Changes to the department during 2021–22
On 1 July 2021 Wage Inspectorate Victoria was transferred from DPC and established as a statutory entity following the appointment of its first commissioner. Wage Inspectorate Victoria promotes and enforces Victoria’s laws on wage theft and child employment, long service leave entitlements and owner driver, forestry contractor, hirer and freight broker obligations.
On 1 September 2021 the Public Sector Reform branch transferred from DPC to a DPC entity — the Victorian Public Sector Commission. Public Sector Reform was responsible for leading and coordinating work on major issues relating to the management and operations of the Victorian Government including the strategic direction and reform of the public sector and public sector performance.
On 28 February 2022 the Social Services Workforce Reform branch was established as a new project office within DPC to lead and coordinate whole of government reform efforts to support workforce development within the social services sector. The Social Services Workforce Reform project office focuses on addressing the challenges of training, recruiting and retaining the critical social services workers needed to deliver the government’s significant investments in prevention of family violence and mental health reforms, as well as reforms in child protection and family services, youth justice, housing and homelessness, early childhood and other areas.
Our groups
DPC consists of 7 groups:
- Legal, Legislation and Governance
- Digital Victoria
- Cabinet, Communications and Corporate
- Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
- Economic Policy and State Productivity
- First Peoples–State Relations
- Industrial Relations Victoria.
Legal, Legislation and Governance
The Legal, Legislation and Governance group delivers public sector legal, legislation and governance expertise and combines the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and the Governance branch.
OGC provides legal and policy advice, including in the areas of administrative, constitutional and corporate law. OGC’s policy focus is on issues in the Premier’s and the Minister for Government Services’ portfolios, principally in relation to Victoria’s public sector, electoral system and subordinate legislation. OGC advises on the government’s legislative agenda and supports DPC in developing legislative and regulatory proposals. It also manages the department’s freedom of information and privacy functions.
Governance branch unifies DPC’s efforts to promote good governance and public administration, high-quality decision and policymaking, government integrity and accountability, and trust in public institutions. It also supports the critical work of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
Digital Victoria
Digital Victoria drives digital transformation across the Victorian Government to create better, fairer, more accessible services, a digital-ready public sector and a thriving digital economy. Digital Victoria launched the first Victorian Government Digital Strategy 2021–2026 in November 2021, setting a unified vision for a digital, thriving Victoria. As the steward of the whole of government digital agenda, Digital Victoria is building the foundations required to solve systemic whole of government or interdepartmental digital challenges and prepare the government to be future ready and digitally enabled for all Victorians. Digital Victoria comprises 5 branches: Digital; Cyber Security; Strategy and Performance; Technology and Transformation, and the Victorian Centre for Data Insights.
Cabinet, Communications and Corporate
The Cabinet, Communications and Corporate group provides services and Victorian public service-wide advice to support robust public administration and promote DPC’s role as the First Minister’s department. The group provides timely and practical guidance on the operation of Cabinet, Cabinet committees and the Executive Council. The group leads work to support DPC to meet integrity, financial accountability and institutional governance obligations to parliament and ministers and provides specialist communication, event, behavioural insights and protocol advice across government. The group also provides the operational backbone to DPC and its entities through finance; operations; people and culture; and procurement services and assistance.
Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
The Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations group brings together social policy expertise by coordinating the state’s intergovernmental relations. The group provides policy advice on the following areas: health; mental health; education; skills and training; justice; community security and emergency management; and families, fairness and housing.
The group also leads oversight and coordination of intergovernmental advice, COVID-19 pandemic response efforts and the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. It also supports the Office of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor.
Economic Policy and State Productivity
The Economic Policy and State Productivity group leads economic policy advice to the Premier. The group collaborates with relevant departments and agencies to support a coordinated whole of government approach to policy and projects in the areas of economic development and industry recovery; fiscal policy; regional and suburban development; local government; regulatory reform; consumer affairs; racing; workplace safety; creative industries; major events, tourism and sport; innovation; small business; employment; international engagement; infrastructure and planning; precincts; public transport; agriculture; resources; energy and climate change; and water and the environment.
First Peoples–State Relations
The First Peoples–State Relations group was established in April 2021 and is responsible for an extensive program of nation-leading work in the areas of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth with First Peoples. The group recognises Victoria’s First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria and is committed to building ongoing, just and respectful relationships between self-determining First Peoples and the State.
