Key contacts in the Department of Education - their roles ... · applicants and existing FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP providers to ensure that Commonwealth funds and eligible students

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Key contacts in the Department of Education - their roles and responsibilities Source: Department of Education, April 2014

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Jessie Borthwick

Grou

p Man

ager

Higher Edu

catio

n Supp

ort G

roup

Dom English

Grou

p Man

ager

Research & Strategy Grou

p

Anne

Baly

Grou

p Man

ager

Internationa

l Group

Craig Ritchie, BM

Access &

Participation Branch

Virginia Hart, BM

Research Fun

ding

& Policy Branch

Mary-‐An

ne Sakkara, B

MStrategy &

Econ

omic Branch

Ditta Zizi, B

MRe

search & Highe

r Education

Infrastructure Branch

Andrew

Taylor, BM

Data & Analysis

Branch

Lynd

al Groom

, BM

Quality &

Deregulatio

n Branch

Ben John

son, BM

Stud

ent S

uppo

rtBranch

Mark Warbu

rton

, BM

Higher Edu

catio

n Fund

ing Branch

Scott E

vans, B

MScho

larships &

North Asia

Branch

Adam

Luckh

urst, B

MQuality Enhancem

ent

Branch

Susan Be

nnett, BM

Mob

ility, Sou

th &

East Asia

Branch

Di W

edde

ll, BM

International

Strategy Branch

Suzi Hew

lett, B

MOffice fo

r Learning

& Teaching

Robe

rt Grie

wAssociate Secretary

Higher Edu

catio

n, Research &

International Cluster

Australian Go

vernmen

tDe

partmen

t of E

ducatio

n

Higher Edu

catio

n, Research &

Internationa

l Cluster

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THE HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND INTERNATIONAL CLUSTER

Associate Secretary – Robert Griew

Contact Details: Telephone: (02) 6240 9399 Email: [email protected] Robert Griew is responsible for the Higher Education, Research and International Cluster of the Commonwealth Department of Education. The Cluster’s goal is to enable the delivery of quality higher education, international education and research that contributes to Australian society and the economy. The Cluster consists of the Higher Education Support Group, the Research and Strategy Group, and the International Group.

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HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT GROUP

Group Manager - Jessie Borthwick

Contact Details: Telephone: (02) 6240 9259 Email: [email protected] Jessie Borthwick is the Group Manager of the Higher Education Support Group. The Group consists of the Data and Analysis Branch; Student Support Branch; the Higher Education Funding Branch; the Quality and Deregulation Branch and the Office for Learning and Teaching. Data and Analysis Branch Branch Manager Andrew Taylor Contact Details

Email: [email protected] W: (02) 6240 9409

The Data and Analysis Branch is responsible for the collection of student and staff statistics through the Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS), and their publication, disclosure and analysis. The Branch is also responsible for government funded student surveys in higher education, the applications and offers collection and preparing Institutional Performance Portfolios. Student Support Branch Branch Manager Ben Johnson Contact Details


The Student Support Branch is responsible for managing elements of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), which promotes participation in vocational educational training (VET) and higher education by providing income contingent loans to students to assist with the cost of their tuition. The Branch works with applicants and existing FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP providers to ensure that Commonwealth funds and eligible students are protected in line with the programme’s legislation and guidelines.

The Branch is working with the states and territories to implement Schedule 4 of the National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform. This involves the extension of VET FEE-HELP to subsidised places and a trial extension of VET FEE-HELP to selected Certificate IV level qualifications.

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Quality and Deregulation Branch

Branch Manager Dr Lyndal Groom Contact Details


The Quality and Deregulation Branch is responsible for providing policy advice on higher education quality and regulation issues, implementation of the Government’s deregulation agenda for higher education and the recommendations arising from the independent Review of Higher Education Regulation. The Branch manages the Department’s relationship with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and provides support for establishing and supporting the TEQSA Advisory Council. The Branch also manages the Cluster’s strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders including higher education providers and peak bodies. The Branch incorporates the Office of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Council, based in Adelaide. The AQF Council is responsible for decisions regarding policy and management of the AQF. Office for Learning and Teaching Branch Manager Suzi Hewlett Contact Details


The Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) leads sustainable quality improvement in higher education learning and teaching through a suite of grants, fellowships and awards under the Promotion of Excellence in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education programme.

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Higher Education Funding Branch Branch Manager Mark Warburton Contact Details


The Higher Education Funding Branch is responsible for providing advice on funding policy for Commonwealth supported and full fee paying student places at Australian higher education providers. The Branch administers:

• The Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS), including its loadings; • HECS-HELP, including HECS-HELP Benefits; • OS-HELP; • FEE-HELP for universities; and • National Institutes funding.

