Brad Chilcott

Public Education
Day 2021
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. If public schools were funded properly
and fairly it would honour their efforts and bring the vision of every child
having equal opportunity to thrive much closer to becoming a reality.
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, Executive Director, White Ribbon Australia. Founder, Welcoming Australia.