Media Release Archive - 2008
2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999
9 December 2008
International mathematics and science study shows mixed results for Australia
The latest results from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) show that Australian Year 4 students have displayed some improvement in Mathematics achievement since 2003. But achievement levels of Australian students have remained static in Year 8 mathematics and Year 4 science and declined significantly in Year 8 science.
Download Media Release (PDF: 64KB)
Highlights from TIMSS 2007 from Australia's perspective: Highlights from the full report, Taking a closer look at mathematics and science in Australia. Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood and Marina Nicholas. (2008). Melbourne: ACER.
Download TIMSS 2007 Highlights (PDF: 2.53 KB)
TIMSS 2007: Taking a closer look at mathematics and science in Australia. (TIMSS Australia Monograph No. 11). Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood and Marina Nicholas. (2008). Melbourne: ACER.
Download Executive Summary (PDF: 71 KB)
Download Full Report (PDF: 5.15 MB)
5 December 2008
New report on Indigenous language in schools
The Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard, released the Indigenous Language Programs in Australian Schools — A Way Forward report on Friday 5 December. The report provides a snapshot of the current situation of Indigenous language education in schools across Australia.
The report was prepared by ACER with funding by the Australian Government’s School Languages Program.
Media Release (Minister Gillard's website)
Download full report (DEEWR website)
31 October 2008
Global economic crisis may affect education exports
The current economic crisis has the potential to reverse, or at least slow down, the growth of international student numbers in Australia, according to a paper presented to a conference on the economics of education in Melbourne today.
International education contributed $12.5 billion in export income to the Australian economy in 2007, up 17% since 2006. Education is the third largest export sector behind coal and iron ore. Universities rely on international student fees for about 15% of their funding. Around 18% of Australia’s tertiary enrolments are by international students – well above the OECD average of 7%. Among the other OECD countries only New Zealand (16%), the United Kingdom (14%) and Switzerland (14%) come close to the Australian proportion.
Download media release (PDF: 45 KB)
Further details on the conference are available from the CEET website
30 October 2008
ACER Research Monograph 63 released
Declines in study of science and mathematics confirmed
A new report released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has confirmed that Australia faces significant challenges in boosting participation in science and mathematics studies in school education, university studies and in the teaching workforce. The report provides updated figures on:
- the performance of Australian school students in science and mathematics;
- participation in science, mathematics, and technology in the final year of secondary school;
- university participation in science and technology studies; and
- teachers, teaching and education in science, technology and mathematics.
Download media release (PDF: 60 KB)
Download full report from ACER Research Monographs web page
23 October 2008
Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) report number 54
Early school leavers take up education, training and employment
Only four per cent of 17 year olds in a recent Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) study had not completed Year 12, participated in an alternative vocational program or found full time employment.
The majority of those who did not complete Year 12 were fully engaged in employment, education or training (80 per cent of males and 58 per cent of females), according to the study released today.
Download media release (PDF: 56 KB)
Download full report from LSAY web page
17 October 2008
Study into the Assessment and Reporting of Employability Skills of Senior Secondary students report released
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard has released a report that addresses the assessment and reporting of employability skills of senior secondary students.
The report, Study into the Assessment and Reporting of Employability Skills of Senior Secondary Students, focuses on the work undertaken by ACER.
Read media release from Minister Gillard's website
Download the full report from the DEEWR website
7 October 2008
Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) report number 53
School careers advice well received by students
A new study of young Australians’ perceptions of the career advice received in secondary school has found that almost all students access career advice between Years 10 and 12 and believe the information provided met their individual needs.
The study, released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) concluded that a school’s career advice program needs to encompass as many career advice activities as possible.
Download media release (PDF: 46 KB)
Download full report from LSAY web page
3 October 2008
Schools First launched
ACER is a partner in Schools First, a new initiative to help build school-community partnerships. Schools First is a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. Schools First offers regional, state and national awards with a prize pool of $5 million every year for three years.
