Our structure
DPCD is putting people at the heart of Victorian Government efforts to plan for liveability and growth by focusing on two things that are important to Victoria’s future: the liveability of our neighbourhoods, and the strength of our communities.
As our Organisational Chart (PDF 118 kb) indicates, there are five groups within DPCD:
- Planning and Local Government
- Community Development
- People and Community Advocacy
- Strategic Policy, Research and Forecasting
- Corporate and Organisational Development, and Communications
The Secretary of the Department is Yehudi Blacher.
Planning and Local Government
Planning Policy & Reform
This area manages the regulatory framework, providing advice on planning policy, urban design and strategic planning, providing information on land development and delivering planning and development projects. The Melbourne 2030 Implementation Unit is responsible for driving, coordinating and monitoring Melbourne 2030 implementation.
Planning Services and Development Facilitation
This area is responsible for delivering major planning and urban development projects, Metropolitan and Regional scheme amendments and statutory approvals, support to local government planning decision making, urban planning approval advice for Ministers and Planning Authorities, Activity Centre advice, development facilitation services and programs, Transit Cities and urban design services.
Heritage Victoria
Heritage Victoria is responsible for administering the Heritage Act 1995, which identifies and protects enables the identification and protection of a wide range of cultural heritage sites, places and objects in Victoria (excluding those covered by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006)
Local Government Victoria
Local Government Victoria provides advice to the Secretary and Minister for Local Government on the administration of the Local Government Act 1989 and other related Acts and Regulations. It works in partnership with the 79 Victorian councils that together represent around 5.1 million people to help grow their capacity to provide local services and build stronger communities.
Community Development
The Community Development team offers strategic direction for community strengthening work across the Department, across government, and in local communities. It does this by supporting and coordinating local and state-wide initiatives in partnership with government, non-government, academic and business groups. Find out more about building resilient communities.
Sport and Recreation Victoria
Sport and Recreation Victoria is responsible for developing the sport and recreation sector to deliver social and economic benefits for all Victorians. It promotes participation in sport and recreation by ensuring the availability of high quality and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities.
Adult, Community and Further Education
Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) team, which provides learning opportunities for Victorian adults, contributing to their social, economic, and cultural development as individuals and members of the Victorian community.
People and Community Advocacy
People and Community Advocacy provide leadership in policy development across Government, to respond to the diverse needs of populations and communities. The Division promotes collaborative and flexible service delivery, identifies emerging trends and issues, and develops local-level responses to engage and strengthen communities. The Division comprises the following business units:
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria
Office for Disability
Office for Youth
Office of Women’s Policy
Office of Senior Victorians
Victorian Veterans
The Division also provides Cabinet and Parliamentary Services, Legal Services and Freedom of Information support for the Department.
Strategic Policy, Research and Forecasting
Strategic Policy, Research and Forecasting is responsible for supporting whole of department and whole of government approaches to integrated community development and planning.
The Division's main focus is on:
- Strategic Development – working with all areas of DPCD to develop a policy roadmap that connects the department’s various functions into a single land-use planning and community development model.
- Strengthening the Evidence Base - building the research and evidence base for the government’s strategic focus on enhanced ‘liveability through integrated community development and improved urban planning approaches.
- Policy Innovation – incubating new ideas, partnerships, and tools that expand the Department’s capacity to support community development and improve the urban planning system.
Find out more in research and publications.
Corporate and Organisational Development, and Communications
Corporate and Organisational Development, and Communications actively supports the Department as an innovative and outward looking organisation. The Division supports the work of DPCD by working collaboratively across the Department to deliver quality services and drive capability improvement.
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