Minister for Education and Early Learning

The Minister for Education and Early Learning (The Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC) is the Coordinating Minister of the education cluster. The Coordinating Minister is responsible for setting policy directions, developing service delivery strategies within the cluster and coordinating across clusters to achieve whole of government outcomes. The Coordinating Minister is responsible for allocating the cluster budget appropriations to entities within the cluster, in consultation with Portfolio Ministers and the Secretary.

The Minister for Education and Early Learning is responsible for the NSW Department of Education, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), funding early childhood education and the regulation of early childhood education and care services.

The Minister is also the lead for Aboriginal Languages (including the Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests).

Minister for Skills and Training

The Minister for Skills and Training; Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology (The Hon Alister Henskens SC MP) is responsible for administering the legislative responsibilities of the state’s public universities, vocational education and training and responsibility to administer TAFE NSW.