The National Assessment Program (NAP) is an important investment made by all Australian governments. It is an asset that helps measure the health of Australian school education. This report considers how the usefulness of the NAP can be enhanced to improve our evidence base about the successes and challenges of the Australian school system.

In this paper, the authors share a range of ideas relating to health, labour markets, the tax and transfer system, gender equality, education, housing, and criminal justice. The aim is to provide an optimistic, forward-looking counterpoint to what has undoubtedly been a catastrophic year.