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• Teaching

Our research into teaching focuses on the quality of the teacher workforce, teacher training and ways to improve student outcomes through better teaching methods.

We’ve set lower bars, not raised the results
Blaise JosephAugust 28, 2019The Australian

It’s the ongoing national dis­appointment. Results haven’t ­consistently improved since NAP­LAN began in 2008, while...

Overcoming the odds in high school
Blaise JosephAugust 2, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Parents often focus more on the choice of a secondary school, but it turns out...

Overcoming the Odds 2: Where are the top-performing disadvantaged secondary schools?
Blaise JosephJuly 23, 2019PP21

Students from disadvantaged social backgrounds perform worse academically on average than more advantaged students. However,...

We need to do better with teacher training
Blaise JosephJuly 9, 2019The Spectator

Australian teachers are underprepared for the classroom compared to those in other countries, according to...

Teacher education degrees should face scrutiny
Blaise JosephJuly 5, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Australian teachers are underprepared for the classroom compared to those in other countries, according to...

Demand driven uni model
Glenn FaheyJune 28, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Universities have been admitting too many students, a greater proportion are now struggling, their debts...

Knowledge is power: What do teachers believe about learning?
Trisha JhaOctober 30, 2025AP92

Executive Summary This report presents findings from literature about what teachers believe about how students...

Sex and maths success: myths and interventions
David C. GearyJuly 17, 2025AP83

Executive summary Mathematical competencies at the completion of secondary school influence later educational and occupational...

Early Numbers, Big Ideas. Fostering Number Sense in Young Children
Nancy C. Jordan, Nancy DysonJuly 10, 2025AP82

Introduction Numbers are an integral part of our daily lives, both inside and outside of...

Fractions Minus the Friction. A guide to four teaching practices
Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Allison McClure, Cassandra HatfieldDecember 12, 2024AP78

Introduction Understanding fractions has a significant impact on both individuals and society. Fractions are an...

Using Curriculum-Based Measurement for Primary School Maths Screening
Erica S. Lembke, Emily L. Singell, Gabriella Lyth Donofrio, Megyn MartinAugust 15, 2024AP75
Universal screening is an essential component of a Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS) for maths and...
book
Learning Lessons. The future of small-group tutoring
Trisha JhaJuly 25, 2024AP73
Student data from national and international testing shows a large minority of students are not...
civics education, education, howard, australia, policy
Make civics education great again
Andrew BlythJanuary 11, 2024SPECTATOR - FLAT WHITE

The unveiling of the 2003 Howard Government Cabinet records last week is more than...

The political winners and losers of 2023
Simon CowanDecember 30, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

The political winners and losers of 2023 Once again it is the time of year...

WESTERN CIVILISATION
Instead of facing up to moral decline, the West is lowering its standards
Tom SwitzerDecember 30, 2023THE AUSTRALIAN

At any time in history, society tolerates behaviour that earlier had been considered deviant, abnormal...

Voice to parliament
National cabinet’s zero-sum game is hurting Australia
Robert Carling, Simon CowanDecember 16, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

While the name has changed over the decades from Premiers Conference to COAG to National...

How Chalmers’ fiscal goals lost all ambition
Robert CarlingDecember 13, 2023AFR

How Chalmers’ fiscal goals lost all ambition. Jim Chalmers’ mid-year economic and fiscal update (MYEFO)...

What Australia must do to lift flatlining student scores
Glenn FaheyDecember 6, 2023AFR

While Australian students have scored a mixed report card in the latest round of international...

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Submission to Draft 2025-26 GenCost
February 2, 2026

The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission to the...

Submission to Senate Inquiry into Illegal Tobacco Crisis in Australia
Michael StutchburyJanuary 15, 2026
The federal government should pause increases in tobacco excise to weaken the profit of the...
Submission to DCCEEW’s Solar Sharer Offer Consultation Paper 2025-26 
November 24, 2025

What evidence should inform the SSO window (timing and duration), including factors such as wholesale...

CIS Submission to IDSP Directions Paper
November 13, 2025

Question 4: Does the IASR provide the right baseline inputs for the proposed strategic planning...

Submission to AEMC’s Treatment of policies and costs in the ISP Consultation Paper 
November 6, 2025

Question 1: What are your views on AEMO’s current approach to incorporating jurisdictional targets and...

Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

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