Australia 2020 Summit - The productivity agenda

Here are "The productivity agenda - Education, Skills, Training, Science and Innovation" items accepted by the Australian Government in its "Responding to the Australia 2020 Summit" on 22 April 2009:

Australia's future depends upon how well we can harness the talent, skill, creativity and effort of our people. The productivity and workforce participation of the Australian population and the effective management and retention of human capital are critical to Australia's success and prosperity. The Government recognises that addressing issues of education, productivity and innovation will require investment in all levels of education, increased participation in the workforce and the implementation of best practices to stimulate and harness innovation. The productivity agenda remains critically important during the current global economic crisis. We must look for reforms now that will drive our next wave of economic growth.

Continued growth in productivity depends on investment in human capital, particularly in the area of skills development. In the current economic climate, governments and businesses need to remain committed to building skills, both to protect individual life-chances and to strengthen national resilience.

There will be some groups and places that are particularly vulnerable - such as workers made redundant, those who are already unemployed, particular regions and local communities, and young Australians. Harnessing the innovative potential of partnerships between community organisations, social entrepreneurs, local governments and employers can help to create jobs and opportunities for these groups.

The discussions in the Productivity Stream at the 2020 Summit focused on two main themes: education and innovation. The Productivity Stream paid close attention to human capital, which Summit participants considered should be developed by targeting skills, early childhood development and by providing Australians with a world-class education system. The Productivity Stream also agreed that all Australians should be encouraged to realise their potential and that Australia should maximise wealth, excellence and equity by increasing productivity - with the goal of placing Australia at the leading edge of the developed world.

The Productivity Stream developed a broad range of ambitions, themes and ideas that have influenced and guided the Government's policy in this area, including:

• Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan- The Government's response to the global economic crisis has included significant investments in the future productive capacity of Australia through the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan announced in February 2009. The $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution component of the Plan will commence in 2008-09 and will provide new facilities and refurbishments in schools to meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers. The Government has also committed to provide tax breaks for small and general businesses buying eligible assets and provide a training and learning bonus to students and people outside the workforce who are returning to study.

• National Curriculum - The 2020 Summit supported the Government's approach to a National Curriculum and discussed a range of priorities. On 2 October 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) established an interim National Curriculum Board to draft the curriculum in key learning areas. Following consultation with the states and territories, Commonwealth legislation was introduced to establish a new national education authority with responsibility for curriculum, assessment and reporting at the national level. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will be operational in 2009 and will build on the significant work that has already been undertaken by the interim National Curriculum Board in developing a national curriculum.

• Pathway into Teaching for top graduates (New pathway into teaching) - Australian Governments are funding a new pathway to attract Australia's best graduates into teaching and placing them where they can make a difference. High performing graduates from a range of disciplines will be selected to undertake an intensive teacher training course, receive mentoring from experienced teachers and undertake further study as they complete their teaching qualification.

• Mentoring in the workplace: Golden Gurus - Engaging skilled mature age Australians or 'Golden Gurus' to provide mentoring support to small businesses and the community was considered one of the top five ideas at the 2020 Summit. The Government agrees that as the population ages, mentoring will be a valuable way of passing on the skills and experience from retirees to the next generations. The Government is committed to developing a national Golden Gurus mentoring scheme to provide various opportunities for retired mentors to support a range of small business and community needs. This scheme is being developed during 2009.

• Business - School Connections - The Government is committed to fostering greater linkages between business and educational institutions, which will supplement existing programs operated by the Commonwealth, states and territories, and community organisations. The Government will be sponsoring a Business-School Connections Roundtable comprising representatives of business organisations, educational providers and the community sector. The Roundtable will oversee the development of a strategy to ensure all secondary schools benefit from a business connection as well as sharing experience on what is already working well for schools.

• National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development - Through this agreement, the Government will provide approximately $6.7 billion from 2009 to 2012-13. The states will deliver up to 1.15 million Vocational Education and Training (VET) course completions nationally over this funding period. The agreement sets out agreed COAG targets to halve the proportion of 20 to 64 year olds without qualifications at Certificate III level by 2020, and to double the number of higher qualification completions by 2020.

• Review of Australian Higher Education and the Review of the National Innovation System - The final report of the Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education was released on 17 December 2008. The review considered a range of issues associated with higher education. The Government has released an initial response, with more detail to be announced at the time of the Budget in May 2009. A Review of the National Innovation System was completed in August 2008. The panel's recommendations ranged across a number of key themes including innovation in business, strengthening people and skills and excellence in national research. The Government will respond to the review in the near future.

• Vocational Education Broadband Network - The Government will create a single post-secondary high speed broadband network, connecting the Australian training system to a similar network to that currently serving universities. This will increase flexibility in the place and pace of learning, and offer speedy access to resources no matter where they are located.

The following tables provide the Government's response to the ideas raised by the Productivity Stream at the 2020 Summit.

