This policy insights paper examines the rising trend of school suspensions in New South Wales (NSW) and their connection to student interaction with the criminal justice system. It identifies practical, evidence-based strategies – as alternatives to school exclusion – to create safer learning environments for students, teachers and schools to support long-term outcomes.

This report brings together 22 voices from across the Australian higher education landscape to examine what has changed for student equity and what more needs to be done. Their contributions span three themed sections – Rewriting the system: policy, structures and reform; Power, voice and justice; and Making equity real: practice, place and participation.

This report analyses the 2024 Australian Early Development Census results, showing increased levels of developmental vulnerability in Australian children. There is also a continued trend of worrying levels of developmental vulnerability amongst children living in the most disadvantaged areas. It finds that without targeted strategies, educational inequity will deepen, not narrow.

Despite historic efforts to improve rates of higher education participation for educationally disadvantaged students, these students remain under-represented in Australian universities. This research examined the characteristics and targeting of university-run equity initiatives in schools during 2022. The findings indicate that these programs did not effectively target disadvantaged or regional schools.

This report describes how registered training organisations can most effectively support student success. It considers the key characteristics of effective student support; when and how support needs are addressed; and barriers to accessing and delivering student support.