South Australian public libraries are now vital community hubs, expanding staff roles to include social work, digital aid and crisis response. This challenging shift causes staff stress and burnout due to inadequate support. The report advocates for better funding and workforce strategies, offering recommendations to the state government and local councils.

This report explains the system that delivers arts and cultural experiences in Australia, from broad and grassroots through to specialised and professional. It demonstrates how the arts and culture system is organised, governed and developed. The report also highlights how cultural literacy and creative skills building occur across the population.

This report reviews disability references in global climate policies, noting inclusion scores nearly doubled since 2023. It maps progress and gaps, urging stronger commitments to disability rights and introducing criteria for women and children with disability. It emphasises moving beyond symbolic recognition toward meaningful, intersectional inclusion and full participation in climate governance.

The statistical report provides information on the flow of government funding for vocational education and training (VET) in Australia, based on 2024 data. VET in Australia is funded by the Australian and state and territory governments. Nationally, total government expenditure on VET increased 55.8% between 2019 and 2024 to $10 billion.

Children’s early years lay the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing outcomes. This paper discusses a potential model of enhanced early childhood education and care (ECEC Plus) designed to support Australian children and families who face early childhood disadvantage and discusses options for funding models to support its delivery. It provides four recommendations.