In line with the Susan McKinnon Foundation's commitment to strengthening Australia’s democracy, this submission identifies 14 evidence-based areas to strengthen and enhance civic education, and to tackle additional underlying issues threatening civic engagement, such as promoting a healthy information ecosystem.

The following priority areas were identified through key learnings from SMF’s ongoing research, engagement, advocacy, and programs in youth civic engagement, mis- and dis-information, political polarisation and public interest journalism. 

1. Evidence-informed improvements for civic education in Australia

• Identifying the core components of civic education
• Understanding more about the outcomes of civic education programs
• Enhancing the delivery of civics curriculum

2. The importance of taking a holistic approach to tackling civic disengagement

3. Further details and evidence behind issues related to civic engagement

• Declining civic engagement and trust
• Changing media habits and the decline of public interest journalism
• Misinformation and its effects on democracy
• Polarisation and support for democracy