1.2 Key responsibilities of the Departments
Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services (DHS) covers the responsibilities of the Minister for Community Services and the Minister for Housing and is responsible for providing a broad range of community services to all Victorians:
- disability services
- family support, child protection and juvenile justice services
- secure, affordable and appropriate housing and support services for people experiencing, or are at risk of homelessness
- concessions to low income groups to make essential services more affordable
DHS provides these services directly, as well as providing more than $1 billion in recurrent funding to 600+ service partners that include Non Government Organisations, Local Government, Hospitals and Community Health Services.
Department of Health
The Department of Health covers the responsibilities of the Minister for Health, the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Senior Victorians and is responsible for providing a broad range of improved health and health related services to all Victorians. The departmental portfolios are:
Health
- Health care services through the public hospital system, community health services and ambulance services
- Health promotion and protection through emergency management, public health and related preventative services, education and regulation
Mental Health
- A range of alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services
- The public mental health service system consisting of clinical services and psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services
Aged Care
- Residential and rehabilitation care for older people, along with support and assistance to enable them to remain independently in their own homes
The Department of Health plans, funds and delivers health services in line with the government's vision for making Victoria a stronger, more caring and innovative state. Health is the single biggest area of investment in the 2010-11 Budget, which increased the total health output budget to $12 billion.
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
The establishment of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) marked the beginning of a new approach to learning and development- one which supports children and their families from birth through to adulthood.
The focus of DEECD is firmly set on the wellbeing of Victorian children and their families, and its aim is to ensure that Victorian children have every opportunity to learn, to grow, and to experience a happy and healthy childhood.
DEECD brings together a range of services for young people from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
DEECD has four main responsibilities:
- Provide policy advice to Ministers about education, early childhood development and children’s services in general
- Implement Victorian government policy on early childhood services
- Implement Victorian government policy on school education for all school age students
- Manage and drive continuous improvement in the delivery of primary and secondary education in Victorian government schools.
Within these responsibilities, DEECD is focused on the provision of services to children. These services are provided both directly and indirectly – directly through government schools, and indirectly through regulation or funding of early childhood services and non-government school education.
The Department’s Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development (http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/directions/blueprint2008/default.htm) outlines these opportunities and articulates a new vision for Victorian education and early childhood development for the period 2008-13.
Early Childhood Development within the Department’s Office for Children and Portfolio Coordination (OCPC) is responsible for supporting the health, development, wellbeing and learning of Victoria’s children by funding a range of programs including kindergarten, maternal and child health, supported playgroups, parenting services , school focused youth services and early intervention services. Service provision is managed by regional staff, both directly and through partnership agreements with the funded sector.
Recurrent funding of over $300 million is provided to Early Childhood Development Program funded organisations through approximately 1,400 service agreements.