Yes. Individual schools matter, but the rules that govern funding, enrolment and accountability shape outcomes across the entire education system.

System reform matters because:

• It addresses the structural drivers of segregation rather than treating symptoms.

• It helps reduce concentrated disadvantage, which international research consistently links to poorer educational outcomes.

• It strengthens learning environments by creating more socio-economically diverse school communities.

• It improves opportunities for disadvantaged students without lowering standards for others.

• It helps schools focus on developing student potential rather than competing for enrolments.

Australia's educational challenges cannot be solved through individual school improvement alone. To achieve lasting change, we must also examine the policies and structures that shape how schools are funded, regulated and accessed.

We are inviting all Australians on a journey to collaborate, think creatively, and devise new solutions together. We believe it is important to open up a new conversation, consult widely and listen to diverse perspectives. To guide this conversation, we have set out a series of foundational, common-sense principles aimed at balancing choice with fairness.

A Common Framework means all publicly funded schools operate under the same broad rules around access, inclusion and public accountability while retaining their individual ethos and identity.

The Common Framework is a policy approach inspired by successful models overseas—such as in parts of Canada and Europe—where schools receive extensive public funding in exchange for keeping education accessible, avoiding exclusionary enrolment
practices, and eliminating prohibitive fees.

Yes. Research suggests it is achievable and would require a relatively modest increase in education spending compared with many other major government expenditures.

Key considerations include:

• Most non-government schools already receive substantial public funding.

• Additional investment would be required to ensure schools can operate without charging compulsory fees.

• The estimated cost is relatively modest when compared with many other major government spending programs.

• The long-term social and economic costs of educational inequality may be far greater than the cost of reform.

Ultimately, this is not only a question of affordability. It is a question of national priorities and the kind of school system Australians want to build.

Yes, absolutely. In fact, many of the world's most successful democracies do exactly this while maintaining a strictly secular society.

Countries like Canada, the Netherlands, and Scotland are successful secular countries where the state treats all schools equally, provides the necessary funding, and leaves it up to parents to decide whether they want a religious element in their child's education.

To receive full public funding, religious schools must play by the same rules as government schools:

• They must be completely free: They are strictly prohibited from charging tuition fees, meaning no family is locked out because of their bank account.

• They must be open to everyone: They cannot use academic entrance tests or other discriminatory barriers to turn away children of varying abilities or backgrounds.

Under this kind of framework, faith-based schools may keep their independence and their unique religious character, but they become genuinely inclusive & open to the whole community. It shows that a country can value diversity and fairness at the same time.

Yes. Countries such as Scotland, the Netherlands and parts of Canada fully fund diverse non-government schools within common public frameworks.

These schools remain free to families, retain their unique ethos, and operate under shared public responsibilities. Their experience shows that choice, diversity and fairness can successfully coexist within a high-performing education system.

No.

We support parental choice and recognise the important contribution independent, faith-based and specialist schools make to Australian education.

Our goal is not to eliminate diversity. Our goal is to ensure that all publicly funded schools operate within a framework that promotes fairness, accessibility and opportunity.

Under our proposed approach:

• Schools would retain their unique ethos, values and educational approach.

• Parents would continue to have meaningful choice.

• Public funding would be linked to clear public responsibilities.

• Every child would have greater access to opportunity, regardless of background.

We believe choice and fairness can coexist.