Key ideas being taken forward by the Government

Topic	2020 proposed ideas	Government response
Early Childhood Reform Also raised by: Communities	Support children's development through increased investment in early intervention and childhood education. Ensure universal free access to early childhood education. Increase training and support for those who care for and educate children, including the ability to deal with child protection and abuse. Make early childhood care and education centres integrated and more community-based to identify the most disadvantaged, but at the same time relevant for the community, all children and all parents. Facilitate more extensive use of school infrastructure to provide care for pre-school children. Develop stronger links between early childcare centres. Recognise that bilingual education is very important in Indigenous communities. Increase the status, training and support for those who care for and educate children, including parents, foster parents, care workers, teachers, childcare providers. Recognise children as people so that they will become happy, healthy adults. By 2020 every Australian should be in a position to believe that every child has the same capacity and talent to lead a fulfilling life.	In July 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the development of a broad national strategy for early childhood development during 2009. As a first step towards a national strategy, in November 2008 COAG agreed a National Partnership on Early Childhood Education which will provide $970 million over five years. This includes $955 million to achieve access to 15 hours a week early childhood education for all children in the year before school by 2013, to be delivered by four-year trained teachers and at a cost that is not a barrier to participation. An additional $15 million will be provided for data development and evaluation. Through the National Partnership on Indigenous Early Childhood Development, joint funding of $564.6 million over six years has been committed, including funding for 35 Children and Family Centres which will be established across Australia. The centres will deliver integrated services including early learning, child care and family support. The funding will also increase access to ante-natal care, teenage reproductive and sexual health services and child and maternal health services tailored to the needs of Indigenous Australians. The Australian Government is also investing $114.5 million over the next four years to establish, as a first step, early learning and care centres, including six autism-specific centres. Where states and territories are interested in partnering with the Australian Government to create integrated service models, the Government will pursue opportunities to deliver a broader range of services within these centres. The Government will also work in partnership with other private providers to establish these centres.
Children and Family Centres Also raised by: Health	Parents' and Children's Centres - integrated, regionally based, health and wellness centres for children. Joining up initiatives in early life (testing, intervention) - integrated primary care centres for children. Childhood development should be supported through a place-based culture that offers integrated services and community support. Children one-stop centres.	In October 2008, COAG agreed the first National Partnership covering Indigenous Early Childhood Development. As part of the initiative, 35 Children and Family Centres will be established across Australia to deliver integrated services that offer early learning, child care and family support programs. At its July 2008 meeting, COAG agreed to the development of a broad national strategy for early childhood development. The strategy will set the direction for collaborative early childhood reform across the Commonwealth and states and territories. The strategy will be considered by COAG in 2009 and will include consideration of integrated service delivery approaches. The Australian Government is also investing $114.5 million over the next four years to establish, as a first phase, early learning and care centres, including six autism-specific centres. Where states and territories are interested in partnering with the Australian Government to create integrated service models, the Government will pursue opportunities to deliver a broader range of services within these centres. The Government will also work in partnership with other private providers to establish these centres.
Early Childhood Development Assessment - Healthy Kids Check Also raised by: Rural	Every child should be given an early development assessment, which could be funded through Medicare and delivered by early childhood centres. Conduct comprehensive physical assessments of all remote, rural and regional children aged four years to ensure early detection of potential behavioural and learning difficulties before the children start school.	Agree in-principle. The Government introduced the Healthy Kids Check ($25.6 million over four years) on 1 July 2008 to ensure that every four year old has a basic health check to ensure they are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school. The Healthy Kids Check recognises many of the ideas raised at the Summit, and will promote early detection of lifestyle risk factors and delayed development, and provide guidance for healthy lifestyles and early intervention strategies.
Early Childhood - Impact Statement	Require that there be a 'children's development impact statement' for every policy and initiative.	Agree in-part. This has already been addressed by the Government. All submissions that go before Cabinet now require a Family Impact Statement addressing three priority areas, including how proposals affect children's health, development and general wellbeing.
National Curriculum	Create one national curriculum and rationalise curriculum development bodies with freed up funds going to children in schools.	Agree in-part. The Government is collaborating with the states and territories and is jointly developing an implementation plan to establish a high quality national curriculum. An interim National Curriculum Board was established and expert panels have commenced drafting a national curriculum in the four key learning areas (English, mathematics, science and history). Legislation to establish the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) was passed by Parliament on 27 November 2008. ACARA will be operational in 2009 and will build on the significant work that has already been undertaken by the interim National Curriculum Board. National curriculum in key learning areas will be implemented from 2011 in all Australian schools.
National Numeracy Standard	Introduce a national numeracy standard, similar to a literacy standard.	Agree. National benchmarks are important for improving numeracy and literacy. Following the successful introduction of national literacy and numeracy testing in 2008, national minimum standards have been set for reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. The Government is working to deliver a National Action Plan on Literacy and Numeracy and has committed to provide $577.4 million over four years to support schools to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes, starting with those schools and students most in need of help. On 29 November 2008, COAG agreed to the Smarter Schools - Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership.
