Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Education, 22 January 2025
Independent Review of Education Final Report backs Lifting Literacy
The Tasmanian Government has released the Final Report of the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania.
Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said the Tasmanian Government’s focus to improve Tasmania’s education system over the next decade is a key part of the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
“From the Report, we have identified four areas where we can take immediate action to achieve improved outcomes,” Minister Palmer said.
“These include supercharging our literacy strategy, improving school staff wellbeing, ensuring alignment between our education system and the University of Tasmania, and getting ready to trial a multi-school organisation model.
“I am excited to begin the 2025 school year with this report in front of us, allowing us to take initial action while working with stakeholders to map out our pathway forward.
“The Report highlights that our Lifting Literacy approach is working and that we are already seeing results from our investment.
“We will continue these efforts, while investing record amounts into school upgrades and new builds; providing more support for students with a disability; increasing VET courses across all secondary schools and colleges and continuing to grow our skilled education workforce.
“We have delivered significant change in the education system over the past ten years, including extending high schools to years 11 and 12 and changing the law to ensure young people are in education or training.
“This Report provides a roadmap for the next generation of learners, giving them the best chance of success.
“I want to acknowledge Ms Vicki Baylis for undertaking the Review and thank the hundreds of individuals and stakeholder groups who provided feedback through the consultation process.”
Independent Reviewer, Ms Vicki Baylis, said it had been a privilege to lead this Review and to have had the opportunity to talk with Tasmania’s children, young people, educators and adults who care deeply about Tasmania’s future.
“I appreciated the frankness and honesty with which people shared their insights about what was working, what was possible and what was missing,” Ms Baylis said.
“There is a strong sense of optimism and belief that Tasmania has a great opportunity to create a high performing education system across all schooling sectors.
“As a small jurisdiction, Tasmania’s Education System will need to follow the evidence and choose where to invest energy, effort and resources to make the greatest gains.
“The approach taken with the Lifting Literacy initiative could act as an exemplar for how any other priorities are pursued over the next decade.
“Building on the strengths of what exists and being intentional about what matters is the job of Governments, schools, families, communities, businesses and employers.
“Together, you ensure Tasmania’s children and young people are supported to succeed in life.”
The Review included broad consultation with 96 submissions to the public consultation paper, 927 responses to the educator, family and Tasmanian community survey, and 462 responses to the student survey.
The Final Report can be found here.
Media release – University of Tasmania, 22 January 2025
Education Review report an opportunity to improve system for Tasmanian kids and teachers
The University of Tasmania welcomes the Independent Education Review report and supports the State Government’s intent to develop a formal education agreement with the University.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black said the report provided an opportunity for all parts of the education system to work together with shared focus to improve educational outcomes in Tasmania.
“A laser like focus on literacy, a model to ensure children don’t get left behind, curriculum development in partnership with another state, more time for teachers to teach, and continuing professional development – these are strong, welcome recommendations,” Professor Black said.
“This is an opportunity for real change, and we are pleased the Government has announced it will work to deepen its partnership with the University and embody that in a formal education agreement.
“We are committed and ready to collaborate more closely with the whole education system to deliver what is best for Tasmanian kids and Tasmanian teachers.”
Director of the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment Leanne McLean said the report paved the way for new ways for the education system to work together for Tasmania.
“This is an opportunity for us to work differently as a system to improve outcomes for our children and for our workforce,” Ms McLean said.
“The University has a considerable contribution to make, from research to educating the teachers, speech pathologists, nurses and other practitioners who make a difference in Tasmanians’ education journey.”
Head of the University’s School of Education Professor Victoria Carrington said the report highlighted the importance of a whole-of-system focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy from initial teacher education through to classroom practice and sustained professional development.
“The School of Education welcomes the opportunity to develop a stronger, deeper partnership with the education system to ensure Tasmanian teachers at all levels, from new graduates to those with years of experience, are supported to provide the best possible educational outcomes for the state and for our children,” Professor Carrington said.
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 22 January 2025
Education review welcomed, but Government’s response is key
After playing an instrumental role in securing the review, Labor welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Independent Review of Tasmania’s education system and we thank Vicki Baylis and her team for their work.
