Organisational structure and corporate governance

Dr Teresa De Fazio (Chairperson from 9 August 2023) has extensive experience as a former academic and researcher in the fields of education, leadership, inclusion and equity. She is the Director of Intersect Global Partners and continues to be an active community advocate. Dr De Fazio is a former commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. She has a strong research and publications profile that reflects her interests in areas such as inclusive educational and leadership practices, curriculum development and student retention.

Dr De Fazio brings to the board a strong board directorship profile, including experience on the boards of Zoos Victoria and Multicultural Arts Victoria. Her own lived and professional experiences have fostered her strong passion for ensuring equitable and high-quality educational opportunities are accessible to all.

Mr John Maddock AM (Deputy Chairperson from 27 February 2024) has extensive governance and senior executive leadership experience in the tertiary and adult education sectors, including as former chief executive officer of Box Hill Institute, the Gordon Institute of TAFE and the Centre for Adult Education. His governance experience as a non-executive director in the education sector includes serving on the boards of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, Deakin University Council, Monash University Faculty of Education, Innovation and Business Skills Australia, Australian Training Products and eCoach. He also served as a member of the Victoria Polytechnic Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee at Victoria University.

Mr Maddock is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a non-executive director of the TasTAFE Board and the Chairperson of the Melbourne Central Basketball Association Board.

Mr Maddock represented Australia in basketball at the Olympics and has played in 2 world championships. Following his playing career, he served as the Chairperson of Basketball Victoria, chairperson of Basketball Australia and Deputy Chairperson of FIBA International Competitions Committee. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for volunteer services at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. In 2013, Mr Maddock was appointed as a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to vocational education and training, and basketball.

Ms Claudia Fatone (member to 31 December 2023) is an experienced executive and non-executive director across the sport, community and legal assistance sectors. Ms Fatone is the Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Legal Service Victoria. Prior to this, Ms Fatone was general manager of operations and human resources for The Man Cave Global (a mental health and emotional intelligence charity), and chief executive officer of the Fitzroy Legal Service, one of Australia’s oldest community legal centres. A graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Ms Fatone is also a board member of Respect Victoria and an external member of the Victoria University Compliance Audit and Risk Committee.

Ms Fatone is a former director of Cricket Victoria, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, and a former board member of the Victoria Law Foundation.

Ms Kate Gaffney (member from 9 August 2023) has more than 20 years’ experience in higher education and adult education, specialising in criminology and pathways programs. She transitioned into investment banking and advisory, focusing on sustainable solutions for environmental, economic and social challenges.

In 2024, Ms Gaffney was seconded to Federation University Australia as the Manager of Renewable Energy Transition. Previously, Ms Gaffney served on the Gippsland Regional Council of ACFE and was a non-executive director (cadet) with Community College Gippsland. She currently chairs the Clean Energy Council’s nationwide University and Industry Working Group. Her dynamic career trajectory reflects her ability to excel in demanding and competitive environments, showcasing her adaptability and acumen.

Ms Gaffney is also the proud owner of a sustainable farming business based in West Gippsland, where she was born. Her commitment to sustainable practices aligns with her broader vision of advancing the interests of regional and rural communities. A fervent advocate for enhanced access to educational opportunities, Ms Gaffney recognises the profound impact of education in elevating the wellbeing and prospects of people in regional areas.

Mr Michael Grogan is the State Director of the Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian branches of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre. Previously chief executive officer of Sutton Tools Pty Ltd, Mr Grogan sits on the board of Manufacturing Skills Australia, and is Director of DMTC (formerly Defence Materials Technology Centre). He chairs the William Ruthven Secondary College School Council and is a board member of Melbourne Polytechnic.

Ms Margaret Lewis has wide-ranging experience on community boards and committees. Ms Lewis is currently the Chairperson of Remembrance Parks Central Victoria and a board member of Dhelkaya Health (formerly Castlemaine Health), Planning for Sustainable Animal Industries Implementation Reference Group and Joyces Creek Cemetery Trust. She is also a board member of other non-government bodies and committees.

A teacher for 25 years and a principal for 18 years in the Loddon Mallee region, she has extensive experience as an educator. Ms Lewis was on the board of the Goldfields Local Learning and Employment Network for more than 20 years, and was its deputy chair for many years before retiring in May 2022.

Ms Natasha Ngweso has a strong background in financial and management accounting and leadership. From 2012 to 2016, she worked in management, accountancy and recruitment roles for Woodside Energy Limited, during which time she engaged with members of the Timor-Leste Development Program and developed working relationships with local universities to support graduate recruitment.

Ms Ngweso was Chairperson of Women of Woodside, a community organisation that drives diversity and inclusion. From 2017 to 2021, she held the role of executive manager of store operations at Aldi, Western Australia.

