1. Home
2. Administrative Information
3. GIPA guidelines
4. Information (publication) guide

Information (publication) guide

The Board of Studies

The Board of Studies NSW (‘the Board’) was established in 1990 to serve government and non-government schools in the development of school education for Years K–12. It provides educational leadership by developing quality curriculum and awarding the secondary school credentials, the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate.

The Board:

• sets the core curriculum by developing syllabuses for Kindergarten to Year 12 and provides support materials for teachers and parents
• manages the NSW School Certificate external tests (Year 10) and the Higher School Certificate examinations (Year 12) each year
• assesses student achievement, and awards high quality credentials to meet the needs of the full range of students
• promotes the provision of quality education by developing, communicating and implementing educational policies and practices
• provides advice on grading and assessment policy and procedures
• promotes the provision of quality education through the registration and accreditation of non-government schools, certifying that they may teach students and enter students for the examinations
• effectively manages its resources so that educational objectives are met.

The Office of the Board of Studies

The Office of the Board of Studies (‘the Office’) was established as a department in 1995 under the Public Sector Management Act 1988. The Office of the Board provides professional and administrative support and services to the Board. The Office also encompasses the Australian Music Examinations Board (New South Wales) and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and administers the home schooling program under delegation from the Minister for Education and Training.

Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB)

The AMEB provides syllabuses across a wide range of musical instruments, as well as in singing, theory of music, musicianship, and speech and drama. It has become the most widely used assessment system in these fields of study in Australia. The success and high regard for Australian musicians at an international level has been partly due to the encouragement of young performers in this country through their participation in AMEB activities.

The AMEB provides a complete syllabus and assessment program with a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary. Subject areas covered by the AMEB include:

Music

• Teaching Diplomas
• Theory of Music, Musicianship and Music Craft
• Keyboard Instruments: Piano, Accordion, Electronic Organ, Organ
• String Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• Woodwind Instruments: Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
• Brass Instruments: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Brass Band
• Percussion
• Harp
• Classical Guitar
• Singing
• Instrumental Ensemble

Contemporary Popular Music

• Bass
• Drumkit
• Guitar
• Keyboard
• Vocal

Speech

• Speech in Action
• Speech and Drama
• Voice and Communication
• Drama and Communication
• Drama and Performance
• Speech and Performance Theory

Structure and functions

Information on the current structure and functions of both the Board and the AMEB is available here:

• Annual Report
• Organisation chart

Types of information

Information is contained in the following documents held by the Office and the AMEB:

• list of policy/publication documents
• parliamentary documents
• disclosure log
• register of government contracts

Information available on informal request

A request may be made at any time for other information held by the Office. While the Office reserves the right to require a formal access application to be made, the Office will generally provide the following types of information in response to an informal request, without the need to make a formal access application:

• copies of correspondence, where the person requesting the correspondence was the person who sent it to the office
• documents that have already been made public in some other way
• other reasonable requests for information the release of which would not raise any potential concerns in terms of public interest considerations.

The GIPA Act gives the Office the right to impose conditions on the use or disclosure of information that is released in response to an informal request.

Information available in response to an access application

An access application may be made for all other information held by the Office. Access applications are subject to application fees and processing charges in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. However, the Office will not release information if it concludes that there is an overriding public interest against the disclosure of the information.

For some categories of information, an access application may be made but there is a presumption against release. The list of categories is set out at Schedule 1 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

Public participation in policy development

The Board produces a range of high-quality syllabuses, courses and support materials that promote standards of excellence in primary and secondary education, and that cater for the needs and interests of all students.

Our syllabuses are developed in consultation with all key groups and our processes are based on quality assurance. In relation to the Higher School Certificate, the Board is responsible for:

• developing and endorsing courses of study
• making arrangements for conducting examinations and student assessments
• regulating the conduct of examinations and assessments, and the recording of students’ achievements in them
• granting the Higher School Certificate
• providing the Preliminary and HSC Records of Achievement and/or Result Notices
• providing advice and assistance to students, employers and the public regarding the nature and content of secondary courses, assessment and examination procedures, and the reporting of students’ achievements in them.

The Board has a number of standing committees that make recommendations to the Board concerning syllabus and examination requirements.

Members of the public are able to participate in the policy development process of the Office of the Board of Studies. Consultation is a key component of major policy initiatives. The public may participate in the policy development process by completing consultation surveys that are made available on the agency’s website.

General information inquiries

For general inquiries relating to the Board or the location of policy documents please contact the Office on phone (02) 9367 8111. Media inquiries should be directed to the Corporate Communications unit on phone (02) 9367 8250.

Office of the Information Commissioner

The Office of the Information Commissioner is independent of government departments and exercises certain oversight functions.

The role of the Information Commissioner is to raise public awareness of the right to information laws and to provide assistance, information, support and advice to government departments and the public.

The Information Commissioner has broad investigative powers and may require government departments to provide information and conduct inquiries pertinent to the administration of the GIPA Act.

The Information Commissioner conducts reviews of decisions by the Board of Studies where the applicant is aggrieved by that decision.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Information Commissioner:

Phone: 1800 INFOCOM (1800 463 626)
Email: oicinfo@oic.nsw.gov.au