The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, met with the new National Principal Reference Group in Sydney on Friday 22 November 2024. The Reference Group comprises the nine national peak principal associations, representing principals and school leaders across all school sectors and levels of education in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander principals and principals working in special education.  The Reference Group will bring their expertise and knowledge to issues of national importance in school education.

The Reference Group discussed a range of issues including implementation and support for the reform directions in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and teacher registration issues.

A strong focus of the meeting was on ways to better support principal and school leader wellbeing and efficacy. There was broad recognition of the challenges facing principals and school leaders, including high workloads, teacher shortages and increasing levels of violence and abuse. Minister Clare committed to work with principal associations and sector stakeholders on potential new measures proposed by the group.