Strategies

The Department cannot achieve our fundamental goal of improving outcomes for children without a holistic approach to drive the education and
early childhood development agenda.

To achieve the reform needed, over the next five years we will concentrate on three areas: system improvement, partnerships with parents and communities, and workforce reform. 

There are 20 specific actions that will be implemented under the three strategies.

Strategy 1: System improvement

We will take advantage of the universal early childhood and development system to leverage improvements within the system. This means ensuring our workforce, our physical infrastructure and our partnerships and relationships all combine to move the entire system ahead and improve statewide outcomes.

To achieve this a set of actions will be implemented around: integration and transitions; high quality, accessible early childhood services; and excellent school education.

 

Areas of Focus	Actions
Integration and transitions	Promote co-location and integration Improve transitions Establish new development frameworks
High quality, accessible early childhood services	Ensure quality early learning Improve access Better plan and coordinate integrated services
Excellent school education	Improve the quality of teaching and learning Improve standards and outcomes in government schools Develop cross-sectoral strategies

Strategy 2: Partnerships with parents and communities

Children need safe and supporting environments to thrive, learn and grow. We must better support and value the role of families and ensure schools are welcoming and encourage active parental involvement. Some families require support to create the best possible home environment for learning, development and health, particularly vulnerable families.

Effective partnerships between schools, families, local communities and business can help smooth transition points and improve student outcomes. This is particularly so for schools where low socio-economic background and other forms of disadvantage continue to have a negative impact on student outcomes and perpetuate gaps in attainment.

Partnerships with business can provide opportunities for improving governance and leadership in schools and preparing young people for careers in priority industries for the Victorian economy.

To achieve this a set of actions will be implemented around: working with families, communities and business; and opportunity for all Victorians.

 

Areas of Focus	Actions
Working with families, communities and business	Improve parenting support Establish community hubs Develop partnerships with business
Opportunity for all Victorians	Pursue place-based approaches Develop strategies to better meet diverse needs

Strategy 3: Workforce reform

The quality of the early childhood and teaching workforce underpins the delivery of quality learning and development services in Victoria. A high quality early childhood workforce has a profound influence on a child’s development.

To consistently improve student outcomes in schools, the best people must be attracted to teaching and other school professions. They must be supported and encouraged to improve once they are in schools.

We need to do more to attract, develop and retain teachers and early childhood professionals of the highest calibre and provide career structures that are appealing and rewarding. More flexible career pathways are needed.

To achieve this a set of actions will be implemented around: modern careers and workplaces; and a culture of strong leadership and professional learning.

 

Areas of Focus	Actions
Modern careers and workplaces	Further develop the early childhood workforce Attract the best people to teaching Further develop our high-performing school workforce
A culture of strong leadership and professional learning	Strengthen leadership development Build greater capacity in early childhood services Provide more access to effective professional learning for teachers