The Best Features of Australian Education

A solid education is the equivalent of a super-power. In his “Accelerating Innovation with Leadership” blog post – Bill Gates wrote that one of four objectives political leaders should prioritise is – ‘Give every student and teacher new tools so all students get a world-class education.’

Learning opens humans’ eyes to possibilities and options.

Credentials can change people’s entire quality of life, giving them earning potential and changing where they live and with whom they associate. Educational achievements can inspire personal confidence and positive self-concept.

Schools can provide a safe-haven for those struggling in their other environments. Teachers can be the most powerful role models, inspiring their students to change and strive for more.

It is easy to be critical about education when one is teaching or learning in a system that is achieving numerous quality outcomes.

It is natural and commendable to strive for continuous improvement and focus on what HAS NOT, rather than what HAS been achieved.

This article therefore focuses on the BEST features of Australian education.

The intent of this article is not to claim that Australia has reached a panacea of education or that all of the country’s schools and universities maintain the same high quality standards.

This article lists and describes 15 commendable features of education that can be found in Australian schools and universities and that should be celebrated and shared.

This article is written to answer the question – if an educator was to look for inspiration from Australian education, what features should they be encouraged to emulate.

These features apply to all levels of education, from primary and secondary to post-secondary including postgraduate studies.

Readers will notice that many of these features are technology-enhanced and that is indeed the overall advantage, or in other words – super-strength, of Australian education – students, teachers, schools and institutions have access to useful technologies and have made wise choices regarding how and when to apply these technologies for learning.