What this report is about Students in rural and remote areas of NSW face greater challenges compared to their metropolitan peers. This report examined how the NSW Department of Education (the department) is ensuring that rural and remote students have access to the same quality of early childhood, school education, and skills pathways as metropolitan students. What we found A decade since the previous (2013) strategy to address educational disadvanta

This report will analyse the results of the 2022–23 financial statement audits of the Education cluster and group findings around key areas of service delivery. It will comment on financial reporting and performance, key accounting issues, and internal controls and governance findings.

Around one in five New South Wales public school students have a disability (183,000 students in 2022). Eighty-six per cent of students with disability learn in mainstream classes in mainstream schools, 11% learn in support classes in mainstream schools, and 3% in schools for specific purposes (SSPs). The Department of Education’s Disability Strategy (2019) committed to build a more inclusive education system and identified actions across four key reform

The Government Advertising Act 2011 requires the Auditor-General to undertake a performance audit on government advertising activities each financial year. This audit examined whether TAFE NSW's annual advertising campaign in 2021–22: was carried out effectively, economically, and efficiently complied with regulatory requirements and the Government Advertising Guidelines. What we found TAFE NSW complied with Section 6 of the 

Result of the Education cluster financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2022. What we found Unmodified audit opinions were issued for Education cluster agencies. An 'other matter' paragraph was included in the TAFE Commission's independent auditor's report as it did not have a delegation or sub-delegation from the Minister for Education and Early Learning to incur expenditure from cluster grants. What the key i

Poor attendance at school is related to poor student outcomes, particularly once patterns of non-attendance have been established. This report examined how the NSW Department of Education (the department) is managing student attendance in NSW government schools. What we found Around a third of students in Years 1–10 attended school less than 90% of the time in semester one, 2021. Missing more than 10% of school may put a stud

Behaviour support is critical to promoting engaging and effective classrooms and lifting student performance. The department is implementing a new behaviour management strategy and policy in 2022. The new policy settings aim to strengthen the engagement and participation of all students, including those with disability, complex and challenging behaviours, and additional needs. An audit in this area could consider implementation of this strategy and poli

In this report, we have analysed the key findings and recommendations from our audit reports over the past four years. This analysis includes financial audits, performance audits, and compliance audits of state and local government entities that were tabled in NSW Parliament between July 2018 and February 2022. The report is framed by recognition that the past four years have seen significant challenges and emergency events.

This report draws together the financial impact of COVID-19 on the agencies integral to responses across the state government sector of New South Wales. What we found Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit NSW in January 2020, and until 30 June 2021, $7.5 billion was spent by state government agencies for health and economic stimulus. The response was largely funded by borrowings. The key areas of spending since the start of COVID-1

This audit examined a state-wide program to provide small-group tuition to students disadvantaged by the move to learning from home during 2020. The audit assessed the design and implementation of the program. What we found The program design was based on research and data showing learning loss during 2020.  The department rapidly planned and developed the policy design and guidelines for schools.  Governance arrangements m