A new report is calling for proper investment to reimagine and reivigorate partnerships betweeen schools, families and the community.
The research paper from Monash University has highlighted the benefits of the Victorian government investing in more productive partnerships between schools, parents and community groups, with recommendations for how the government should bolster opportunities to support such efforts.
Monash University’s Education Workforce for the Future Research Lab, part of the Faculty of Education, has highlighted important new opportunities to better support student learning and wellbeing through additional resourcing to foster even more effective relationships between school staff and parents and carers.
“This report captures the evidence from school staff and parents/carers and it couldn’t be clearer: we need to reimagine and reinvigorate the partnership between schools and families as it is critical for students achieving the best educational outcomes possible, but public schools need more resources to do this,” says Justin Mullaly, president of the Australian Education Union Victorian branch.
“Partnerships between schools, parents and communities have proven to be productive and beneficial for students, but they can be difficult to establish and maintain due to a lack of necessary support and resources.
“We know that many parents and carers want to contribute to and engage with their child’s schooling in better ways, but the reality is that they simply don’t have time. Similarly, schools want to build better relationships with parents and the broader community, but a lack of appropriate resources and the ongoing teacher shortages continue to push the limits of the system.
“Family and social dynamics have significantly evolved in Victoria over recent decades, and the state government must ensure our education system reflects these transformations and better equip public schools to meet the needs of school staff, students and their families alike.
“Teachers, principals and education support staff in our public schools are facing increasingly complex challenges in the classroom, which could be better handled via improved community consultation and engagement with parents and carers.
“We need significant and well considered reform so that the arrangements for schooling match the needs of students and school staff, backed in with full funding and resourcing of public schools,” Mr Mullaly says.
The research, based on a review of national and international research and a survey of more than 8,000 Victorian AEU members and more than 1,600 parents, has found that the challenges to building collaboration and partnerships in schools is based on historical and structural underpinnings including market forces, funding policies, failures to incorporate First Nations and migrant community cultural perspectives, changing student needs and reduced respect for the teaching profession.
Lead researcher, Dr Fiona Longmuir says the paper outlines some of what needs to be considered to modernise the provision of school education in Victoria and increase meaningful interactions and engagement between schools and families.
“This paper offers the basis for future opportunities for productive partnerships between schools, parents and community members, with all indicating their interest in working together more to improve outcomes for students in Victoria’s public school system,” Dr Longmuir says.
“School staff and parents are clearly ready to work together to find solutions to complex challenges and to improve cohesion within their schools and communities, but this simply isn’t possible without adequate funding and resources.
“We believe Victorian education policy-makers need to consider bold reforms, including funding trials for community partnerships and consultation with parents to form strategies that will help modernise schooling arrangements.”
MEDIA CONTACT: ALYS GAGNON – 0438 379 977
13 February 2025