviews, and investment decisions.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Data & Performance

KPI evidence register with named owners

Create a simple register mapping each KPI to source data, owner, frequency, target, and last result.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Data & Performance

Outcome dashboard linking budget, delivery, and public impact

Build a public-facing outcome dashboard showing spend, outputs, outcomes, and delivery confidence.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Staff Productivity

Reusable briefing and summary assistant for internal documents

Create controlled templates for summarising reports, submissions, minutes, and ministerial briefs.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Staff Productivity

Department-wide knowledge and briefing platform

Build a secure knowledge platform that lets staff search, summarise, and cite approved departmental material.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Citizen Services

Plain-language service pages and proactive status updates

Rewrite high-volume pages and letters into plain language, add status notifications, and measure contact reduction.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-impact-report-2022-23_final.pdf)

Citizen Services

Single front door for life-event based services

Bundle services around life events so citizens can complete related steps across agencies in one journey.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-impact-report-2022-23_final.pdf)

Citizen Participation

Consultation feedback summaries with response tracking

Summarise consultation submissions by theme and publish what changed in response.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Citizen Participation

Always-on policy participation platform

Create a standing participation platform where citizens and stakeholders can propose, vote, and track ideas.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Procurement & Delivery

Procurement lessons library for repeat purchases

Capture reusable procurement clauses, market lessons, supplier performance notes, and common evaluation criteria.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa_innovate_report_final.pdf)

Procurement & Delivery

Portfolio delivery office for major investments

Stand up a portfolio delivery office that tracks benefits, risks, dependencies, procurement, and delivery confidence.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa_innovate_report_final.pdf)

Risk & Assurance

Recommendation tracker for audits, reviews, and inquiries

Publish a single internal tracker for audit/review recommendations, owners, due dates, and implementation evidence.

Impact: High
Effort: Low
small

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

Risk & Assurance

Integrated assurance and lessons-learned system

Create an assurance system that connects audit findings, risk registers, delivery reviews, and investment decisions.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
large

esa-strategic-plan-2021-2023_full.pdf)

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