On 28 March 2009 the National Public Education Forum was held at Old Parliament House, Canberra.

Anhistoric event, organised by the Australian Council for State SchoolOrganisations (ACSSO), Australian Education Union (AEU), AustralianGovernment Primary Principals Association (AGPPA) and AustralianSecondary Principals Association (ASPA), the National Public EducationForum brought together over 200 academics, researchers, public / mediacommentators, parents, teachers and principals.

The Forum was opened by an address by The Hon. Julia Gillard MP at a special Forum reception on 27 March 2009.

Mostof the papers from the National Public Education Forum are nowavailable for download. Vodcasts of key presentations to the forum willbe available in the near future.

Session One: The public good and the education of children

• Geoffrey Robertson QC

Session Two: Changing contexts for public education

• Trevor Cobbold: The free-market and the social divide in education
• Chris Bonnor: Schools and the marketplace - fallacy and fallout

Session Three:  Improving the policy and funding frameworks for schooling

• Jim McMorrow: The financial framework
• Adam Rorris: Rebuilding Australian schools – possibilities and implications for public schools
• Lyndsay Connors: The educational/social framework 

Session Four: For all children - achieving quality and equity in Australian schooling

• Gerard Noonan
• Justine Ferrari
• Michael Bachelard
• Maralyn Parker

Session Five: United for the public good and the education of children

• Tony Vinson: Conference synopsis
• ACSSO President Steve Carter: Closing Comments

The attached communiqué was presented at the conclusion of the Forum.