This page includes information that was shared to mark the 150-year anniversary of public education in Victoria.
150-year anniversary teaching and learning resource packs
The packs were for Levels F-2, 3-4, and 5-6 and came with teacher unit planners.
The packs linked the history of education and schooling to the key parts of the curriculum for all levels, F–6.
The resources were a learning sequence that covered relevant content descriptions from the Victorian Curriculum (History) for each band.
The resource packs included:
- a detailed, flexible unit planner. This was adaptable to suit the learning needs of students and could be added into term-planning documents.
- a student-facing slide pack that included links to resources, images and graphic organisers.
The Level 3-4 and 5-6 resources supported the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories.
F–Level 2 Learning Resources
Level F-2 Slide Pack (PPT, 46 MB)
Level F-2 Unit Planner (DOCX, 877 KB)
Level 3–4 Learning Resources
Level 3-4 Slide Pack (PPT, 19 MB)
Level 3-4 Unit Planner (DOCX, 906 KB)
Level 5–6 Learning Resources
Level 5-6 Slide Pack, (PPT, 26 MB)
Level 5-6 Unit Planner (DOCX, 897 KB)
Why was the anniversary important?
- In 2022, Victoria celebrated 150 years of public education. The 1872 Education Act made it the first Australian colony to offer free, secular, and compulsory education for kids. We view this as one of Victoria’s greatest achievements.
- Before 1872, most children in Victoria went to government-aided schools. Others attended independent or church schools. A few were taught at home by tutors. At that time, schooling wasn’t compulsory or free, so some children received no formal education.
- The Education Act created a centralised education department. It took power away from local authorities and parents. The government ran teacher recruitment and training. It also separated secular and religious instruction. Fees were abolished, and children aged 6 to 15 had to attend school.
How the anniversary was marked
- The department digitised the records of 483 schools that became public schools under the Education Act.
- The School Records Management Program team searched all over Victoria to find, collect, and protect old school documents.
- In May 2022, the department published selected records on the anniversary website. These included:
- school history summaries
- enrolment registers
- photos that all Victorians could view and enjoy.
- Throughout 2022, many stories were told of Victoria’s history of great education:
- Many education partners across the state marked this milestone through exhibitions, storytelling and special events.
- The department also released a curriculum resource for Term 3 that matched the Victorian Curriculum. It explored themes such as personal, family, and local history, as well as the history and diversity of communities.
- The theme for Education Week 2022 was 150 years of public education in Victoria. Education Week invited all institutions to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future of education in Victoria.
- During Education Week, schools marked the occasion in assemblies using special resources.
- The department also produced a series of short videos, including the following:
From the archives: changes over time
Many things have changed in education over the last 150 years. This includes hairstyles, uniforms, penmanship, and popular student names.
From the archives: communicating with schools
Did you know we’ve been communicating with students in schools since 1896? The School Paper ran from 1896 to 1969. It reached every student in schools all over Victoria. Magazines for each grade level followed, featuring titles like Comet and Meteor.
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