Industrial Relations Victoria
Industrial Relations Victoria (IRV) provides strategic industrial relations legislative, policy and technical advice to government and departments. IRV engages with Victorian employers, employees and their representatives to support a positive industrial relations environment, and to advocate for fair and productive workplaces, secure work and gender pay equity. IRV also oversees industrial relations matters and enterprise bargaining policy and processes across the Victorian public sector. IRV comprises of the Private Sector Industrial Relations branch, the Public Sector Industrial Relations branch and the Office of the Deputy Secretary. IRV supports 3 portfolio entities: the Labour Hire Licensing Authority, the Portable Long Service Authority and Wage Inspectorate Victoria.
DPC’s senior executives
Secretary
Jeremi Moule was appointed as the Secretary of DPC in October 2020. Prior to this role, he was DPC’s Deputy Secretary of Governance Policy and Coordination, a position he held since August 2018.
Jeremi has held various executive positions in the Victorian and South Australian public services for more than 20 years. He started his career as a journalist and was the CEO of a registered training organisation. Jeremi lives in Bendigo and has worked extensively in regional Victoria.
He holds a journalism degree from the University of South Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deputy Secretary/General Counsel, Legal, Legislation and Governance
Toby Hemming was appointed as General Counsel in May 2018.
Toby has significant experience in the Victorian public sector, having held senior positions in organisations including the County Court of Victoria, the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority.
Toby holds degrees in the areas of law, arts and corporate governance. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed Executive Fellows programs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
Chief Executive Officer, Digital Victoria
Michael McNamara was appointed CEO for Digital Victoria in September 2021.
Michael has more than 25 years of experience in the digital transformation paradigm. Prior to DPC, Michael was the Chief Information Officer and Deputy CEO for Services Australia where he was responsible for major digital transformation programs. Before joining the public sector, he had a lengthy private sector career supporting the likes of ANZ and other banking and energy providers to build and modernise their digital infrastructure. Michael was ranked in the top 10 in the CIO50 awards in 2021.
Deputy Secretary, Cabinet, Communications and Corporate
Vivien Allimonos is Deputy Secretary of Cabinet, Communications and Corporate. Vivien also acted as the Chief Executive Officer of Digital Victoria from March 2021 until September 2021. Prior to DPC, Vivien was the Chief Communications Officer at the Department of Education and Training. Vivien has more than 20 years of experience in public administration, with a focus on international affairs, trade and communications. She has held various executive positions in the Victorian and Australian public services as well as the US State Department. She holds an honours degree in commerce/arts from the University of Melbourne and was listed in IPAA Victoria’s Top 50 Public Sector Women 2020.
Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
Kate Houghton PSM was appointed as a Deputy Secretary in DPC in November 2018, initially looking after Social Policy and Aboriginal Affairs. In April 2021 Aboriginal Affairs became the separate First Peoples–State Relations group and Kate took on responsibility for intergovernmental relations.
Kate has led many teams across a variety of portfolios within the Victorian public service. Before joining DPC she was Deputy Secretary of Police and Crime Prevention at the then Department of Justice and Regulation. Kate spent many years working within the natural resources and environment portfolio. She led the Water and Catchments group as Deputy Secretary and the Environment Policy Division as Executive Director.
Kate has an honours degree in economics and a Master of Environment. She is also an IPAA Fellow. In the June 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Kate was awarded the Public Service Medal in recognition of her contribution in support of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy and State Productivity
Tim Ada began in the role of Deputy Secretary of Economic Policy and State Productivity in April 2019. Previously, Tim was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, where he was responsible for the strategic development of key industry sectors including manufacturing, life sciences, international education and delivering telecommunications and employment programs.
Tim has a Master of Agriculture Sciences from the University of Melbourne. He grew up in rural Victoria.
Chris Miller acted in the role of Deputy Secretary of Economic Policy and State Productivity from April to October 2021. Chris substantively served as Executive Director of the Infrastructure, Planning and Major Projects branch at DPC. Chris departed DPC in February 2022.
Deputy Secretary, First Peoples–State Relations
Elly Patira was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of First Peoples–State Relations in April 2021. Elly is a lawyer and policy adviser with broad experience across constitutional, Indigenous and minority rights law and policy, both domestically and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a JD (Juris Doctor) from the University of Melbourne and a Master of International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford. Elly has held various executive positions in the Treaty and First Peoples portfolio at DPC. She has previously worked as an academic, in the corporate sector, for Aboriginal organisations and as an adviser during the Fijian constitution-making process.
