The Hon. James Merlino MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Mental Health
Deputy Premier Merlino was elected to the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Monbulk in 2002. He has been the Minister for Education since December 2014 and Minister for Mental Health since September 2020. He previously served as the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs from December 2006 to December 2010, Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs from August 2007 to December 2010, Minister for Police and Minister for Corrections from October to December 2010 and Minister for Emergency Services from June 2016 to November 2018.
The Minister for Education oversees Victoria’s Education State reforms and is responsible for providing education to over a million Victorian students. This portfolio includes government investment in school infrastructure and programs.
The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
Minister for Training and Skills
Minister for Higher Education
Minister Tierney was elected to the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Western Victoria in 2006. She has been the Minister for Training and Skills since November 2016 and Minister for Higher Education since November 2018. Minister Tierney became the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council in September 2020. She was Minister for Corrections from November 2016 to December 2018. Minister Tierney previously served as the Cabinet Secretary and Deputy President of the Victorian Legislative Council. She was Deputy Chair of the Rural and Regional Parliamentary Committee from March 2007 to November 2010, and Deputy Chair of the Education and Training Parliamentary Committee from February 2010 to June 2013.
The Minister for Training and Skills is responsible for ensuring Victoria’s VET system plays a key role in achieving the economic and social objectives of government, industry, local communities and individual learners.
The Minister for Higher Education administers legislation that establishes Victoria’s eight public universities, their governing bodies and accountability requirements. The Minister is also responsible for developing policy related to higher education in Victoria and representing Victorian universities and higher education providers within government.
Ingrid Stitt MP
Minister for Early Childhood
Minister for Workplace Safety
Minister Stitt was elected to the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Western Metropolitan in 2018. She has been the Minister for Early Childhood and the Minister for Workplace Safety since September 2020.
The Minister for Early Childhood oversees Victoria’s kindergarten system, the staged rollout of universal funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, and early childhood education services, including for children with disability or developmental delay.