The Federal Education Minister engages on music education
Earlier this month, Music Education: Right from the Start welcomed the opportunity to meet with Federal Education Minister, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, in Sydney to share the research, experiences and issues shaping music education across Australia, and outline how quality music education in Australian primary schools can support and amplify the Government’s education priorities.
We thank the Minister for his time and engagement in this important conversation, and for acknowledging the place and purpose of quality music education within a well-rounded primary school education.
The briefing with Minister Clare marks a significant milestone for our national, collaborative initiative – five years since it first began to take shape with a shared vision that every Australian primary school student receives a quality, sequential and ongoing music education – and reflects sustained collaboration and advocacy across the sector to bring music education onto the federal agenda.
We are grateful for the support of Federal Special Envoy for the Arts, Ms Susan Templeman MP, and her advisor, Guy Betts, in helping make this conversation possible.
Federal Special Envoy for the Arts, Ms Susan Templeman MP (second from right) assisted in convening the meeting with Minister Clare, bringing together Music Education: Right from the Start leaders and sector partners – including teachers, academics, principals and music program providers..
Ms Templeman has been a longstanding champion of music education and an early supporter of this initiative, helping to launch Music Education: Right from the Start in Melbourne in September 2022. She has frequently spoken about the importance of equitable access to music education, noting at last year’s Australian Children’s Music Foundation gala that “the impact of music education is clear. The evidence base for its transformative impact is unequivocal,” said Ms Templeman. “Regular access to music education improves school attendance, leads to better classroom behaviour and better results in literacy, numeracy, spelling, and attitudes to school generally.”
Our Senior Advisor, Dr Anita Collins, attended the briefing alongside Emily Albert, Alberts executive director and Head of Music Education: Right from the Start, plus members of the initiative’s expert working groups including Musica Viva Australia CEO Anne Frankenberg, The Song Room CEO Alice Gerlach, Music in Me Director Bernie Heard, ASME President Dr Rachael Dwyer, and partners from across the sector including teachers, academics, principals and music program providers.
The briefing with Minister Clare highlighted opportunities to work collaboratively with the sector for systemic change on existing barriers – ensuring every child receives their right to a quality music education and its benefits.
Dr Collins, a leading neuromusical researcher and educator, highlighted the benefits of music learning, with participants discussing the importance of music as a core component of a well-rounded education, alongside its broader benefits for students’ cognitive development, literacy and numeracy outcomes, abstract thinking, as well as school engagement, attendance, wellbeing, and behaviour.
While not a magic wand, the evidence shows quality music education can act as a strategic multiplier in the Australian education system — amplifying and accelerating these outcomes while demonstrating governments’ commitment to equity. “There is a significant opportunity right now for education systems to improve student outcomes in a sustainable and evidence-informed way through quality and equitable music education for every child,” shared Dr Collins on the day.
Music Education: Right from the Start project team members Emily Albert, Dr Anita Collins, and Judith Bowtell.
With momentum underway in numerous states to strengthen music education and address gaps in equity – a 10-year Music Education Plan under development in NSW; SA are half way through implementing their 10-year Music Education Strategy, and Victoria has created a working group on music education backed by both the education and creative industries ministers, now is an excellent time for the federal government to support and amplify this action.
We see this moment as an opportunity for national leadership and hope it may encourage stronger partnerships between federal and state governments to improve music education standards, strengthen the quality of teaching in public primary schools, and expand equitable access.
Reflecting on the face-to-face meeting with Minister Clare, Dr Collins described a strong sense of pride in what it represented – a pivotal moment for Music Education: Right from the Start in aligning the sector around a shared vision. “I am incredibly proud of the wonderful, professional and united group of people who presented to the Minister,” she says.
We look forward to continuing the conversation with Minister Clare as we work toward a future where every Australian primary school student receives the benefits of a quality, sequential and ongoing music education.
