Education Ministers have today announced the Board and new name for the national evidence institute. The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), a new national independent education research organisation, will be formed by Commonwealth, state and territory Education Ministers to improve access for educators to high-quality education evidence. The organisation will generate and make high-quality evidence accessible and enhance the use of evidence in Australian education.
Dr Jenny Donovan, AERO CEO, said "By improving access to and the quality of evidence, we hope educators and education professionals can make decisions confidently, leading to improved education outcomes for children and young people in Australia.
"We have consulted across the education sector and understand the work to be done generating evidence, ensuring high-quality evidence is accessible to education professionals, and supporting the use of evidence in their practice. We look forward to producing research and resources to support excellence in teaching practice, education management and policy."
AERO is funded by an initial investment of $50 million over the next 4 years by the Commonwealth and the combined states and territories. The organisation will be incorporated in 2021. AERO will support educators, teachers and systems working within both schools and early childhood education and care services across Australia.
An independent Board has been appointed and will govern AERO following the company’s incorporation in early 2021.
Board members include:
- Chair, Dr Lisa O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer, The Smith Family
- Deputy Chair, Emeritus Professor Colleen Hayward AM
- Sir Kevan Collins, Former Founding CEO of England’s Education Endowment Fund
- Ms Judith Fahey, Principal, Hellyer College
- Ms Kerri Jones, Executive Principal, Meridan State College
- Ms Leslie Loble, Former Deputy Secretary in NSW Department of Education
- Mr Roger Massy-Greene AM, Director, OneVentures and Eureka Capital Partners.