Australian Certificate of Education

• AEU Response to the Report Australian Certificate of Education - Exploring a Way Forward- August 2006

Australian Technical Colleges

• Submission to the Inquiry into the Australian Technical Colleges (Flexibility in Achieving Australia's Skills Needs) Bill 2005 - July 2005 (pdf format)

• Australian Technical Colleges - Not the Solution to the Skills Shortage:
  
  Discussion Paper, February 2005
  Briefing Paper (abridged version of the Discussion Paper), February 2005

Capital Investment

• Report: Rebuilding Public Schools 2020 - Investment Targets A. Rorris, Education Consultant, June 2008

Civics and Citizenship Education

• AEU Submission to the Inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters into Civic and Electoral Education - June 2006

Education of Students with Disabilities

• Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 , April 2003 (pdf format)

• AEU Submission to the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee Inquiry into the Education of Students with Disabilities, Including Learning Disabilities, Throughout all Levels and Sectors of Education.- May 2002 (in pdf format)

Equity and Disadvantage

• "Poverty and Education: A Guide to Action 2004" is a publication prepared by the Brimbank Relief Network for Anti-Poverty Week (pdf format)

• Submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into Poverty and Financial Hardship in Australia, March 2003 (pdf format)

Funding

General
Budgets
Schools
Private Schools
Schools Funding Campaign

• The social make up of schools (Family income, religion, Indigenous status, and family type in government, Catholic and other nongovernment schools) - An information paper prepared for the AEU by Barbara Preston, December, 2003 (pdf format)
  
• National priorities in a national system - Roy Martin, August 2002
  (Reproduced with the kind permission of Educare News, the independent journal of Australian education, www.educare.com.au/)
• Kemp Decoded - How Dr Kemp Doctors the Truth, May 2001
  
• A Response by the AEU to the Draft Report of the Commonwealth Grants Commission Inquiry into Indigenous Education Funding - December 2000
• Public Education, Prince or Pauper, Sharan Burrow and Roy Martin, October 1999
  

- Budgets

• The 'Education Revolution' Budget - Federal Budget Report 2008 Jenni Devereaux, May 2008
  
• Funding for Schools and VET - Federal Budget Report 2006 J. McCollow, May 2006
  
• Federal Budget Report - 2004, May 2004 (in PDF format)
  
• Federal Budget 2004 - Investment in Education Before Tax Cuts - May 2004 [pdf format]
  
• Federal Budget Report - 2003, May 2003 (in PDF format)
  
• Federal Budget Report 2002 - 2003 - May 2002 (in PDF format)
• Federal Budget 2002 - A Fair Deal in Education for all Australians- March 2002 (in PDF format)
  

- Schools

• Putting Money and Mouth in Sync Opinion Piece by Dr Jim McMorrow, January 2009

• Updating the evidence: the Rudd Government's intentions for schools Dr Jim McMorrow, December 2008

• Reviewing the evidence: Issues in Commonwealth funding of government and non-government schools in the Howard and Rudd years Dr Jim McMorrow, August 2008

• Report Summary of Paper by Dr Jim McMorrow Angelo Gavrielatos, Federal President, August 2008

• The Commonwealth's Role in Public and Private School Funding - AEU Submission to the Independent Inquiry into the Provision of Public Education in New South Wales - November 2001 (in PDF format)

• The States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Act 2000 - Reigniting support for public education, February 2001, Denis Fitzgerald and Roy Martin. Paper prepared for the Education Review, Volume 5 No. 1 (February/March 2001 issue) (Reproduced with the kind permission of the Education Review)
  

• Western Australian Schools - Some Key Statistics, January 2001, Roy Martin

  To view other papers in Unicorn click on Australian College of Education

• Commonwealth Funding Programs for Private Schools - A paper prepared for the AEU by Jane Nicholls, March 2004 [in PDF format]
  
• Proposals for Improved Accountability for Government Funding to Private Schools - Dr Chris Aulich & Hon Terry Aulich, November 2003 [in PDF format]
  
