Departmental and Administrative Changes to DESE / New Ministers

Following the swearing-in of the full ministry on 1 June 2022, Prime Minister Albanese announced a series of departmental and administrative changes that will take effect on 1 July 2022.

IHEA members will be interested to note changes to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).

Department of Education

A newly named Department of Education will be responsible for higher education, policy, regulation and programmes, co-ordination of research policy in relation to universities, policy, coordination and support for international education and research engagement, creation and development of research infrastructure, research grants and fellowships, among other responsibilities.

Matters dealt with by the Department of Education:

Higher education policy, regulation and programmes
Co-ordination of research policy in relation to universities
Policy, coordination and support for international education and research engagement
Creation and development of research infrastructure
Research grants and fellowships
Education transitions policy and programmes
Schools education policy and programmes
Youth affairs and programmes, including youth transitions
Pre-school education policy and programmes
Early childhood education and care policy and programmes
Co-ordination of early childhood development policy and responsibilities

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

A new Department of Employment and Workplace Relations will be responsible for skills and training, jobs, and workplace relations.

Matters dealt with by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations:

Skills and vocational education policy regulation and programmes, including vocational education and training in schools
Training, including apprenticeships and training and skills assessment services
Training transitions policy and programmes
Foundation skills for adults
Employment policy, including employment services
Labour market programmes for people of working age
Co-ordination of labour market research
Equal employment opportunity
Work and family programmes
Participation, activity test and compliance policy for participation payment recipients
Work health and safety, rehabilitation and compensation
Workplace relations policy development, advocacy and implementation

New Ministers

Relating to these departments, IHEA members will be interested to note the following Ministers:

The Hon Jason Clare MPMinister for Education
The Hon Dr Anne Aly MPMinister for Early Childhood Education
Minister for Youth
Senator Hon Anthony ChisholmAssistant Minister for Education
The Hon Tony Burke MPMinister for Employment and Workplace Relations
The Hon Brendan O’Connor MPMinister for Skills and Training

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