Antisemitism Education Taskforce

On the 18 December 2025, the Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, announced the establishment of a 12-month Antisemitism Education Taskforce, to be chaired by David Gonski AC.

The Taskforce forms part of the Australian Government’s response to the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism.  It will consider actions to ensure the Australian education system prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism. 
 

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Taskforce Purpose

The purpose of the Taskforce is to ensure that the Australian education system prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism.

In undertaking its work, the Taskforce will drive the implementation of other education measures announced as part of the Australian Government’s response to the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism and provide advice on any further measures required to address antisemitism and promote an inclusive Australia. 

The Taskforce will consider action across all levels of Australia’s education system – from early childhood education and care, to schools, and across universities and the higher education sectors, which is reflected in the Taskforce membership. 

The Taskforce will, as appropriate, consult with the Australian Jewish community, young people, students and their parents and carers, the education system workforce and other stakeholders.

Taskforce Membership

  • David Gonski AC (Chair)
  • Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism
  • Australian Government Department of Education
  • State and Territory Departments of Education
  • Independent Schools Australia
  • National Catholic Education Commission
  • Australian Council of Jewish Schools
  • Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
  • Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
  • The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority
  • The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
  • Universities Australia
  • The interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission

The Taskforce will be supported by a secretariat from the Australian Government Department of Education, which can be contacted via AntisemitismEducationTaskforce@education.gov.au

Taskforce Meetings

The first meeting of the Antisemitism Education Taskforce (the Taskforce) was held today in Sydney following the evil act of terrorism and antisemitism perpetrated on 14 December 2025. The Chair David Gonski AC, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal AO and the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education reiterated their support for Australia’s Jewish community and that antisemitism has no place in Australian society.

Minister Clare; Senator the Hon Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education; the Hon Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for International Education; and the Acting NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, the Hon Courtney Houssos MLC attended the inaugural meeting as guests.

The Taskforce noted the important role that early childhood education and care, schools and university sectors have in shaping Australian values. The Taskforce discussed its overarching purpose to provide advice on how the Australian education system can help to prevent, tackle and properly respond to antisemitism.

In undertaking its work, the Taskforce will drive the implementation of measures announced as part of the Australian Government’s response to the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism and provide advice on any further measures required for the education system to help tackle, respond and prevent antisemitism.

The Taskforce agreed to the following immediate actions:

  • Tasking ACARA and ACECQA to provide advice on a targeted review of the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Framework to combat antisemitism
  • ACECQA, ACARA, AITSL and Education Services Australia (ESA) to scope additional educational resources and teacher professional learning to combat antisemitism
  • Special Envoy to brief the next meeting of the Taskforce on the UNESCO training program for teachers and school leaders to prevent and counter antisemitism
  • Special Envoy and Emeritus Professor Greg Craven AO GCSG to brief the next meeting of the Taskforce on the progress of the University Report Card Project
  • TEQSA and the Department of Education to provide updates on the changes needed to TEQSA legislation to strengthen powers to address antisemitism and all forms of racism on university campuses

The Taskforce will next meet on the 3 February 2026 to be updated on these initial streams of work and brief all Education Ministers at the end of February.

Antisemitism Education Taskforce - Membership

  • David Gonski AC (Chair)
  • Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism
  • Australian Government Department of Education
  • State and Territory Departments of Education
  • Independent Schools Australia
  • National Catholic Education Commission
  • Australian Council of Jewish Schools
  • Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
  • Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)
  • The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
  • The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
  • Universities Australia
  • The interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission