I trust that our friends and colleagues across Queensland enjoyed the school holidays and are ready for Term 4. To QELi colleagues in other states and territories, I hope you taking the opportunity to rest, recharge for Term 4, and perhaps you are using the break to invest in your own personal or professional development.

I had the opportunity to catch up with many of you last week at the Australian Council for Educational Leaders conference in Melbourne. The conference delivered a terrific program of speakers – new and well-established educational leaders – discussing the themes of experiential learning, evidence-based research and leadership.

I hope that you will enjoy the following articles. As always, if there is a topic, report or event you would like QELi to explore, please email your thoughts to marketing@qeli.qld.edu.au. 

Neil McDonald
Chief Executive Officer, QELi

Future of funding for all Australian schools 

Interest in the future of funding for all Australian schools continues, and last week the Minister for Education issued this statement articulating a commitment to ‘sector-blind, needs-based funding’. We note that at the recent Education Council meeting, ministers agreed in-principle to progressing the National School Reform Agreement to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), subject to negotiations for individual bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and each state and territory. School funding is a complex issue whose historical and cross-sectoral context is explained in this podcast by the Grattan Institute.

Changes to the Australian Curriculum refuted

Recent reports published in The Australian have suggested that the Australian Curriculum was being reviewed to move away from the current learning areas, general capabilities, and cross-curriculum priorities towards a greater focus on 21st-century skills. The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority has refuted such claims, and Commonwealth Education Minister Dan Tehan has also signaled that the curriculum is not being redesigned in a recent article published in The Australian.

National review of teacher education

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) recently launched its report on the national review of teacher education. One Teaching Profession: Teacher Registration contains 17 recommendations that support three focus areas: improving and reinforcing teacher quality, strengthening children’s safety, and streamlining registration processes. The full report is now available online.

Researchers challenge the public narrative around teacher quality

Also on the topic of teacher quality, this article from researchers from Griffith University and Southern Cross University challenges the public narrative around teacher quality, arguing that today’s teachers are more qualified and capable than ever before.

Supporting the mental health of staff and students

Supporting the mental health of staff and students alike is a priority for all school and system leaders. In this recent podcast, Professor Helen Christensen discusses how the Black Dog Institute is leading suicide prevention research to inform technology-based suicide prevention strategies for schools.