‘Woke’: Australian teaching must hold tight to the fair go
In this blog, Professor Linda Graham addresses the politicised label of “woke” in Australian education, arguing that such rhetoric poses a threat to the nation’s foundational value of a “fair go” and undermines essential principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in schools and universities. When asked last week what he would…
Attendance matters – but official reports don’t tell the whole story
The school attendance campaigns around Australia remind us that “every day counts”, which is vital for academic success, emotional well-being, and social connection. However, the reality is that national attendance has steadily declined, dropping from nearly 92% in 2018 to just over 88% in 2025. In a recent blog post from AARE,…
C4IE's verdict on government responses to the Disability Royal Commission recommendations for education
In this C4IE blog, Professor Linda Graham and Dr Lara Maia-Pike examine the recent government responses to recommendations made in the Disability Royal Commission final report. It is often said that inclusive education is all about leadership. Reform efforts therefore often focus on school principals, however, they are but one person…
The federal government has only ‘noted’ a call to end special schools. What does this mean for students with disability?
We have just received the long-awaited response from the Australian government to the disability royal commission’s final report. One of the most controversial aspects of the final report was a split between the commissioners on the issue of school segregation – or students with disability being sent to special schools. The three…
Would you send your child to school in a skyscraper? Vertical schools could revitalise our cities
By Kirsty Volz, C4IE member Jenna Gillett-Swan and C4IE member Jill Willis When we think of what Australian schools look like, we probably think of large grounds with single or double storey buildings. They’re usually in suburban areas on relatively flat blocks. But there are less conventional ways to build schools. Imagine your child…
‘My brain leaves the room’: what happens when teachers talk too much?
By C4IE Inclusion and Exclusion Program Co-lead Dr Haley Tancredi, Engagement and Learning Program Co-lead Dr Callula Killingly and Director Professor Linda Graham About four students in every classroom will have a language or attention disorder. While some of these students will have an official diagnosis of developmental language…
To achieve equity in higher education outcomes, we need to change how we teach
In this C4IE blog, Linda Graham, Lara Maia-Pike, and Jenna Gillett-Swan consider what the 2024 May Budget means for the inclusion of students in priority equity groups, and those with unidentified disabilities, in higher education. In the week leading up to Budget Night, the Minister for Education, Hon Jason Clare MP, announced changes…
Australia doesn't need a 'Behaviour Curriculum'. We need to implement Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
In a recent AARE blog post, Melissa Close and Professor Linda Graham from C4IE challenge the Australian Senate Inquiry’s push for a ‘Behaviour Curriculum’ aimed at reducing classroom disruptions. They argue that this recommendation overly simplifies the complex nature of student behaviour, particularly overlooking the needs of specific…
Behaviour: Senators ignored the research
In their response to the recent Senate inquiry into challenging student behaviour in Australian schools, C4IE member, Martin Mills and colleague Glenda McGregor, highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing these issues. They acknowledge that schools are workplaces where safety should be a priority, but they also point…
Distorted: this feeble report misses the boat on classroom behaviour
By Professor Linda Graham On the 13th of December 2023, the Centre for Inclusive Education will be launching the second edition of the best-selling book, Inclusive Education for the 21st Century. I have been asked many times by owners of the first edition whether there is much of a difference between this edition and the last, and there…