Languages connect us, to each other and to the world. But Australia’s capacity to make those connections is being eroded by the long-term decline of languages education. In one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations, language learning builds understanding across communities while giving Australians deeper access to the cultures, histories and societies of our […]
The Australian Academy of the Humanities has welcomed proposed reforms to make Australia’s higher education system more equitable and better able to respond to national needs. In a submission on the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026, the Academy supports the move towards a managed-growth funding system and additional assistance for students from low socioeconomic, regional and remote backgrounds.
Opening the Doors Bill held back by Job-ready Graduates, Academy says Read More »
The Final Report of the review of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) defines the program’s core mission as funding the best early-stage research and recognises that this work grows knowledge and provides the foundation for later research, development, translation and commercialisation. The Academy welcomes the proposed reduction from 15 schemes to seven, increased support
New ARC grants model welcomed, but research career gap must be addressed Read More »
Download the media release. The Australian Academy of the Humanities welcomes the release of the House Standing Committee on Education and Employment’s report, Security and Prosperity in Asia: Building Australia’s Asia Capability. The report recognises that Australia’s future security, prosperity and regional engagement depend on rebuilding deep national capability in Asian languages, cultures, histories and
New parliamentary report charts a path to rebuilding Australia’s Asia capability Read More »
What is the idea, function, and effect of the “language passport”? The concept of portable certification of language skill originates in the Council of Europe’s European Language Portfolio (ELP) project. Over time it has come to function as a standardised summary of an individual’s language proficiency and, in some cases, of learning experiences and qualifications. To
The idea of a language passport: concept, origins, potential & limits Read More »
The Australian Academy of the Humanities has made a submission to the to the Senate Education and Employment Reference Committee’s Inquiry into Australian University Graduates. Australia’s universities are more important than ever. They are the engine rooms of knowledge and research, preparing graduates with the critical thinking, communication, creativity and ethical judgement needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. They educate not only the future workforce, but also
Human capability is Australia’s competitive advantage Read More »
The Australian Academy of the Humanities has made a submission to the next stage of the National Cultural Policy by the Office of the Arts, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Communications, Sport and the Arts. Our submission takes an expansive view of the cultural life of the nation, moving it beyond the ‘arts sector’ framework. Culture is a core democratic infrastructure: a
Backing Australian Culture Read More »
The Job Ready Graduates (JRG) system is overly complex, inequitable, misaligned with graduate outcomes, and runs contrary to the Universities Accord’s recommendations. We have advocated from the outset for remediation of JRG. For some time now there has been common ground on diagnosing the failures of JRG and an emerging consensus on pathways to reform. The sector needs to
This morning, Australia’s Learned Academies and ACOLA held a joint media conference in Sydney, responding to the release of the final SERD report, Ambitious Australia. The Academies and ACOLA strongly support swift action on the recommendations and stand ready to work with government, industry and the broader research community to help make these reforms succeed.
Humanities central to delivering an ‘Ambitious Australia’ Read More »
The Academy strongly supports the creation of ATEC as an independent statutory authority with responsibility for stewarding the whole tertiary education system — spanning both universities and vocational education. It recommends strengthening the legislation to enable ATEC to act proactively, gather evidence, and bring systemic issues and opportunities to Ministers rather than being restricted to
Academy urges strong, independent ATEC to steer Australia’s tertiary education system Read More »
Our key message A skills-first system must recognise skills wherever they are developed – through degrees, creative practice, work experience, community leadership, or international qualifications – and give employers and workers a shared language to describe them. “HASS graduates possess skills in critical thinking, ethics, creativity, analysis and the capacity to see the implications of
Mapping the skills Australia needs: Humanities at work Read More »
Graeme Turner AO FAHA FQA, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Queensland, was one of Australia’s most distinguished humanities scholars and a towering figure in the history of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Graeme was that rare individual who combined exceptional scholarly distinction with an unwavering commitment to strengthening the humanities
Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner AO FAHA FQA 1947-2025 Read More »
The Australian Academy of the Humanities recognises Australia’s First Nations Peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of this land, and their continuous connection to country, community and culture.