Developing Science and Maths Capabilities	Require more teachers to be science and mathematics literate, to enable them to excite kids with the subjects' potential. Adopt a systemic approach to science and mathematics. Make sure our teachers are well trained to teach in the disciplines. We need to make it interesting and lucrative to enter these areas of study. Ensure that education resources take account of long-term industry needs, especially through occupations and professions that can spawn further growth and productivity, for example science and mathematics graduates.	Agree. The Government has extended its $625.8 million package of incentives to lift the number of maths and science students and graduates. Graduates who take up primary school teaching positions with specialist expertise in maths will be eligible for a refund of approximately half their HECS-HELP repayments for up to five years. The Government is also providing around $63.6 million over four years to reduce compulsory HELP repayments for eligible maths and science graduates who work in related occupations, including teaching these subjects in secondary schools. Additionally, from 1 January 2009, student contributions for new students in maths and science have been reduced. The Council of Australian Governments is also supporting further development of teacher training for existing teachers. The Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan includes $1 billion to build up to 500 science laboratories or language learning centres in secondary schools.
Low Socio-Economic School Communities Also raised by: Rural Communities	Provide one-on-one support and special education for students who fall behind. Overcome the public-private divide by funding students according to need and encouraging more private investment in public and private schools through: Student-centred funding Funding according to need, where disadvantaged students attract more funding and support to ensure that they become a productive participant in Australian society Further cross-sector collaboration Integrated sources of funding attached to students and/or institutions. One option would be to rationalise the use of private investment and then use public investment to make up the shortfall. Provide education assistance for young people at risk or from disadvantaged backgrounds. Provide case conferencing with school teachers and health professionals to meet the needs of children with conditions that impair their learning (rural). Develop a school 'twinning' program—for example, pairing schools from different regions.	The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed to a number of National Partnerships in relation to low socio-economic status school communities. The Australian Government will provide $1.5 billion over seven years to address the needs of disadvantaged schools, to be matched by states and territories. The Government will work with the states and territories on a range of reforms that will support the educational and wellbeing needs of students and schools in low socio-economic status communities. COAG has also agreed to a National Partnership on Literacy and Numeracy that will aim to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students, especially those who are falling behind. The Commonwealth will invest $540 million in this National Partnership, which will be complemented by state and territory investment. Research and data collection will be supported by funding of $40 million. This includes an additional $13 million for the collection and reporting of data through the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority for which funding of $17.2 million was announced in the last Budget. The Dare to Lead Project, funded by the Government, drives change in schools through a coalition of school leaders who influence improvements in Indigenous education. The project's Partnerships Building Success direction for 2009-2012 has been supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and through the inclusion of colloquial reviews in sister school arrangements expect to increase the achievements in Indigenous student outcomes.
Education Research	Better evidence: education policies should be guided by the principle of 'what works?', and underpinned by rigorous and scientific evaluations. Test and trial new ideas for education similar to the clinical trials adopted for disease. This would be founded on a science-based commitment to find out what works. Australia would also need to establish a gold standard for evaluation of public policy initiatives. Using research results from six countries about how schools dramatically improved in disadvantaged settings, examine and apply the critical success factors. Establish an independent national agency to collect and publish trends in education and the workforce across the sectors. By 2020 we should be regarded as one of the world-leading countries in education.	Agree in-principle. There is already considerable work underway with regards to evidence-based education policy through the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations, the Australian Research Council and the Australian Council for Educational Research. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research also administers the National Research and Evaluation Strategy to ensure that future decisions and policies on Vocational Education and Training are well founded. States and territories and independent school bodies also routinely trial new ideas and evaluate their impact. The new Australian Curriculum Assessment Reporting Authority will provide the public with information on each school in Australia including data on each school's performance, and national literacy and numeracy testing results. The Australian Bureau of Statistics collects and publishes statistics on education, as well as developing data standards to promote quality and comparability of data.
