The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
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Welcome to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

A new Government led by the Leader of the Australian Labor Party, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, was sworn in by the Governor-General on 3 December 2007.

The Government has announced the creation of a new Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations www.deewr.gov.au. Existing information relating to the former Department of Employment and Workplace Relations can be located at www.dewr.gov.au.

Our website has changed

The Department has introduced its new website on 6 December 2008 (www.deewr.gov.au) which is the first step in creating a single publishing and access point for portfolio information.

The new design provides a richer source of information and news than our current internet presence.

Several programs have been migrated into the new site:

  • Digital Education Revolution
  • Forward with Fairness
  • New Employment Services
  • OECECC (Office Of Early Childhood)
  • Office For Youth
  • Productivity Places
  • Review of Australian Higher Education
  • Social Inclusion
  • Trade Training Centres

Your feedback is welcome and will help further shape the site in the future.

Digital Education Revolution
Review of Australian Higher Education

The Minister has announced a major review of the Australian Higher Education system.

Read more about the Review of Australian Higher Education.
DEST Annual Report 2006-07

The 2006-2007 Annual Report for the Department of Education, Science and Training was tabled in Parliament on 31 October 2007. The report contains information about the role of the Department, our performance, corporate governance arrangements and management accountability framework.

Announcing changes to the timeline of the Australian Vocational Student Prize.  Follow the link to find out more.

Schools Service Point

Schools Service Point provides the ability to access schools-related services with a single logon.

Porfolio Budget Statements 2008-2009

The DEEWR Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 13 May 2008. You can view them on the budget pages of the DEEWR website.

Rewarding Quality Schooling

The 2008 Australian Government National Awards for Quality Schooling  You are now leaving the DEST website were presented on 3 June 2008 by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education. The winners included teachers, principals, support staff and schools from across Australia.

Report on Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Acceptances, 2008

The Hon Julia Gillard, Minister for Education, has released the inaugural publication of the series - ‘Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Acceptances’. It contains statistics relating to the number of applicants for undergraduate study at university, the number of offers received and the number of offers accepted.

Work-Like Integrated Learning: A Guide for Trainers and Assessors

Work-Like Integrated Learning: A Guide for Trainers and Assessors is a professional development  or implementation guide to assist Registered Training Organisations (RTO) deliver qualifications using a project-based or work-like integrated approach.

Discussion Paper on Expansion of the Commonwealth Scholarship program

The Hon Julia Gillard, Minister for Education, has released a discussion paper on the Scholarships for a Competitive Future: Expansion of the Commonwealth Scholarships program.

Trade Training Centres in Schools Program

The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program is an important element of the Australian Government’s Education Revolution. It will provide $2.5 billion over 10 years to enable all secondary schools to apply for funding of between $500,000 and $1.5 million for Trade Training Centres.

European Union (EU)/Australia Cooperation in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Projects

Call for applications – Fifth Round projects

The call for applications for the fifth round of EU/Australia Cooperation in Higher Education and VET projects is now open.

This fifth round of EU/Australia Cooperation in Higher Education and (VET) projects seek applications from consortiums of both Australian higher education and VET institutions to undertake student mobility projects between the European Union and Australia. 

These projects offer the opportunity for Australian students in higher education and VET to undertake a period of study at a partner institution in the European Union. 

Further information is available. Applications close on 6 June 2008.

OECD Improving School Leadership Activity: Australian Country Background Report

Prepared in 2006, The Australian Country Background Report for the OECD's Improving School Leadership Activity Report provides information on school leadership in Australia, including school governance, the links between leadership and learning outcomes, the attractiveness of the leadership role, and training and professional development for school leaders.

Productivity Places Program – invitation for Registered Training Organisations

Over the next four years, the Australian Government will be providing training opportunities for Australians. Registered Training Organisations are being invited to be part of this exciting initiative to build a stronger and more productive Australia.

The training starts in April, with 20,000 training places being funded for job seekers. Training for job seekers during this stage will be at the Certificate II and III levels of attainment.

RTOs should familiarise themselves with the list of eligible qualifications, Request to Participate, Draft Contract and Draft Guidelines as these become available. DEEWR will accept submissions via its online system from 7 March 2008 through to 30 June 2011.

University applications and offers: Information paper

The main annual university admissions process, administered by the state Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs) is currently underway.

Data on university applications and offers can be confusing. This information paper explains applications and offers data and how to interpret it.

Reconciliation Action Plan

The Secretary, Lisa Paul, has launched the Department's Reconciliation Action Plan to mark the 40th anniversary of the national referendum that removed discriminatory clauses in the Australian Constitution. The Action Plan highlights key initiatives the department has committed to undertake to help improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. The Department is working to:

  • make mainstream programs work better and harder for Indigenous Australians
  • expand and improve programs specifically for Indigenous Australians
  • build the capacity of our workforce to respond to the needs of our Indigenous clients
  • ensure that the Department remains an employer of choice for Indigenous Australians.

Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER)

The Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) provides a subsidy for schools travelling more than 150 kilometres to visit the national capital as part of a civics and citizenship education excursion.