The New South Wales Department of Education, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of early childhood, primary school, secondary school, vocational education, adult, migrant and higher education in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The department was previous known as the Department of Education and Training (DET) between December 1997 and April 2011, and the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) between April 2011 and July 2015. The department's powers are principally drawn from the . Structure The head of the department is its secretary, presently Georgina Harrisson. The secretary reports to the Minister for Education and Early Learning, currently The Hon. Sarah Mitchell ; supported by the Minister for Skills and Training, currently The Hon. Alister Henskens . Ultimately the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales. With a budget of more than A$8 billion, and over 2,240 schools with a total enrolment of almost one million students, the department represents roughly one-quarter of the State's total budget each year. Departmental leadership History In 1957 a committee was appointed to survey secondary education in New South Wales to survey and report on the provision of full-time education for adolescents. The resulting report was known as the Wyndham Report. in 1974, the Australian Capital Territory Schools Authority took over responsibility for nearly 60 government schools that were previously under the control of New South Wales. Agencies administered List of government schools in New South Wales List of Government schools in New South Wales: A–F List of Government schools in New South Wales: G–P List of Government schools in New South Wales: Q–Z TAFE NSW See also Department of Education Building Commonwealth (Federal) Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References External links NSW Department of Education webpage Staff and Student Portal Education and Communities New South Wales