Mr Ekrem Ozyurek OAM has more than 30 years’ experience in primary and secondary education, including as a principal. He was principal of East Preston Islamic College for 14 years, and before then a founding principal of Mt Hira College.

His experience and expertise extend to community and cultural development in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, specifically Turkish and Islamic communities, with a focus on education and community engagement. In 2010, Mr Ozyurek was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Turkish community of Victoria, and education. He is currently a director of the Yunus Emre Institute and is a member of the Community Advisory Committee of the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust. Mr Ozyurek also served as the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria from 2002 to 2020.

Ms Ann Maree Playfair (member from 9 August 2023) has 3 decades of experience in marketing, project management and the development of community-based programs across regional Victoria. She has also held various consultancy roles in the areas of business partnerships and sponsorship development.

Ms Playfair’s contribution to the board is enriched by her 10 years’ experience in vocational teaching, working directly to foster people’s growth and development. She has taught at both university and TAFE levels, with positions at Mansfield Adult Community Education, Jesuit Community College/Job Providers and Australian Employment Training Solutions/Job Providers.

She has volunteered for 2 decades with community-based organisations, serving variously as chair, board member or committee member. Ms Playfair has also delivered training at Learn Locals throughout the Hume regional area, with responsibilities extending to managing Learn Local courses to ensure they align with foundation skills and pathways.

Ms Deborah Sansom brings to the board a wealth of experience in governance, strategy, stakeholder management and communications. Based in the Barwon region, she currently works at Deakin University, where she leverages her diverse skill set to contribute significantly to the institution. Over the course of her career, she has worked across various sectors including the arts, education, not-for-profit organisations and broadcasting. In each of these fields, she has been a steadfast advocate for equity and has worked to improve access for underrepresented communities.

Dr Winifred Scott (member to 31 July 2023) is a consultant with extensive experience in the VET sector. Dr Scott was chief executive officer of Sunraysia Institute of TAFE until her retirement in June 2016. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education in 2016 by La Trobe University and holds a Master of Educational Management. Dr Scott is a member of the Regional Development Advisory Committee, and a member of other regional and local boards. Before joining the TAFE sector, Dr Scott was a restaurateur in Bendigo.

Table 3: Board member appointment and meeting attendance details 2023–24

(i) ARC: Audit and Risk Committee
(ii) FC: Finance Committee
(iii) PPPC: Planning, Prioritisation and Performance Committee

• Mr Deryck Gall, Chairperson (reappointed from 1 October 2023)
• Ms Leanne Williams, Deputy Chairperson
• Ms Anne Marie Ryan (term ended 30 September 2023)
• Ms Dianne Baxter (term ended 1 January 2024)
• Mr Alan Davis
• Mr Wayne Elliott
• Ms Jan Golden (term ended 30 September 2023)
• Ms Vikki King
• Mr Peter MacDonald
• Ms Sabina Reynolds
• Ms Richelle Yow
• Mr Cameron Quinten (co-opted from 2 February 2024)

• Ms Beverley Knowles, Chairperson
• Mr Joseph Cullen, Deputy Chairperson (term ended 12 May 2024)
• Ms Jayde Hayes (term ended 16 March 2024)
• Mr Alexander Law
• Ms Fiona Purcell
• Ms Helen Ruddell (term ended 3 January 2024)
• Ms Elizabeth White
• Ms Louisa Ellum (co-opted from 21 March 2024)

• Ms Diane Carson, Chairperson
• Ms Shae McGregor, Deputy Chairperson
• Ms Karen Bird (appointed from 4 September 2023)
• Ms Kate Gaffney (term ended 8 August 2023)
• Ms Geraldine Jones
• Ms Den Lim (appointed from 4 September 2023)
• Ms Jennifer McCafferty
• Ms Jenine Smith (appointed from 4 September 2023)

• Mr Tim Shaw, Chairperson
• Ms Jannine Bennett, Deputy Chairperson
• Ms Annette Creek
• Ms Angela Dunn
• Mr Andrew Henwood
• Mr Greg Tinkler
• Ms Jasmine-Monique McCaw (co-opted from 23 August 2023)

• Ms Trish Curtis, Chairperson
• Ms Melinda Burgess, Deputy Chairperson
• Ms Laura Baker (appointed from 31 July 2023)
• Mr Mewan Dissanayake (appointed from 31 July 2023)
• Ms Jennifer Gordon (appointed from 31 July 2023)
• Ms Melva Tyson
• Ms Sue West (appointed from 31 July 2023)

• Ms Deborah Quin, Deputy Chairperson
• Mr Brian Gould
• Mr Robin Kuhne
• Ms Jessica Mitchell (appointed from 4 September 2023)

• Mr Gregory Ferrington, Chairperson
• Ms Christine McCall, Deputy Chairperson
• Ms Julie Johnston (appointed from 4 September 2023)
• Dr Sureshan Marcandan (appointed from 4 September 2023)
• Mr John Sheen

• Mr Martin Corman, Chairperson
• Mr Ali Aziz
• Ms Sandra George
• Ms Catherine McGrath (reappointed from 30 September 2023)
• Mr Tim Newman
• Ms Jayne Valle (appointed from 4 September 2023)

Nil reports.

