About the department

The Department of Education’s (the Department) vision is to give all children a great start, engage young people in learning, create safe and inclusive workplaces, build Queensland’s communities and foster a more sustainable racing industry.

Our strategic direction

In February 2021, after the Machinery of Government changes, we published a revised Strategic Plan 2020–24 to incorporate Racing. Our strategic objectives for 2020–21 were:

• a great start for all children
• every student succeeding
• building Queensland communities
• safe and fair workplaces and communities
• capable people delivering responsive services.

Machinery of Go​vernment changes

Incoming divisions or functions

Outgoing divisions or functions​

*Financial statements for the period 1 July to 30 November 2020 can be found in the related annual report. In line with s80 of the Financial Accountability Act 2009, financial reporting takes effect on the first day of the month immediately following transfer.

Queensland Government’s objectives for the community

On 1 December 2020, the Premier of Queensland tabled a new statement of the Government’s objectives for the community​. We contribute to the following objectives:

• Safeguarding our health: safeguard people’s health and jobs by keeping Queensland pandemic-ready.
• Backing our frontline services: deliver world-class frontline services in key areas such as health, education and community safety.
• Building Queensland: drive investment in the infrastructure that supports our recovery, resilience and future prosperity.
• Investing in skills: ensure Queenslanders have the skills they need to find meaningful jobs and set up pathways for the future.
• Protecting the environment: protect and enhance our natural environment and heritage for future generations and achieve a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.
• Growing our regions: help Queensland’s regions grow by attracting people, talent and investment, and driving sustainable economic prosperity.

The objectives are built around the Unite and Recover—Queensland’s economic recovery plan with a focus on protecting our health, creating jobs and working together. We contribute to the implementation of this plan by:

• assisting parents and carers through giving all children the opportunity to attend early childhood education and care services;
• nurturing the wellbeing and mental health of students and educating the community about the importance of workplace health and safety;
• creating local jobs across the state by employing more teachers, and building contemporary world-class infrastructure for Queensland students; and
• investing in the viability of the racing industry through providing funding for infrastructure and supporting country racing in regional communities.

Our service areas

We delivered a broad range of responsive services to support government and departmental commitments and priorities across our 4 service areas:

• Early childhood education and care: Queensland children engaged in quality early years programs that support learning and development, and strengthen transitions to school.
• School education: Queensland students engaged in learning, achieving and successfully transitioning to further education, training and work.
• Industrial relations: Improving the wellbeing of all Queenslanders by making Queensland safer and supporting fair and productive workplaces.
• Racing: Administering the Racing Act 2002 and managing programs that support a viable, prosperous racing industry in Queensland.

Our operating e​nvironment

Following the state election, our operations now include a range of significant initiatives as part of the government’s commitments. We supported the government through the provision of briefing advice, analysis and developing a process to manage implementation of the government’s commitments.

Our valu​es

Our values are those of the Queensland Public Service and guide the way we work.

Our people

As of 30 June 2021, there were:

• 95,373 employees or 75,296.8 full-time equivalents (FTE)
• approximately 94%of the workforce based in a school, with 6% non-school based.