ACARA publications

ACARA corporate plan

ACARA Corporate Plan 2018–19 (PDF 1.9. kb)

The ACARA Corporate Plan 2018–19 sets out the agency’s purposes and performance measures for the year 2018–19 as well as its responsibilities and priorities for the next four years. It contains an overview by the Chair of the ACARA Board, details ACARA’s operating principles, working environment, capabilities, risk oversight and accountability.

The corporate plan is informed by ACARA’s Charter and published in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

ACARA corporate plans

ACARA Corporate Plan 2017–18 (PDF 2.3 mb)

ACARA Corporate Plan 2016–17 (PDF 2 mb)

ACARA Corporate Plan 2015–16 (PDF 3 mb)

ACARA annual reports

ACARA Annual Report 2017–18 (PDF 2.8 mb, accessible)

Please note: a transposing error occurred in the design and production of this annual report. Incorrect figures were published on page 62. See the page with the correct figures (PDF 206 kb). This error will be acknowledged in the 2018–19 printed report.

ACARA Annual Report 2016–17 (PDF 2.5 mb, accessible)

ACARA Annual Report 2015–16 (PDF 4.7 mb, accessible)

ACARA Annual Report 2014–15 (PDF 4.3 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2014–15 (Word 514 kb)

ACARA Annual Report – highlights 2014–15 (PDF 914 kb)

ACARA Annual Report 2013–14 (PDF 3.4 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2013–14 (RTF 1.1 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2012–13 (PDF 6.9 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2011–12 (PDF 3.6 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2010–11 (PDF 5.6 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2009–10 (PDF 3.5 mb)

ACARA Annual Report 2008 –09 (PDF 3.8 mb)

Executive remuneration

ACARA executive remuneration 2017–18 (PDF 114 kb)

ACARA's Reconciliation Action Plan

ACARA's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is about ACARA turning good intentions into real actions and rising to the challenge of reconciling Australia.

ACARA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Advisory Group has also supported the development of the RAP. This RAP is our business plan to create meaningful relationships, enhanced respect and promote sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

See ACARA's RAP (PDF 3.4 mb)

Senate Order 13 on Entity Contracts

List of contracts for 1 July - 31 December 2018 (PDF 203 kb)

List of contracts for 1 January – 30 June 2018 (PDF 102 kb)

List of contracts for July–December 2017 (PDF 120 kb)

List of contracts for 2016–17 financial year (PDF 75 kb)

Perspectives on the My School website

ACARA commissioned Colmar Brunton to conduct research with parents, principals, partners, and parent and principal representative groups about the My School website.

The report states that, generally, parents appreciate having a range of information about schools available in the central online location. The report also shows My School is used by parents as part of a suite of information sources to make informed decisions about their child’s education.

The report states that, overall, My School provides information in one accessible place, in a format that is relatively easy to navigate and understand, but there is some scope to make improvements.

ACARA welcomes any research and advice that will improve the My School website. We have already acted on a number of the report’s findings. For example, we have created a new infographic that explains in plain English what ICSEA is, and the introduction video for the My School homepage has been updated to better explain the purpose of My School.

Read the Perspectives on the My School website report [PDF 991 kb].

Research shows parents value NAPLAN, believe the move to online will improve NAPLAN

Research undertaken by Colmar Brunton on behalf of ACARA shows that the majority of parents believe that NAPLAN is valuable, particularly for the national snapshot it provides on their child’s progress in literacy and numeracy. Parents are also generally accepting of the move to NAPLAN Online and believe it will contribute to an overall improvement in NAPLAN.

In 2018, ACARA commissioned a research with parents about their perceptions of NAPLAN, their understanding of its purpose and of the move to NAPLAN Online. The research included a quantitative survey of 1,200 parents in all states and territories. Qualitative research was also undertaken with 16 ninety-minute focus groups.

Read the Colmar Brunton: ACARA NAPLAN research (PDF 2.1 mb)

Curriculum publications

These documents provide information on the curriculum development process that will be used to develop the national curriculum, including background information to guide the writing of the national curriculum.

Curriculum development process: describes the process that will be used to develop the national curriculum. It also describes the structure of writing teams and consultation groups that will be involved in the national curriculum development.

Curriculum design: The curriculum design paper provides guidelines for the writing of the Australian curriculum.

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: English, mathematics, science and history includes key foundational documents that will shape the Australian Curriculum.

A brief precis publication summarises the ten documents, along with the consultation processes and curriculum development work of the Board.

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: precis

Full copies of the documents along with their matching consultation reports are available below.

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum (May 2009)

Shape Paper Consultation Report (May 2009)

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: English (May 2009)

Framing Paper Consultation Report: English (May 2009)

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (May 2009)

Framing Paper Consultation Report: Mathematics (May 2009)

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Science (May 2009)

Framing Paper Consultation Report: The Sciences (May 2009)

The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: History (May 2009)