Education

Strategic Focus
The Department of Education is responsible for providing
a comprehensive and lifelong approach to learning for all
people regardless of age. All aspects of early learning and
school education support young learners to reach their
potential; lead fulfilling and productive lives; and contribute
positively to their community. Our scope includes
education and care; child and family centres; early years
services; primary, secondary, combined and senior
secondary schools; LINC Tasmania and Government
Education and Training International.
The department’s Learners First Strategy drives the work
of the department through our:
• belief that all learners have a right to participate in
challenging and engaging learning opportunities
• commitment to excellence and equitable access
to learning
• conviction that all learners have the right to be
treated with respect
• desire to work collaboratively with learners and
their communities.
These drivers ensure that Tasmania’s public education
system continues to strive to be world-class.
Supporting the provision of quality early childhood
education and care in Tasmania is integral to the work
of the Education and Care Unit (ECU). Implementation
of the Council of Australian Government’s National
Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care
is being progressed by the ECU through monitoring
and assessment and rating of services using a nationally
consistent process. Throughout the state the Early Years
Learning Framework provides a curriculum framework for
Kindergarten and education and care (child care) services
and programs; while the Framework for School Aged Care
in Australia guides the provision of quality before school,
after school and vacation care programs.
Our delivery of skills training and adult learning programs
provide Tasmanians with the skills and knowledge
needed by the workforce and community to contribute
to society and ensure a strong and sustainable economy
into the future. The LINC Tasmania network opens up
the world of information, resources and adult learning
services to our Tasmanian community for personal and
professional growth. Skills Tasmania, as a business unit of
the department since July 2013, is Tasmania’s State Training
Authority, developing strategies and providing support,
advice, opportunities and funding to deliver quality training
to meet the needs of Tasmanians and our industries.
Government Education and Training International (GETI)
is Tasmania’s international education unit, and manages all
matters in relation to fee paying international students in
government secondary and senior secondary schools.
Underpinning our priority areas: Bright Beginnings;
Great Schools…Great Communities; and Purposeful Pathways
are the department’s key drivers which collectively
support a strong, robust and sustainable educational
system. The department’s strategies, policies and initiatives
are aligned to the key drivers, which strive to improve
educational outcomes for Tasmanian learners.
Successful Learners
The department’s mantra is learners first, connected and
inspired. We place learners first – meaning they are at the
forefront of everything we do as a department. We seek
to connect them to education, their community and the
world. We seek to inspire them, to encourage them
to grow and achieve, and to be the best they can be.
We strive to engage and retain learners with creative and
innovative learning programs, and the individual support
mechanisms they need to be successful. It is important
that their learning environments are vibrant, appropriate
and inspiring.
A wealth of research supports the benefits of investment
in the early years of a child’s life. The significant investment
in Launching into Learning (LiL) and child and family centres
is based on the belief that parents are their child’s first
and most influential teacher. Engaging in partnerships with
families in education before children begin Kindergarten
is more effective in achieving a wider range of successful
outcomes for students than interventions later in life.
The most recent analysis from the Launching into Learning
Longitudinal Study 2007–2014 Progress Report 2012
further demonstrates that regular participation in
LiL consistently and significantly improves educational
outcomes across all main performance measures,
particularly literacy and numeracy. Strong connections are
being developed between LiL and the 12 child and family
centre communities to strengthen and support
the engagement of families.
Our schools are implementing the Australian Curriculum.
Prep–Year 10 students are currently being assessed
against the Australian Curriculum in English, Mathematics,
Science and History which are mandated areas of study
in the curriculum. Assessment in all other learning areas
remains under the Tasmanian Curriculum Framework.
In 2014, Geography will be implemented from
Prep–Year 8 and will be optional for Years 9 and 10.
Schools will also be trialing Health and Physical Education.
6 Department at a Glance » Strategic Focus