Operating surplus/(deficit) 29 273 525 3 (889) Capital outlays Plant and equipment 650 65 107 297 211 Software 841 89 182 0 839 Total assets 18 080 18 125 17 919 17 068 17 823 liabilities 5 714 5 788 5 855 5 529 6 287 Net assets/(liabilities) 12 366 12 337 12 064 11 539 11 536 Table 2: QSA employees 2013–14 2013–14 2012–13 2011–12 2010–11 2009–10 Number of employees at 30 June 2014 (full-time equivalent) 213.0 217.0 247.2 248.5 239.8 A comprehensive set of financial statements covering all aspects of the QSA’s activities starts on page 19 of this report. Constitution, functions & powers The QSA was a statutory body established under the provisions of the Education (Queensland Studies Authority) Act 2002. The main functions of the QSA were to: develop and implement syllabuses and guidelines from kindergarten to Year 12, and accredit syllabuses and guidelines prepared outside of the QSA undertake assessment and testing programs that help students demonstrate and improve their learning achievements and plan for their future, and that benchmark Queensland students against national standards and support school improvement processes determine procedures for and quality assure Queensland's system of continuous school-based assessment in the senior phase of learning manage certification and reporting processes that reflect student learning across the range of their school experiences, capture student achievement in their various endeavours, and provide personalised, up-to-date information to students and parents register schools as registered training organisations (RTOs), and accredit and recognise vocational education and training courses develop tertiary entrance procedures, issue tertiary entrance statements and provide information to the public about tertiary entrance procedures and requirements undertake research in relation to the aforementioned functions. In performing its functions, the QSA also provided the three schooling sectors with a range of professional development activities to support: implementation of syllabuses, associated materials and processes QSA business processes of assessment, moderation, certification and accreditation.
monitor developments on tertiary entrance matters and assist in the provision of informed advice tertiary entrance matters provide advice on the management of information and secondary–tertiary link programs that maximise the capacity of potential tertiary applicants to make informed choices and pursue tertiary studies. Membership comprised: — Authority member two university admissions managers one TAFE admissions manager one nominee of DETE with policy expertise relating to TAFE — university interface one nominee of the Office of Higher Education, DETE one nominee of the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre one nominee of the Australian Council of Private Education and Training two guidance counsellors (State and Non-State) two student representatives two tertiary student representatives one parent nominee one QSA senior officer executive officer — QSA officer. Vocational Education and Training Committee Functions were to: provide advice to the Authority on emerging policies and issues relating to VET pathways at both the national and state levels provide strategic advice to the Authority on the implementation of legislation in relation to VET at both the national and state levels provide information to the Authority on issues relating to the implementation of VET in Queensland schools. Membership comprised: chair — Authority member two nominees of DETE — training sector, one to include a TAFE practitioner one nominee of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training one nominee of industry one nominee of Schools, DETE one nominee of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission one nominee of Independent Schools Queensland two parents nominees practitioners (State, Non-State and TAFE) with responsibility for VET two principals/administrators and Non-State) with responsibility for VET one QSA senior officer executive officer — QSA officer. Fees paid to Board members A of $30 410 was payable to Authority members in 2013–14. This amount does not include associated meeting and travel costs of $20 013. Further information relating to QSA’s expenditure on consultancies and overseas travel can be found through the Queensland Government’s open data website: . Early retirement, redundancy and retrenchment During 2013–14, one employee received a redundancy package at a cost of $49 100. There were no early retirement or retrenchment packages. Key corporate governance committee of the QSA Strategic Directions comprised: Robert McDonald, Acting Chief Executive Officer (until March 2014) Rider, Chief Executive Officer (from March 2014) John McGuire, Assistant Director, Policy Coordination Branch Brian Nott, Acting Deputy Director, Assessment and Reporting Division Graham Smith, Deputy Director, Corporate and Information Services Division Kathy Tully, Acting Deputy Director, Curriculum Services Division.