Jim Davidson

Mr Davidson is Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.  He was appointed in April 2005.  He is responsible for overseeing the two Vocational Education and Training Groups (National Training Directions Group and Industry Skills Development Group), the Higher Education Group and the Information Services Group.

The Vocational Education and Training Groups include responsibility for activities under the Skilling Australia’s Workforce Act, Australian Apprenticeships, Australian Technical Colleges and the ongoing development of the national training system.

The Higher Education Group contributes to the development and maintenance of a strong, diverse higher education system. The group administers programmes that support the teaching and learning activities of higher education institutions and provide loans to students, reports on the state and performance of the higher education system, and provides policy advice on the future direction of higher education.

The Information Services Group manages the delivery of information and communications technology services to the education and training areas of the department.  This spans infrastructure, business applications development and support, telephony and information management.

Prior to this role, Mr Davidson was the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Training & Tertiary Education with the Department of Education and Training in Victoria. 

Mr Davidson has more than 30 years experience in the public sector with the Australian, Victorian and South Australian Governments.

Mr Davidson has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Masters Degree in Social Administration and Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Social Statistics).