Each year, as part of the Commissioner’s Annual Report, the Commissioner provides the Minister for Education with a list of key issues for the government’s consideration.
On this page:
Early Childhood Education and Care
Issue for Consideration 1
The Productivity Commission review into the early childhood education and care sector is an opportunity to consider a range of issues, including the universality of early childhood education and care. The review should explicitly consider RRR access, and progress with an awareness that increased subsidies are less relevant to families without access to early childhood education and care, and ‘one size fits all’ options often have decreasing practicality as population density decreases. To meet the basic needs of RRR families, the review could examine ways to increase access to early childhood education and care in RRR locations, including by:
- supporting family day care operators to meet qualification and operational regulations and assisting with start-up costs
- expanding mobile childcare services where there is no, or limited, access
- increasing the number of mobile playgroups and giving existing playgroups certainty to invest in equipment and recruitment of skilled workers by offering grants with several years duration.
Issue for Consideration 2
Extend the Assistance for Isolated Children - Distance Education (AIC-DE) allowance to 3–4-year olds undertaking an approved pre-compulsory distance education program. This would reduce the financial burden on isolated families who have no option other than to deliver the preschool program themselves
Schools
Issue for Consideration 3
Establish a Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA) to support Home Tutors educating geographically isolated students via distance education where there are no alternatives. Providing financial assistance to these families recognises the value of their role and co-invests in the education of geographically isolated students.
Issue for Consideration 4
Recognising the inequity of access to required subjects in senior school between students in metropolitan and RRR schools, current access to subjects in RRR schools should be reviewed, and consideration given to:
- expanding existing virtual delivery models
- developing a partnership model between two schools, potentially metropolitan and RRR, to deliver virtual elective subjects to RRR students
- delivering senior school subjects through a regional school cluster model sharing teaching and curriculum resources across schools.
Issue for Consideration 5
The National Teacher Workforce Action Plan process should consider expanding local delivery of professional development opportunities for teachers in RRR schools, including through a formal teacher to teacher mentoring program (both intra- and inter-school) to enable more experienced teachers to mentor less experienced teachers.
Issue for Consideration 6
The Initial Teacher Education Expert Panel process is an opportunity to consider the role of training in encouraging and preparing students to consider a career in RRR teaching. It should include an explicit focus on:
- expanding RRR content within Initial Teacher Education course offerings to better inform and prepare students about teaching in RRR Australia
- increasing RRR placements during study, including early placements, and considering how to support students financially and otherwise during placements.
Issue for Consideration 7
Create a Year 12 school leavers Teachers’ Aide program for RRR schools to aid schools facing a teacher shortage. Participating Year 12 school leavers would take a gap year to work as a Teachers’ Aide in a regional school before commencing their tertiary education. Consideration should be given to HECS relief and VET-FEE HELP, and recognition of prior learning for those who complete the program
Vocational Education and Training
Issue for Consideration 8
Ensure policy and funding decisions in relation to VET have regard to social impact benefit as well as value for money considerations, and also consider the broad range of VET providers in RRR communities who would be assisted by financial supports to effectively deliver education and training for RRR students.
Issue for Consideration 9
Incentivise RRR VET providers to align their course offerings with emerging industries in the regions, such as clean energy, modern agriculture, supply chain logistics and digital and cyber security. Increasing the regional skilled workforce for these industries will support growth and allow RRR people to share in the benefits of future employment opportunities.
Issue for Consideration 10
Examine transport options in RRR areas for VET students where there are few, or no, public transport options available, effectively limiting their access to further education.
Higher Education
Issue for Consideration 11
The Australian Universities Accord (the Accord) process is an opportunity to consider a range of issues as part of a long-term plan for higher education in Australia. It should include an explicit focus on a sustainable and diverse higher education presence in regional Australia and give regard to the needs of RRR students and regional institutions. Specifically, it should include:
- considering whether policy and funding settings for regional universities (such as the Commonwealth Grant Scheme) enable them to meet the skills needs of regional communities, including in areas of national priority such as teaching and healthcare
- a review of the Regional Loading Program to determine whether it is meeting the needs of regional university campuses, recognising the additional costs associated with delivering higher education in RRR Australia
- increasing the allocation of medical Commonwealth supported places to the Murray Darling Medical Network, recognising the importance of regional training in delivering RRR healthcare workforce and the very high student demand for places
- continuing to fund and explore expanding the Regional University Centre (RUC) program, including but not limited to:
- provision of adequate, timely and ongoing funding for the RUC program including recognition of increased costs in RRR areas
- considering future establishment of RUCs in small population locations, potentially through a satellite or hub and spoke model
- expanding the support offered through the existing RUC program to include careers advice available to the broader community
- a recognition that student support is critical for RRR student attainment, particularly from those already disadvantaged such as First Nations students, those from low-SES households and students with disability through encouraging universities. Education providers are encouraged to:
- review their current practices delivering support to RRR students
- adopt the Good Practice Framework outlined by the project Research into Support Services for Tertiary Students in RRR Areas
- collaborate and share good practice in student support.
Issue for Consideration 12
The second stage evaluation of the Tertiary Access Payment in 2023 should explore removing the ‘no gap year’ eligibility requirement to improve student access to the program.
General
Issue for Consideration 13
Develop a Regional Industry Linkage into Education and Training Pathways program. This would encourage greater mobility between education sectors and improve connectivity between industry, regional universities, VET, RUCs, schools and community by:
- addressing aspiration, access and attainment issues
- improving career options awareness
- providing visible pathways to careers for students
- providing student work placements/internships
- Addressing regional workforce shortages through workforce creation.
Issue for Consideration 14
Fund the National Careers Institute to:
- develop simple and targeted resources and tools on VET for parents and teachers delivering career pathway advice to students
- expand the School Leavers Information Service to proactively offer career advice to students in regional schools, and improve the quality and availability of career information. This will ensure young people are well informed when making study and career decisions.
Issue for Consideration 15
Include a RRR team within Jobs and Skills Australia (established October 2022) to understand the unique labour market and skills supply issues outside of Australia’s capital cities.