Financial performance
The department is building Queensland’s future by giving all children a great start, engaging young people in learning and creating safe, fair and productive workplaces and communities.
In 2020–21, the department achieved an operating surplus of $157.317 million against a total departmental controlled budget of $10.292 billion. Approximately 90% ($140.7 million) of the surplus relates to non-cash accounting entries including asset revaluations, impaired debtor balances, capitalisation of previously expensed assets and salary timing adjustments. Key investments included: continued implementation of the new QCE system for students entering Year 11 from 2019; delivering infrastructure and capital programs such as investments under the Building Future Schools Fund to address enrolment growth pressures in state schools and the need for additional state schools across Queensland; and investment in growth, renewal, maintenance and enhancements, including progressing work under the Cooler Cleaner Schools Program to address the energy needs of the expanded fleet of air conditioners in state schools.
The department’s material financial statement balances reflect our large school land and buildings portfolio across 1254 schools and payment of salaries in excess of 75,000 school, regional and central office full time equivalent (FTE) employees. Supplies and services expenses were dominated by curriculum resources, school utility costs and the maintenance and upkeep of our large asset base.
The continuing COVID-19 health pandemic has not materially impacted the department’s financial results. However, the department has experienced some limited reduction in revenues relating to Education International and local school activities. There have also been limited reductions in costs in certain areas such as travel, although these cost reductions were largely offset by additional costs in areas such as extra cleaning in schools and information communication technology purchases and expenses.
In accordance with the requirements of section 77(2)(b) of the
Financial Accountability Act 2009, I have provided the Director-General with a statement that the financial internal controls of the department are operating efficiently, effectively and economically in conformance with section 54 of the
Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019. As Chief Finance Officer, I have therefore fulfilled the minimum responsibilities as required by section 77(1) (b) of the
Financial Accountability Act 2009.
Alison Mohr
A/Assistant Director-General
Finance and Chief Finance Officer
Table 1: Financial snapshot
Controlled revenue
| | |
Departmental services revenue | 8,780,098
| 8,788,389
| 8,743,277
| 9,416,379
| 9,482,432
|
Other revenues
| 575,439
| 623,685
| 693,918
| 642,091
| 681,024
|
Controlled expenses | 9,326,720
| 9,355,315
| 9,390,372
| 10,057,156
| 10,006,139
|
Operating surplus
| 28,817
| 56,759
| 46,823
| 1,314
| 157,317
|
Administered grants (state) | 848,821
| 875,602
| 878,917
| 917,746
| 1,037,219
|
Capital outlays | 582,017
| 609,490
| 932,954
| 1,158,950
| 1,162,642
|
Total assets | 20,338,601
| 19,600,361
| 21,141,882
| 22,496,467
| 24,358,030
|
Total liabilities
| 1,206,409
| 901,837
| 1,059,762
| 998,135
| 1,161,644
|
Net assets/liabilities | 19,132,192
| 18,968,524
| 20,082,120
| 21,498,332
| 23,196,386
|
|
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
2019–20 | 2020–21 |
Employee expenses ($000) | 6,248,689
| 6,600,850
| 7,031,481
| 7,603,666
| 7,691,693
|
Number of FTE employees at 30 June
| 69,356
| 72,341
| 73,741
| 73,971
| 75,297
|
Note: due to machinery of government changes: Resources Safety and Health Serious Prosecutions unit was transferred to the department (Office of Industrial Relations Division) from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy effective 1 July 2020 and Racing transferred to the department from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning effective 1 December 2020.
Source: Department of Education Financial Statements
For a comprehensive set of financial statements covering all aspects of the department’s activities, see the
financial statements section of this annual report. No totals have been adjusted for commercial-in-confidence requirements.