National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP) Also raised by: Communities Security	Incorporate Asia literacy into Australian society to increase the knowledge of Asian and regional languages and societies to enhance Australia's global engagement and intelligence. This could be done by: Boosting the teaching of Asian languages in primary and secondary schools Mainstreaming language education Recruiting foreign language teachers from local communities and overseas Reinvigorating professional teacher training, including for native speakers and our ethnic communities Developing a comprehensive national Asia literacy strategy at all levels of the education system by 2020. This should be backed by funding at least equivalent to the former National Asian Languages and Studies Strategy for Australian Schools Ensuring by 2020 that Australia will no longer be the worst-ranked OECD country for second-language skills and that it is positioned to benefit from the economic reality of an increasingly Asia-centric world Ensuring by 2020 every child in Australia can speak a language other than English and will learn about the contribution of other cultures to Australia Ensuring that Australians directly experience Asia.	Agree in-principle. The Government has committed $62.4 million to implement the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP) over 2008-09 to 2010-11, in recognition of the importance of Asian languages and studies in equipping young Australians with the skills to compete in the globalised economy of the future. The NALSSP commenced on 1 January 2009 and provides opportunities for school students to become familiar with the languages and cultures of four of Australia's Asian neighbours, namely China, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. Through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) processes, all governments have committed to the NALSSP and an aspirational target that, by 2020, at least 12 per cent of all students exit Year 12 with a fluency in one of the target Asian languages. NALSSP focuses on increasing both student demand and teacher supply. In addition, the Government's recent Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan includes $1 billion to build up to 500 science laboratories or language learning centres in secondary schools. The second phase of the National Curriculum will also include language education.
Mentors for our Students Also raised by: Communities	Create mentoring programs for young people to address gaps in education. Volunteer mentoring programs are beneficial to both young people and older people. Extend the 'Golden Guru' mentoring concept beyond business by engaging experienced retired members of the community in schools. Build a male mentoring program into schools to educate young men.	The Government has committed $5 million over four years to establish a pilot volunteer mentoring program. This program will give recently retired professionals and tradespeople the chance to pass on their knowledge and skills to secondary students in Australian schools. Grants of up to $50,000 each year will be available to 25 communities on a competitive basis to establish the pilot program through existing Local Community Partnerships. Funding will meet training and associated costs for mentors. The states and territories also have a range of programs in this area.
Additional Schooling Support for Indigenous Students Also raised by: Indigenous	A new education framework should be established. The following could be included in the framework: Availability of high quality education, including boarding schools and hostels Access to away-from-home foster families to stay with at weekends for students away from home Funding through ABSTUDY, private school scholarships, government funding and community schooling Encourage high-performing young professionals to work as teachers alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators in remote schools Expand ABSTUDY to all post-secondary Indigenous students to facilitate engagement with education and ultimately the workforce Introduce 500 'Mabo Scholarships' for Indigenous students in research and higher level degrees similar to the Endeavour scholarships.	Agree in-principle. The Government is introducing a range of new support mechanisms for Indigenous education options. In 2008, the Government committed $20 million over three years from 2009-10 as a contribution towards secondary scholarships for Indigenous students to attend boarding schools. The funds will be managed by the Australians Indigenous Education Foundation, with additional funds which more than match the Government contribution expected to be raised from corporate, philanthropic and private sources over the life of the initiative. The Government is also providing $10 million to leverage private and state funding for six existing Clontarf Academies, six new academies from 2009-10, and a further three new academies from 2010-11. The additional funding represents the first stage of a long term commitment by the Government to helping the Clontarf Foundation to expand its network of academies throughout Australia. This initial $10 million investment will enable Clontarf to expand its services in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and other interested states. In the 2008-09 Budget, the Government also committed $28.9 million over four years to construct and operate three new boarding colleges for Indigenous secondary students in the Northern Territory. The National Education Agreement agreed by COAG in November 2008 includes a focus on outcomes for Indigenous students, with a particular focus on literacy and numeracy. Enhanced arrangements for teaching and school leadership are being considered through the Improving Teacher Quality and Low Socio-Economic Status National Partnership Agreements, including increased opportunities to gain qualifications that form part of pathways into teaching for Indigenous education workers.
Additional School Infrastructure	Build infrastructure that integrates a wider range of services and encourages shared community use.	Agree. The Government recognises the value of targeting school infrastructure to wider community use and services. The $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution component of the Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan will commence in 2008-09 and will provide new facilities and refurbishments in schools to meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers. All of Australia's 9,540 schools will benefit from the immediate funding for major and minor infrastructure projects. It is a condition of funding for major infrastructure projects in primary schools (such as halls and libraries) that schools make these facilities available for community use at no or low cost. Another example of the Government's work in this area is the Local Schools Working Together Pilot Program, for which the Government will provide $62.5 million over four years. The pilot will fund 25 projects across Australia to build facilities that will be shared between government and non-government schools. The projects will be located in high population growth areas where there is a lack of such facilities to support curriculum options and in circumstances where schools have the capacity to share facilities effectively.
Teaching Workforce - Improving Teacher Quality Also raised by: Economy	Reward excellence in teaching. Celebrate the vocation and contribution of teaching. Create a national education and qualification accreditation system and increase education funding.	Agree in-principle. The Government is committed to rewarding excellence in teaching and attracting high quality teachers. The Government has allocated $550 million to the Smarter Schools - Improving Teacher Quality National Partnership and will work together with the states and territories to deliver reforms to attract, train, place, develop and retrain quality teachers and school leaders. Reform will focus on a number of areas, including new professional standards, recognition and reward for quality teaching - including for top graduates and mid-career changers, and national accreditation of pre-service teacher education courses.
