New Zealand approved changes to attendance exemption settings, with the changes scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2027. The reform forms part of wider changes to the education system framework.
New Zealand approved clearer statutory roles for the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office when responding to schools of serious concern. The change is intended to clarify responsibilities during intervention and oversight.
New Zealand approved updates to curriculum regulatory settings, including regular rolling reviews of curriculum areas. Schools will also provide parents with better information about the health curriculum, replacing the previous requirement to consult on how health education is delivered.
New Zealand approved governance changes to the Teaching Council, including reducing the Council from 13 members to between 7 and 9 members. Members will be appointed by the Minister, with at least three required to have education-sector experience.
New Zealand approved changes to the regulation of the teaching workforce, including moving responsibility for setting teacher standards and initial teacher education criteria to the Secretary for Education. The Teaching Council’s role is also refocused around child safety, quality assurance, monitoring, and individual professional decisions.
New Zealand approved a transfer of key education regulatory functions from the Ministry of Education to the Education Review Office. The transfer covers early childhood education, school hostels, and private schools.
New Zealand approved the creation of the New Zealand School Property Agency as a Crown entity to manage the national education property portfolio. The agency is expected to assume property planning, building, maintenance, and administration functions by no later than 1 November 2026.
Australia launched a national Social Cohesion Education Hub to give schools and educators access to quality-assured resources on antisemitism, social cohesion, and discrimination. The hub is part of the education ministers’ response to the Special Envoy’s plan and will add further resources over time.
Queensland passed education legislation that updates school governance, non-state school regulation, youth detention education settings, re-engagement supports, and international delivery of the Queensland Certificate of Education. The reforms affect multiple education statutes and regulatory processes.
Victoria updated its school Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning guidance to improve clarity and conformance with Australian Standard 3745-2010. Related Online Emergency Management Portal changes were scheduled for rollover on 1 July 2026.