In August 2024, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (the Academy) and the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) convened a Roundtable discussion of priorities and future directions for education research. The roundtable was attended by more than thirty representatives from universities, peak bodies and professional organisations, education unions and education research agencies. Attendees agreed to work together to develop a Decadal Plan for Australian Education Research, a 10-year roadmap for the education research field with the intention of increasing the profile, impact and resourcing of education research in Australia. The Academy is leading the development of this Decadal Plan.

The Decadal Plan will set out a vision for world-class, impactful, connected Australian education research to deliver better and more equitable learning outcomes to all Australians–from early-childhood through school, vocational and higher education. The development of the Decadal Plan will be an exercise in consensus-making, and one of the key outcomes will be agreeing on how researchers, funders and policymakers will come together to embrace and champion a shared vision for a robust, connected and responsive national educational research capability.

The Academy is leading the development of the Decadal Plan over the course of 12 months, taking a staged approach. The Academy has convened a Steering Committee comprised of funding partners and other representatives to guide the approach, direction and focus of the Decadal Plan.

The Academy is conducting a stocktake of the structure and composition of Australian education research, including cross-jurisdictional and cross-sector funding, capability profiles, regulatory frameworks and pathways for policy engagement. This stocktake will inform a discussion paper and extensive sector consultation, including written responses to the discussion paper, targeted stakeholder interviews, and roundtable discussions. 

Based on consultation input, the Steering Committee will agree on structure and priorities and work with Academy National Office staff to oversee the drafting, publication and dissemination of the Decadal Plan.