The Challenge

Everything begins with education; it is a fundamental measure of an enlightened society. Education in Australia is at a crucial crossroads because:
There is a widely recognised need for new systems of learning to address disengagement, disadvantage and a lack of skills;
close to 1 in 5 young Australians leave school early each year;
This costs an estimated $2.6 billion a year in higher social welfare, health and crime prevention costs and lower tax revenue, productivity and Gross Domestic Product;
Investment in public education in Australia fell by 6% between 1995 and 2004; and
Two thirds of our countries’ students receive nearly six times less funding than the other third.

In short, our work focuses on equity and quality in public education.