Other key responsibilities include: • Developing CGS funding agreements with higher education providers; • Maintaining forward estimates of expenditure for funding programmes under

the Higher Education Support Act (HESA) 2003; • Coordinating legislative amendments, legislative instruments and guidelines

relevant to HESA; • Managing the development and administration of the Higher Education

payments system (UniPay); and • Providing the secretariat for the Review of the Demand Driven Funding

System.

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RESEARCH AND STRATEGY GROUP

Group Manager - Dom English

Contact Details: Telephone: (02) 6240 2689 Email: [email protected] Dom English is the Group Manager of the Research and Strategy Group. The Group consists of the Research and Higher Education Infrastructure Branch; the Research Funding and Policy Branch; the Access and Participation Branch; and the Strategy and Economic Branch. Research and Higher Education Infrastructure Branch Branch Manager Ditta Zizi Contact Details


The Research and Higher Education Infrastructure Branch is responsible for research and higher education infrastructure policy and programme delivery of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and the Education Investment Fund (EIF). The Branch also administers a number of other research related funding programmes – the Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme (CRIS) and the Super Science Initiative. The Branch provides secretariat services to the EIF Advisory Board and is responsible for a range of international activity associated with research infrastructure such as the OECD Global Science Forum.

Research Funding and Policy Branch Branch Manager Virginia Hart Contact Details


The Research Funding and Policy Branch is responsible for policy development and programme management to support research activities in the higher education sector. Activities include funding to support research and research training through the Research Block Grants and the Collaborative Research Networks programmes; the Australian National University strategic relationship; supporting the Learned Academies; engaging with the Australia Research Council and Office of the Chief Scientist; and developing and implementing a range of research policies such as the assessment of research impact and directions in research training arrangements.

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Access and Participation Branch Branch Manager Craig Ritchie Contact Details


The Access and Participation Branch develops and implements evidence-based policy and programmes to ensure that Australians have the opportunity to access and succeed in higher education regardless of their background.

The Branch is responsible for:

• Developing policy options to generate system change in higher education to deliver better outcomes for Indigenous people and other equity groups;

• Building more strategic, policy oriented collaboration with, and among, key stakeholders;

• Providing support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Advisory Council and the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education; and

• Effectively implementing the: o Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP); o Disability Support Program; o National Disability Coordination Officer Program; and o Australian Maths and Science Partnerships Program.

Strategy and Economic Branch Branch Manager Mary-Anne Sakkara Contact Details


The Strategy and Economic Branch develops strategic, evidence-based policy advice and undertakes policy coordination, data analysis and economic analysis. Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Executive of the Higher Education, Research and International Cluster, particularly the Associate Secretary, on cross-cluster policy issues;

• Providing a Department-wide perspective on social policy issues including cross-sectoral Indigenous policy issues, and supporting the Secretary’s participation in the Secretaries Committee on Indigenous Reform.

Providing a central point in the Department for economic analysis and economic research.

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INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Group Manager - Anne Baly Contact Details: Telephone: (02) 6213 6756 Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0419 205 680

Anne Baly is the Group Manager of the International Group. The Group consists of the International Strategy Branch; the Quality Enhancement Branch; the Mobility, South & East Asia Branch; and the Scholarships and North Asia Branch.

Quality Enhancement Branch Branch Manager Adam Luckhurst Contact Details


The Quality Enhancement Branch is responsible for policy development and issues management to improve the quality frameworks concerning international education, policy and legislation, education services for overseas students including data and reporting, as well as the Tuition Protection Service. International Strategy Branch Branch Manager Di Weddell Contact Details


The International Strategy Branch is responsible for the development and implementation of the Government’s strategy for international education, provides policy advice on international student experience matters, engages with stakeholders in the education and higher education research systems, undertakes research and analysis and produces international student data.

The Branch also manages government-to-government collaboration in education and research with the Americas and Europe and its member states. The Branch brings a whole-of-government approach to international engagement in education and research and engages with states and territories.

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Mobility, South and East Asia Branch Branch Manager Susan Bennett Contact Details


The Mobility, South and South East Asia Branch is responsible for student mobility, strategic policy engagement and collaboration on education and research with South and South East Asia, and implementation of the Australian Government’s education qualifications recognition policy. Together with the network of offshore counsellors, the Branch plays a role in policy dialogue with host governments and in-country institutions and organisations.

Scholarships and North Asia Branch Branch Manager Scott Evans Contact Details


The Scholarships and North Asia Branch manages the New Colombo Plan and the Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships programme. The Branch also manages Australia’s multilateral education relationships and supports Australia’s development of, and participation in, free trade and multilateral agreements. The Branch manages government-to-government education and research collaboration with China and North Asia.

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Key contacts in the Department of Education - their roles ... · applicants and existing FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP providers to ensure that Commonwealth funds and eligible students