From the President's Desk

March 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of the ACSSO Newsletter, your go-to guide for the latest developments and discussions shaping education in Australia. We aim to provide a platform for dialogue and sharing insights and experiences that resonate with educators, students, and parents alike. Let's come together to explore the challenges and opportunities that education presents today and work towards building a more dynamic and inclusive future for all.

Australian Universities Accord

The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, announced on 25 February 2024 the release of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report. This report comprises 47 recommendations that the government should consider and aims to establish a long-term reform plan in the higher education sector to fulfil the future skills demands of Australia.

We are witnessing a significant development that will transform higher education in Australia into a more inclusive, innovative, and aligned system with our national aspirations. The Accord's focus on equity and student-centred policies is welcome.

The new vision outlined in the Accord prioritises the needs of all students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, making higher education accessible and beneficial to a broader segment of society. This inclusive approach is essential for creating a learning environment rich in diversity and ideas. Moreover, the Accord's emphasis on aligning educational outcomes with the nation’s current and future skill needs is a strategic step towards national development. It promises to enhance our educational landscape and make it more relevant, competitive, and geared towards the holistic development of students.

ACSSO supports the Australian Universities Accord and sees it as a commendable step forward. We look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to realise the Accord’s ambitious goals, thereby contributing to the shaping of an innovative, equitable, and forward-looking higher education system in Australia.

Elevating Australian Education: Beyond the Minimum to a Gold Standard

The "Improving Outcomes for All" report serves as a clarion call for a seismic shift in how we fund and support our public schools in Australia. Highlighting alarming trends such as the decline in high school completion rates and the widening achievement gap, particularly for disadvantaged students, the report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform in our education system. At the forefront of this reform is the necessity for a fair and equitable funding model, not just meeting but exceeding the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), to support educational excellence.

The Gonski Review's vision of ensuring that every student, especially those facing disadvantages, receives the support they need to excel is yet to be realised. With most government schools still not meeting the minimum funding standard, redefining our approach to funding is critical. ACSSO embraces the recent commitments from the Commonwealth and West Australian Governments as a step in the right direction. However, we must go beyond the minimum to transform our education system. The goal should be to fully fund every government school at a minimum of 100% of the SRS, providing them with resources to meet basic standards and begin the move towards offering excellence in education. This heightened level of funding is vital for empowering educators and providing equal educational opportunities to all students, thereby ensuring a brighter future for Australian education.

ACSSO's commitment extends beyond mere financial obligations. We believe in a moral imperative to offer every child in Australia an education that allows them to identify and build on their strengths, ultimately becoming the best version of themselves. Such an investment is crucial not only for individual growth but also for the upward mobility of our entire community and the future economic prosperity of our nation. As ACSSO, we remain steadfast in our advocacy for full and transparent funding in education, urging all state and territory governments to align with this vision. By collectively aiming for excellence in education, we can ensure that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, has access to a high-quality education system that fosters equity and opportunity for all.

Harmony Week – Everyone Belongs

Harmony Week is from Monday 18 March to Sunday, 24 March. We wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of Harmony Week, celebrating our nation’s cultural diversity, inclusivity, and respect. Harmony Week symbolises the core values we uphold in our educational systems: equity, understanding, and the rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds and perspectives that strengthen our community. In line with the Australian Universities Accord's emphasis on skills through equity and actual equity funding, we recognise the essential role that a diverse and inclusive educational environment plays in fostering the knowledge, skills, and research our nation needs for the future.

It is a celebration and a reminder of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our schools and educational institutions are places where every student feels valued and supported, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background. By putting students at the centre of our efforts, we strive to create pathways that respect and nurture the unique contributions of all students, thereby enriching our learning environments and the broader Australian society. As we commemorate Harmony Week, ACSSO reaffirms its dedication to these principles, committing to continuous advocacy for policies and practices that champion the diversity and unity that defines us as a nation.

International Women's Day 2024 - 'Inspire Inclusion’.

ACSSO is proud to support International Women's Day which is celebrated globally on Friday, 8 March. This day aligns with our core values and mission and encourages us to reflect on the ongoing struggle for gender equality. We believe that it is essential to create educational environments that empower women and girls to pursue their dreams.

International Women's Day is not only a day of celebration, but it is also a call to action. It provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the progress we have made and reflect on the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender parity. ACSSO advocates for fair and just educational policies, such as a national cross-jurisdictional approach to at-school offers. We believe that young women should have equal opportunities and not be disadvantaged by systemic biases or early selection processes. Our commitment to fairness and equity in education reflects our belief in the transformative power of education as a tool for societal change.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, ACSSO renews its pledge to champion the rights and education of women and girls. We remain dedicated to creating a more equitable and inclusive education system that recognises the unique challenges faced by women and celebrates and supports their achievements. We believe that by working together, we can build a brighter, more equitable future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to achieve her full potential.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing starts next week.

NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. It is an annual assessment for students in Australia that evaluates their skills in literacy and numeracy. NAPLAN tests are conducted in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, providing a snapshot of a student's abilities. The results aim to assist schools, teachers, and parents in understanding a student's strengths and areas for improvement in these fundamental areas.

As parents and carers, our goal is to foster in students a love for learning. As we approach NAPLAN, remember it's just one way to measure progress. As parents and carers, we suggest where possible, to encourage a positive attitude, create a supportive environment, prioritize well-being, and celebrate the effort, not just the results.

We are all interested in our own children’s results. As a community, we also need to use the NAPLAN results to look at the performance of our schools. Previous NAPLAN results highlight that many children do not meet minimum benchmarks in literacy and numeracy. This is an issue that ACSSO, state school organisations and families and carers need to engage with their local members and state, territory and federal governments to argue for more school funding and to continue constructive conversations about how funds are distributed and spent.

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