Chapter 5: SDG-4 Australia's Progress Towards Meeting the SDG-4 2030 Target: An Overview

Australia is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. This chapter presents an overview of the current state of Australia's education system: early childhood, school, and higher education sectors, and the country's progress towards SDG-4 targets. The key national policies, such as the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration and various reform initiatives, which guide the nation's vision for promoting excellence and equity in education, are also outlined. The chapter highlights significant advancements in early childhood education through initiatives including the Preschool Reform Agreement 2022–2025; addresses disparities in educational outcomes between rural and urban learners emphasising the need for targeted investments and policies; and discusses the reforms in the higher education sector, including those driven by the Australian Universities Accord, to enhance equity and inclusion for underrepresented groups.