Jason Clare to announce formation of a new national education body

by Brett Henebery 09 Sep 2025

Federal Education Minister, Jason Clare, is expected to announce the formation of a new Teaching and Learning Commission that will merge four existing agencies into one new mega-sized body aimed creating greater coherence across Australia’s education system.

The move will bring together the functions of ACARA, AITSL, AERO and Education Services Australia under one national body that the Federal Government hopes will better integrate curriculum, assessment, evidence and innovation nationwide.

In a statement, the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) Federal President, Correna Haythorpe, said the proposal “must be considered in genuine consultation with the teaching profession, represented by their unions.”

“The reality for teachers on the ground is that they are facing a recruitment and retention crisis, escalating workloads and increased complexity of student needs,” Haythorpe said.

“The question we have is whether the national education architecture is fit for todays’ teaching and learning needs.”

Haythorpe said a significant piece that is missing from the current architecture is a teaching workforce arm. 

“Any proposals for a new body must have a priority focus on the issues that are facing teachers every day in regard to recruitment and retention and decent working conditions,” she said.

“With a new proposed Commission, we need to be reassured that those matters are a priority for government.”

National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) Executive Director, Jacinta Collins, said excellence and equity should be the hallmark of the Australian education system, supported by the national architecture.

“The NCEC is encouraged by the Education Minister’s commitment to maintain and protect the critical work” of existing national bodies while improving coordination and maximising impact,” Collins said.

“Catholic education is perfectly placed to contribute to discussion of a more integrated approach to the national architecture, building on effective partnerships across educational bodies and ensuring the voice of both teachers and students is present in the structures designed to support them.”

Collins stressed that as the workload of teachers and the contemporary needs of students become more demanding, it is imperative to ensure a “fit-for-purpose approach to the teaching and learning architecture which advances opportunities for all students and teachers.”