Introduction to Education

By supporting every one of our employees to meet their personal goals at work, we can best meet NSW's goals for quality public education.

What we do

At the NSW Department of Education, our goal is to be Australia's best education system and one of the finest in the world. We prepare young people for rewarding lives as engaged citizens in a complex and dynamic society.

Children and young people are at the centre of all our decision-making. We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We are the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We respect and value Aboriginal people as Australia's First Nation Peoples. We also work closely with the non-government school and higher education sectors.

Our Schools

  • Preschools

    Preschools offer programs for children the year before Kindergarten, helping children learn how to interact positively with other children and to recognise and accept their own feelings and those of others. They also develop early language, literacy and numeracy skills. Workers in preschools help boost children's skills and encourage them to join in physical activities and develop good health and safety habits.

  • Primary schools

    Primary schools (Kindergarten to Year 6) are where students develop strong literacy and numeracy skills and explore new ideas, including the use of information and communication technologies. Workers in primary schools encourage self-expression and help students become adaptable and independent learners.

  • High schools

    High schools (Years 7 to 12) provide students with a quality education in a broad range of subjects. Workers in high schools help students continue their education journey, from the excitement of Year 7 to the self-motivation and self-management of their senior years.

  • Schools for specific purposes

    Schools for specific purposes cater to students who have special learning needs. This includes hospital schools, which provide education to students who are inpatients in large NSW hospitals.

Education support roles

Supporting the work in schools are nearly 4,000 employees working in education support roles. People employed in these roles work to build Australia's best education system by developing student-centred policy, designing the schools of the future, supporting teachers so they can maximise their time in the classroom, and much more.

Our values

We want our values to be more than just words on a page - they should act as a guide and checkpoint for how we go about our work and make decisions on a daily basis. They form the foundation of what it's like to work for Education and what we can all expect from each other.

Accountability

It’s up to every one of us

  • We take responsibility for decisions and outcomes.
  • We allocate and use resources efficiently and effectively.
  • We monitor and review performance to drive improvement.

Equity

Lift people up

  • We ensure that every student has access to high-quality public education.
  • We respect diversity and the views and contributions of others.
  • We treat people fairly.

Excellence

Strive for the best together

  • We have high expectations and we continually seek to improve ourselves and our work.
  • We strive to excel and invite the best ideas from everyone in and outside the department.
  • We use and share evidence, research and data to underpin policy and practice.
  • We welcome collaboration and learning with others.

Integrity

Do what’s right, every day

  • We act professionally with honesty and consistency.
  • We communicate clear expectations.
  • We are transparent with information and our decisions.

Service

Students at the centre

  • We are flexible, innovative, responsive and reliable.
  • We provide coordinated and aligned services to enhance teaching and learning.
  • We work openly in partnership with parents, communities and organisations.

Trust

Be what you say

  • We build relationships based on transparency, honesty and mutual respect.
  • We support one another.
  • We respect others’ expertise, experience and points of view, and listen with an open mind.

Interested in knowing more about us?

With nearly 100,000 employees working in schools and offices throughout the state, we can offer you a varied and rewarding career in your chosen field. Click the button below to learn more.
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