Strong educational outcomes are the key to securing Tasmania’s economic future, providing young Tasmanians with access to well-paid, safe, and secure jobs, but unfortunately at the moment too many children are being left behind.
While we will take time to understand the report’s recommendations in full, we welcome today’s release as a step in the right direction to addressing some of the issues holding our state back.
When Labor first called on the government to conduct a review into Tasmania’s education, the Liberals were hesitant. It’s crucial that they take the report seriously, and don’t just stick it in a drawer and forget about it.
The report notes the importance of improving the wellbeing of school staff, including looking into issues surrounding high workloads. Educators have been calling for this for years and it has to be a priority, but it shouldn’t have taken a review to see action.
The report also notes the merits of trialling a multi-school organisation system. It is crucial that the full responsibility for funding and delivering public education remains with the Government and isn’t outsourced as has happened in other countries.
Labor is serious about doing whatever we can to support Tasmanian students and educators. We’re open to a multi-partisan approach towards education as highlighted in the review, but it must be genuine and meaningful, not just an expectation that we won’t question the government or accept measure we don’t believe will deliver the best outcomes for students.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Education spokesperson, 22 January 2025
Response to Release of Independent Education Review
The final report of the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania contains some welcome measures, but if the Rockliff Government is serious about improving educational outcomes they need to make fixing school funding, staffing, and pay and conditions their top priorities.
Education is so important for our society and for the lives of all Tasmanians, but too often we’ve seen this government ignoring the key issues and focusing on their pet projects instead. Too often we’ve seen a political agenda made a priority over things that would make a real difference.
The Liberals’ lack of genuine interest in making sure our schools are properly supported has been on display again in this review process. The government put significant limits on the scope and timeframe of the review, and made sure there could be no scrutiny of their approach to school funding. The result is a report that in many places lacks concrete findings and recommendations.
Even though this review is very limited, there have been some welcome measures suggested, such as in training and wellbeing. These include things the Australian Education Union has been calling for, only to be consistently ignored by the Liberals. We hope the government will now listen.
As the government moves to consider implementing these recommendations, it is crucial they don’t use this report as an excuse for further delaying the ambitious action that is needed in education. We need improvements to school funding, staffing, and pay and conditions to be their key focus.
Media release – Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, 22 January 2025
Comments on release of Independent Review of Education in Tasmania
The Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People Isabelle Crompton today welcomed the release of the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania’s Final Report to the Tasmanian Government.
As the review findings demonstrate, educational engagement flourishes and outcomes improve when students are truly supported and empowered to actively participate in their learning,” Ms Crompton said.
“What is immediately clear is that the Independent Review has been informed by and benefited from the views and experiences of hundreds of Tasmanian children and young people.
I applaud the report’s clear recommendation that our children and young people be ‘partners in their learning’ experiences and school improvement.”
Ms Crompton said the Report comes at a critical juncture, with the Tasmanian Government undertaking wide-ranging reforms to improve outcomes for children and young people for generations to come.
“Now, the Tasmanian Government must take every effort to carefully plan for, implement, monitor and evaluate the necessary changes, including how it will maximise opportunities for young Tasmanians to be partners in the reforms and agents for change.”
Media release – TASSO, 22 January 2025
Exciting potential for Education in Tasmania
John Allan, TASSO President said “The Independent Review report handed down today is a welcome start to necessary changes in our Tasmanian Education system.”
“TASSO and School Associations have been advocating for many of these recommendations for some time. For example, the report acknowledges at length that engagement and commitment to education are key to success, and further improving engagement between students, families and educators is needed,” Mr Allan continued.
“The ball is now in the government’s court to implement the recommendations in the report.”
“Our hope is that the period between now and the budget delivery in May is spent assessing, ratifying and prioritising recommendations. And that funding and resourcing is provided to fully implement the changes needed.”
“Partnership with families is critical for educational success, our School Associations and their committees provided a key pathway into the heart of every state school in Tasmania, it’s time to listen to what they are saying. Parents are calling out for engagement with learning opportunities and better communication strategies.”
“Unfortunately, the narrow scope of the review did not allow for other long-term issues to be addressed.”
“TASSO wish to acknowledge the work of Vicki Baylis and team for the comprehensive engagement with families and school communities during the very tight timeframe and the limited budget of the review,” concluded Mr Allan.
