Initiatives and Programs

Transparency and accountability initiative

The Government is committed to implementing more consistent accountability frameworks and greater transparency about performance and provision for all schools, regardless of sector. A core element of Victoria's enhanced approach to transparency and accountability is the introduction of Government School Performance Summaries for all Victorian government schools.

For more information, see:

• Supporting School Improvement: Transparency and Accountability in Victorian Government Schools (PDF - 934Kb)
• Transparency and Accountability across all School Sectors in Victoria (PDF - 1.0Mb)
• Measuring performance fairly: developing intake adjusted performance measures in Victorian government schools (PDF - 870Kb)

Building and infrastructure

• Building the Education Revolution
  The Building the Education Revolution program provides schools with new facilities and refurbishments to better meet the needs of 21st century learning. In addition to this, it will create numerous jobs within local communities.

Technology and information systems

• Ultranet
  The Ultranet is a new online learning environment accessible to all Victorian government schools. It is a statewide, secure website that students, parents and teachers can access. Students and teachers can use the latest online tools to communicate, collaborate and create easily together, while parents can access up-to-date information about their child’s progress at school.
• VicSmart
  VicSmart is an initiative which is providing a high-speed broadband network to all Victorian government schools.
• Victorian Student Number
  The Victorian Student Number is a student identification number that will be assigned to all students in government and non-government schools and students in vocational education and training institutions. The number, which is unique to each student, will be used as a key identifier on a student’s school records, and will remain with the student throughout their education up to the age of 24.

Early childhood and education systems

• Rural and Regional School Retention
  The Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund provides grants to assist government, Catholic and independent schools in rural and regional areas to develop programs or initiatives to increase Year 12 retention rates.
• Literacy and Numeracy
  The Department has developed a series of initiatives and resources to maintain and extend a focus on literacy and numeracy education in schools. These resources will support ongoing improvement in the literacy and numeracy outcomes of all Victorian students.
• Languages Learning for the 21stCentury: The Victorian Languages Strategy
  The ability to communicate in more than one language and interact across cultures will enable Victorian students to become successful global citizens. This strategy aims to increase student participation, engagement and achievement in languages education over the long term to 2020.
• DEECD-MAV Partnership Agreement
  The agreement between the Department and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), signed on Thursday 6 August 2009, commits to building positive, collaborative relationships between the Department, MAV and all Victorian local councils, to increase the learning and development opportunities for children, young people and families.
• Leading Practice and Design
  Leading practices in school design have been adopted by schools and teachers in their goal to improve student learning outcomes and to more effectively identify and address student learning needs.
• Energising Science and Mathematics Education in Victoria
  This strategy, released in 2009, aims to raise student's mathematics and science achievement, increase student participation and expand the knowledge base of teachers.

Stakeholder Engagement Framework

• Stakeholder Engagement Framework
  In recognition of the importance of stakeholder engagement, the Department has released a Stakeholder Engagement Framework. The Framework represents the Department’s ongoing commitment to work collaboratively and form and maintain inclusive relationships with its stakeholders. It has been developed in consultation with our key external stakeholders and the Department’s central and regional offices.

Partnerships with parents and communities

Working together with parents and local communities will assist all Victorian children and young people, regardless of their location or cultural background, have access to positive, stimulating environments that recognises the role parents and strong communities have in children’s development and learning.

Major initiatives and programs include:

• Strategies for Aboriginal Children and Young People
  The Victorian Government is committed to improving the outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people. The Dardee Boorai: the Victorian Charter of Safety and Wellbeing for Aboriginal Children and Young People provides the framework of this commitment, defining key actions and measures of progress required in improving the safety, health, development, learning and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people. The Wannik Education Strategy for Koorie Students reinforces the Government's commitment and is the major strategy in place to improve educational outcomes for Koorie students.
• Partnership Agreement - Between the Department of Education and the Early Childhood Development and Victorian Community Sector
  The agreement was signed on Tuesday 15 June 2010 by the Department and the Victorian Council of Social Service, on behalf of the Victorian community sector. The agreement expresses a shared vision to improve the learning and development outcomes for children and young people in Victoria, particularly those who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage. It also commits to increasing collaboration, consultation and engagement between the Department and community sector organisations.
• Business Working with Education Statement of Priorities for Partnerships between Business and Victorian Government Schools 
  This statement sets out priorities for partnership between business and Victorian government school education, and outlines the ways business and education partnerships can be established.

Knowledge and skills

Workforce

Excellent service provision can only happen when the right people are attracted, recruited, and supported to do their jobs as effectively as possible.

Major initiatives and programs include:

• Early Years Learning and Development Framework
  The Early Years Learning and Development Framework guides early childhood educators in developing quality early childhood programs. The Framework describes the broad parameters, structure, principles and outcomes required to enhance children’s learning
• Rewarding Teaching Excellence (PDF - 368Kb)
  This Blueprint Implementation Paper outlines the Department’s commitment to rewarding teaching excellence. In 2010, the Victorian Government will commence a two-year trial of two models that were developed for the Victorian context following consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers and principals. One model will reward individual teachers and the other will reward whole schools for improving performance and raising student learning outcomes. 
• Improving Victoria’s Early Childhood Workforce: Working to give Victoria’s children the best start in life
  Victoria’s Early Childhood Workforce Strategy, Improving Victoria’s Early Childhood Workforce: Working to give Victoria’s children the best start in life was released in November 2009. The Strategy sets out Victoria’s vision for a highly skilled, professional early childhood workforce that supports the health, learning and development of all children. The actions outlined this Strategy respond to Victoria’s immediate early childhood workforce needs and will also assist us to respond to growing demand for early childhood services into the future.

Emergencies and natural disasters

• Emergencies and Natural Disasters
  The Department has developed a series of resources to help provide practical support for parents, schools and early childhood communities.