AddressAbout the Department
The Department leads the delivery of education and development services to children, young people and adults both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services, non-government schools and training programs.
Information about the structure of the Department, including details about each of our Ministers, key staff, regional offices, strategy and annual reports are available at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/default.aspx
Role Context
Schools and Regional Services comprises 17 Areas within four regions across the state, as well as 5 central Divisions. The responsibilities of Schools and Regional Services include:
- service delivery including performance, contract management, funding delivery and acquittal
- program implementation including detailed implementation planning and delivery
- local area engagement, advice, support and partnerships
- workforce capability development, professional practice leadership and delivery
- emergency management including critical incident response
- supporting strong regional partnerships with early childhood services, schools and other education providers to deliver high-quality services and outcomes with a 0-18 focus.
The regional model is designed to:
- connect between central government policy and the delivery of high quality services to Victorians
- drive outcomes across all stages of learning through expert advice and support
- connect with families, service providers, schools and communities
- lead, collaborate and partner at a local level to overcome social and economic challenges facing our communities, towns and cities
- deliver health, wellbeing and support services to children, young people and their families to assist them in their learning and development
- improve connectedness and transitions between important points in a child¿s life - such as between early childhood, kindergarten, school and tertiary education
- assist and support children and young people who are vulnerable, disengaged, and those with disabilities or challenging behaviour.
Career Start
High quality graduate induction can accelerate the development of graduate teachers¿ professional practice and support their wellbeing. This supports graduate teacher retention and stronger student outcomes.
Career Start is a structured program for graduate teachers which aims to improve their experience as they are inducted into the teaching profession. Between 2021 and 2023, Career Start was successfully piloted in primary and specialist school settings in three department areas. The Victorian government has invested $95.7 million to expand the program to the majority of the 17 department Areas by 2025.
Career Start is designed to give Victorian graduate teachers an early career experience that reflects international best practice. The program helps graduate teachers flourish in their first years in the classroom through:
- time release from face-to-face teaching to engage with induction supports
- a dedicated mentor to accelerate the development of their teaching practice
- networking opportunities within local Learning Alliances led by a dedicated Learning Alliance Leader
- professional learning to develop professional practice, professional identity and support wellbeing.
Career Start is delivered through a partnership between central and regional teams. A central team holds the overall policy and program design, while regional teams implement the program with a focus on contextual responsiveness.
