This year marks 150 years of public education in Victoria. The 1872 Education Act made Victoria the first Australian colony (and one of the first jurisdictions in the world) to offer free, secular and compulsory education to its children. We consider this to be one of Victoria’s greatest achievements.
Before 1872 most children living in Victoria were enrolled at government-aided institutions, others attended independent or church schools. A few were educated at home by tutors and, at a time when schooling was neither compulsory nor free, some received no formal education at all.
The Education Act created a centralised department of education, withdrawing effective power from local authorities and parents. The government centralised the recruitment and training of teachers, separated secular from religious instruction, abolished fees, and mandated the attendance of children between the ages of 6 and 15.
Victoria’s oldest continuing school, Bacchus Marsh Primary School, was built on the traditional Country of the Wada Wurrung people and opened in 1850. Europeans first arrived on the Country of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples only 15 years earlier in 1835, in the area now known as greater Melbourne.
Access to education has not always been a given for women, for many Koorie people, and for people with disabilities. Throughout 2022 we will explore the evolution of all these experiences and those of other students through stories, videos and the study of old documents and files.
We are all participants in or at the very least impacted by education at various points in our lives. We encourage everyone to celebrate the long and proud history of high-quality education in Victoria, and to reflect on our own engagement with the state education system.
In 1872 there were 483 schools in Victoria and 172 of these continue teaching today. As a major focus of the anniversary, records from these 483 schools are being digitised; and a curated selection will be available to view on the 150th-anniversary website.
To keep up with these stories, and to learn more, visit vic.gov.au/150years.
How the anniversary is being commemorated
150 years of public education in Victoria is being commemorated with:
- The digital preservation of historical records belonging to the 483 Victorian schools that became public schools when the Education Act came into effect.
- The department’s School Records Management Program team have been scouring the state; rescuing, collecting and preserving old documents. The program is piloting the RISE@DET program, which is creating digitisation roles for people with autism.
- A selection of these records such as school history summaries, enrolment registers and photos for all Victorians to access and enjoy will be available on the anniversary website from May.
- Throughout 2022, the Department of Education and Training will share stories, videos and artefacts from the last 150 years. These will be available on this web page, as well as on social media. For example, you can learn more about Koorie education and the Koorie education workforce who have led the way. You can also discover how the role of women in education has changed over the last 150 years. Throughout 2022, there will be many stories told of Victoria’s history of great education.
- A number of education partners across the state will also commemorate this milestone through exhibitions, story-telling and special events.
- A curriculum resource is being prepared for Term 3 which will align with the Victorian Curriculum. This will explore relevant themes around personal, family and local history, and the history and diversity of local communities.
- The theme for Education Week 2022 is "150 years of Public Education in Victoria". Education Week is an opportunity for all primary and secondary schools, higher education providers, and early childhood education and care services to commemorate the past, celebrate the present and imagine the future of education in Victoria. Resources will be available closer to May.
- During Education Week all schools can commemorate during assembly with some special items that are being prepared. Schools can choose which items work with their agenda and other celebrations.
How you can celebrate
You can commemorate 150 years of public education in Victoria by:
- contributing to the 150 years digital time capsule by emailing your school memories (photos, reports, trivia) to 150years@education.vic.gov.au
- sharing the materials from this toolkit with your organisation’s networks through your own communication channels including by email, social media, websites, and newsletters.
- have your own conversations with family and friends about their school experiences and memories. How did they differ from yours? Why?
- getting in touch with your local historical society or library to see what resources they have about schools in your area.
- planning your own event and/or theming an existing event with 150 years, using the hashtag #schools150years when posting on social media, and tagging @DETVic on Twitter and @Department of Education and Training, Victoria on LinkedIn.
- directing people to the vic.gov.au/150years website.
- bookmarking vic.gov.au/150years and revisiting throughout the year.
Suggested social media posts
Here are some sample social media posts that can be used across your organisation’s social media channels to help encourage your networks to participate in the commemorations of 150 years of public education in Victoria.
Feel free to edit and personalise these to suit your style.
Draft text
Post 1
Did you know that Victoria was one of the first governments in the world to make education free, compulsory and secular? This year Victoria is commemorating 150 years of public education - learn more: vic.gov.au/150years #schools150years
Post 2
Victoria is commemorating 150 years of education. Learn why this is so important: vic.gov.au/150years #schools150years
Post 3
In 1872 there were 483 schools in Victoria, 172 of these continue teaching today.
Fun fact, these are all primary schools. The first state secondary school didn’t open until 1905. Learn more: vic.gov.au/150years #schools150years
Post 4
(Our organisation) is helping commemorate 150 years of public education in Victoria. Through the year we will share photos and stories about how education has changed over the years, and what has remained the same. Learn more about what we’re doing here (insert own link) #schools150years
Suggested newsletter copy
Please consider using the draft content below in your organisation’s newsletter or preferred communication channel. You can also customise the newsletter copy to include information about how your organisation is commemorating 150 years of public education in Victoria.
Draft text
This year marks 150 years of public education in Victoria.
In 1872 the introduction of the Education Act made Victoria the first Australian colony (and one of the first jurisdictions in the world) to offer free, secular and compulsory education to its children.
Being a forerunner of free, secular and compulsory education is one of Victoria’s greatest achievements.
Before 1872 most children living in Victoria were enrolled at government-aided institutions, others attended independent or church schools. A few were educated at home by tutors and, at a time when schooling was neither compulsory nor free, some received no formal education at all.
The 150 year anniversary of public education is an opportunity for us to commemorate the long and proud history of high-quality education in Victoria and to reflect on our own engagement with the state education system.
(Insert organisation name) will be celebrating 150 years of public education by (insert information here about how your organisation is commemorating 150 years of public education).
To get involved in the celebrations on social media use the hashtag #schools150years.
For more information and to see a selection of digitised records from Victoria’s oldest schools visit vic.gov.au/150years.
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