• Estimates of Future Funding of Non-Government and Government Schools - Trevor Cobbold, November 2003 [in PDF format]
  
• Update on New Private Schools Receiving Establishment Grants - Roy Martin, July 2003 [in PDF format]
  
• Commonwealth funding to schools is due for review in the next year. In this paper prepared for a forthcoming ACSA publication, Roy Martin looks at what changes need to take place in order that it works to create greater social justice and equity. Can Private School Funding be more Public Spirited - Roy Martin, July 2003 [in PDF format]
  
• New Private Schools Receiving Establishment Grants - Roy Martin, August 2002 [in PDF format]
  
• Do Private Schools Really Save Governments Money? - Roy Martin, April 2001 (in PDF Format)
  
• The total operating resources of private schools in 2004 - Louise Watson, Lifelong Learning Network Discussion Paper No. 4 [External Paper]

- Schools Funding Campaign

• Fact Sheets
  • Fact Sheet No. 1 - The Howard Government and Public Schools [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 2 - Schools Funding - Basic Facts [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 3 - Australian Government Funding to Public and Private Schools [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 4 - What is the Australian Government's Role in School Funding? [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 5 - Australian Government Funding for Quadrennium 2005-2008 [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 6 - Changing the States Grants Act [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 7 - How the SES Model is flawed [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 8 - The SES Model - Biggest Increases to the Wealthiest Schools [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No. 9 - Catholic School Funding Increases [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No.10 - New Private Schools and the Howard Government [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No.11 - Increasing Accountability of Private Schools [pdf format]
  • Fact Sheet No.12 - Parenting Income and Attendance at Public and Private Schools [pdf format]

• Re: Schools Assistance Act 2004 – AEU Submission to the Educational Accountability Requirements - May 2005 [pdf format]

• Senate Inquiry into Commonwealth Funding for Schools - June 2004 [pdf format]

• Australian Government Funding for Quadrennium 2005 - 2008 Report - R. Martin, March 2004 [pdf format]

• Commonwealth Funding Programs for Private Schools - A paper prepared for the AEU by Jane Nicholls, March 2004 [pdf format]

• AEU Response to the Australian Government's 'School Funding - The Facts' - February 2004

• The social make up of schools (Family income, religion, Indigenous status, and family type in government, Catholic and other nongovernment schools) - An information paper prepared for the AEU by Barbara Preston, December, 2003 pdf format

• Reforming Commonwealth Schools Funding is a three part presentation:
  
  • Part 1 - Understanding How Commonwealth Schools Funding Works [powerpoint] or [pdf format]
    
  • Part 2 - Some Problems with the Current Commonwealth Funding Arrangements for Schools [powerpoint] or [pdf format]
    
  • Part 3 - Amending the States Grants Act [powerpoint] or [pdf format]
    
  - Roy Martin, December 2003

• Estimates of Future Funding of Non-Government and Government Schools, November 2003 considers two recent papers which came up with widely differing calculations. It finds both contain problems. These are discussed and alternative calculations offered.
  

Gender Equity - Boys' Education and Male Teachers

Boys' education and the number of male teachers in schools has been heavily debated in recent years. Federal Government Policy in both areas is impacting funding to schools, curriculum and pedagogy, teaching student incentives and debates around the status of teachers. More detailed discussions of these policies are here.

Gender Equity - Education of Boys Inquiry 2002

The AEU has made the following Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations Inquiry into the Education of Boys. The AEU also appeared before the Committee at Public Hearings.

For over a decade, the issue of "the education of boys" has obviously been of great importance to the AEU. The AEU has been at the forefront of work on gender equity in education. Gender equity means improved educational outcomes for both boys and girls. The model of "competing victims" is rejected. Boys' and girls' needs are intertwined and are parallel priorities. Initiatives for girls must not be diminished or exchanged for initiatives for boys.

A copy of the final Parliamentary report, from the inquiry, "Boys Getting it Right" can be located in the section above. However, the AEU's submission to the 2002 inquiry is still available, as are the supporting policies and many other appendices.