Teaching Workforce - New Pathway into Teaching	Establish a national program to attract talented graduates and career switchers into teaching, and reward teachers for working in national priority areas, including disadvantaged communities, remote areas and in shortage subjects.	Agree. Australian Governments are funding a new pathway to attract Australia's best graduates into teaching and placing them where they can make a difference. High performing graduates from a range of disciplines will be selected to undertake an intensive teacher training course, receive mentoring from experienced teachers and undertake further study as they complete their teaching qualification.
Teaching Workforce - Teachers in Remote Schools	Have high-quality teachers go to remote schools for a term to mentor groups of less-experienced teachers.	Agree. The Smarter Schools improving Teacher Quality National Partnership agreed to by COAG provides two initiatives that address this issue specifically: improved reward structures for teachers and leaders who work in disadvantaged Indigenous, rural/remote and hard to staff schools; and improved in-school support for teachers and leaders, particularly in disadvantaged Indigenous, rural/remote and hard-to-staff schools. In addition, there are a number of state rotation schemes currently in place that move teachers in and out of remote areas, and non-government organisations supporting teachers in remote schools.
Business - School Connections	Create partnerships between Australia's top companies and schools, VET institutions and higher education providers. Encourage connectivity between schools, universities and business. Research should be connected to schools and business. Build formal partnerships between industry, business and schools. For example, mentoring for success by top 100 companies. Adults should talk to children about success. The top 100 companies should connect with schools through mentor and work experience arrangements.	Agree. The Government is committed to fostering linkages between business and educational providers. The Government will be sponsoring a Business-School Connections Roundtable that will comprise representatives of business organisations, educational providers and the community sector. The Roundtable will oversee the development of a strategy to ensure all secondary schools benefit from a business connection as well as sharing experience on what is already working well for schools. Some aspects of this idea will also be addressed through the existing School-Business Linkages Program. The Government provided $6.4 million over four years to strengthen partnerships between schools and businesses and improve vocational education and training in schools. The program will also develop a Job Ready Certificate for students and help to provide students with relevant work placements and industry experience. The involvement of business is also a key feature of the new pathway into teaching for top graduates being established under the Quality Teaching National Partnership. Business partners will be involved with graduates throughout the two-year program, helping to build local business-school connections. There are also a range of relevant state programs.
Review of Australian Higher Education - Bradley Review Also raised by: Rural	Remove the rigidity in funding arrangements. Fund change management and leadership programs in remote, rural and regional Australia and develop a national strategy for rural education including a 'tertiary access allowance' and higher education loan waivers. Provide clear educational pathways and partnerships for young people to gain access to quality higher education.	The Review of Australian Higher Education (Bradley Review) which was released in December 2008, examined the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options for ongoing reform. The Government has provided an initial response to the report detailing a number of reforms in the following areas: Future structural reforms for the higher education sector, which focus on a student-centred, demand driven system. Reforms to Vocational Education and Training (VET), which focus on developing a national tertiary education system with clear pathways for students Enhanced equity in tertiary education, with a focus on improving the accessibility of tertiary education for all Australians More detail will be announced at the time of the Budget in May 2009.
Centres of Excellence	Develop Centres of Excellence based on PhD-level studies.	Agree. A number of Centres of Excellence are already in existence. The Australian Research Council provides funding for these centres.
Review of Australian Apprenticeship incentives	Restructure incentive arrangements for apprenticeship training as the lever to overcome skills and labour market shortages.	In addition to current incentives, in February 2009 the Government announced: $145 million to assist apprentices and trainees who have lost their job to complete their training with another employer or a group training organisation $9.7million to assist apprentices and trainees to continue their training through a registered training organisation. From 1 July 2009, the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program will provide an additional 3,650 pre-vocational training and support places to young people aged 19-24 years. The $30.2 million expansion of this program will support at-risk jobseekers to pursue apprenticeships or training. This funding will assist in overcoming long term skill shortages.
National Reform of VET	Extend HELP to all students in post-secondary education. Introduce a new form of government funding targeted at the local level and contingent on collaborative relationships. Make employers take responsibility for skill development and in turn have the ability to access a flexible, demand driven training system. Ensure the workplace and education outlets connect with the community.	Agree in-principle. In November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) committed to a new National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development. Under this agreement, the Commonwealth will provide approximately $6.7 billion in funding and the states and territories will deliver up to 1.15 million Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. The agreement includes targets to halve the proportion of 20 to 64 year olds without qualifications at certificate III level by 2020, and to double the number of higher qualification completions by 2020. COAG also agreed to a National Partnership to target areas of skill shortage and emerging skill needs. Through this partnership, the states have agreed to deliver 506,750 qualifications commencements for job seekers and existing workers over four years. The Commonwealth will fund all places for job seekers and 50 per cent of places for existing workers. States and territories engaging in significant reform of VET may be eligible for Commonwealth support to ensure that cost is not a barrier to students accessing training. An ambitious and significant package of reforms has been announced by the Victorian Government which aims to dramatically increase the number of people able to access training and upgrade their skills. In light of these reforms, the Commonwealth will support Victoria in the introduction of an Income Contingent Loan (ICL) scheme, commencing in July 2009, for government-subsidised diploma and advanced diploma students. This measure represents the expansion of HELP into the VET sector. It is expected that more states will follow. In addition, the Government has recently announced a number of VET reforms as part of the initial response to the Review of Australian Higher Education. These reforms will focus on developing a national tertiary education system with clear pathways for students.
