Since the late eighties, Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have made successive declarations defining their shared vision for school education in Australia.

The most recent, the Melbourne Declaration agreed by Education Council Ministers in 2008, articulated nationally consistent education goals for young Australians.

Each declaration has guided the design and delivery of education and laid the foundation for the development of school curricula and assessment.

The vision outlined in each declaration has been progressed through the collaborative work of the Education Council, supported by various national reviews and shorter-term national agreements that commit to more specific reforms and national actions.

The most recent of these agreements is the National School Reform Agreement, which was informed by the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools and the Lifting Our Game Report.

On 14 December 2018, Education Council Ministers agreed to undertake a review of the Melbourne Declaration and hold an initial Forum in February 2019 to consult and collaborate with key stakeholders and experts.

Public submissions are now open to inform the Review of the Melbourne Declaration on Education Goals for Young Australians.

Education Council welcomes responses and feedback from interested stakeholders about their aspiration for the next national Declaration. Stakeholders are invited to respond to the discussion paper by providing an online submission.

You can read the Melbourne Declaration discussion paper and make a submission online here.