The challenges facing Australian education are now widely recognised. Many are concerned by the lack of progress evident in NAPLAN and the growing number of students not undertaking those national tests, while much attention has been paid to the declines in scores on the OECD international testing system, PISA.

Less known, but of greater concern, are the trends in declining mathematics and science study for high school certificates, decline in understanding of civics and citizenship, growth in the proportion of students not meeting low international baseline standards for literacy and numeracy (now 20 per cent), declines in physical activity among school students, and the increasing challenges in terms of screen and device usage, bullying, and poor mental health.