VET and Skills Shortage Scholarships	Deliver merit based scholarships to vocational education and training and higher education institutions in skills shortage areas.	Agree in-principle. Higher education scholarships in skills shortage areas, whilst not necessarily merit based, are being implemented through the National Priority Scholarships - one of the new scholarship categories created under the $238.6 million Scholarships for a Competitive Future Program to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those from rural and regional areas and Indigenous students, with the costs associated with higher education. The Productivity Places Program also offers vocational education and training places to job seekers and existing workers in skill shortage areas. On 29 November 2008, COAG agreed to a National Partnership for the delivery of training under the Productivity Places Program. Through this agreement, the states have agreed to deliver an additional 506,750 qualifications commencements for job seekers and existing workers over four years.
Workforce Participation - National Employment Standards Also raised by: Communities	Regulate the labour market for all workers, without artificial concepts of master-servant. Industrial relations regulation is based on legal concepts that are no longer relevant and does not fit the shape of the labour market of today (eg. independent contractors). Rostered-day-off time should be banked for parents to take a day off when the family needs it.	The Parliament has passed legislation introduced by the Government to create a new workplace relations system. The Fair Work Act 2009 broadly deals with the proposed ideas. Legislation preventing the making of new Australian Workplace Agreements commenced in March 2008. The Fair Work Act provides: A safety net of ten legislated National Employment Standards for all employees in the national system including the facilitation of flexible working arrangements by providing parents with right to request a change to working arrangements where they have a child under school age or child with a disability under the age of 18 A simple modern award system that provides flexibility and stability and industry specific terms and conditions. Modern awards also include a provision which enables the tailoring of working arrangements to meet the needs of employers and employees through individual flexibility agreements An enterprise-level collective bargaining system focused on promoting productivity Unfair dismissal laws, which balance the rights of employees to be protected from unfair dismissal with the need for employers, particularly small business, to fairly and efficiently manage their workforces A new institutional framework comprising, Fair Work Australia,(the new independent umpire to oversee the new workplace relations system) and the Fair Work Ombudsman to provide practical information and advice and ensure compliance with workplace laws.
National Disability Strategy Also raised by: Communities	Ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities and supports as everyone else in the community. Universal access principles for people with disabilities should pervade all social policy planning.	The Government is undertaking a range of activities in this area, including developing a National Disability Strategy with the states and territories. The Government agrees that people with disabilities must have access to the same rights as the broader community. In November 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) committed to a new National Disability Agreement, under which the Commonwealth will provide $5.3 billion to state and territory governments for specialist disability services. Under the agreement, all governments are committed to helping people with a disability achieve economic and social inclusion, have the opportunity to live as independently as possible, and to support their families and carers. On 18 July 2008, the Government ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force on 16 August 2008 and in December 2008, tabled a National Interest Analysis proposing that Australia accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties reported its views on 12 March 2009 and recommended that Australia accede to the Optional Protocol. The Government is also developing a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy to help people with disability and mental illness to participate in the economy by finding and retaining jobs. The Setting the Direction paper for the strategy was released jointly by the Minister for Employment Participation and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services on 22 December 2008. It outlines the directions the Government is taking, and will take, to increase employment for people with disability.
Workforce Participation - National Skills and Workforce Development	By 2020 we should have a workforce where anyone in work can participate to a level they want: All barriers are removed The workplace and all education outlets connect with the community We have a truly dynamic workforce, reflecting the requirements of the world Creativity is supported.	Agree in-principle. On 29 November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments committed to a new National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development which sets out the commitment between the Commonwealth and the states and territories to work towards increasing the skill levels of all Australians, including Indigenous Australians.
Workforce Participation - Workforce Development Also raised by: Rural	Conduct more research into what skills are needed (workforce development for science and mathematics education). A skills audit of remote, rural and regional areas to identify labour and skills shortages and provision of training opportunities in communities where there are labour and skills shortages. Improved professional development opportunities.	Agree in-principle. Skills Australia will provide the Government with recommendations on current and future skills needs to inform the Government's decisions in relation to skills development. The Government recognises that equipping workers and businesses with green skills will be essential if Australia is to take the opportunities presented by a transition to a low carbon economy. The Skills for the Carbon Challenge program incorporates an audit identifying industry's green skill needs. In February 2009 the Government committed $298.5 million investment in employment services to ensure that any Australian worker made redundant will receive assistance to help them get back into the workforce.
