The report outlines the urgent reforms and targeted investments needed to ensure children in Australian public schools can thrive. It provides a roadmap for how governments can deliver on the goals of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (2025–2034).

Key findings

• Rising student needs: 95% of principals and teachers say student diversity and complexity have increased in the last three years, driven by mental health, disability and behavioural challenges.
• Workload crisis: 55% of teachers report burnout, with excessive administrative tasks and teacher shortages exacerbating unmanageable workloads.
• Equity gaps: public schools educate 90% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, 82% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and 67% of students with disability – yet remain chronically underfunded.
• Infrastructure divide: one elite private school spent more on capital works in 2021 than Tasmania and the Northern Territory governments combined spent on all public schools.
• Teacher shortage: three-quarters of principals report shortages, and only one in five teachers plan to stay until retirement.

Key recommendations

• Permanent small group tutoring and smaller class sizes (to OECD average of 21), with more education support staff.
• 150 full-service schools in disadvantaged communities offering integrated health and family services.
• More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Two extra hours a week for planning and collaboration, more admin staff and a national early career guarantee.
• More school counsellors, social workers and system-wide support for evidence-based wellbeing programs.
• A permanent Commonwealth capital fund to ensure every public school has modern, inclusive and accessible facilities.