Education – Views & Research – The Conversation

A parent's hand holding a smartphone with a GPS tracking app displaying their child's live location while the child is seen exiting the house.

A parent's hand holding a smartphone with a GPS tracking app displaying their child's live location while the child is seen exiting the house.

What should parents consider when tracking their child’s location?

Bjørn Nansen, The University of Melbourne and Lauren Bliss, The University of Melbourne

How do I know my child is ready to leave the house on their own?

Michelle Andrews Luke, The University of Melbourne

A mother and daughter spending time outside together.

A mother and daughter spending time outside together.

Our research shows how AI is getting better at exams. Here’s how unis can respond

Armin Alimardani, Western Sydney University; Melissa Porter, University of Wollongong, and Warwick Gullett, University of Wollongong

An aerial view of eight people working at a long table with computers and notebooks in a library.

An aerial view of eight people working at a long table with computers and notebooks in a library.

Year 12 students might feel anxious as exams approach. Here’s what can help

Cher McGillivray, Bond University

Female student leaning on her arm, sitting at a desk and studying under a warm desk lamp in a dark room.

Female student leaning on her arm, sitting at a desk and studying under a warm desk lamp in a dark room.

Year 12 exams and graduations

A young man looking away while sitting near bed at home. He is lost in thought

A young man looking away while sitting near bed at home. He is lost in thought

Year 12 students can feel lonely after graduating. Here’s how to stay connected

Robbie Eres, Deakin University

School formals can increase body image anxiety for some teens. Here’s how parents can help

Vivienne Lewis, University of Canberra

A teenage girl in front of a mirror holds up a red dress while holding a black dress in her other hand.

A teenage girl in front of a mirror holds up a red dress while holding a black dress in her other hand.

Three common study myths busted by a learning expert – and better strategies to use instead

Sean Kang, The University of Melbourne

A young woman looking stressed out while using a laptop to study at home

A young woman looking stressed out while using a laptop to study at home

A young person works at a desk under a lamp.

A young person works at a desk under a lamp.

So your Year 12 student hasn’t decided what’s next. Here’s what to say – and what not to – about career planning

Brendon Hyndman, Charles Sturt University and Vaughan Cruickshank, University of Tasmania

Students sitting at a table together studying.

Students sitting at a table together studying.

How does subject scaling work for Year 12? And why is it unfair?

Kate O'Connor, La Trobe University

Schools

A bird's eye view of school students in a circle

A bird's eye view of school students in a circle

What role does high school play in mental health? Feeling connected to other students and staff is key

Sarah Stevens, UNSW and Aliza Werner-Seidler, UNSW

Why do politicians often want to change the school curriculum? What happens when you do?

Emily Ross, The University of Queensland

Shadow Minister for Education Julian Leeser speaks to journalists at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Shadow Minister for Education Julian Leeser speaks to journalists at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

What major tests like PISA and NAPLAN get wrong about Indigenous students

Peter Anderson, University of New England; Angela Baeza Pena, The University of Queensland; Bronwyn Fredericks, The University of Queensland, and Levon Ellen Blue, The University of Queensland

Young Indigenous Australian woman sits at an outdoor cafe.

Young Indigenous Australian woman sits at an outdoor cafe.

Should schools ban students from doing cartwheels?

Brendon Hyndman, Charles Sturt University

Two school children playing on grass, one child is doing a cartwheel.

Two school children playing on grass, one child is doing a cartwheel.

Too many students have ‘reading anxiety’. New research suggests it is triggered by problems in primary school

Genevieve McArthur, Australian Catholic University

A child places a finger at text on a picture book.

A child places a finger at text on a picture book.

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Parenting and families

Two young people sitting on a couch. A boy is on a phone, a girl is turning her head quickly,

Two young people sitting on a couch. A boy is on a phone, a girl is turning her head quickly,

‘Rohan called me an idiot!’ How can parents handle squabbles between kids?

Elizabeth Westrupp, Deakin University

School holidays are coming. Here’s how families can keep some sort of routine

Tianyi Ma, The University of Queensland

A dad works from home on his laptop sitting on the couch while his two daughters jump and play around him.

A dad works from home on his laptop sitting on the couch while his two daughters jump and play around him.

Moving houses can be especially stressful for kids. Here’s how to support them during a relocation

Marg Rogers, University of New England and Michelle Gossner, CQUniversity Australia

Little girl unpacking in bedroom of the new home, taking toys from cardboard box.

Little girl unpacking in bedroom of the new home, taking toys from cardboard box.

Beyond Harry Potter: five books you can enjoy together as a whole family

Helen Joanne Adam, Edith Cowan University

A mother, father and their daughter sit on a white sofa, reading a book together.

A mother, father and their daughter sit on a white sofa, reading a book together.

Talking to your children about consent and sexual violence can be hard. Here’s how to start the conversation

Stephanie Wescott, Monash University and Jane Gilmore, Monash University

A father and his son talking on the floor of the living room.

A father and his son talking on the floor of the living room.

Early childhood

A small group of children and an adult play with wooden toys on the ground.

A small group of children and an adult play with wooden toys on the ground.

One quarter of Australian kids are ‘developmentally vulnerable’ when they start school. Quality childcare can catch them up

Anne Kennedy, The University of Melbourne

What do parents want when it comes to childcare safety? More information for a start

Bricklyn Priebe, University of the Sunshine Coast

A woman holds a baby in her arms. Another woman stands in the background.

A woman holds a baby in her arms. Another woman stands in the background.

Australia’s childcare system is full of ‘churn’ – this isn’t good for quality or safety

Peter Hurley, Victoria University; Melissa Tham, Victoria University, and Sarah Pilcher, Victoria University

A child plays with an abacus.

A child plays with an abacus.

Uni and TAFE

The silhouettes of four young people in graduation robes, looking at a sun set

The silhouettes of four young people in graduation robes, looking at a sun set

Are Australians really overeducated? It depends what education is for

Gwilym Croucher, The University of Melbourne

The Intergenerational Report says we need more vocational skills – but federal funding for them is set to drop

Lizzie Knight, Grattan Institute and Ben Jefferson, Grattan Institute

Silhouette of builder standing on timber house frame, low angle view.

Silhouette of builder standing on timber house frame, low angle view.

Unis and schools are moving away from AI-detection software. They should stop using it altogether

Mark A. Bassett, Charles Sturt University

An illustration of a robot caught in a flashlight.

An illustration of a robot caught in a flashlight.

Life just got tougher for international students under new visa rules. Why is this group being targeted?

Peter Hurley, Victoria University and Melinda Hildebrandt, Victoria University

A crowd of university students walking to and from classes at the University of New South Wales.

A crowd of university students walking to and from classes at the University of New South Wales.

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