The Tasmanian Government Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) provides essential learning opportunities and services. DECYP runs the following services for children and adults throughout Tasmania:

• Public education
• Vocational education and training
• Adult and community education
• Library and archive services.

DECYP is committed to work together to support all learners succeed as connected, resilient, creative, curious thinkers. Learners who will contribute to the broader community. Learners who will embody the values of aspiration, respect, courage and growth.

The DECYP priorities are best expressed through the goals of our strategic plan.

DECYP Values: Aspiration, Respect, Courage and Growth.

DECYP Goals: Access, Participation and Engagement; Early Learning; Wellbeing; Literacy and Numeracy.

The DECYP consists of four separate divisions:

• Learning
• Support and Development
• Strategy and Performance
• Corporate and Business Services

Heading up each division is a Deputy Secretary who reports to the Secretary, Department for Education, Children and Young People.

DECYP services, include:

• Government schools (Kindergarten to Year 12)
• Child & Family Centres
• Libraries
• Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS)

The Department for Education, Children and Young People: Early Years

The DECYP and the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in Tasmania commit to working together. Partnering to support children to thrive through Tasmania’s Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy It takes a Tasmanian Village 2021 (PDF, 11MB)

The DECYP provides educational services to children from birth. We recognise that children benefit from quality early learning. Services offered by the DECYP include:

• Launching into Learning (LiL)
• Child and Family Learning Centres (CFLCs)
• Learning in Families Together (LiFT)
• Libraries Tasmania
• Working Together (Working Together for three year olds)

Working in partnership with E&C services is imperative to support quality learning. This includes supporting successful transitions from Early Childhood Education and Care to school. To help achieve smooth transitions, the DECYP has been working in collaboration with the E&C sector. A provisional co-location policy is part of this collaboration. Policy to guide co-location of Education and Care and Department for Education, Children and Young People services.

The Education and Care Unit (ECU) regulates E&C services (child care) in Tasmania. The ECU reports to the Strategy and Performance division of the DECYP. A responsibility of the ECU is implementing the National Quality Framework  (NQF) for Early Childhood Education and Care. This includes administering the Education and Care Services National Law (Tasmania) 2011, and the Child Care Act 2001.

All Australian governments recognise that quality education and care shapes every child’s future. It lays the foundation for future development and learning. The NQF was introduced in 2012 to improve the quality of early childhood education and care across Australia. It includes a National Quality Standard (NQS) and national learning framework Early Years Learning Framework for Australia). Also included is an assessment and rating system and a national regulatory system.

For further information about DECYP visit the Our Department page on the Department for Education, Children and Young People website.