The federal government has opened a second round of public consultation on its First Nations Education Policy. This gives schools, families and community organisations three weeks to weigh in on a draft vision before the framework is finalised later this year.
The survey, which opened on 5 August runs until 26 August, follows an earlier discussion-paper process that closed in February. This time, the Department of Education is asking respondents to react to a more developed draft. It covers the policy’s proposed vision, guiding principles, focus areas and expected outcomes.
Anyone aged 15 or older can take part. This includes individuals, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, and representatives of schools, universities or community organisations. Submissions can be made through an online form, and the department has said it will publish only aggregated or de-identified findings once the consultation closes.
Five peak bodies steering the policy’s design
The department is developing the policy alongside five First Nations peak organisations:
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation
- SNAICC – National Voice of our Children
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principals Association
- National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition
- National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium
These groups have been engaging directly with communities across the country since early 2026, alongside state and territory governments, non-government education providers and education unions.
Not every partner organisation is approaching the process with the same optimism. The National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition (NIYEC) has said on its website that earlier education policies have failed to deliver the equity promised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners.
Governments need to do more this time around, the coalition warned.
A First Nations policy years in the making
The push for a dedicated national policy traces back to the 2024–25 federal budget and the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. Under that agreement, the government committed to a framework aimed at lifting outcomes for First Nations learners from early childhood through to tertiary study. The Department of Education has said the policy is intended to set shared national priorities and establish how progress against them will be tracked.
The stakes for getting the design right are significant. Analysis of national literacy and numeracy data has repeatedly shown a persistent gap for Indigenous students. That pattern is prompting researchers to rethink how success itself is measured.
Consultation versus shared authority
The Department of Education has framed self-determination as a core design principle. Its First Nations partners aim to ensure community perspectives are built into the framework, not sought after decisions are made.
Academics writing for The Conversation have cautioned that genuine improvement for Indigenous students has historically depended on communities holding real decision-making authority, not simply being consulted. That distinction, they argue, is one past reform efforts have struggled to close.
The tension between consultation and shared authority is likely to shape how school leaders and First Nations organisations respond to the survey over the coming weeks.
The Department of Education has also flagged that the subject matter may be difficult for some contributors and has listed support services alongside the survey. These include Lifeline, 13YARN and Beyond Blue.
Complete the First Nations Education Policy Consultation Survey 2026 – closing date is 26 August.