About the Department

Groups

The seven central groups of our Department are:

Early Childhood Development Group

The Early Childhood Development Group focuses on the learning, development and wellbeing of children (0-8 years).  It coordinates the Department’s early childhood policy and programs in relation to maternal and child health, kindergarten programs, Early Childhood Intervention Services, Aboriginal early years services, integrated children’s services and infrastructure, school nursing, parenting programs, Best Start, supported playgroups as well as licensing and monitoring of over 4,000 children’s services. 

The Group consists of three Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Policy and Strategic Projects Division

The Division leads evidence-based policy, strategy and system reform for early childhood development in Victoria as well as quality improvement across the early childhood profession, including a range of workforce strategies.

Programs and Partnerships Division

The Division leads the design and development of best practice early childhood programs and evaluates their effectiveness based upon research and analysis of program data and outcomes with a strong emphasis on access, participation and capacity building, and fosters strong partnerships with key stakeholders.

Quality Assessment and Regulation Division

The Division regulates over 4000 children’s services, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Children’s Services Act 1996, assesses education and care services against the National Quality Standard and responds to notifications and complaints, monitors compliance, grants licences, determines administrative and statutory sanctions and provides advice and guidance to the sector to increase the capacity to comply with the legislation.

 

School Education Group

The School Education Group develops and implements policy and frameworks to deliver high-quality education in government and non-government schools. The Group supports the development of a high-quality workforce in government schools; facilitate parent and community engagement and focuses on supporting the wellbeing and engagement of all students.

The Group consists of five Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Policy and Professional Practice Division

The Division supports the performance and professional development of school staff including leaders and principals, teachers and education support staff; and develops and implements school improvement programs.

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Division

The Division develops policy and programs to support the health, wellbeing and engagement of all students, including those with disabilities and additional learning needs.

Student Learning Outcomes Division

The Division develops resources for curriculum design, delivery, assessment and reporting; provides programs for students with specific needs including Koorie, English as an additional language students and students with a disability; and provides Ultranet and digital resources support.

Education Partnerships Division

The Division supports school partnerships with families, their community, business and local government; and develops partnerships between government and non-government schools, curriculum providers, School Sport Victoria and peak bodies.

International Education Division

The Division develops, promotes and supports programs and initiatives that contribute to internationalising school education, including in the areas of student, teacher and principal mobility, sister schools, and programs for international students; and facilitates international engagement.

 

Higher Education and Skills Group

The Higher Education and Skills Group facilitates participation and achievement in senior secondary and tertiary education and training by supporting partnerships between providers, employers and the community and advising on public funding and regulation.  It manages the Government-funded training market, public provider governance and accountability, and the apprenticeship system.

The Higher Education and Skills Group consists of six Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Training Market Operations Division

The Division contracts, funds and quality assures vocational education and training (VET); and develops and maintains the Group’s business systems including the management of student information.

Market Facilitation and Information Divisionn

The Division researches and shares information about skills needed in the labour market and the performance of the training and higher education sectors; works with training providers and employers to improve the responsiveness of the training system to employer needs; and supports industry participation and leadership in the training system.

Tertiary Education Policy and Strategic Projects Division

The Division develops, monitors and provides advice on policy affecting publicly funded training and regulation of the higher education system; and develops strategies to raise participation in vocational and higher education.

Tertiary Governance and Development Division

The Division supports TAFE, Adult Education Institute (AEI) and university boards and provides advice on governance; manages accountability and reporting arrangements for TAFE institutes; monitors financial health of TAFE and AEI; and develops and implements legislation.

Pathways, Participation and Youth Division

The Division develops and implements projects, partnerships and programs to increase participation in and strengthen pathways and transitions between senior secondary education, vocational education and training, higher education and employment.

Adult, Community and Further Education Division

The Division provides policy advice relating to the Learn Local sector; supports the ACFE Board to improve course provider business, skills and teaching and administer grant programs; and supports ACFE Regional Councils.

 

Regional Support Group

The Regional Support Group provides an interface between regions and the Department’s central office. The Group supports regional partnerships, regional early childhood services, schools and other education providers to deliver high quality services and outcomes.

The Group consists of two Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Regional Support Division

The Division works with regions and central office on the development and delivery of support programs for schools and early childhood services  including an integrated approach to the delivery of services; facilitates partnerships and the sharing of best practice across regions; and links regional offices with training and industry networks.