Business Skills Planning	Help businesses plan for their skills needs by taking more responsibility for ensuring that their skills needs are met.	In November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) committed to a new National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development. Under this agreement, the Australian Government will provide approximately $6.7 billion in funding and the states and territories will deliver up to 1.15 million Vocational Education and Training courses. The Government also recognises that equipping workers and businesses with green skills will be essential if Australia is to take the opportunities presented by a transition to a low carbon economy. The Skills for the Carbon Challenge program will accelerate industry's and the tertiary education sector's response to climate change by investing in training infrastructure and providing incentives for industry to take up green skills.
Mentoring in the workplace - Golden Gurus Also raised by: Rural	Create a scheme in which opportunities are provided for retired people to act as mentors in the workplace, incorporating remote, rural and regional Australia. The ideas raised regarding mentoring in remote, rural and regional Australia included the following: Funding should be provided for business coaches People should be encouraged to create their own opportunities through a mentoring and coaching initiative Partnerships between different industry sectors should be established including provision of business mentoring schemes between urban and remote, rural and regional Australia Establish a mentoring exchange program between urban and remote, rural and regional Australia that targets students, trainees, young people, professionals and business people Creation of a 'flying business-mentoring squad' of successful business people who volunteer their time to provide business and management coaching on the ground to small to medium businesses in remote, rural and regional Australia. The Golden Guru idea of retired people as mentors in the workplace could be implemented in the following way: Voluntary scheme with no joining fee Trainers would be paid $150 per day with costs borne by the employer Provide training and support in three streams - trades, professional, and middle management A database would be deployed to enable matching of the need of businesses with trainers Developing countries could access the program.	Agree in-principle. To help meet the challenges of our ageing population and pass on valuable experience from retirees to new generations, the Government is committed to developing a national Golden Gurus mentoring scheme. As discussed at the Summit the scheme will provide opportunities for retired mentors to support a range of small business and community needs. The scheme is being developed during 2009.
Pacific Development - Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme Also raised by: Rural Security	Establish a workforce and skills program that enables foreign workers to come to remote, rural and regional Australia for up to two years, to work under an Australian industry instrument. Develop links with Australia's overseas aid programs to offer aid recipients work opportunities in Australia as an opportunity to develop skills, earn wages to support their family and community and promote cross-cultural understanding. The scheme would also offer Australian employers the capacity to fill jobs. A rights-based labour mobility initiative for South West Pacific, including East Timor.	Agree. The Government announced the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme on 17 August 2008. This three year scheme will examine the viability of a seasonal worker program, with a focus on the horticulture industry. The Government is conducting the pilot to examine whether a seasonal worker program could contribute to regional economic development objectives and also assist Australian employers.
Indigenous Economic Development Strategy Also raised by: Indigenous	Establish a national awards scheme for organisations proactive in training and employing Indigenous people. Improve the skills of local people, particularly Aboriginal people, before importing labour.	Agree in-principle. Under the proposed reforms to the Indigenous Employment Program, a high profile program will be created that recognises and supports significant achievements in Indigenous employment. On 29 November 2008, COAG agreed to a five year National Partnership on Indigenous Economic Participation. The Commonwealth and state governments will invest $228.8 million to assist up to 13,000 Indigenous Australians in obtaining employment. The Government is also developing a wider Indigenous Economic Development Strategy to provide a framework to guide Government investment and to work with Indigenous Australians and the corporate sector to increase Indigenous participation in employment and business. This strategy is expected to be finalised in late 2009. The full list of related ideas can be found in the Indigenous Stream.
National Broadband Network (NBN) Also raised by: Rural Economy Creative	Connecting Australia: Use new technologies to foster new working environments that dissipate the 'tyranny of distance' both within and beyond Australia. Build and enable the use by all Australians of a world class broadband system to foster full participation in the digital economy. Roll out a competitive national broadband network across Australia. Establish a national digital fund to continue to expand Australia's broadband. Improve technology infrastructure and increased access to technology. Provide broadband access for remote, rural and regional Australia. Rethink the investment strategy for the roll-out of broadband - there is some concern that the development of a national broadband network by the private sector has been sub-optimal. On the other hand, reliance on public investment requires careful consideration because it entails highly sophisticated planning and investment and direct knowledge of the market. The unwinding of government monopolies in infrastructure in the early 1980s provides a useful benchmark. The government should issue bonds to superannuation fund managers to fund the broadband network roll-out. Bonds could be issued for up to 1 per cent of superannuation funds under management and funds raised could be used to invest in broadband. The government would need to ensure that the scheme provided a return to investors.	Agree. The Government has announced it will establish a new company that will invest up to $43 billion over eight years to build and operate a National Broadband Network (NBN) delivering superfast broadband to Australian homes and workplaces. Every person and business in Australia, no matter where they are located, will have access to affordable, fast broadband at their fingertips. The Government's investment in the company will be funded through the Building Australia Fund and the issuance of Aussie Infrastructure Bonds (AIBs), which will provide an opportunity for households and institutions to invest in the NBN. The Schools Summits also recognised the importance of connecting regional areas to the internet, and the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) program complements the rollout of the National Broadband Network in rural areas by providing safety net broadband services to all Australian households that are unable to access metro-comparable broadband services. An additional $270.7 million over four years was allocated in the 2008-09 Budget to continue the ABG program. In addition the Government is preparing a 'Digital Economy - Future Directions' Paper in consultation with industry. The paper will provide a roadmap of how the Government and industry can collaborate to maximise the participation of Australians in the digital economy. Further, the Government's Vocational Education Broadband Network will create a single post-secondary high speed broadband network, connecting the Australian training system to a similar network to that currently serving universities. This will increase flexibility in the place and pace of learning, and offer speedy access to resources no matter where they are located.
