The Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) was a department of the Government of Australia, existing between 1 February 2020 to 1 July 2022 from a merger of the Department of Education (2019–2020) and Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business.[5][6] It was superseded by the Department of Education and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
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 The national office of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra. | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 February 2020[1] |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Dissolved | 1 July 2022[2] |
| Superseding agencies | |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Employees | 3,655 (2021) |
| Annual budget | A$60.437 billion (2021) |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Department executive |
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| Child Department |
|
| Website | dese |
| Footnotes | |
| [3][4] | |
The department "works to ensure Australians can experience the wellbeing and economic benefits that quality education, skills and employment provide." Its primary focus was "to equip Australians — at all life and career stages — with knowledge, skills and attributes to live well, thrive at work and contribute to community life."[7]
The head of the department was the Secretary of DESE, at dissolution Dr Michele Bruniges AM,[3] who reported to the Minister for Education, at dissolution the Hon. Jason Clare MP; the Minister for Employment, at dissolution the Hon. Tony Burke MP; and the Minister for Skills and Training, at dissolution the Hon. Brendan O'Connor MP.
History
editThe department was formed by way of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 5 December 2019, effective from 1 February 2020.[5] It was merged from the:
- Department of Education
- Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (except small business functions)
Preceding departments
editThe DESE's predecessor education departments have been:
- Department of Education and Science (13 December 1966 – 19 December 1972)
- Department of Education (19 December 1972 – 11 March 1983)
- Department of Education and Youth Affairs (11 March 1983 – 13 December 1984)
- Department of Education (13 December 1984 – 24 July 1987)
- Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) (24 July 1987 – 11 March 1996)
- Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) (11 March 1996 – 21 October 1998)
- Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) (21 October 1998 – 26 November 2001)
- Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) (26 November 2001 – 3 December 2007)
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013)
- Department of Education (18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014)
- Department of Education and Training (23 December 2014 – 29 May 2019)
- Department of Education (29 May 2019 – 1 February 2020)
The DESE's predecessor employment departments have been:
- Department of Labor and Immigration (12 June 1974 – 22 December 1975)
- Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (22 December 1975 – 5 December 1978)
- Department of Employment and Youth Affairs (5 December 1978 – 7 May 1982)
- Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (7 May 1982 – 24 July 1987)
- Department of Employment, Education and Training (24 July 1987 – 11 March 1996)
- Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (11 March 1996 – 21 October 1998)
- Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business (21 October 1998 – 26 November 2001)
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (26 November 2001 – 3 December 2007)
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013)
- Department of Employment (18 September 2013 - 20 December 2017)
- Department of Jobs and Small Business (20 December 2017 – 29 May 2019)
- Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (29 May 2019 – 1 February 2020)
Operational activities
editThe functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters:[5]
- Employment policy, including employment services
- Jobactive
- 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
- Reducing the burden of government regulation
- 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
- Schools education policy and programmes
- Education transitions policy and programmes
- Pre-school education policy and programmes
- Higher education policy, regulation and programmes
- Policy, coordination and support for international education and research engagement
- Co-ordination of research policy in relation to universities
- Creation and development of research infrastructure
- Research grants and fellowships
- Childcare policy and programmes
- Co-ordination of early childhood development policy and responsibilities
