All educational organisations maintain a body of policies be they administrative, teaching, human resource, legal or some other type. Combined, they help create the effective operation of educational institutions and the effectiveness of the learning which occurs in them.

Such policies do not simply appear. They are created following reviews of existing processes and procedures and usually following some level of research locally, within the wider Australia setting or internationally. In many cases, people have opportunities for input prior to any final deliberations. International information is also becoming more widely accessible and used. Most major policies follow reports coming from reviews and related research.

Most reports, research data and policies are now easily accessible either online or in a format that is able to be downloaded for later reference.

This page looks at education policy sources in all states & territories, state & territory specific reviews and reports and some general information.

The Second Page looks at special reviews, reports and other documentation from a national perspective. These may be used in policy development in Australia, provide insights into, or linkages with, similar concerns and possible solutions in other countries. Information is also provided about the educational policies of a range of political parties in Australia.

The Third Page contains policy documents and links from a range of international sources. Where possible, connections to similar interests in Australia, are a major factor in their inclusion.

Related pages include Conferences, Education Journals, Parent Involvement and Headlines.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• Policies
  A listing of educational policies in use by the Department of Education
• Policies & Procedures
  Canberra/Goulburn Catholic Education Office. Some administrative but many relate to educational matters.

Reviews and Reports

• Publications & Resources
  Reports and reviews carried from previous years.
• Every Chance to Learn
  Principles, framework, consultation report. PDF and Word formats.

New South Wales

• Catholic Education Commission
  Click on Publications to access policy and guideline documents.
• New South Wales Board of Studies
• Department of Education & Training Policies
  Listing of policies for Schools and other education areas.
• TAFE Policies & Procedures
  ‘TAFE NSW policies relate to the day-to-day administration of TAFE NSW Institutes’.

Reviews and Reports

• An Education Strategy for Kindergarten to Year 4
• An Education Strategy for Years 5-9
• Boys’ and Girls’ Education Strategy
  ‘The purpose of the Boys’ and Girls’ Education Strategy is to assist all NSW government schools to undertake a strategic approach to address gender as an educational issue’.
• Our 15-19 Year Olds : Opportunities and Choice
• Reports, Statistics and Information
  Use the main menu to access Annual Reports, Fast Facts and Statistics. Statistics has multiple PDF downloads on various aspects.
• Ramsey Teacher Review
  Review of teachers and teaching.
• Reviews
  Access reviews carried out under the direction of the NSW Department of Education and Training. Special research, specific directions, Reports, Statistics and Historical Information.
• Time and Tide
  Report On The Need to Invest in The Renewal Of The Public School Teaching Service. Dr Lindsay Connor, for the NSW Teachers Federation.
  You need to be able to log in to access this site.

Northern Territory

• Policies & Manuals
  NT Catholic Education Office. Select Policies & Manuals from the top menu.
• Northern Territory Department of Education & Training Policies
  Education and corporate policies.

Reviews and Reports

• Indigenous Education Strategic Plan 2009-2012
  Review of Indigenous Education.
• Research
  Research guidelines and process.

Queensland

• Catholic Education, Brisbane : Policies
  Other educational policies are via the Queensland Studies Authority.
• Education Policy and Procedures Register
  ‘EPPR is the centralised location for departmental policies, procedures, guidelines and other administrative instructions and directives. Includes policies and procedures from International, Non-State and Higher Education, Education Queensland and Corporate and Professional Services’.
• Education Queensland
  Scroll down to Policies & Guidelines.
• Queensland Catholic Education Commission
  Use the QCEC Policies/Positions. Administrative and educational.
• Reports and Papers
  From Queensland Studies Authority.

Reviews and Reports

• A Flying Start for Queensland Children
  ‘Our education system is changing for the better. The White Paper - A Flying Start for Queensland Children outlines the major reforms that will impact the future of education in Queensland’. Year 7, Fact Sheets, Information Sessions, Parent & Carer information, Teacher & School information, video, get the White Paper, and more.
• Reports and Publications
  A master page for reports in HTML or PDF format.
• Bound for Success
  Link to Cape York or Torres Strait Education for information and PDF format downloads.
• Education and Training Reforms for the Future
• Every Day Counts
  ‘Every Day Counts is a statewide initiative addressing the issue of student attendance at school. The initiative is designed to change parent, community and student attitudes to school attendance. It requires the support of both parents and the community if student attendance is to be successfully addressed’. Access a brochure, find research, Guidelines and Improvement Plan [Word documents], fact sheet, posters and postcards.
• Framework for Gifted Education
• Key Documents
  Covers Policies, procedures and guidelines, you can download in various formats.
• Rural and Remote Education Framework for Action
• Smart Moves
  Physical Activity Programs in Queensland State Schools. ‘Smart Moves ensures all Queensland state school students engage in physical activity each day within curriculum time’. Ministerial Review, Healthy Kids survey, guidelines and statement in PDF format.
• Smart Classrooms
  Initiatives, access documents, get news via feeds and podcasts, plan ahead, … .
• STEM
  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and training. Discussion paper.
• Tomorrow’s Schools
  ‘Focuses on modernising our schools that are in need of major renewal, and giving Queenslanders the chance to shape the future of education in their local community’.

