The Mitchell Institute monitors the performance of Australia's education system, with a specific focus on developing and advocating for policies that reduce inequality.

Our work identifies who is experiencing reduced opportunities in education, the factors driving inequality and the policy solutions that will provide greater opportunities for all young people to succeed in education and their life beyond.

Key contacts

Sergio Macklin
Deputy Lead of Education Policy, Mitchell Institute
Opinion

An extra $1.7 billion for child care won’t improve affordability for most

3 May 2021

Our analysis suggests the government's child-care subsidy changes won’t do much to improve the affordability of child care for many families on low to middle incomes. Nor will it address systemic problems.

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Opinion

Closed border could cost education sector $20bn a year in 2022

28 April 2021

The Conversation: New research from the Mitchell Institute forecasts the education sector's biggest losses are yet to come, finding a third academic year of no international students would cost about $20 billion a year.

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Reports

Stuck in transit: international student update

28 April 2021

Continued border closures mean the value of Australia's intern­­ational education sector is to shrink from $40.3 billion in 2019 to $20.5 billion by the end of 2022, new modelling from the Mitchell Institute shows.

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Opinion

Australia can’t afford not to protect investment in tertiary education

4 April 2021

The Age: Australia’s investment in tertiary education, and the benefits it delivers, is at risk because of the pandemic.

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Preschool, childcare, early learning, child, children
Opinion

Families in eastern states pay around twice as much for preschool

22 February 2021

The Conversation: Our new report maps preschool policies across Australia and found many families in the eastern states have been paying around double what families pay in other states and territories.

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Preschool, childcare, early learning
Opinion

The case for universal, accessible, high-quality preschool

19 February 2021

The economy needs all talents to be developed from an early age. Direct public funding, based on evidence that shows two years of preschool are highly beneficial, is good social and economic policy.

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Child painting at preschool
Reports

Stepping up: New report maps preschool policies & progress in Australia

17 February 2021

In the context of persistent educational inequality, this report explores preschool policies, enrolments and costs around Australia, finding reform is urgently needed.

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Opinion

Early childhood educators are leaving in droves. Here are 3 ways to keep them & attract more

15 January 2021

The Conversation: Childcare centres across Australia are suffering staff-shortages, which have been exacerbated by the COVID crisis, but here's how to keep educators and attract more.

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Opinion

2021 is the year Australia’s international student crisis really bites

14 January 2021

The Conversation: While much of the economy is in post-pandemic recovery, the international education sector continues to decline and is yet to reach its lowest point.

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