Community connections at rural public schools

A new report identifies the need for flexible policy approaches to meet the needs of rural and regional schools.

Arrested development

There are more children struggling with developmental difficulties than every before in Australia and better early childhood education is only part of the answer.

Play school

Brain imaging studies have shown that children grow more grey matter if they are stimulated by play, and other studies have demonstrated the developmental payback is all the greater when adults participate. NZ researchers have analysed the research in this area for a policy brief, concluding it’s a no-brainer to give caregivers every opportunity to maximise the fun.

Teach it yourself

There is a long tradition of parents and local communities starting their own schools if they feel what’s on offer is not suiting their families’ needs.

An F for school reports?

Schools must report on every pupil’s progress twice a year, but standardised reports have replaced handwritten evaluations, meaning parents may have little idea how well their child is doing.

Get muddy

Once upon a time children simply played outside, but now the same experiences of running around in the woods can be delivered to you for just a few hundred dollars a week through ‘bush kinder’.

Standing up for women’s rights and academic freedom

Holly Lawford-Smith’s brave and principled defence of women’s rights and female identity has raised the ire of activists in Melbourne but mob action, no matter how strident and vociferous, should not be allowed to shut down rational debate and destroy academic freedom.

Primary schools and the pandemic

Despite fears the pandemic would set an entire cohort of children back in their education, a new study finds that children from schools in low-income communities did not suffer significant “learning loss” during the pandemic years of 2020-2021, and even improved in certain areas of study.

Resilience and retention in the teaching profession

Much has been written about the need to attract more people into the teaching profession, but measures to increase teacher’s resilience and ensure they stay in the profession would go a long way to address current staff shortages in the nation’s schools.

A new vision for Australian research

The future of Australian prosperity depends on the education and research undertaken within its tertiary education system. The federal government’s call for “lasting reform” in the Universities Accord offers a timely opportunity to take action.

Burn out in early education

Federal and state governments are investing heavily in early education but high rates of staff turnover and burnout makes it harder for services to find enough staff to give families a childcare place for their children.

Towards a more inclusive VET system

“Soft skills” shouldn’t be a hard sell as national VET reforms are a critical opportunity to address safety and wellbeing in the construction industry for everyone.