AHISA SUBMISSION
Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training
31 July 2017

Inquiry into school to work transition

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Standing Committee’s consideration of school to work transition.

On the following pages we discuss the future of the world of work for young Australians and the role of schools in preparing students to participate successfully in this world. Our aim is to inform the Inquiry’s main areas of interest, that is, how students are supported in post-school transitions.
Our main focus, however, is to present to the Standing Committee a perspective to counter the prevailing negative view of Australian schools as ‘failing’. AHISA has been concerned for some time that a ‘deficit model’ narrative of schooling is blinding policy makers to the innovative ways in which schools are already responding to rapidly escalating social and technological change.

We believe the perception of Australian schooling held by members of the Standing Committee will influence the recommendations arising from the Inquiry. We therefore offer evidence that schools and the expert educators who work within them have the adaptive and entrepreneurial capacity to evolve educational provision for students to meet 21st century demands.

Yours faithfully,
(Mrs) Karen Spiller
AHISA National Chair
Principal of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Qld

School to Work Transition - full version