Brad Chilcott

Public Education Day 2020
Everyone in Australia
is born into a different circumstance and family – the households we grow up in
have diverse levels of wealth, health, job security and education. We’re spread
across cities, towns and remote communities. There’s myriad other differences
that either enhance or diminish our opportunity to thrive and contribute in
Australian society, to reach our unique potential and to chase our unique
aspirations.
Public education is
the most readily available mechanism for reducing the opportunity disparity in
Australian society. A well-funded public education system – one that makes sure
no one is left behind and no one is held back through lack of resources, one
that ensures that your postcard, your visa status or your parent’s bank balance
doesn’t determine the quality of your education – is the way we build a future
in which everyone can flourish and fairly share in our prosperity.
Unfortunately, this is
not the way our public education system is currently funded. And yet – week in
and week out – teachers, tutors, lecturers and support staff give their all,
using whatever resources they have available, to do the very best for every
students they have, knowing that the better educated our population is the
better our collective future will be. They serve our children, and our adult
students – but they also serve us all.
On Public Education
Day, I recognise and thank every public educator – and I call on Governments to
recognise that our tomorrows will be determined by your investment today.
Brad Chilcott
Founder, Welcoming Australia