Release type: Media Release

Date:

New school reform consultation paper released ahead of meeting with teachers, principals and students

Ministers:

The Hon Jason Clare MP
Minister for Education

The first meeting of the National School Reform Agreement Ministerial Reference Group, made up of teachers, principals, students and key education stakeholders, will be held this Friday in Canberra.

This Ministerial Reference Group is a sounding board and source of advice to the Expert Panel Review to inform the next National School Reform Agreement (NSRA).

Today, the teacher, principal and student representatives of the Group are being announced and can be found here.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting, a consultation paper is also being released, which gives Australians the opportunity to have their say on the reforms needed in the next NSRA.

The paper focuses on a range of issues crucial to building a better and fairer education system, including:

  • Improving education outcomes
  • Supporting student health and wellbeing
  • Supporting and retaining teachers
  • Improving data collection and use, and
  • Improving transparency and accountability around funding.

Submissions from the public will be considered by the Panel with their final report to be provided to Education Ministers by 31 October 2023.

Those interested in having their say can read the consultation paper and make a submission here. Submissions are open until 11.59pm (AEST) on 2 August 2023.

The Panel has so far met with more than 50 organisations and experts and visited 20 schools.

In the coming months, the Panel will continue to visit schools and meet with stakeholders across the country.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“The Albanese Government is calling on individuals and organisations to have their say on what reforms are needed to build a better and fairer education system.

“We are committed to working with State and Territory Governments to get every school on a path to 100 per cent of its fair funding level.

“Funding is critical, but so is what it does. That’s why we want to hear what practical reforms are needed to help students who fall behind and help more students finish high school.”

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