The Schools First Awards have been developed by National Australia Bank and three not-for-profit organisations: ACER, Australia Cares, and the Foundation for Young Australians. National Australia Bank has committed to funding the prize pool and all operating costs for the program over the initial three years.
Read media release on NAB website
Visit the Schools First website
18 September 2008
Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) report number 52
VET programs boost employment prospects
Participation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs improves the employment prospects and earning power of recent school leavers, a report released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) concludes.
Download media release (PDF: 52 KB)
Download full report from LSAY web page
1 September 2008
Principal for a Day 2008
Business-education relationships on schools agenda
Stronger partnerships between businesses, the wider community and government schools will be facilitated by the Principal for a Day program. Victoria’s event is to be held on 2 September.
Victorian Premier John Brumby will participate in this year’s program, reflecting the new prominence of business-education partnerships on the political agenda at both state and national levels.
Download media release (PDF: 47KB)
See Principal for a Day Match List (PDF: 190KB) for details of participating schools and their Principals for a Day.
8 August 2008
Research Conference 2008: Information for journalists
ACER's Research Conference 2008 "Touching the Future: Building skills for life and work" opens in Brisbane on Monday 11th August.
This page contains media releases, conference papers and details of speakers' availability for media interviews.
Go to conference media webpage
See Research Conference 2008 for registration and program details.
22 July 2008
Special Address by Julia Gillard
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Minister for Education, Minister for Social Inclusion will be delivering a special address at Research Conference 2008 "Touching the Future: Building skills for life and work" on Monday 11th August in Brisbane. Her address will focus on the connection between education, employment and social inclusion.
See Research Conference 2008 for registration and program details.
30 June 2008
Practise what we preach, says leadership study
Leaders need to be treated like students, according to a recent study of higher education leaders from around the country.
The Learning Leaders in Times of Change survey, funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, is a joint project of the Australian Council for Educational Research and the University of Western Sydney. The project surveyed more than 500 Australian higher education leaders from 20 institutions.
Download media release (PDF: 268 KB)
Download report (PDF: 3.2 MB)
26 May 2008
Business Council of Australia paper released
Teaching talent: The best teachers for Australia's classrooms
Teaching talent: The best teachers for Australia's classrooms was released by the Business Council of Australia (BCA)on 26 May. It comprises a paper prepared for the BCA by Professor Stephen Dinham, Dr Lawrence Ingvarson and Dr Elizabeth Kleinhenz of ACER titled Investing in teacher quality: Doing what matters most, preceded by an introduction and recommendations authored by the BCA.
Download report (PDF: 1.4 MB)
Business Council of Australia media release (BCA website)
29 April 2008
Australian Education Review 53 released
Better focus required on principal career paths and roles
Building communities of professional learners is the key to meeting Australia’s school leadership challenge a new review of research has concluded.
The Australian Education review 53: The Leadership Challenge: Improving learning in schools, written by University of Tasmania researcher Professor Bill Mulford, was released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
Download media release (PDF: 44 KB)
8 April 2008
Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) report
University students less engaged than US counterparts
Australian and New Zealand tertiary students are less engaged with their universities than their North American counterparts according to results from a new study of student engagement released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
More than 9000 students from 25 Australian and New Zealand universities participated in the first administration of the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) in 2007.
Download media release (PDF: 44 KB)
Download report (PDF:4.68 MB)
4 March 2008
2008 Employer of Choice for Women
ACER has been awarded 2008 Employer of Choice for Women status by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). ACER is one of 99 Australian employers to receive the citation.
ACER was awarded the citation on the basis of our policies and practices that support women across the organisation and have a positive outcome for both women and our business. The citation is a significant public acknowledgement of our efforts in the area of equal opportunity for women.
