This guide provides links to information about the policy and administrative framework for school education, individual school information, school funding information, statistics including student achievement statistics, indigenous education, Australian organisations, international organisations and education departments and state and territory government websites.

Note: administrative arrangements announced on 18 September 2013 have altered departmental responsibility for school education. Therefore, links to Australian Government websites listed below may change as new arrangements take effect

Marilyn Harrington

English

Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO)

  
 
 1 NOVEMBER 2013 
School education: a quick guide to key internet links 
Marilyn Harrington 
Social Policy 
This Quick Guide provides links to: 
• information about the policy and administrative framework for school education 
• individual school information 
• school funding information 
• statistics—including student achievement statistics 
• indigenous education 
• Australian organisations 
• international organisations and education departments and 
• state and territory government websites. 
Note: administrative arrangements announced on 18 September 2013 have altered departmental responsibility 
for school education. Therefore, links to Australian Government websites listed below may change as new 
arrangements take effect. 
Policy and administrative framework for school education 
• The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians agreed to by the Australian 
Government and state and territory government education ministers in 2008, sets the goals and directions 
for Australian schooling. 
• The Department of Education (DoE) provides access to information about Australian Government school 
education policies and programs. At the time of writing, the DoE website was being updated to reflect the 
Machinery of Government changes following the 2013 federal election. 
• The Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood (SCSEEC) is a standing council of the Council of 
Australian Governments (COAG). Its membership includes Australian Government and state and territory 
government education ministers. Communiques summarise key agreements made at SCSEEC meetings. 
• The SCSEEC replaced the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs 
(MCEECDYA) in January 2012. Information and publications released by MCEECDYA remain on its archived 
website. 
• The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for the development 
of the national curriculum, the National Assessment Program and national data collection and reporting. 
ISSN 1834-9854 
 
 
 
 
• The National Report on Schooling in Australia, published by ACARA since 2009, provides an overview of 
school education in Australia, key statistics and funding information. The latest edition is 2011. Earlier 
editions are on the MCEECDYA website. 
• The annual Report on Government Services, published by the Productivity Commission, provides an overview 
of school education in Australia, key statistics and funding information. 
• The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) provides ‘national leadership for the 
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments in promoting excellence in the profession of teaching and 
school leadership’. Its work includes the development of professional standards, national registration and 
professional learning for teachers. 
Information about schools 
• School term dates 
• The My School website, managed by ACARA, provides information about all schools in Australia, and includes 
key statistical data, financial information and school-wide National Assessment Program (literacy and 
numeracy) results. 
• M Harrington, Schools by Commonwealth Electoral Division, 2012, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2013. The 
information for individual schools includes school name, location and school type. For non-government 
schools, campus information, affiliation and Commonwealth funding arrangements under the socioeconomic 
status (SES) system are also provided. The website includes a list of school enrolments by electorate.  
School funding 
Australian Government funding for schools pre-2014 
• COAG’s Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGA) provides for the Australian 
Government’s National Schools Specific Purpose Payment (SPP) for government schools. Funding is provided 
according to the terms of the IGA’s National Education Agreement (NEA). 
• The COAG Reform Council reports annually on the Agreement’s progress—the latest available report is for 
2012. 
• The Schools Assistance Act 2008 provides funding for the non-government school component of the National 
Schools SPP and the Schools Assistance Regulations 2009 specify the performance and accountability 
requirements under the Act. 
• The Schools Assistance Act 2008 Administrative Guidelines: Commonwealth Programs for Non-government 
Schools, 2009 to 2013/2014: 2013 Update includes program funding information. 
• The Schools Assistance Act 2008: Report on Financial Assistance Granted to each State in Respect of … This 
annual report provides funding information by program and a summary of general recurrent and capital 
grants for individual non-government schools. Latest issue is 2010. [Not currently available online.] 
• The Department of Education’s SES Funding Help website provides the per capita funding rates for non-
government schools. 
• Other targeted funding for schools has been provided through a number of COAG National Partnerships and 
the Australian Government’s school education programs. 
• M Harrington, Australian Government funding for schools explained: 2013 update, Background note, 
Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 8 March 2013. Explains the current funding system in detail and includes a 
brief history of Australian Government funding for schools and historic funding and statistical information. 
Government funding for schools from 2014 
• From 2014, Australian and state and territory government funding for government and non-government 
schools will be provided according to the terms of the COAG National Education Reform Agreement (the 
NERA). At the time of writing, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australian governments are 
‘non-participating’ education systems. (Note: non-government schools and school systems are not required 
to sign the NERA.) 
 