	The rural, economy, creativity and productivity streams proposed that the Government should assess the case for vertical separation of the national broadband network owner from retail carriers and carriage service providers.	Agree in-part. The Government has established a company that will invest up to $43 billion to build and operate a new super fast national broadband network. The network will be a wholesale-only, open access network that offers equivalent access terms and conditions for all access seekers. The Government will encourage private sector investment in the new network but measures will be put in place to ensure that the equivalence arrangements are not compromised. The Government has also announced that in the transition period to the full rollout of the new network, it will give consideration to stronger measures to ensure access seekers receive equivalent access terms on Telstra's existing fixed-line network.
	Fibre-to-the-home should be the key technology goal of government.	The Government has announced that it will establish a company that will invest up to $43 billion to build and operate a new super fast national broadband network. The Government's objective is that the national broadband network achieve 90 per cent coverage to homes, schools and workplaces using optical fibre (fibre-to-the-premises or 'FTTP') and remaining coverage to be delivered through wireless and satellite technologies, within this funding envelope.
Review of Australia's Future Tax System Also raised by: Creativity Rural Economy	Use the tax system to encourage collaboration.	The Government agrees with the need to review taxation issues and is undertaking a comprehensive review of Australia's tax system to position Australia to deal with the demographic, social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The review's terms of reference have been heavily influenced by ideas from the 2020 Summit. The final report is due by the end of 2009. The full list of related ideas can be found in the Economy Stream.
Environment - Low-emissions Energy Also raised by: Sustainability	Direct further investment into research, development and deployment to enable a low-emissions energy revolution. Create a national clean energy portfolio of several flagship projects - in 'natural advantage' categories such as agriculture, clean coal and renewable sources of energy.	Agree. Reflecting many of the ideas raised at the Summit, the Government has already announced a number of new initiatives to develop a low-emissions economy: The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which will commence in 2010, will create incentives for low-emissions technology The Government has made a commitment to 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020 through the expanded national Renewable Energy Target The National Low Emissions Coal Council and Carbon Storage Taskforce have commenced development of the $500 million National Low Emissions Coal Initiative Australia is leading a Global Carbon Capture and Storage Initiative, committing $100 million per annum to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage technology The $500 million Renewable Energy Fund is supporting the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy in Australia The $150 million Energy Innovation Fund is supporting critical clean energy technology research in areas such as solar power The $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package will deliver up to $1,600 in ceiling insulation to home owner-occupiers or a rebate on the costs of installing a solar hot water system. It will also provide help for renters, with a rebate of up to $1,000 for landlords on the costs of insulating rental properties. This package will result in ceiling insulation for around 2.7 million homes The Australian Government has also allocated $240 million over four years to establish a Clean Business Australia partnership with Australian business and industry for tackling climate change.
National Waste Policy Also raised by: Sustainability	Create a closed-loop economy to create a zero-waste society-a manufacturing system that deals with its own waste, minimising its ecological footprint. Recognise the need to reduce landfill, perhaps through providing credit for landfill avoidance, reducing the cost of recycling, everything produced being recycled as far as possible, and resource recovery with waste as a feedstock for other industries. This would reduce energy costs. Consider the 'Factor 10' concept to reduce resource consumption (that is, reduce our impact by a factor of 10 by 2020 and support collaboration and cooperation by a factor of 10). Transform the ecological footprint of the built environment by taking the lead on national planning, building and product standards to minimise waste and energy consumption in our homes and in our neighbourhoods.	The Government is giving priority to the development of a National Waste policy, which is scheduled to be released in 2009. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will also cover landfill sites, creating new incentives for efficient waste management.
Rural Investment, Industry and Infrastructure	Develop a trigger for investment in rural and regional communities that will intervene when those communities are in danger of spiralling into reduced employment, investment and development. Continue to develop industry and infrastructure in remote Australia and broaden the labour market. Provide an incentive to small to medium-sized enterprises to develop in rural and regional areas. Provide tax incentives to employees to work there.	Agree in-part. A number of existing programs support rural and regional communities and work towards the objectives of this idea. These include the Better Regions Program, the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, Caring for our Country Program, Tourism Development Program, Mobile Connect Program and the Community Heritage Grants Program. The Government has also launched the Innovative Regions Centre (IRC) which will work with regions around Australia, to increase the innovative capacity of local firms and the regional economies. Tax issues will be addressed through the review of Australia's Future Tax System.