A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Benjamin Zunica, University of Sydney and Bronwyn Reid O'Connor, University of Sydney From March 15, more than one million young Australians will sit the NAPLAN numeracy test. For most students, this will just be a routine part of the school day (albeit less fun than running around at recess or lunch). But for others, [...]
Sarah Jefferson, Edith Cowan University The first signs were the half-eaten lunches coming home from high school. This was in stark contrast to the primary school years, where the box looked as if a demolition team had run through it with only a few crumbs left. The problem was finally disclosed over a quiet [...]
Christine Grové, Monash University and Alexandra Marinucci, Monash University School attendance levels in Australia are a massive issue according to Education Minister Jason Clare. As he told reporters last week, he hopes to talk to state colleagues about the issue at a meeting later this month. There’s evidence that school attendance rates have been [...]
Ioana Ramia, UNSW Sydney and Zid Niel Mancenido, Harvard University There are many ways to teach school students. But research shows only some will significantly improve learning. While most teachers want to use evidence-based practices, they face many challenges that can limit their ability to use them in their classrooms. These include time pressures, [...]
Tim Pitman, Curtin University and Madeleine Ferrari, Australian Catholic University Over this week and next, year 12 students around Australia will receive their exam results. This is a time of great expectations and intense pressure for many young people. For some, their individual subject marks and university admission rank (ATAR) will be a cause for [...]
Amanda Niland, University of Sydney and Marianne Fenech, University of Sydney The decision about whether to send a child to school “early” or “hold them back” can be a tortuous one for families who have a child born in the first half of the year. So a recent New South Wales proposal that all children [...]
Maya Gunawardena, University of Canberra It is not uncommon for kids to complain about school, but studies show significant numbers of Australian students are actually disengaged with their education. A 2017 Grattan Institute report found as many as 40% are unproductive in a given year because they are disengaged. This is a huge concern. [...]
Ragan Petrie, The University of Melbourne and Marco Castillo Since 2008, Australia has spent more than A$11 billion dollars over ten years to expand government-funded preschool (or kinder in Victoria) for four-year-olds to better prepare children for school. But as our new study finds, to date, there is no rigorous evidence to suggest this investment [...]
Brittany Johnson, Flinders University; Alexandra Manson, Flinders University; Danielle Gallegos, Queensland University of Technology, and Rebecca Golley, Flinders University State Liberal leader Matthew Guy has promised a trial to provide free lunches in Victorian public schools if elected on November 26. The A$300 million election policy is aimed at helping families with cost-of-living pressures, through [...]
Kirsten Lambert, Murdoch University We know teachers are under a lot of pressure. Teacher shortages, growing workloads as well as the demands of a complex job mean many teachers are stressed. But my research shows parents are not helping. In fact, they are making the problem worse. Teachers are increasingly copping abuse from parents and [...]
