Education

the implementation of high quality programs and effective
practices that support learning from birth to Kindergarten.
Belonging, Being, Becoming – The Early Years Learning
Framework for Australia is the curriculum framework that
guides the team’s practice and has been designed for use
by early childhood teachers to work in partnership with
families, children’s first and most influential educators.
There is a strong focus and a specific emphasis on play
based learning and recognition of the importance of
communication and language including early literacy
and numeracy, and social and emotional development.
The team’s work assists the ongoing implementation and
development of Launching into Learning, which supports
families and young children in school communities.
Support is also provided to child and family centres.
The Education and Care Unit (ECU) regulates
education and care (child care) in Tasmania. The unit, as the
Tasmanian Regulatory Authority, is responsible for the
implementation of the National Quality Framework for Early
Childhood Education and Care, including the administration
of the Education and Care Services National Law (Tasmania)
2011. ECU also administers the Child Care Act 2001.
The unit supports and monitors the development of
high quality education and care programs and services in
Tasmania, including administration of a nationally consistent
assessment and rating process and the implementation
of Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning
Framework for Australia and My Time, Our Place – Framework
for School Age Care in Australia.
Educational Performance Services (EPS) monitors
and measures student outcomes in the pre-compulsory
and compulsory years of schooling including achievement
against the national benchmarks established under the
National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy
(NAPLAN). EPS also provides statewide support and
advice for teacher assessment and reporting against the
standards of the Tasmanian Curriculum and the Australian
Curriculum as it is being progressively implemented by
schools. EPS is directed towards Tasmanian compliance
with national assessment program requirements and
national reporting for the schooling sector to the end
of Year 12. EPS has representation at a national level in
a number of forums around Tasmania’s performance,
public reporting and accountability requirements.
EPS monitors and reports on the educational
accountability information required for specific purpose
programs and is also responsible for corporate reporting
and facilitating the collection, storage and utilisation of
student and school data. In addition to this, EPS develops
and implements systems such as the Student Support
System and the NAPLAN Toolkit designed to support
classroom teachers and provide the capacity for statewide
analysis of student data.
The English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Program focuses on improving educational opportunities
and outcomes for newly arrived students by providing
resources that develop English language competence and
facilitate participation in mainstream educational activities.
Proficiency in Standard Australian English is crucial to
achieving successful learning outcomes in all areas of the
curriculum. EAL Program support is delivered by EAL
teachers and teacher assistants according to the needs of
the students enrolled in each school.
eLearning supports flexible provision across the
department. In addition, the Flexible Learning Network
provides a collaborative structure to deliver academic,
general and vocational study options for senior secondary
students. eLearning manages the online learning tools
and collection of digital resources that support quality
teaching and learning for the Australian Curriculum.
This includes the deployment of a new Virtual Learning
Environment across Tasmanian schools. eLearning manages
the coordination and delivery of a variety of online
courses and opportunities to students throughout
Tasmania that complement local provision and provide
access to educational experiences and opportunities that
would otherwise be unavailable, e.g. programs for
gifted/highly-able students and other core and
extension courses such as languages.
Learning Services (North, North-West and South)
provide support for networks of schools through the
services of a general manager in each Learning Service,
principal network leaders, specialist staff such as social
workers, school psychologists, speech and language
pathologists, autism consultants and inclusive learning
leaders; and various support staff.
The Professional Learning Institute (PLI)
supports the growth of a successful, skilled, innovative
workforce and inspiring leadership in the department.
The development of the new institute began in 2011.
The work of the PLI is integral to the mission of the
department—to provide every Tasmanian with the
opportunity to continue to learn and reach their potential
to lead fulfilling lives and to contribute positively to the
community. In line with the department’s Learners First
Strategy, the PLI places high priority on promoting a strong
leadership culture.
The State Support Service provides resourcing and
support for students in schools with hearing loss and
those who are visually impaired, through the support of
the vision services team, Braille production, teachers of
the deaf and Auslan interpreters. Programs to support
assistance with transport, minor works, and contingency
support for students new to our system are also provided.
Other services are provided through the three Learning
Services and through the Early Childhood Intervention
Service for students with severe disabilities and those with
high and additional needs. The Learning Services also have
a team of specialist staff such as social workers, school
psychologists, speech and language pathologists, autism
consultants and inclusive learning leaders.
The Strategic Policy and Planning (SPP) unit
supports the Secretary and Deputy Secretary by providing
high level advice on the development and implementation
of the department’s strategic policies including advice on
cross-agency issues and responsibilities. SPP assists the
Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the development of
business plans including performance and accountability
within the Early Years and Schools Division. SPP has
oversight of the implementation and reporting of key
national partnerships and agreements.
Department at a Glance » Services
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