On 9 September, Federal Education Minister announced the formation of a Teaching and Learning Commission, bringing together the functions of ACARA, AITSL, AERO and ESA under one national body that the Federal Government hopes will better integrate curriculum, assessment, evidence and innovation nationwide.
While the new Commission has been broadly welcomed from across Australia’s education sector, questions have been raised as to what it will mean for the teaching profession, with some voicing concerns as to the wisdom of bringing ACARA – the independent assessment body overseeing the national curriculum – into the fold.
As Australia’s premier cross-sector professional association, the Australian Council for Education Leaders (ACEL) has been following these developments closely.
ACEL President, Elizabeth Foster said the merger presents “a rare opportunity to establish a coherent, integrated framework for national education leadership”, pointing to its Statement of Commitment to the Profession of Teaching as a path to achieving this.
"We would suggest that the Statement be structurally embedded in the Commission’s founding governance documents as part of the decision making framework," Foster told The Educator. "Policy proposals are able to then demonstrate explicit alignment, with consideration as to how performance indicators measure impact against the Statement’s values."
Operationally, Foster said the Statement is "a useful compass" to frame stakeholder consultations, staff learning and public communications.
"How might we map curriculum frames, professional standards and research priorities to its principles? Structurally embedded, this enables the Commission to model through actions, a values based culture while using the Statement as its unifying lens."
When asked what safeguards or guiding principles are essential to ensure the new Commission strengthens, rather than dilutes, professional trust and leadership across Australia’s schools, Foster said the structure and governance of the Commission will be key.
"We see that there is an opportunity to preserve independence through distinct, expertise led divisions within the Commission, preventing specialised knowledge dilution," she said.
"A consideration for essential safeguards might include independent advisory boards with genuine authority, transparent governance with representation of the profession and protocols protecting professional advice from political interference."
Foster said the Statement also provides foundational guidance with the Commission operating as a professional partnership elevating educator voice, respecting the complexity of teaching and remaining accountable to the profession.
"It is an opportunity to merge organisations to strengthen through diversity professional trust and leadership."