As Deputy Secretary, Elly is responsible for an extensive program of priority work with First Peoples in the areas of treaty, truth and transitional justice, self-determination and cultural rights and protection.
Deputy Secretary, Industrial Relations Victoria
Matt O’Connor was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of Industrial Relations Victoria in April 2015.
Matt has worked in the Victorian Government since 2003. He has overseen the development of significant industrial relations legislative policy reforms including wage theft, labour hire licensing, long service leave and child employment.
Matt provides strategic input on a range of whole of government industrial relations matters. He has overseen the government’s participation in significant legal proceedings in the Fair Work Commission, advocating for secure and fair employment through increases to the national minimum wage; paid family and domestic violence leave; and a minimum wage floor for piece rates in the horticultural award. He has also represented the Victorian Government in consultations with the Commonwealth Government on federal industrial relations legislative proposals including amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009.
Matt has steered the government’s public sector industrial relations strategy for several years and, more recently, played a pivotal role in developing enduring flexible working arrangements and managing COVID-19 workforce issues.
Deputy Secretary, Social Services Workforce Reform
Sandy Pitcher began as Deputy Secretary, Social Services Workforce Reform in February 2022. Sandy has around 15 years of executive experience across the Victorian, South Australian and Commonwealth public sectors as well as the Commission for Racial Equality in the UK. Sandy was the inaugural Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in 2021, after co-leading the contact and case management COVID-19 response for Victoria from July 2020. She was the Secretary of the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources from 2015 to 2018. Sandy has held a number of community and university board positions. She also had a stint in an ASX company from 2018 to 2019.
Sandy holds degrees in law and arts from Adelaide University and was appointed an IPAA National Fellow in 2013, as well as being awarded the National Telstra Businesswoman of the Year in 2012.
Administrative offices
Administrative offices are established and abolished through orders under section 11 of the Public Administration Act, and each is established in relation to a department.
DPC is responsible for the effective, efficient and economical management of the following administrative offices.
Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel transforms policy into legislation and advises the government on its legislative program. The office is responsible for ensuring up-to-date public access to authoritative Victorian legislation. The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is also the Government Printer for Victoria, responsible for printing Victorian legislation.
Office of the Governor
The Office of the Governor supports the Governor of Victoria in carrying out all aspects of their official duties for the benefit of the Victorian community. It also maintains Government House and grounds as a unique heritage community asset. The Governor’s role includes constitutional and ceremonial duties, community and international engagement as well as official municipal, regional and overseas visits.
Office of the Victorian Government Architect
The Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) provides leadership and independent advice to government about architecture and urban design. OVGA puts quality of design at the centre of all conversations about the shape, nature and function of our cities, buildings and landscapes. OVGA’s activities include reviewing significant state and local government projects as well as commercial projects with a significant impact on the public. OVGA also leads on significant good-design initiatives and provides input, advice and advocacy on policies and issues of relevance to the Victorian Government.
Public Record Office Victoria
Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) maintains the archives of the State Government of Victoria, holding records dating from the mid-1830s to today. PROV manages these for use by the government and people of Victoria. PROV’s collection contains records of decisions, events, people and places that have shaped our history. PROV sets mandatory recordkeeping standards for state and local government agencies and provides support and advice on recordkeeping to government.
Service Victoria
Service Victoria is a whole of government service capability with responsibility for improving and modernising the way government transactions are delivered online.
Service Victoria brings together more than 80 government services into a central access point — the Service Victoria app and website — making it easier for Victorians to transact with government.
Service Victoria is responsible for implementing the Service Victoria Act 2018, which helped Victoria to become the first jurisdiction to offer Level of Assurance 3 online identity verification, which is the highest rigour possible online.
Other entities
DPC supports the Premier and its ministers in their responsibilities for the Victorian Public Sector Commission and the following special bodies and public entities.
Special bodies
Special bodies are defined in section 6 of the Public Administration Act and are created under separate legislation:
- Electoral Boundaries Commission
- Victorian Electoral Commission
- Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
Public entities
Public entities include statutory authorities, state-owned enterprises, state-owned corporations and formally constituted advisory boards that perform functions outside of the public service:
- Breakthrough Victoria Pty Ltd
- Cenitex
- Labour Hire Authority
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
- Wage Inspectorate Victoria.
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