• AEU Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations Inquiry into the Education of Boys - September 2000 (in PDF Format)
  • Appendix 1 - AEU Policy on Gender Equity 1996
  • Appendix 1a - AEU Draft 2000 Gender Equity Policy and Action Plan
  • Appendix 2 - Gender Equity Resources in NSW Primary Schools
  • Appendix 3 - Five Strategic Directions from "Gender Equity: A Framework for Australian Schools"
  • Appendix 4 - AEU Policy on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education 1995
  • Appendix 5 - AEU Policy on Education in Rural Areas 1989
  • Appendix 6 - AEU Policy on Youth "Standing with the Young" 2000
  • Appendix 7 - AEU Policy on Sexual Orientation and Gender Preferred Identity 1995
  • Appendix 8 - AEU Policy on Curriculum 1993

  (Should you require a copy of any of the above AEU policies, please email the AEU to request a copy.)

GST and Education

• The Impact of the GST on State Revenue: 2006-07 Federal Budget update, Michaela Kronemann, August 2006

• The Impact of the GST on State Revenue: 2005-06 Federal Budget update, Michaela Kronemann, May 2005

• The Impact of the GST on State Revenue: 2004-2005 mid-year update - Michaela Kronemann, February 2005

• The Impact of the GST on State Budgets - Michaela Kronemann, May 2004

• AEU Submission to the Senate Select Committee on a New Tax System (GST) - January, 1999 (in PDF Format)
  • Appendix 2 - AEU Submission to the Tax Consultative Committee Application of the GST in Regard to Education - November, 1998
    
  • Appendix 3 - Principles of Commonwealth and State/Territory Relations in Schools
    

International

• The OECD Education at a Glance Report 2006 (A Preliminary Summary of Selected Statistics) - John McCollow, September 2006

• The OECD Education at a Glance Report 2001 (A selection from the many statistics reported) - Roy Martin, June 2001 (in PDF Format)

National Public Education Forum - March 2009

On 28 March 2009 the National Public Education Forum was held at Old Parliament House, Canberra.

An historic event, organised by the Australian Council for State School Organisations (ACSSO), Australian Education Union (AEU), Australian Government Primary Principals Association (AGPPA) and Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA), the National Public Education Forum brought together over 200 academics, researchers, public / media commentators, parents, teachers and principals.

The Forum was opened by an address by The Hon. Julia Gillard MP at a special Forum reception on 27 March 2009.

Most of the papers from the National Public Education Forum are now available for download. Vodcasts of key presentations to the forum will be available in the near future.

National Testing and League Tables

• Opinion Piece - Jon Berry - May 2009

• A league of their own - Opinion Piece, Chris Bonnor - May 2009

• League tables will not improve choice, just cause damage - Opinion Piece, Angelo Gavrielatos - Sydney Morning Herald, 18 May 2009

• National Testing, League Tables and School Performance Accountability - August 2008

Public Education

• Free for all? Is there a future for universal services? The Case of Schools - Presentation by Roy Martin to the ACOSS 2003 National Congress - November (in PDF Format)
• Teacher Supply and Demand in the States and Territories, January 2001, Report prepared by AEU Branches/Associated Bodies Research Officers (in PDF Format)
• The redefinition of public education - Associate Professor Alan Reid, 1999

Quality Teaching

• Educational Leadership and Teaching for the Twenty First Century Project - June 2004 (in PDF format)
• Australia's Teachers: Australia's Future: Advancing Innovation, Science, Technology and Mathematics - AEU Response to the Committee for the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education - March 2004 (in PDF format)
• A Reference Group has been formed from Professional Associations, including the AEU, and has worked to produce a preliminary document on Teaching Standards. It is called National Statement from the Teaching Profession on Teachers Standards, Quality and Professionalism.
  
• Reponse to the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education Disscussion Paper: Young People, Schools and Innovation: Towards an Action Plan for the School Sector, May, 2003 (pdf format)
• AEU Submission to the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education - October 2002
• Teaching Standards Kit

Rural and Remote Education

• AEU Submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into Rural and Remote Education - November 1999 (in PDF Format)

School Accountability