Key milestones in Victorian public education

Education in what is now Victoria began around 60,000 years ago with Aboriginal communities. Elders taught children the skills and values needed for life on their Country. Over thousands of years, these lessons changed as people learned new skills and adapted to new ways of living.

Caroline Newcomb becomes the first European teacher in recently colonised Melbourne. She came to the town as a tutor to John Batman’s children.

The Governor of New South Wales authorised the formation of the National and Denominational school boards. The resulting National schools were the first attempt to create a public type of education system.

Victoria separated from New South Wales. The new colony continued to follow the National School model. The National School System ran from 1848 to 1862.

The National and Denominational school boards merged to form the Board of Education. National schools became Common schools. The Common school system ran from 1862 to 1872.

Education Act 1872

The Education Act made Victoria the first Australian colony, and one of the first places in the world, to provide free, secular, and compulsory education to children.

The Act required all children aged 6–15 years to attend school unless they had a reasonable excuse.

Melbourne Teachers’ College opened

The Melbourne Teachers’ College opened in 1890 and became a leader in teacher training in Victoria. In 1913, it expanded beyond primary teaching. It started to include secondary, kindergarten, and specialist areas.

The college’s name changed to Melbourne State College in 1973 and to Melbourne College of Advanced Education in 1983. In 1989, it joined the University of Melbourne’s Education Faculty to form the Institute of Education.

Today, teachers begin their training at university. They continue to build their skills throughout their careers. One place they do so is through the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.

Find out more: Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership(opens in a new window)

The first official government-owned and run secondary school opened. Yet at this stage, the department did not have legislative responsibility for secondary education. The school was named the 'Melbourne Continuation School' to show that it was not competing with private or church-run secondary schools. It was established with a vocational focus to train teachers. Other continuation schools opened around the state soon after.

First state-funded kindergarten

Emmeline Pye, teacher and lecturer, was one of the pioneers of kindergarten education in Victoria. In 1907, she opened the first state-funded kindergarten in Brunswick, Victoria.

In 2022, Victoria became the first state to introduce funded Three-Year-Old kindergarten. This was the largest social, economic, and educational reform in early childhood education in Australia’s history.

Learn more about kinder in Victoria today: Give your child the best start(opens in a new window)

The Education Act of 1910 gave the department official responsibility for secondary education. It also allowed the creation of government high schools and technical schools. The continuation schools changed their names to high schools.

Opening of new technical colleges

TAFE in Victoria grew out of the Mechanics' Institute tradition, and early technical colleges such as the Ballarat School of Mines.

The Ballarat School of Mines opened in 1870. It is now part of Federation University, which is one of Victoria’s four dual-sector universities.

Mechanics’ Institutes began in Scotland in 1821 and spread across the world. By 1900, more than 9,000 were in operation. The first Victorian institute, the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institute, opened in 1839.

After the Education Act 1910, the department became more involved in technical education. The Act allowed new technical schools to open to help meet the need for skilled tradespeople.

Technical schools offered students pre-vocational courses to prepare them for a trade. The first of these new colleges opened in 1912 in Collingwood. Soon after, schools opened in Sunshine, Box Hill, and Preston.

Today, Victorians have access to many study options at 16 TAFE institutes across the state. This includes Free TAFE courses.

Find out more at Free TAFE(opens in a new window).

School nursing program

The Primary School Nursing Program began in Victoria in 1913 and has grown into a respected, nationwide service. The program has changed over time, but its main goal is to improve the health and development of children so they can reach their full potential.

The Secondary School Nursing Program began in 2000. It supports both whole-school health promotion and one-on-one health care for students.

State schools’ relief

State Schools’ Relief began in 1930 during the Great Depression. It was founded by Anton Vroland, the head teacher of Elsternwick State School.

State Schools’ Relief still helps students today in schools whose families find it hard to afford school-related items.

Find out more: State Schools' Relief(opens in a new window).

First Education Week

Education Week gives all educational institutions a chance to celebrate education in Victoria.

It began as an education rally in 1944 and later became an ongoing campaign to promote learning.

Find out more about this year’s Education Week(opens in a new window).

The government replaced the term State school with Primary school as the official name for Victoria’s junior schools. The change followed a rise in post-primary education.

Migrant education program

In August 1971, the Commonwealth Migrant Education Program. was created. This gave Victoria funding to hire teachers to support migrant students in government schools.

Introduction of computer technology in classrooms

During the 1980s, computers began to appear in classrooms. They created new learning opportunities and changed how students and teachers worked.

In 1998, the Department of Education set up programs to help schools get computers for teaching and learning.

In 1982, the Minister for Education announced that corporal punishment would end in government schools from the start of 1983.

Ministerial review of services for students with disability

The Integration in Victorian Education report (also known as the Collins Report) set out major reforms for students with disabilities.

The report introduced the idea of 'integration' in Victorian schools. This began a cultural shift that placed Victoria at the forefront of inclusive education. Integration meant that children and young people with disability could learn in their local government schools alongside their peers.

Learn more about Disability Inclusion(opens in a new window) in schools today.

Schools had three terms until 1986. From 1987, schools have had four terms.

Yalca

In 2001, the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) and the Victorian Government released Yalca – A Partnership in Education and Training for the New Millennium.

Yalca promoted lifelong learning and placed students at the centre of education decisions. It also recognised that local Koorie communities best understand their own education needs.

Yalca led to stronger collaboration between VAEAI and the Victorian Government. It laid the groundwork for the first 10-year plan for Koorie education in Victoria, Marrung: Aboriginal Education Plan 2016–2026.

Find out more at Marrung(opens in a new window).

150th anniversary of public education in Victoria

In 1872 there were over 480 schools in Victoria, more than 170 of these continue teaching today.

Much has changed in the last 150 years, but public education remains a vital part of the Victorian community.

Find out more about the anniversary of 150 years of public education in Victoria.