The Federal Government is establishing a Social Cohesion Education Advisory Council as part of its efforts to strengthen inclusion, respect and understanding across Australia’s education system.
Education Minister Jason Clare said there is no place for discrimination, racism or hatred in Australian society, adding that education has an important role in helping young people build respect for others and shared values.
The new advisory council will provide ongoing advice to the government on measures aimed at improving social cohesion in schools and universities. Its responsibilities will include advising on key recommendations from the Respect at Uni report, which examined the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in higher education and outlined ways to improve safety and accountability.
The council will also oversee a review of the national school curriculum with a focus on strengthening racial and religious tolerance. Alongside this work, it will develop a Social Cohesion Framework designed to support teachers and school leaders in promoting respectful and inclusive learning environments.
The announcement builds on work already underway. The government has been updating the national curriculum to strengthen students’ understanding of Australian values and has established a Social Cohesion Education Hub, which provides teaching resources for schools.
Clare said these initiatives are intended to help educators address issues of discrimination and prejudice while encouraging respectful relationships among students from different backgrounds.
The creation of the advisory council comes as Australia continues to face broader discussions about social cohesion, discrimination and community harmony. Schools have increasingly been recognised as places where young people can develop the knowledge and skills needed to engage respectfully with people of different cultures, faiths and perspectives.
Education experts have generally supported efforts to provide teachers with practical resources to address racism and intolerance, while noting that lasting improvements will depend on how policies are implemented in classrooms and supported across school communities.
The advisory council is expected to play an ongoing role in shaping government policy as education systems respond to changing social challenges and seek to strengthen inclusion, safety and respect for all students.
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