Educational Opportunities
Overview
Our vision is a well-educated Australia. All Australians should have access to a modern, relevant, and high quality education.
Recommendation 1
Increased Funding for Education
We recommend a substantial increase in funding for education, reflecting the high priority that must be placed on education in our society. In order to raise the standard of education for all Australians, the government must focus on bridging the difference in funding levels for facilities and teaching resources between government and non-government schools.
Recommendation 2
Curriculum Reform
We recommend that curriculum be reformed nationally to incorporate:
- life skills
- self-esteem development
- interpersonal communication
- anger management
- conflict resolution
- appreciation of values and ethics
- the importance of family and community
- indigenous studies
- environmental awareness
- civic education.
Recommendation 3
Improving the Learning Environment
We recommend improving the learning environment by:
- attracting quality graduates through improved salaries and conditions
- providing a greater support network
- interviewing potential teachers to ensure suitability
- compulsory professional development
- minimum qualification levels for tertiary educators
- lowering and enforcing maximum class sizes
- practicums should be supervised by exemplary teachers.
Recommendation 4
Improving Students' Welfare
We recommend that education departments adopt a holistic approach to student welfare by:
- identifying and providing for the needs of individual students
- examining alternative modes of delivery and learning environments
- considering and incorporating student feedback
- providing better access to youth/social workers, psychologists and chaplains who maintain confidentiality. Improved referral systems to community agencies.
Recommendation 5
Financial Assistance
We recommend that financial assistance for students be revised so that funds are allocated to ensure that:
- Payments provided by Centrelink are less reliant upon third party incomes (i.e. parents/guardians) with more focus placed on the individual's needs
- An increased subsidy be provided for transport, housing and learning resources
- TAFE students are given the opportunity to defer payments through HECS.
Recommendation 6
Equity of Access
We recommend providing rural, indigenous students and youth, access to all levels of education through:
- a commitment from the government to provide services for isolated and distance-education students to support them in their choice of education
- the promotion and reinforcement of life-long learning within communities (e.g. utilising the assistance and support of community Elders)
- highlighting the advantages of further education
- increasing incentives for teachers to work within rural and isolated areas
- increasing financial assistance for relocation and provision of support structures.
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