Emergency Management Division

The Division manages all aspects of emergency management (prevention, preparedness, response and recovery) across the department including all schools, children’s services and TAFE institutes.

 

Strategy and Review Group

The Strategy and Review Group develops and provides advice on cross-portfolio strategy on emerging issues and government priorities. The Group also manages intergovernmental and external relations, and captures business analytics to monitor DEECD’s performance and inform decision making. 

The Strategy and Review Group consists of nine Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Intergovernmental Relations Division

The Division provides advice to Ministers and senior officials on Commonwealth-State relations and manages the Department’s relationships and partnerships with key external agencies.

Research and Analysis Division

The Division provides high quality evidence to support informed strategy, policy and investment decisions. Key activities include: monitoring the Department’s performance against internal and external benchmarks; conducting evaluations and analysis; reporting on how Victoria’s children and young people are faring; and building research and evaluation capacity in the Department.

Strategic Policy Division

The Division develops and provides strategic policy advice on a range of current and emerging issues, particularly those relating to cross-portfolio interaction and investment; priority cohorts such as gifted and talented students, Aboriginal young people and vulnerable children; and those relating to school autonomy, governance and accountability.

Flagship Strategies Division

The Division develops and provides advice on cross-portfolio strategies that deliver on Government priorities, such as literacy and numeracy, workforce reform, school reform agenda, rural communities and virtual learning.

Youth Partnerships Secretariat

The Secretariat leads the Victorian Government initiative to design and test new ways for the education, youth and family support, justice, homelessness and mental health sectors to work more collaboratively to support vulnerable young people aged 10 to 18.

Languages, EAL and Multicultural Strategy Division

The Division develops and oversees cross-portfolio strategies to implement the education commitments in the Government’s plan for a multicultural Victoria.

Information Strategy Division

The Division develops and implements an information management strategy for the Department; and provides governance and support for that strategy, including specific management of the Department’s copyright and intellectual property obligations.

Economic Analysis Division

The Division bolsters the economic argument of critical pieces of policy analysis across the portfolio.

Health and Wellbeing Division

The Division develops strategies to improve the health, wellbeing and development of children, young people and their families across the different life stages; and provides expert advice on child, adolescent and public health issues.

 

Infrastructure and Finance Services Group

The Infrastructure and Finance Services Group develops and implements finance and infrastructure policies, procedures and strategy. The Group provides direct services to the Department’s central office, regional offices and government schools.

The Group consists of four Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Infrastructure and Sustainability Division

The Division manages school infrastructure programs including provision planning, property management, construction, maintenance, sustainability, building compliance and standards.

Financial Services Division

The Division designs and manages financial processes and systems to ensure that central office, regional offices, schools and statutory authorities can meet their financial responsibilities.

Resources Strategy Division

The Division manages the Department’s Integrated Resourcing Strategy to ensure effective and efficient resource allocation; provides resource management analysis and advice; and develops a long term asset strategy for investment across the portfolio.

Information Technology Division

The Division provides integrated ICT systems, services and support including project management and technology solutions advice; and services support to central office, regional offices and schools.

 

People and Executive Services Group

The People and Executive Services Group focuses on people services, stakeholder engagement, legal and ministerial support, probity, audit and risk. The Group provides direct services to the Department’s central office, regional offices and to government schools.

The Group consists of five Divisions with the following responsibilities.

Executive and Ministerial Services Division

The Division provides executive and ministerial support services across the Department including managing freedom of information requests, ministerial correspondence and briefings; and providing legal advice and support to Ministers regarding legislation and Parliament.

Communications Division

The Division strengthens the Department’s communication with stakeholders and the community through strategic communication activities, providing communications support and advice to the Department on the management of media, events, print and online communications.

Audit and Risk Division

The Division supports the Department with internal audit and risk management planning and monitoring as well as Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) audits and reviews; supports Portfolio Audit Committee; and conducts reducing red tape strategy.

Procurement Division

The Division manages procurement policy and key procurement categories for the Department, manages the Shared Services arrangement with the Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, and manages service agreement policy and coordination.

Human Resources Division

The Division develops, implements and manages human resources (HR) policy and practice, providing HR services and timely advice on emerging issues.

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