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Ministers and key staff: Department of Education

Profile information about the ministers and key staff responsible for the Department of Education.

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The Hon. Ben Carroll MP

Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC

Ben Carroll was born and raised in Airport West where his family have lived for over 40 years. Ben has over 20 years of experience in public service, including as a lawyer for the Victorian Government, and as an adviser to former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks.

First elected as the Member for Niddrie on 24 March 2012, Ben was appointed the Minister for Industry and Employment in October 2017. In this role, he oversaw the implementation of the Local Jobs First legislation and Australia’s first Social Procurement Framework.

Following the 2018 Victorian State Election, Ben was appointed the Minister for Crime Prevention, Corrections, Youth Justice and Victim Support.

In June 2020, Ben was appointed the Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety.

In July 2022, Ben added Minister for Industry Support and Recovery and Business Precincts to his existing portfolio responsibilities of Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety. In these roles, Ben focused on ensuring Victoria’s transport network and industry policies provided access to opportunity, supported the transition to net zero emissions, and contributed towards a fairer society.

Following the 2022 Victorian State Election, Ben added the portfolios of Minister for Industry and Innovation, Manufacturing Sovereignty and Employment to his existing portfolio responsibility of Public Transport.

In October 2023, Ben became the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Medical Research.

In December 2024, Ben added the Ministerial portfolios of WorkSafe and the TAC and retained the portfolio of Education.

Contact: Ben Carroll MP - Member for Niddrie

Hon Lizzie Blandthorn MP

Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Minister for Children and Minister for Disability

Minister Blandthorn was elected to the Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Assembly as the Member for Pascoe Vale in 2014. She was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Western Metropolitan Region in November 2022. Minister Blandthorn has been the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and Minister for Disability since December 2022, and has been the Minister for Children since October 2023.

The Minister for Children oversees Victoria’s early childhood education and care system and the delivery of the nation-leading Best Start, Best Life reforms, including universally funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep. Access to quality early childhood education for all Victorian children is critical, including for children with disability or developmental delays. The Minister is also responsible for driving improvements to Victoria’s child protection and family services system, and the maternal and child healthcare system, providing a whole-of-government focus on child development and wellbeing.

Contact: Lizzie Blandthorn MP - Member for Western Metropolitan Region

Secretary Tony Bates

Tony Bates was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Education in August 2025. Tony joined the Department of Education in April 2019 as Deputy Secretary – Financial Policy and Information Services. Tony has worked in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Health, Treasury and Finance, Victoria Police and the Department of Justice and has led significant strategic reforms to business, human resource and financial services and worked in a range of roles covering fiscal strategy, portfolio analysis and natural disaster recovery arrangements.

As Secretary of the department Tony has responsibility for the management, oversight and delivery of the government school system in Victoria, as well as landmark reforms in early childhood education aiming to deliver transformative social as well as economic benefits for the state.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Science degree from the University of Melbourne, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumni of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Executive Fellows program. Tony was awarded a Public Service Medal in January 2016 for outstanding public service to fiscal management in Victoria.

Deputy Secretaries

The department’s Deputy Secretaries and the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian School Building Authority are directly responsible for each group within the departmental structure.

Education & training

Updated 26 March 2026

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