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South Australia

• A-Z Policies
  Applicable & Relevant Legislation, Relevant documents. Department of Education & Child Development.
• A-Z of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
  Includes Administrative Instructions and Guidelines. Department of Education & Child Development.
• Policy & Advice
  Association of Independent Schools. Check individual policies from those listed. Both organisational and educational.
• The SACE
  ‘The South Australian Certificate of Education was introduced from 2009. For the latest information, visit this page or subscribe to the SACE Board e-news for email updates’.

Reviews and Reports

• Early Childhood Services Inquiry
  ‘A Strategic Assessment of the Children’s Services Industry’.

Tasmania

• Catholic Education Office, Hobart
  Documents are available in PDF format.
• Curriculum Resources and Support
  Projects, resources, guides and more.
• Legislation, Regulations and Policies
  Department of Education.

Reviews and Reports

• Adult Literacy Action Plan
  Its aim is ‘for young people and adults to have the literacy skills they need to fully participate in their family life, the community, learning and employment’. Runs from 2010 to 2015.
• Community Knowledge Network
  ‘Provides the framework to develop new ways to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for all Tasmanians and help build a State that values knowledge and ideas’.
• Disability Action Plan
  ‘The Department of Education invited submissions from all interested persons and groups to inform the development of its Disability Action Plan. This is the resulting document’ You can download a Copy of the Plan here.
• Engaging Our School Communities Taskforce Report
  You now have to be able to log in to access this site.
• Learner At the Centre
  ‘The Government’s comprehensive plan to improve the outcomes for learners at every stage of development and throughout their lives’.
• Reports, Research and Review
  Access relevant reports, policy decisions, research, etc..
• Tasmania’s Education Performance Report 2009
  Download the Performance Report as well as a range of supplementary information booklets

Victoria

• Catholic Education Commission of Victoria
  Administrative and educational policies. Select Policies from the main menu.
  This site is presently being re-constructed and will not be available for a while. Check back soon.
• Corporate Plan
  Planning in Victorian education.
• Department of Education & Early Childhood Development
  Policies, historical and public records access.
• Governance Guidelines - Across the Board
  Organisational guidelines & policies for independent schools.
• Multicultural Education Strategy

Reviews and Reports

• Educational Improvement in Victoria
  Compiled by Richard Elmore, Harvard University.
• Inquiry into Vocational Education and Training
  Review of the Quality of Training in Victoria’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship System.
• Publications & Resources
  Find details and downloads relating to a Blueprint for Government Schools, The Future for Victoria and Education Review & Reform among others.
• Public Education - The Next Generation
  The Connors Report. Now archived at Pandora.
• Reports
  ‘Provides access to reports and papers that have been prepared by the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development or for the department by a third party’.
• Research Publications
  Research eLert newsletters, Research?work, conference papers and presentations, other educational research.

Western Australia

• Association of Independent Schools of WA
  Click on About AISWA in the main menu to access their Strategic Plan, governance and services.
• Catholic Education Office of WA
  Policy Statements. Curriculum, Planning & Resources, School & Community Operations and Personnel.
• Curriculum Support
  Curriculum policies and framework.
• Our Policies
  Department of Education & Training.

Reviews and Reports

• Pathways to the Future
  ‘A Report of the Review of Educational Services for Students with Disabilities in Government Schools received strong acknowledgement from the Minister for Education and Training for the comprehensive nature of the consultation undertaken and the forward-thinking identified within the recommendations’. Get a copy of the Final Report here.
• Post-Compulsory Education Review Report
  ‘Our Youth, Our Future’. This link is for Chapters 1 and 2. Chapters 3-6 are found here, Chapters 7-9 here and Chapters 10-Appendices here.
• Report of the Ministerial Taskforce …
  On Issues Surrounding Proposed Changes to Post-Compulsory Education. PDF Format.
  You now need to be able to log in to access this site.
• Schools Online Curriculum Services, The Vision for ICT in Education
  ‘The Schools Online Curriculum Services program, provided by the Department of Education and Training, offers a content management and search system, a Web portal and curriculum information management applications’.
• Research
  ‘Research commissioned by the Western Australian College of Teaching into issues relating to the profession’.

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Other Information

• ACER
  Educational research body and testing group in Australia and research on educational policy and implications. Check the Cunningham Library for research assistance.
• ASPA Policies and Statements
  ‘These documents have been developed by ASPA for use in discussions with the Commonwealth Government, its agencies, and other bodies’.
• Australian Education Union - Policies
  ‘Cover a wide range of issues. You will find some of our policies in this section’. PDF documents.

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