Rich Kid Poor Kid

The battle for public education: Vantage Point Issue 5

By: Jane Caro

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Paperback | 28 April 2026

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18.0 x 11.3 x 1.2

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How did we get here?

For decades, Australia has been pumping money into private education while public schools struggle. Whether it's crumbling classrooms, overworked teachers or cuts to music and STEM programs, the system is reaching breaking point. At the same time, with higher rates of private school attendance and the marketisation of education, parents have increased anxiety when faced with the decision of where to send their child. The current system contributes to greater inequity, decreased integration of different communities and even traffic jams as parents are more likely to drive their kids to a private school further from their house.

How did we get here?

Jane Caro walks through the decades of policy decisions that have created this situation and identifies the choices that have created the current education crisis. With her trademark no-nonsense analysis and drawing from her personal experiences, Caro lays out the steps that brought us to this point and what Australia can do to get a public education system worthy of a such a wealthy country.

About the Author

Jane Caro AM is a Walkley award-winning Australian columnist, author, feminist, public education activist and social commentator. She is also a multi-award-winning advertising copywriter and an academic. She is on the boards of The Public Education Foundation and Every Age Counts.

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