A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR VALUES EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS IS INTRODUCED
New regulations associated with the Schools Assistance (Learning Together – Achievement through Choice and Opportunity) Act are introduced progressively over 2005 to 2008.
The Commonwealth Government publishes the National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools including 9 values: care and compassion; doing your best; fair go; freedom; honesty and trustworthiness; integrity; respect; responsibility; understanding, tolerance and inclusion.
New regulations greatly increase accountability and compliance requirements for the Association and its members. In 2006, AISSA tackles to balance increasing compliance and regulation with advocacy. Increasingly, there is tension between government funding for the Association to implement the government’s initiatives and the role of the Association to advocate for the autonomy and independence of its member schools.
One of the many controversial requirements for receiving government funding is the compulsory display of a poster showing a silhouetted image of Simpson and his donkey, accompanied by “9 values for Australian schooling.”
In the 2006 Annual Report, AISSA Board President, Mr Russell Eley describes “a bewildering range of policy directions and initiatives. Each source of public funding brings further compliance requirements” (President’s Report 2006)