In 2021, the Australian Government established the Regional Education Commissioner role in response to recommendations in the National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy and the Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education. These called for a national, sustained focus on the progress and outcomes of regional tertiary education initiatives.
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The National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy found individuals living in regional and remote locations are less than half as likely as their city counterparts to obtain a university degree by the age of 35.
The primary goal of the Commissioner is to work with the Australian Government to improve education outcomes for regional, rural and remote students so these students can access and participate in education at all levels to achieve their aspirations.
Working with all tiers of government and with a broad remit across a student’s educational lifespan, from early childhood education and care to tertiary education, the Commissioner brings together the efforts of Commonwealth, state and territory governments to provide an ongoing national focus on regional, rural and remote education outcomes.
The independent nature of the role allows the Commissioner to engage widely to help bridge the educational gaps between city and regional students. This role is a non-statutory ministerial appointment.
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference outline the duties, responsibilities and deliverables of the Commissioner.
The Commissioner is guided by the following key duties and responsibilities:
- Be a champion for regional, rural and remote education, keeping issues at the forefront for government and the community and articulating their relevance to broader policy agendas.
- Support the implementation of Commonwealth strategies, priorities and measures for improving the quality and sustainability of, and access to, education in regional and remote areas.
- Engage with reviews, committees and government departments relevant to regional, rural and remote education matters to provide an ongoing national focus on education outcomes in regional Australia.
- Consult and build relationships with regional, rural and remote communities, education providers, industry, not-for-profit groups and across all tiers of government and stakeholders to improve education access, participation and outcomes for students in regional, rural and remote areas.
- Provide independent advice to the Minister for Education, and other relevant Ministers as required, on effective and efficient strategies to improve access, participation and attainment in regional, rural and remote education in Australia.
- Advocate for the improvement of education policies spanning early childhood education and care, schools, and tertiary education to better support regional, rural and remote students.
- Engage with all tiers of government and stakeholders to improve education outcomes of those regional, rural and remote students who experience multiple compounding challenges accessing, participating and completing their education, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students with disability.
- Undertake research projects and share findings to inform new policy suggestions to governments.
Annual Reports
As part of the Terms of Reference, the Commissioner, reports annually to the Minister for Education on the state of regional, rural and remote education.
Secretariat
The Commissioner is supported by a policy secretariat within the Department of Education. Contact them about the Commissioner’s work to support the provision of regional, rural and remote education across Australia.
Engagement
The Commissioner’s engagement is extensive, meeting with early childhood education providers, schools, vocational education providers, universities, peak bodies, community organisations, government agencies and all levels of government. Across 2024 alone, the Commissioner engaged with over 150 stakeholders.
The Commissioner also participates and hosts a variety of roundtables, focusing on issues intersecting with regional education issues.
First Nations Regional, Rural and Remote Education Roundtable
The First Nations Regional, Rural and Remote Education Roundtable is an opportunity for the Commissioner to engage and to hear from the perspectives of First Nations education experts from regional, rural and remote communities.
In 2024, the Commissioner convened the first meeting of this group of First Nations experts to explore priorities for improving education outcomes for First Nations people.
The group meets regularly throughout the year to discuss issues impacting regional, rural and remote First Nations people, and to develop ideas and solutions to improve outcomes.
Advocacy and expertise
Formal consultations and submissions made to:
- Strong Beginnings – Report of the Teacher Education Expert Panel (10 February 2023)
- Review of the In Home Care (IHC) program (10 May 2023)
- Development of program guidelines for the Commonwealth Regional Education Scholarship Program (24 May 2023)
- Review of Secondary Education in the Northern Territory (26 June 2023)
- Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System (1 August 2023)
- Preschool Outcomes Measure Consultation Session (11 September 2023)
- Review of the Community Child Care Fund Restricted (CCCFR) grant (26 October 2023)
- Jobs and Skills Australia Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce Capacity Study (18 December 2023)
- Assessment of boarding capacity and options in Central Australia (20 December 2023)
- Productivity Commission Early Childhood Education and Care Inquiry Draft Report (6 February 2024)
- Strategic Review of Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System (16 May 2024)
- Jobs and Skills Australia Food Supply Chain Capacity Study (31 May 2024)
- Western Australia Pathways to Post-School Success – Consultation on the Draft Final Report (16 August 2024)
- Review of Distance Education in New South Wales (29 August 2024)
- Jobs and Skills Australia Regional Roadmap Advisory Group (2025)
- Australian Council for Educational Research – National approach to admissions framework (17 February 2025)
- Anti-Bullying Rapid Review Taskforce (28 February 2025)
- Childcare Safety Review (28 May 2025)
Articles
- Article for the Medical Journal of Australia, ‘Creating aspiration for a rural health career | The Medical Journal of Australia (7 August 2023)
- Article and Recorded Interview Scottish Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor John McKendrick, 'Responding to Remote, Rural and Regional Tertiary Education Needs: A Conversation Between the Australian Regional Education Commissioner and the Scottish Commissioner for Fair Access' (18 July 2024)
Panel Roles
The Australian Universities Accord
On 16 November 2022, the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, appointed Ms Nash to a panel of experts to develop the Australian Universities Accord, chaired by Professor Mary O'Kane AC.
The Accord has been an opportunity to build and implement a new vision for Australia's universities and higher education sector. Access and opportunity, key concerns of the Regional Education Commissioner, were one of the seven priority areas in the Accord terms of reference, including barriers and opportunities, and pathways through education. Ms Nash brought her knowledge of the experiences of people in regional Australia accessing education from early childhood to career. The Australian Universities Accord also focused on supporting more people from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in education, including regional Australians.
National School Reform Agreement Ministerial Reference Group
On 1 May 2023, the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, announced the members of the National School Reform Agreement Ministerial Reference Group, including Ms Nash, who brought her cross-sector expertise in regional education and commitment to improving education outcomes for people from regional Australia to the role.
Regional University Study Hubs Assessment Panel Member (Rounds 3, 4 and 5)
The Commissioner was an Assessment Panel Member for the Regional University Study Hubs Program and has supported the assessment of Cohorts 3, 4 and 5 of the Program. Regional University Study Hubs enable students in regional, rural and remote areas to access higher education without having to leave their community. They provide student support and campus-style facilities for students who study online.
Research projects and reports
The Commissioner has overseen and driven a series of cross-sector research projects which have informed future the Commissioner’s work and regional education policy. To date 4 of the projects have been published:
- Improving regional tertiary student support services (published December 2022).
- Investigating the provision of VET for secondary students in regional schools (VETDSS project) (published June 2023).
- Investigating best practice methods for retaining regional, rural and remote students to Year 12 (Year 12 retention report) (published January 2025).