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Briefing paper

Briefing paper

Mastery and application: students develop and demonstrate mastery of their learning


This explainer outlines how students develop mastery by consolidating knowledge – storing and strengthening it in memory through practice and review – enabling them to solve unfamiliar problems, think critically and creatively, and generate new representations and applications of their understanding.
Briefing paper

Knowledge and memory: learning is a change in long-term memory


This explainer explores the critical processes through which students acquire, store and utilise knowledge to develop understanding. Knowing the function of memory systems and the process of acquiring knowledge helps explain how learning is retained over time and supports students’ ability to build on what they know.
Briefing paper

Working from home is saving Australians time and money


This paper looks at how households are benefitting from working from home; focusing on the time and money saved when workers commute less, as well as the ability to work more hours or get a job. It finds that the clearest direct savings are from reduced time and money spent on commuting.
Briefing paper

Family and domestic violence in Australia: is enough progress being made?


This briefing paper takes stock of the current incidence and changing nature of family and domestic violence (FDV) in Australia, reporting that FDV-related homicides and police reporting rates are rising. It reflects on the impacts of FDV and what can be done to promote change, including improved resourcing, better coordination of policy, and consistent data...
Briefing paper

University student debts and the cost-of-living crisis


This note analyses the significance of student debt as part of the cost-of-living crisis, the current Job-ready Graduates package and HECS-HELP debts, and the need for policy reform to support younger generations and reduce intergenerational inequity. It summarises what the major parties are promising to address student debt ahead of the 2025 federal election.