Purpose and functions

The department is responsible for delivering and regulating statewide learning and development services to approximately one-third of all Victorians across the early childhood, school education, and training and skills sectors. The table below outlines the department’s services during 2021–22.

The department’s services by sector in 2021–22

Early childhood	School education	Training and skills, and higher education
Birth to 8 More than 400,000 children and families	5 to 18 More than 1,014,200 students	15 to 65+ More than 328,800 government-subsidised enrolments in VET
Early years learning and development, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) services	Primary education Secondary education Special education Language	TAFE Dual-sector universities Private registered training providers Learn Locals
There are a diverse range of public, private and not-for-profit providers serving Victorians and international students of all ages:
More than 4,590 approved education and care services providing long day care, kindergarten, outside-school-hours care, and family day care Approximately 270 licensed children’s services providing limited-hour services such as occasional care	1,557 government schools 729 non-government schools (498 Catholic schools and 231 independent schools)	12 TAFE institutes 10 universities operating under state legislation (4 of which are dual-sector that also provide VET) 269 government-contracted registered training organisations (RTOs), including community-based, not-for- profit, industry-based and private organisations 263 Learn Local organisations, which are community owned, not-for-profit organisations, and Adult Education Institutions registered with the ACFE Board to deliver pre-accredited training

Updated 21 September 2022