Education for Life Educationfor Life

Education gives minds, young and old, the language to dream their future, and the inquisitiveness to bring it about.

Education, by its very nature, is the ultimate plan for the future; it is the belief that time and effort spent learning today will be justified multiple times over by the gains it will produce in the future.

Today's students are tomorrow's scientists, engineers, artists, writers and leaders, so any investment in education is an investment in the country.

• Teaching for modern life
• Needs-based funding + Gonski reforms
• Universities for education, not profit

Fund all stages of education

As the economy, technology, and the world changes, we need to ensure that people have access to the relevant education and skills as industry evolves. Circumstances may force some transitions, while others will be in response to new opportunities. It is important that children and adults alike are prepared for the changing needs of life.

• Access to education to be readily available, not limited by distance or location, supporting optimal utilisation of information and technology as the world rapidly evolves.
• Implement needs-based funding (Gonski reforms), which remain unaddressed since 2013.
• Incentivise teachers to work in disadvantaged, rural, and remote schools.
• Provide training and support for workers transitioning from disrupted industries and professions to related positions in newly enabled industries.

Improve university outcomes

Universities serve dual purposes of education and research, which both need to be balanced to ensure one is not prioritised at the expense of the other. Improving security for research and its commercialisation, and reducing the overhead that is extensive in the university sector will provide a more efficient system for all, including the students who rely on it for education.

• Increase funding and funding periods for research to minimise the need for focus on grant applications.
• Impose benchmarks to guarantee the use of public funds for academic salaries, teaching material and research.
• Ensure publicly funded research is open-access, to allow free use by others.
• Continue the HECS/HELP scheme to allow access to all, regardless of economic circumstances.