The research report, From opportunity to outcomes. The changing role of public schooling in Australia and national funding arrangements, was commissioned by the government departments responsible for school education in all states and territories, with the exception of NSW. Its purpose is to understand the role of public education in Australia and to provide advice on possible future directions. It has been undertaken in the context of the Australian Government Review of Funding for Schooling and the commitment under the National Education Agreement to review schooling funding across the government and non-government sectors. However, it is not a formal part of either of those reviews. The observations and any opinions contained in the report are the professional views of the author and do not represent the views of government departments.