Nil reports.

For 2023–24, the board expended a total of $0.6 million on information and communications technology (ICT), as detailed in Table 4.

Table 4: Expenditure on ICT 2023–24

During 2023–24, there were 2 reviews and studies undertaken with a total cost of $155,396 (excl. GST). Details of individual reviews and studies are outlined in Table 5.

Table 5: Reviews and studies expenditure 2023–24

Details of consultancies of $10,000 or greater

In 2023–24, there were 8 consultancies with fees payable of $10,000 or greater. Total expenditure in relation to this was $515,683 (excl. GST). Details of individual consultancies are outlined in Table 6.

Table 6: Consultancies of $10,000 or greater 2023–24

Details of consultancies less than $10,000

In 2023–24, there were no consultancies for which the total fees payable to an individual consultant were less than $10,000. The total expenditure incurred during 2023–24 was nil.

The board’s operations are administered by the department, including the provision of emergency procurement, in accordance with the requirements of government policy and accompanying guidelines. In 2023–24, nil emergency procurements in relation to the board were activated.

Nil reports.

Competitive neutrality requires that, where services of government business compete or potentially compete with those of the private sector, any advantage arising solely from government is accounted for if it is not in the public interest. Government businesses are required to cost and price these services as if they were privately owned. Competitive neutrality policy supports fair competition between public and private businesses and provides government businesses with a tool to enhance decisions about resource allocation. This policy does not override other policy objectives of government and focuses on efficiency in the provision of service.

The board does not operate as a business whose services compete, or potentially compete, with the private sector, therefore the National Competition Policy is not applicable to the board.

The board’s operations are administered by the department, including the provision of departmental employees, facilities, office accommodation and fleet services required to support the board’s activities. The department’s annual report 2023–24 disclosure includes the environmental impact data of the board’s operations.

The ACFE Board does not have any assets for the purposes of the AMAF.

I, Dr Teresa De Fazio, Chairperson, on behalf of the Responsible Body, certify that the Adult, Community and Further Education Board has no Material Deficiency with respect to the applicable Standing Directions under the Financial Management Act 1994 and Instructions.

In 2023–24, there was one government advertising campaign with total media spend of $100 000 or greater (excl. GST). The detail of the campaign is outlined in Table 7 below.

Table 7: Details of government advertising expenditure 2023–24

(i) Approved ‘Advertising (media) expenditure’ is the amount approved for each campaign by the Advertising Approval Group (AAG).

(ii) Planned campaign expenditure amounts are the amounts included in the Campaign Strategy form submitted to the AAG for review.

Victoria’s Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) allows the public a right of access to documents held by the board. The purpose of the FOI Act is to extend as far as possible the right of the community to access information held by government departments, local councils, ministers and other bodies subject to the FOI Act.

An applicant has a right to apply for access to documents held by the board. This comprises documents both created by the board or supplied to the board by an external organisation or individual, and may also include maps, films, microfiche, photographs, computer printouts, computer discs, tape recordings and videotapes. Information about the type of material produced by the board is available on the department’s website under its Part II Information Statement at Freedom of Information Part II – Information Statements.

The FOI Act allows a department to refuse access, either fully or partially, to certain documents or information. Examples of documents that may not be accessed include:

• Cabinet documents
• some internal working documents
• law enforcement documents
• documents covered by legal professional privilege, such as legal advice
• personal information about other people
• information provided to a department in confidence and information that is confidential under another Act.

Under the FOI Act, the processing time for FOI requests received is 30 calendar days. However, when external consultation is required under subsections 29, 29A, 31, 31A, 33, 34 or 35, a 15-day automatic extension applies. Processing time may also be extended by periods of up to 30 days, in consultation with the applicant. With the applicant’s agreement, this may occur any number of times. However, obtaining an applicant’s agreement for an extension cannot occur after the expiry of the timeframe for deciding a request.

If an applicant is not satisfied by a decision made by the board, under section 49A of the FOI Act they have the right to seek a review by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) within 28 days of receiving a decision letter.

Making a request

FOI requests may be submitted to the board via the freedom of information form on the OVIC website at Find and request access to information. An application fee of $32.70 applies. Access charges may also be payable if the document pool is large and the search for material time-consuming.

