Education Reform Agenda

To improve the quality of schooling nationally, the Australian Government is working with states, territories and non-government education providers as part of a shared commitment to achieve results.

Driving this commitment is a belief that all children deserve an education that meets their needs regardless of what school they go to or where they live.

The Education Revolution is being implemented through increased funding to government and non-government schools, an unprecedented investment in school infrastructure and a wide ranging reform agenda.

The Government is investing a record $64.9 billion in Australian schools from 2009-2012. This almost doubles the previous $33.5 billion commitment to funding and infrastructure and represents an 87 per cent increase over the previous four-year period.

Ensuring that the needs of all students are catered for means providing world-class enabling infrastructure through initiatives such as the $2.2 billion Digital Education Revolution, the $2.5 billion Trade Training Centres Program and the $16.2 billion Building the Education Revolution.

Quality education means starting with foundation skills such as literacy and numeracy, being taught by high-quality teachers, and supporting disadvantaged students. These three areas are being addressed through the three Smarter Schools National Partnerships.

Students, schools and parents are being further supported by transparency in school performance data, reporting and assessment, increased local empowerment and the development of world-class national curriculum.

The Australian Government is supporting the transition from school through a range of Youth Attainment and Transitions initiatives.

The Australian Government is also working to close the gap between the educational outcomes of Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. See Indigenous Education.