Public Webinar:
System Transformation is Possible: Lessons from Québec

Lessons from Canada on Dismantling School Segregation and
Creating a Common School Network

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 27th August 2026

Time: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM (AEST)

Location: Online via Zoom (Webinar link to follow)

Cost: Free

Host: Schools For All Australia

Invitation

Please join us for a compelling public webinar exploring the future of equitable education.

We are delighted to feature Stéphane Vigneault, co-founder and coordinator of Canada’s prominent advocacy movement École Ensemble. Stéphane will share critical insights on building a powerful social movement to dismantle school segregation and establish a fairly funded, socially mixed common school network.

Joining Stéphane for a dynamic panel discussion are three of Australia’s most distinguished education leaders and advocates:

Adrian Piccoli – Former NSW Minister for Education

Jane Caro AM – Acclaimed author, novelist, and public education advocate

Pasi Sahlberg – Renowned Finnish educator, author, and Professor of Educational Leadership

Speaker Profiles

  • Stéphane Vigneault

    Convenor, École Ensemble

    Stéphane Vigneault is the co-founder and coordinator of École Ensemble, bringing an extensive background in public policy, political science, and communications to his advocacy work. A passionate defender of equitable public education, Stéphane actively collaborates with various citizen groups and frequently provides expert commentary in the media to champion structural reforms that eliminate student selection, halt social segregation, and enhance comprehensive public education.

  • The Hon. Adrian Piccoli

    Adrian Piccoli is a widely respected education leader who served as the NSW Minister for Education from 2011 to 2017. Throughout his political career, he was a staunch advocate for equitable funding, leading the historic implementation of the Gonski funding reforms in New South Wales. He is a former Director of the Gonski Institute for Education and continues to contribute to national education policy debate as a much sought-after media commentator.

  • Jane Caro AM

    Jane Caro AM is an acclaimed author, columnist, and fiercely passionate public education advocate who has spent decades championing equity in Australian schools. Known for her sharp commentary and insightful analysis, she frequently lends her voice to major national conversations across a wide range of issues. Her most recent book is Rich Kid Poor Kid The Battle for Public Education published by Australia Institute Press.

  • Professor Pasi Sahlberg

    Pasi Sahlberg is a world-renowned Finnish educator and author with deep expertise in how equitable, high-performing systems operate. Pasi has advised policymakers across the globe on the value of cooperation and equity over competition, and is now Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Melbourne. He brings an invaluable international lens to how Australia can dismantle structural divisions to create a truly inclusive school network.

About École Ensemble

Founded in Quebec in 2017 by a group of concerned parents, École Ensemble (School Together) is a prominent advocacy movement dedicated to building a more equitable education system by dismantling school segregation. The organisation campaigns vigorously against the "three-tier" schooling model — the divide between subsidised private schools, selective public schools, and comprehensive public schools — which sorts students based on their social background.

Their landmark achievements include:

  • Sparking widespread debate across Quebec on social segregation and funding equity.

  • Producing a comprehensive policy blueprint for a Common School Network.

  • Collaborating with universities to develop innovative, optimised school enrolment zones designed to foster true social mixing and equal opportunity for all students.

  • The successful tabling of their policy proposal in the National Assembly of Quebec.

About Schools For All

Schools For All Australia is a new movement committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, high-quality school system in which every child can thrive. Growing out of the Roadmap to Reform initiative founded by concerned parents, teachers, academics and researchers, the organisation advocates for systemic change to ensure fairness for all Australian students.