 
School education: a quick guide to key internet links 2 
 
• Australian Government funding for NERA-participating government education systems, non-government 
education systems and schools and non-participating government education systems will be provided under 
the Australian Education Act 2013 and the Australian Education Regulation 2013. 
• M Harrington, Funding the National Plan for School Improvement: an explanation, Background note, 
Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 26 June 2013. Provides a detailed explanation of the National Plan for 
School Improvement as it was called at the time of writing. 
Statistics 
• Australian Bureau of Statistics—key statistics about schools are provided in Schools, Australia, published 
annually. 
• The National Report on Schooling in Australia, published by ACARA since 2009, provides an overview of 
school education in Australia, key statistics and funding information. Earlier editions are on the MCEEDYA 
website. 
• The annual Report on Government Services, published by the Productivity Commission, provides an overview 
of school education in Australia, key statistics and funding information. 
Student achievement statistics 
• The National Assessment Program (NAP), managed by ACARA, includes the annual National Assessment 
Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and three-yearly NAP Sample 
Assessments in Science Literacy, Civics and Citizenship, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 
Literacy. 
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student 
Assessment (PISA) is a three-yearly international survey of the reading, mathematics and science capabilities 
of 15-year-old students. 
• Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS), a project of the International Association for the 
Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), is a five-yearly international assessment of the reading ability of 
students in Year 4. 
• The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an IEA project, is a four-yearly 
international survey of the mathematics and science achievement of students in Year 4 and Year 8. 
Other international statistics 
• Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators provides annual comparative data on the education systems of 
member and partner countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Latest 
edition is 2013. 
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics 
Indigenous education 
• The National Indigenous Reform Agreement (Closing the Gap) sets out the education targets for 
Indigenous Australians. The COAG Reform Council reports annually on the Agreement’s progress—the latest 
report is for 2011–12. 
• The Closing the Gap Agreement is supported by the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger 
Futures in the Northern Territory. Schedule B sets out the Schooling Implementation Plan. 
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010–2014, endorsed by COAG in May 
2011, commits Australian governments to ‘a unified approach to closing the gap in education outcomes’ 
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Annual reports record the progress of the Plan. 
• The Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act 2000 (IETA Act) provides funding for some Australian 
Government targeted programs for Indigenous schools students. The IETA Act Program Guidelines provide 
information about these programs—latest issue is 2013. 
• The annual Report on Government Services: Indigenous Compendium, published by the Productivity 
Commission, collates relevant data from the Report on Government Services—latest issue is 2012. The 
Productivity Commission also publishes the biannual report, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage. This 
report provides information across a range of areas, including education. 
 
 
School education: a quick guide to key internet links 3 
 
Australian organisations 
The following are some educational organisations that represent the interests of school education stakeholders 
and/or undertake research relating to school education. The Australasian Education Directory provides a 
comprehensive listing of educational organisations. 
• Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia 
• Australian Council for Educational Research 
• Australian Council of Deans of Education 
• Australian Council of State School Organisations 
• Australian Education Union 
• Australian Parents Council—represents the interests of parents of non-government school students. 
• Australian Primary Principals Association 
• Australian Secondary Principals Association 
• Independent Education Union of Australia 
• Independent Schools Council of Australia 
• National Catholic Education Commission 
• Save Our Schools—a public education advocacy organisation. 
International organisations and overseas education departments 
International organisations 
• The European Community’s Eurydice Network provides information and analysis of European education 
systems and policies. 
• Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)—Early Childhood and Schools 
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Education for the 21st Century 
Overseas education departments 
• Great Britain: Department for Education. 
• United States: 
– Department of Education—includes links to state education departments. 
– Education Commission of the States provides access to information about federal and state education 
policies, legislation, research and statistics. 
State and territory government websites 
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) 
• Find an ACT school 
• Education and Training Directorate 
• Board of Senior Secondary Studies 
New South Wales (NSW) 
• Find a NSW government school 
• Find a NSW non-government school 
• Department of Education and Communities 
• Board of Studies NSW—has responsibility for non-government schools. 
Northern Territory (NT) 
• Find an NT school 
 
 
School education: a quick guide to key internet links 4 
 
• Department of Education 
• Northern Territory Board of Studies 
Queensland 
• Find a Queensland school 
• Department of Education, Training and Employment 
• Queensland Studies Authority 
South Australia (SA) 
• Find an SA school 
• Department for Education and Child Development 
• South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE Board of SA) 
Tasmania  
• Find a Tasmanian school 
• Department of Education 
• Tasmanian Qualifications Authority 
Victoria  
• Find a Victorian school 
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 
• Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority 
Western Australia (WA) 
• Find a WA government school 
• Find a WA non-government school 
• Department of Education 
• Department of Education Services—has responsibility for non-government schools. 
• School Curriculum and Standards Authority 
© Commonwealth of Australia 
 
Creative Commons 
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and to the extent that copyright subsists in a third party, this publication, 
its logo and front page design are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia licence. 
 
 
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School education: a quick guide to key internet links

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