This interjurisdictional report critically examines the provision of distance education for First Nations students in ‘remote’ Australia, highlighting systemic barriers, cultural mismatches and opportunities for reform. It reveals how distance education models, founded in settler-colonial pedagogies and reliant on digital infrastructure, often fail to meet First Nations learners’ needs.

This audit assessed the performance of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the NSW Department of Education in regulating home schooling and in providing alternative school settings, specifically: distance education schools, hospital schools, intensive learning support schools and youth justice centre schools. It makes three recommendations to the Department of Education.

Away from Base supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who need to travel to complete approved tertiary courses, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university or higher education. Away From Base was partly delivered through the Abstudy program with Services Australia. Funding was primarily for students studying via distance education who are required...

This research provides a contemporary view of how online learning is used to deliver entire qualifications in the Australian VET sector. It estimates the extent that entire qualifications are delivered online, investigates what this online delivery looks like and whether online training is providing students with similar experiences and outcomes as face-to-face training.

Digital opportunities for education in the Northen Territory can help reduce the challenges of geographical isolation. The aim of this strategy is to connect teachers across urban, remote and very remote settings and develop innovative online learning tools, in order to strengthen engagement, growth and achievement for all Territory students.