Nine divisions share the department’s responsibilities for developing strategic priorities, implementing policy and funding, and monitoring service delivery. Translation of this policy and system management into local delivery of programs, service development and innovation is led through our eight regions.

Children, Youth and Families focuses on the health, safety, development and wellbeing of children, young people and families in Victoria. The division plays a key role in the planning and provision of services to Victorian children and their families. Services include child protection, youth justice, and child and family support.

Disability Services plans and funds a range of services for people with intellectual, physical, sensory and neurological disabilities. The division works in partnership with families, carers and service providers to advance the wellbeing and quality of life of people with disabilities through supports and programs that enhance independence, choice and community inclusion.

Housing and Community Building delivers a range of housing assistance support for low-income Victorians. This includes public housing, long-term and community housing, crisis and transitional housing, access to private rental and assistance into home ownership. The division also works with the community housing sector in Neighbourhood Renewal, creates more affordable rental housing in Victoria and has responsibility to lead policy development for the homelessness service system and support services for public and community-managed housing tenants.

Mental Health and Drugs supports the mental health and wellbeing of the Victorian community through education, prevention and early intervention strategies. The division undertakes a range of statutory responsibilities including the development of policy and quality standards, regulation and monitoring; funding and delivering specialist mental health services; and alcohol and other drug services. Programs are delivered in partnership with health service providers, non-government organisations and other public sector agencies.

Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services is responsible for the full range of health and aged care services in metropolitan Melbourne. This includes funding and monitoring the performance of metropolitan public health services and statewide responsibility for policy, funding and program development for Victorian public hospitals and ambulance services. The division provides program leadership in areas such as cancer, palliative care, renal, sub-acute and maternity services.

The division also provides service planning for capital developments including mental health facilities.

Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services develops and implements policy and funding for monitoring service delivery across the full range of health and aged care services for people in rural and regional Victoria. The division has statewide policy and program responsibility for public health, aged care, primary and community health, and dental health. The division also manages quality and safety in metropolitan, rural and regional hospitals, and the Nurse-On-Call service.

Operations comprises eight regions and four branches: Human Resources, Emergency Management, Regional Operations Performance and Youth Justice Custodial Services. The division brings a whole-of-department approach to operational issues with a strong focus on improving service delivery, creating synergies between the divisions, facilitating partnerships with agencies and integrating the department’s response to emergencies. The Bushfire Recovery Services Unit has also been established within the division to respond to the needs of people affected by the Black Saturday bushfires.

Portfolio Services and Strategic Projects brings together a range of executive, project and policy functions to support ministers and departmental executives. Responsibilities include media and communications, legal and legislation, Cabinet and Parliamentary, freedom of information and internal audit. The division provides cross-program leadership in workforce and service planning, nurse policy, health strategy, intergovernmental relations, Koori human services, diversity and social policy, and the ‘Go for your life’ program, and undertakes strategic projects on behalf of the departmental executive.

Financial and Corporate Services is responsible for the delivery of a range of core internal services, including finance, capital management and information services which provide the operational platform for the department to deliver human services to the Victorian community. The division also manages key departmental activities such as the budget process and industrial relations, and improves services through better business processes and technology.