University governance
Victoria’s public universities are formed under their own Acts.
On this page
Overview
Victoria’s 8 public universities are formed under their own individual Acts.
The Minister for Skills and TAFE administers the acts that establish the universities and their governing bodies and accountability requirements.
Private providers are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
Our role
We:
- develop policy related to higher education in Victoria
- manage stakeholder relations with universities
- support the legislative responsibilities relating to higher education, including the university council appointment process
- represent the interests of Victorian universities and higher education providers in national forums.
University funding mainly sits with the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Education.
University Acts
Victoria’s public universities and their governing councils are each established under state Acts of Parliament.
The Minister for Skills and TAFE is accountable to the Victorian Parliament and public for the overall performance of these 8 university councils and for the use of ministerial powers relating to them.
For copies of the current Victorian university Acts, refer to:
- Deakin University
- Federation University Australia
- La Trobe University
- Monash University
- RMIT University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- The University of Melbourne
- Victoria University
University councils
The council is a university’s governing body and has responsibility for both the general direction and superintendence of the university. All council members are expected to share the same corporate vision and contribute to the university’s strategies and performance.
The responsibilities of a university council include:
- appointing and monitoring the performance of the vice-chancellor as president and chief executive officer of the university
- approving the mission and strategic direction of the university
- approving the university’s annual budget and business plan
- overseeing the management of the university and its performance
- establishing policy and procedural principles for the operation of the university, consistent with legal requirements, government policies and community expectations
- approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability for the university, and any entity controlled by the university
- overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the university
- overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the university
- approving any significant commercial activities of the university.
Updated 3 July 2025
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide