📢 Stand Up Australia: Save Our Future

✊ The system is breaking: students punished instead of supported, teachers walking away, violence rising.

We demand real reform now — not another report. Stand up for Australia’s children.

🔥 6.5 years. $600 million. 2 more years on a committee. STILL no plan.

💔 Meanwhile, our kids are:

🚫 Suspended & expelled unfairly (disabled & neurodivergent students up to 10x more likely).
🔪 Facing rising violence & weapons in schools — with NO trained safety officers onsite.
🧩 Left without aides, counsellors, or support — teachers burning out, families abandoned.
📚 Taught politics instead of literacy, numeracy, science, and trades.
🌏 Crammed into overcrowded classrooms as mass migration strains schools and housing.

 

🚨 The Crisis in Our Schools:

Suspensions, exclusions & SLAs: Disabled students are 10x more likely to be suspended/expelled. Labeled “behaviour problems” instead of supported.
Trauma pipeline: Fuels family breakdown, suicide (leading cause of death 15–24), and overloaded mental health.
Teacher burnout: Record resignations — unsafe workloads, no aides, endless admin.
Violence rising: Knife/machete attacks — yet no school safety officers.
Parents silenced: Complaints = bans, not solutions.
Systemic racism: First Nations & diverse kids suspended for “defiance.”
Overcrowding: Thousands more classrooms needed by 2034 — but fewer teachers.
Immigration pressure: Australian kids left without priority.
Indoctrination: Politics replacing basics.
No accountability: Schools run as government businesses; students are compulsory trainees.

 

✅ What We Demand:

 

1. Independent Oversight & Accountability

Independent Third-Party Committees (ITPCs) in every state.

Ministers can’t silence complaints or hide abuse.
Public findings, legal protection for families/staff.
Federal whistleblower protections.

Right now, complaints in schools are handled internally, meaning abuse, discrimination, and neglect can be covered up. Ministers and departments hold the power to close cases with no independent scrutiny. Families are left without protection, and whistleblowers risk retaliation.

We demand Independent Third-Party Committees (ITPCs) in every state to investigate complaints. Findings must be public, families and staff must be legally protected, and whistleblowers safeguarded under federal law. This ensures transparency, accountability, and justice for students.

 

2. On-Site Safety & Discipline Reform

Independent school safety officers.

Replace unfair suspensions with supportive approaches.
Accountability for schools pushing kids out.

Students are too often suspended or expelled for behaviours linked to disability, trauma, or unmet needs. Schools sometimes use suspension as a shortcut instead of providing real support, pushing vulnerable children out of education.

We call for independent school safety officers in every school, to protect students and staff. Suspensions must be replaced with supportive, restorative approaches. Schools that unfairly exclude children must face accountability. Every child deserves safety and a fair chance to learn.

 

3. Full Funding & Real Support:

Smaller classes.
Disability-trained aides & behaviour support.
Counsellors & wellbeing officers in every school.
Needs-based funding, not NAPLAN. FULL FUNDING NOW!

Many classrooms have more than 30 students, leaving teachers stretched and children unsupported. Students with disabilities often miss out on qualified aides or early help, while mental health issues go untreated.

We demand smaller classes, disability-trained aides, behaviour support, and counsellors in every school. Funding must be based on actual student needs, not NAPLAN scores. Real funding means real learning, safer schools, and healthier outcomes for every child.

 

4. Inclusive Education & Pathways:

End segregation. Enforce disability adjustments.
Pathways into TAFE, apprenticeships, uni, jobs.
Flexible schooling & respite for high-needs kids.

Segregation still exists in Australian schools, with many children with disabilities isolated or denied proper adjustments. Others are left without a clear pathway after leaving school, ending up unemployed or unsupported.

We call to end segregation, enforce disability adjustments, and create pathways into TAFE, apprenticeships, university, and jobs. Flexible schooling and respite options must be available for high-needs children. Inclusion ensures every child has a future.

 

5. Support for Teachers:

Mandatory training in trauma, neurodiversity, cultural safety.
Cut admin, raise class funds, protect teachers.

Teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers, citing burnout, unmanageable workloads, and lack of support for complex classrooms. Without proper training, teachers are unprepared to meet the needs of today’s diverse students.

We demand mandatory training in trauma, neurodiversity, and cultural safety. Administrative burdens must be reduced so teachers can focus on teaching, and classroom resources must be increased. Protecting teachers means protecting our children’s education.

 

6. Federal Youth Education Minister:

Dedicated to student welfare.

Reports directly to Parliament.
Cannot close complaints — only report.

Right now, student welfare is buried under politics and bureaucracy. Families who raise concerns often find their complaints ignored or silenced by state ministers. Children deserve a voice at the highest level.

We call for a Federal Youth Education Minister dedicated solely to student welfare, reporting directly to Parliament. This role cannot close or dismiss complaints — only report findings. This ensures transparency and accountability at the national level.

7. First Nations & ALL Australians Cultural Safety:

Respect cultural identity (clothing, jewellery, practices).

End racist suspensions.
Mandatory cultural training for staff.

Too many students face discrimination for their cultural identity, from being suspended for jewellery or hair to being punished for practising traditions. Racism in schools causes harm and drives disengagement.

We demand respect for cultural identity and an end to racist suspensions. All staff must undergo mandatory cultural training. Schools should be safe and inclusive for First Nations children and all Australians.

8. Immigration & Fair Access:

Pause mass immigration until schools are safe/staffed.
Prioritise Australian children for enrolments/resources.
Publish citizen-to-immigrant ratios.

Schools are overcrowded, underfunded, and short of staff. Mass immigration without matching investment has stretched resources thin, leaving Australian children without the support they need.

We call to pause mass immigration until schools are fully staffed and safe. Enrolments and resources must prioritise Australian children first. Governments must publish clear citizen-to-immigrant ratios so families see where resources are going.

9. End Indoctrination:

Teach basics: literacy, numeracy, science, trades.
Ban politics in classrooms. Parents have full right to view curriculum.

Classrooms should be for learning, not political agendas. Yet parents report children being exposed to biased views instead of focusing on literacy, numeracy, science, and trades. Parents are often shut out from knowing what’s being taught.

We demand a return to teaching the basics. Politics must be kept out of classrooms, and parents must have full access to view curriculum content. Schools must educate, not indoctrinate.

 

10.Accountability for Education as a Business:

Students = compulsory trainees.
Profits = must return to students.

Year 10–12 graduates earn wage-equivalent savings toward a house deposit.

Education is compulsory, yet schools operate like businesses, profiting while students and families bear the costs. Children are treated as trainees, but see none of the benefits.

We demand that any profits from education be returned to students. Year 10–12 graduates should earn wage-equivalent savings toward a house deposit for their compulsory schooling years. This gives young Australians a real reward for staying in school and a stronger start in life.

 

11. Parents’ & Students’ Union (PSUA Recognition):

Teachers have unions.Parents & students deserve one too.

Protect families from retaliation.
Shape reform with parents/students, not just politicians.

Right now, teachers are supported by unions that protect their rights and give them a strong voice. Parents and students, who are directly affected by school policies, have no such representation. Families often fear retaliation when they speak up about problems, leaving them powerless.

We are calling for formal recognition of a Parents’ & Students’ Union (PSUA) to give families an independent voice, protect them from backlash, and ensure reforms are shaped by the people most affected — parents and students, not just politicians.

 

12. Data Transparency:

Public dashboards on suspension causes, bullying, adjustments.
Annual state & national reporting.

Currently, there is little public information about why students are suspended, how bullying is handled, or whether adjustments for disability are properly applied. This lack of data allows schools and governments to hide systemic failures and leaves families in the dark.

We demand public dashboards showing suspension causes, bullying reports, and adjustments made, alongside annual state and national reporting. Transparency will hold schools accountable, reveal where support is lacking, and drive reforms based on real evidence.

13. Child Voice & Participation:

Students must be formally heard under UN/Human Rights of the Child.

Youth councils tied into oversight & reform.

Students are the ones living through these issues every day, yet their voices are rarely heard in decision-making. This breaches Australia’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says children must be given a say in matters that affect them.

We call for the creation of youth councils directly tied into oversight and reform processes. By giving students a formal voice, reforms will be shaped by real experience, making schools fairer, safer, and more inclusive.

 

⏰ Why Now:

Because the crisis is already here.

Children are taking their own lives. Teachers are leaving in record numbers.
Parents are silenced.
Classrooms are unsafe.
Indoctrination is replacing real learning.

By 2034: more students, fewer teachers, no plan.

🧒 Real Stories From Our Schools:

“My 10-year-old son with autism was suspended three times in one term — not for violence, but because the school had no aide. Instead of support, he got punishment. Now he fears going to school.”

 

“I have 28 children in my class, three with diagnosed disabilities and several with trauma. I rarely get an aide. I love teaching, but I’m burning out. This is why so many of us are leaving.”

 

“My daughter, who doesn’t have a disability, is also falling behind. Her teacher is overwhelmed, there’s no time for one-on-one, and she’s scared to go to school because of fights and bullying.”

 

“My niece, a proud First Nations girl, was suspended for ‘defiance’ after refusing to remove a cultural necklace. Instead of respect, she was punished.”

 

“Instead of focusing on literacy and numeracy, my kids are being fed political slogans. They’re leaving school without basic skills, but full of ideology. That’s not education — that’s indoctrination.”

 

📣 Add Your Voice – Join the Parents & Students Union

Every child has the human right to safety, education, and dignity.

We cannot wait for more reports or delays. The crisis is NOW.

👉 Sign this petition. Share your story.

👉 Follow Parents & Students Union Australia (PSUA) on Facebook: @PSUnionAU

 

🇦🇺 Together we WILL hold leaders accountable and save our children’s future.

 

📑 Sources & References

Disability Royal Commission – Final report (2023): systemic abuse, neglect, and discrimination against people with disability.

🔗 Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability – Final Report
Royal Commission cost – $600m+ spent over 4.5 years, yet no action plan.
🔗 ABC News: Disability Royal Commission final report delivered
Committee “follow-up” with no plan – 2 more years of reviews since the report.
🔗 Department of Health and Aged Care – Disability Royal Commission Response
Australia’s Disability Strategy – Government framework with limited implementation.
🔗 Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031
Youth suicide rates – Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15–24.
🔗 Australian Bureau of Statistics – Causes of Death 2022
School suspensions & exclusions – Students with disability are up to 10 times more likely to be suspended/expelled.
🔗 Disability Royal Commission – Education Issues Paper
🔗 Guardian Australia: Disabled students suspended at higher rates
Teacher shortages – Teachers leaving in record numbers, unsustainable workloads.
🔗 ABC News: Teacher shortages hitting classrooms
Violence & weapons in schools – Knife and machete incidents rising, lack of safety officers.
🔗 The Age: Surge in knives in schools sparks safety fears
Overcrowding & immigration pressure – Population growth straining classrooms and housing.
🔗 Sydney Morning Herald: Schools overcrowded as enrolments soar
Indoctrination concerns – Debate over political influence in curriculum vs basics.
🔗 The Australian: Schools accused of political bias in classrooms