Documents can also be accessed by making a written request to the board’s FOI team, as detailed in section 17 of the FOI Act.

To be valid, all FOI requests must be in writing, clearly identify what types of materials or documents are sought and include the application fee.

Requests for documents and other material in possession of the board should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Manager
Adult, Community and Further Education Board
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
GPO Box 4509
Melbourne VIC 3001

Freedom of information statistics

For the 12 months ending 30 June 2024, the board received no new FOI applications.

More information

More information regarding the operation and scope of FOI can be obtained from the FOI Act, regulations made under the FOI Act and ovic.vic.gov.au.

Victoria’s Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (PID Act) encourages and assists people to make disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies. The PID Act protects people who make disclosures in accordance with the PID Act and establishes a system to investigate and take rectifying action on the matters that have been disclosed.

The board does not tolerate improper conduct or reprisals against those who have come forward to disclose such conduct. The board is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices. It supports disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct involving substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health, safety or the environment.

The board will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action as reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure, to the extent legally possible.

Reporting procedures

Disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by the board or its officers may be made directly to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC):

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
Level 1, North Tower
459 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 1300 735 135
Website: ibac.vic.gov.au
Email: See the IBAC website for the secure email disclosure process, which also provides for anonymous disclosures.

More information

Information on public interest disclosure procedures, including the system for reporting disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action, is available from the board’s public interest disclosures officer:

Public Interest Disclosures Officer
Adult, Community and Further Education Board
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
GPO Box 4509
Melbourne VIC 3001
Email: acfe@djsir.vic.gov.au

The Disability Act 2006 reaffirms and strengthens the rights and responsibilities of persons with disability and recognises that doing so requires support across the government sector and in the community. The department manages the implementation of a disability plan related to the employment of staff (see the department’s annual report for 2023–24).

Through the board, the Victorian Government funds Learn Local providers to deliver pre-accredited training to people whose current or past life circumstances are barriers to educational achievement. The board targets funding for vulnerable learners, including people with disability.

The board does not own or control any government buildings, so is exempt from notifying its compliance with the building and maintenance provisions of the Building Act 1993.

The Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework (SPF) clearly defines social and sustainable procurement as a key value‑for-money component and outlines how it can make a difference to Victorian communities. For buyers, the SPF provides guidance on embedding social and sustainable procurement into existing processes. For suppliers, the SPF describes methods to deliver government objectives, while continuing to participate in government procurement processes and grow their business.

The SPF applies to all Victorian Government procurement relating to goods, services and construction.

In 2019, the board received an exemption from developing its own social procurement strategy. The board has agreed to comply with all associated departmental policies and procedures related to procurement, including social procurement and implementation of the SPF.

Social procurement objectives prioritised by the department during 2023–24 were:

• opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians
• opportunities for Victorians with disability
• women’s equality and safety
• opportunities for Victorian priority jobseekers
• sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors
• sustainable Victorian regions.

During the reporting period, the department advised staff undertaking procurement activity on behalf of the board on how to implement the SPF.

In 2023–24, the board undertook the social procurement activities outlined in Table 8.

Table 8: ACFE Board social procurement activities 2023–24

Table 9 outlines the board’s performance in 2023–24 against the SPF objectives.

Table 9: ACFE Board performance against SPF objectives

Note: Businesses may be counted in more than one group.

Consistent with the requirements of the Financial Management Act, the board has prepared material on the topics listed below. Details of this material are held by the executive director of the department’s Adult, Community and Further Education, Higher Education and Workforce Branch and are available to the public on request, subject to the FOI Act.

The information retained by the board includes details (where applicable) of any:

• statement that declarations of pecuniary interests have been duly completed by all relevant officers
• shares held by a senior officer as nominee or held beneficially in a statutory authority or subsidiary
• publications produced by the board about itself, and details on how these can be obtained
• changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies charged by the board
• major external reviews carried out on the board
• major research and development activities undertaken by the board
• overseas visits undertaken, including a summary of the objectives and outcomes of each visit
• major promotional, public relations and marketing activities undertaken by the board to develop community awareness of the entity and its services
• assessments and measures undertaken to improve the occupational health and safety of employees
• general statement about industrial relations within the board, and details of time lost through industrial accidents and disputes
• list of major committees sponsored by the board, the purposes of each committee and the extent to which the purposes have been achieved
• consultancies and contractors, including:
  • the consultants or contractors engaged
  • the services provided
  • expenditure committed for each engagement.

Enquiries regarding details of this information should be made to:

Executive Director, Adult, Community and Further Education, Higher Education and Workforce
Skills and Employment
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
GPO Box 4509
Melbourne VIC 3001
Telephone: 03 9651 9999