Australia’s future depends on a high quality and dynamic school education system to provide students with foundation skills, values, knowledge and understanding necessary for lifelong learning, employment and full participation in society.
States and territories have the primary responsibility for funding state government schools. They also provide supplementary assistance to non-government schools. The Australian Government is the primary source of public funding for non-government schools, while also providing supplementary assistance to government schools. Most non-government schools have some religious affiliation, with approximately two-thirds of non-government school students enrolled in Catholic schools. Overall, state government schools enrol 68 per cent of students, while non-government schools enrol 32 per cent of students.
To improve the quality of schooling nationally, the Australian Government works with state and territory governments, non-government school authorities, parents, educators and other organisations to seek the best possible outcomes for young Australians. Strategic policy development and delivery of programmes and services at the national level are coordinated through the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.
This cooperation is underpinned by the National Goals for Schooling in the 21st Century for all students. These goals, which were agreed by the ministerial council in 1999, focus on the learning outcomes of students, and provide a framework for national reporting on student achievement and for public accountability by school education authorities.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy was endorsed by all Australian governments and is reflected in the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act 2000. The policy guides programme initiatives across Australia in a continuing effort to achieve equity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Australian Government provides Indigenous-specific funding as a supplement to other mainstream funds. This funding is intended for strategic interventions which aim to accelerate learning outcomes for Indigenous students. The Australian Government also provides assistance directly to students.
The Australian Government works collaboratively with education providers, Indigenous communities, and other state and territory and Australian Government agencies to ensure that policies and strategies are mutually supportive, culturally appropriate and acknowledge the disparate needs of Indigenous communities.
The Department of Education, Science and Training helps the Australian Government achieve its overall objective of quality educational outcomes for all students through three distinct but interrelated areas:
- high quality policy advice and other support to the Minister, underpinned by capabilities in research, analysis and evaluation, which also informs the policy debate on school education and outcomes for Indigenous Australians
- efficient national programme management; and
- effective working relationships with state and territory governments, education departments, non-government education authorities, schools, Indigenous education service providers, industry, community groups and other stakeholders.
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