EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND REGULATION PRIORITIES 2015-2018We help shape the agenda to create better educational outcomes and to strengthen communities.

Promoting high expectations

Actions:

■ Lead a new national strategy on achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in school education.

■ Drive tertiary sector initiatives to widen access and lift attainment, particularly for disadvantaged young people.

■ Establish an Aboriginal Centre of Excellence in Western Sydney.

■ Develop an Aboriginal economic reform framework for NSW, including incentives for Aboriginal young people to stay at school and transition into further education and employment.

■ Lead reform through the Early Childhood Education Research Project to improve teaching practice in early childhood education for the long-term benefit of children.

Shaping National Policy

Actions:

■ Make the case for Government investment in schooling and early childhood, showing how increased funding can improve outcomes.

■ Shape national school funding to ensure that funding models best support students in NSW.

■ Work with the Commonwealth to improve alignment of Indigenous Advancement Strategy investment with regional priorities.

■ Reach a National Partnership agreement on Universal Access that will give enduring support to children in preschool.

■ Shape national early childhood regulations to lift quality and focus on risk.

Achieving our early childhood universal access and quality targets

Actions:

■ Increase the number of 4 and 5 year olds enrolled in early childhood education and care services for 600 hours per year.

■ Identify and implement additional risk-based regulatory process reforms.

■ Deliver an Aboriginal Early Education Strategy to lift participation of Aboriginal children in preschool programs across NSW, including increased Aboriginal employment and service delivery.

■ Lead the development of an integrated early childhood service model for Aboriginal communities in the Murdi Paaki region.

Building trust and accountability through effective governance

Actions:

■ Implement an effective audit regime to manage compliance with the not for profit requirements of the NSW Education Act.

■ Strengthen Aboriginal community governance and leadership to drive improved service delivery and local accountability through the Local Decision Making initiative.

■ Administer the Aboriginal Land Rights Act to support the capacity of Aboriginal Land Councils to deliver tangible economic, social and cultural benefits to Aboriginal communities.

■ Strengthen governance arrangements in EXAR to ensure that standards of transparency and accountability are appropriate to the unique role of the division.

Supporting our staff to make a difference in their work

Actions:

■ Establish a leadership program for high potential staff.

■ Expand the EXAR capability development program.

■ Encourage and support cross-EXAR project work.

■ Enhance the Aboriginal cultural awareness of staff across EXAR, and increase opportunities for Aboriginal employment.

■ Develop a process to support staff-initiated systems innovation proposals in EXAR.

About UsExternal Affairs and Regulation (EXAR) strengthens educational and community outcomes by leading strategic reform initiatives, securing national and State funding for education services, distributing funding to non-government schools and to preschool providers, advising on strategic policy in higher education, and promoting high quality standards for early childhood education. Through Aboriginal Affairs, EXAR provides strategic policy advice and advocacy to improve social, cultural and economic outcomes for the Aboriginal people of New South Wales.