A media release and other information is available from the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace website
31 January 2008
ACER welcomes National Curriculum Board
Chief Executive of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), Professor Geoff Masters today welcomed the appointment of Professor Barry McGaw as head of the new National Curriculum Board and progress towards a national curriculum. He called on the Board to develop an engaging and relevant core curriculum that will benefit all of the nation’s students.
“The question of how best to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s world is a question of national significance and the National Curriculum Board will ensure that our best minds are brought together to address this question.” Professor Masters said.
Download media release (PDF: 44 KB)
29 January 2008
Australian Country Background Report for the OECD Improving School Leadership Activity
The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (previously Education, Science and Training) has released the Australian Country Background Report prepared by an ACER team for the OECD’s Improving School Leadership Activity.
The report provides an overview of school leadership developments and issues in Australia. Australia is one of 22 countries taking part in the OECD’s international project on school leadership. The Country Background Report was commissioned as part of Australia’s contribution to the project. Prepared in 2006, it provides information and analysis on school leadership in Australia, including school governance, the links between leadership and student learning outcomes, the attractiveness of the leadership role, and training and professional development for school leaders.
ACER’s work was assisted by a National Advisory Committee that included representatives from government and non-government education authorities and professional associations. The ACER team was Michelle Anderson, Peter Gronn (Monash University, now at Glasgow University), Lawrence Ingvarson, Andrew Jackson, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Phillip McKenzie, Bill Mulford (University of Tasmania) and Nick Thornton.
The report is also available online from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Further information on the OECD activity, including all the country background reports, is available from: www.oecd.org/edu/schoolleadership
24 January 2008
Release of policy paper on school funding
School funding system a maze that encourages blame shifting
Australia must develop a national and transparent model of school funding based on comprehensible measures of need applying equally across the sectors if the funding debate in this country is to rise above a sterile ideological battle, argues a policy paper released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
Download Media Release (PDF: 49 KB)
22 January 2008
ACER and VIF Program give Australian teachers a chance to grow professionally in the U.S
Alliance between ACER and VIF Program offers prospects for Australians
Australian educators have a unique opportunity to explore alternative teaching methods and experience new instructional approaches by teaching in the United States, as the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) today announced a joint initiative with the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF).
ACER will team with VIF, the United States’ largest international-exchange program for teachers, to provide an opportunity for Australian teachers to have the adventure of living and working overseas as teachers and travellers in the United States.
Download Media Release (PDF: 46 KB)
For more information about VIF Program visit the website www.vifprogram.com
18 January 2008
National Assessment Program - ICT Literacy Years 6 and 10 Report
Study reveals ICT proficiency of Australian students
Australia’s educators and policy makers now have a comprehensive picture of the level of ICT literacy of Australia’s Year 6 and 10 students following a landmark study completed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
The report of the National Assessment Program – ICT Literacy Years 6 and 10 was released this week by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). It reports on a study conducted in 2005 involving approximately 7400 students from Years 6 and 10 in around 520 schools across Australia.
Download Media Release (PDF: 47 KB)
The report is available from the MCEETYA website www.mceetya.edu.au
16 January 2008
Staff in Australia's Schools Survey 2007
The SIAS project, undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research in collaboration with the Australian College of Educators, gathered information from over 13,000 secondary and primary school teachers and leaders across the country. It aimed to address key gaps in the data available to characterise the teaching profession to support workforce planning. The project also involved extensive consultations with key stakeholder groups on data needs and processes to support long-term workforce planning.
The study was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (previously Education, Science and Training). It was supported by an Advisory Committee that included representatives from government and non-government education authorities and professional associations.
The project's findings and recommendations are presented in two components that were published on 15 January 2008:
- Staff in Australia’s Schools 2007 by Phillip McKenzie, Julie Kos, Maurice Walker & Jennifer Hong (PDF: 947 KB)
- Teacher Workforce Data and Planning Processes in Australia by Susanne Owen, Julie Kos & Phillip McKenzie (PDF: 479 KB)
The reports are also available from: DEST website