Over the weekend, Premier Daniel Andrews announced the retirements of several members of the Ministry and, by the end of the year, the Victorian Government. This includes the retirement of James Merlino as the Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Minister for Mental Health and Member for Monbulk. From this week, Natalie Hutchins will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Education and Training.
As Minister of Education, James Merlino achieved a great deal in the education sector, particularly the Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) sector. He helped provide sustainable and affordable early learning programs, including the recent announcement of free kindergarten programs across Victorian early childhood services from 2023. Therefore, James helped guarantee that young Victorians will have the best start in life.
The team at ACA Victoria would like to thank James for his dedication to the ECEC sector and we wish him all the best for the future. You can read his personal statement here.